Galactic Adventures

ISSUE 34 | November 21, 2025

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 34th issue of Galactic Adventures -- our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.

This issue's featured photo comes to us from MODE Owner, Emily Pan

If you would like to see your photo or story featured in Galactic Adventures, please send an email to daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com. We love to hear from you!

Vansgiving East 2025: A Weekend of Stories, Soul, and Community

Daniel Mojica, Events & Engagement Manager – Storyteller Overland

This year’s Vansgiving East was one for the books, and honestly, one for the soul. As I sit down to write about it, I’m still carrying the warmth, laughter, and connection that filled every moment of those three unforgettable days at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, Virginia.

But before anything else, I need to give credit where it’s truly due. This gathering wouldn’t have happened without a few incredible women who stepped up long before the first van ever rolled in, Cordelia Guirdy, Deborah Wilson, Emily Pan, and Robin Burke! They secured the campground, helped shape the vision, and ensured all of us had a place to come together. Their dedication made Vansgiving East possible, and I’m endlessly grateful.

A Setting Made for Storytelling

Lake Fairfax Park gave us the perfect canvas, wide-open skies, winding trails, crisp fall air, and enough space to circle up, settle in, and just be. From the moment the first vehicles arrived, you could feel the excitement. People from all walks of life. Some familiar faces, some complete strangers. All of us brought together by a shared love for exploration, community, and the Storyteller Overland spirit.

We ended up with around fifty folks on the East Coast, matching almost one for one to the crew celebrating over on the West Coast. In a moment that still feels surreal, we FaceTimed the two gatherings together. Coast to coast, one giant community shared one big Vansgiving moment. Seeing that many Storytellers on one screen—laughing, cheering, raising a toast across thousands of miles—was something I’ll never forget.

Three Days of Connection

From Friday through Sunday, we lived a whole lot of life in just one weekend.

We laughed…a lot.

We cried…sometimes from emotion, sometimes from laughing too hard.

We shared meals, swapped stories, compared setups, hiked trails, and opened up about the adventures that brought us here.

Some people arrived as strangers, unsure of what to expect. But everyone left with new friends, new memories, and a deeper sense of belonging. That’s the magic of Vansgiving. That’s the magic of this community.

"Vansgiving is my favorite kind of weird: a table full of delicious food and great people who are all somehow the same—just nerdy enough, just outdoorsy enough, always up for an adventure. For a little while, our vans turn into a pop-up summer camp, a rolling apartment building where strangers feel like neighbors and community feels easy, like we’ve known each other for years." –Emily Pan

Why Vansgiving Matters

Events like this remind me why I love what I do. We create the space, but it’s the people who fill it with meaning. Watching this group open their arms to newcomers, support each other, celebrate each other, and simply exist together made the entire weekend feel like a family reunion, even for those meeting for the first time.

Whether you were sitting around the fire, sharing a story, lending a hand, cooking a dish, or just showing up with a smile—you made Vansgiving East 2025 special.

Until Next Time

To everyone who attended, to the women who made the groundwork possible, and to our West Coast family who shared the moment with us: Thank you! You all reminded me that community isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we build, nurture, and celebrate together.

Here’s to more stories, more adventures, and many more moments like Vansgiving.

Between a Rock and a HILT Place

Steve Jurries, HILT Owner

⚠️ Adventure Awareness Moment:

We’re sharing this story as a reminder that even the most capable rigs can get into tough spots. Stay safe, know your limits, and always be prepared.

Off-Road Rule #1: Know Your Limits. Off-Road Rule #2: Laugh When You Ignore Rule #1.

The following story was pulled from Steve Jurries' Facebook account from October 2025. With his permission, we present it below and unedited.

"So, I guess you could call this a pretty high level screwup. As usual, trying to go places I have no business going . Luckily, I’m out here with Orly Cocco and his son, so we are all sleeping in his Beast tonight. Towing/rescue company will be here in the morning with two vehicles. We tied off the winch to an uphill tree to hopefully keep the rig from rolling downhill if this rain intensifies. Will update tomorrow, hopefully with pictures of an undamaged Hilt sitting on a blacktop parking lot somewhere."

The Next Day Update:

"Well, it took until yesterday afternoon for the tow truck and two Tacomas to make it out to our location. The first thing the driver said to me after checking out the situation was, “if this rig rolls, it’s on you”, which does not inspire heaps of confidence! He indicated that he thought he could get it out safely. Well, at that point I didn’t have many options. We got the tow truck with boom set up to the side of my rig, a Tacoma to the rear, both with winch cables to different points and had my winch to a tree to the front of the rig. There was a lot of digging and consideration on best practices. The tow guys were very careful and thorough in figuring out and executing a painfully slow extraction. They literally inched the rig laterally while tightening and loosening the three winches and digging trenches while filling in low spots. After three grueling hours, we got it back up on the roadbed and backed down to a reasonable spot to turn around. Three different people (sheriff, park ranger, towing guy) all commented that it was a good thing we didn’t make it any further up the road as it gets quite gnarly with little opportunity to turn around. The five of us rode in a caravan back to town. All’s well in the end, no notable damage to the Hilt, nobody injured, a new story to tell, and plenty of laughs when all was said and done. Plenty of stress, some thousands of dollars later, and probably a few days of asphalt coming up to allow nerves time to calm down, all is good. Big props to Orly and Nate for sticking it out with me and for being great moral support. Thank you all for your concern and words of encouragement on this post, as well as DMs and phone calls."

What do the people have to say?

Listed below is some of the responses from the original post.

Orly Cocco, who was there when this all went down, commented "Well all I can say is I never imagined I’d have 3 dogs and 3 grown men sleeping in Moose (his van).

Slumber Party!!"

Tracy Braun said "Yikes! Share the details! Did you misjudge the crumbliness of the road or width?", to which Steve replied "I was too close to the side of the road and the hole sucked my rear end over about two feet as it gave out."

Steven Katz asked "Also curious if it caved while you were on it or if it was already weak and showing and you went for it? No judgement, genuinely curious. Glad you're safe. Rooting for the tow trucks to be able to save your rig easily. 🙏🤞🙏🤞". Steve set the record straight and replied with "It was an existent washout that I tried to steer around. It was my fault for misjudging the length of the wheelbase and I brought the rear wheel over the edge of it. That was enough, as it gave way and pulled the rig maybe 18-24” over to the edge. Luckily there was a small berm with a few decent sized rocks mixed in that prevented a nasty tumble. I was truly lucky not to go down!".

Joseph Corso commented, "Good job! STO should give you an award for using it as intended…well mostly! Glad you have help."

Don’t worry, the team has officially logged this… and it’s currently the front-runner for our Annual Most-Stuck Award.🏆

Celebrating Daniel Wangel — RV Pro’s 2025 Top 40 Under 40 Honoree

We’re thrilled to share some incredible news — our very own Daniel Wangel has been selected for RV Pro’s 2025 Top 40 Under 40!

This national recognition celebrates the rising leaders shaping the future of the RV industry, and Daniel’s selection is a well-earned reflection of his vision, leadership, and lasting impact here at Storyteller Overland.

Building the Foundation for Growth

When Daniel joined Storyteller in 2021 as our very first engineering hire, he stepped into a pivotal moment in our company’s growth. With our production ramping up and new products on the horizon, Daniel began building the foundation for the robust systems that keep our operations running smoothly today.

He developed Storyteller’s Quality Management framework, which now contains more than 1,000 documented process steps that ensure every build meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and compliance. He also designed and implemented our Change Management system, which has driven over 650 process improvements across production and engineering.

His ability to anticipate challenges, streamline workflows, and lead with purpose has been instrumental in helping us scale responsibly through a period of incredible growth.

Driving Change, Inside and Out

Daniel’s leadership extends far beyond his technical expertise. He embodies the heart of Storyteller culture—curious, driven, and deeply compassionate.

Last year, he organized a company-wide fundraiser for WaterStep, bringing the Storyteller community together to raise awareness and support for clean water initiatives. Through his planning and commitment, the fundraiser not only made a tangible impact but also inspired others to get involved and give back.

Outside of work, Daniel brings the same energy to every adventure. He’s passionate about people, animals, travel, and the outdoors—living the same spirit of exploration that fuels the RV and adventure vehicle lifestyle.

CHeck out full feature

Life's Greatest Luxury is saying YES to the Next Grand Adventure!

We'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures from the road!
Send to Daniel at:

daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com

Emma Walsmith with her STO Classic MODE Adventure Van

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