Adventure With Us

We started Left Lane Adventures (now Odin's Compass) in 2020, inspired by our son Lane, who has severe, nonverbal autism. We've always been an outdoorsy family, but it was hard to know what Lane truly loved—until one unforgettable trip changed everything.

During the early days of the pandemic, we took our kids to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lane lit up. On a short hike to Bumpass Hell, he was captivated by the bubbling mud pots and the sulfur-rich air. As the sun set on the ridgeline, something clicked for him—and for us. From that day on, Lassen became his obsession. He’d put on his hiking boots, jeans, and one of his many Lassen shirts every day, ready to go.

We made weekly (sometimes daily) trips to the park—until the Dixie Fire hit in 2021. That day, we were swimming at Lake Helen as the fire exploded nearby. The park closed, and we didn’t know if Lane’s favorite place would survive—or how to explain it to him. He couldn’t understand why we suddenly couldn’t go. But when Lassen finally reopened, his favorite spots were miraculously untouched. It was a massive relief. After already losing our hometown of Paradise in the 2018 Camp Fire, the emotional weight was huge.

Since then, we’ve broadened our adventures. Lane now loves Burney Falls—especially since his “Papa and Nene” live nearby—and he’s mesmerized by the majesty of Mount Shasta, where we’ve spent countless nights stargazing. He’s also a Disneyland fanatic. Main Street magic, caramel apples, and rides like Pirates, Matterhorn, and Rise of the Resistance? That’s his happy place.

Odin’s Compass became our way of blending creativity, autism advocacy, and real family adventure into something tangible. Our original business, Mad Cutter Designs, started in 2014 when I (Joelle) was a stay-at-home mom making handmade gifts. After Joey’s back injury forced him to leave the bridge-building trade in 2022, we went all-in on running our business together. It was a big financial adjustment—selling our car, restructuring everything—but it’s allowed us to be fully present for Lane as his needs grow more intense with age.

Lane still wears diapers, requires 24/7 care, and often has sensory or sleep disruptions that would make a 9–5 job impossible for either of us. Having Joey home has been a game changer. We’ve been working toward getting a van or cab-over setup to better support Lane’s privacy and comfort—whether we’re in the woods or just at the grocery store. We’ve even set up savings accounts for the kids where proceeds from Rylee’s creations or our autism apparel drop directly in to fund their needs.

In late 2023, Joey came up with Bob-O Bears—our gummy bear fundraiser named after Lane’s childhood nickname from Rylee. It quickly gained traction as a fun and meaningful way to spread autism awareness and raise funds for Lane’s future “adventure van.”

At this time, we’ve temporarily paused Bob-O Bears while we finalize the proper certifications, food handling permits, and health code compliance required by our county and state. We want to do things right—and we’ll relaunch once everything is in place.

We’ve never been ones to ask for help, but the reality is: raising a child with profound autism means living in a world that rarely sees the full picture. Lane is nonverbal, still in diapers at age 12, and often requires full physical support and constant supervision. This is the side of autism many people don’t talk about. It’s not social quirks or academic accommodations—it’s midnight meltdowns, communication barriers, and navigating a world that isn’t built for your child. It’s isolating, exhausting, and beautiful in ways most won’t ever understand.

Some days our shop has delays because our kids simply need us. We appreciate every single order and the support from customers who understand that we’re running a business around the unpredictable rhythms of real life.

Every purchase you make from us—whether it’s a hat, a decal, or a handmade sign—directly supports our family in a very real way. It helps us afford therapies, equipment, medical supplies, and keep Lane’s world as stable and supported as possible.

Want to support us beyond the shop?
• You can check out our Amazon Wishlist to send essentials directly to our door.
• You can also browse through our Amazon Storefront—we’ve curated products we use, love, or recommend, and a small portion of every purchase goes directly to our family.

We’re committed to sharing our reality—not for pity, but for connection. If you’re a fellow autism parent, we hope this makes you feel less alone. And if you’re not, we hope it helps you understand our world just a little better.

One day, we dream of starting a nonprofit to support other special needs families on their own adventures.

For now, we keep creating, sharing, and showing up. One day, one hike, one handmade item at a time.