Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2022 Issue. Photography by Susan Dragoo Few motorsports employ such a diverse array of skills as adventure riding. Adventure riders are those enviable souls who ride big-bore motorcycles, some approaching 600 pounds before adding luggage, over terrain befitting a world traveler lost in the wilderness….
There’s Something for Everyone at This Year’s Northwest Overland Rally
Photography by Richard Giordano Nestled in the Beaver Valley and surrounded by the pine trees of the Wenatchee National Forest and the Cascade Mountains lies a field that, once a year, fills with trucks, vans, and cars, old and new, tents of all shapes and sizes, and overland fanatics, young and old(er). The brainchild of…
Video of the Week :: Living in the Cactus Forest with Tight Loops
Lead photograph by Tight Loops Eager to escape the coldest winter months in Montana, Chase Bartee and his wife Aimee head the desert southwest in their 1985 VW camper van, exploring the rugged terrain of the Saguaro, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley National Parks. The couple’s skills as artists, photographers, and filmmakers fuse with a…
The Moment Collectors, by Sam Manicom and Friends
I’ve never been much of a short-story reader; I like to invest in written tales for book-length escapes from reality. However, The Moment Collectors is a different kind of collection of short stories altogether—at least it was for me. As a round-the-world motorcycle traveler, there was something in each writer’s tale that I could directly…
How to Ship an Overland Vehicle
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2022 Issue. Photography by Coen Wubbels The alarm clock sounded at 3:00 a.m. For the fifth morning in a row, Coen yawned as he threw his legs out of bed to once more get on the phone. We were in the Netherlands, visiting family while…
Bear-proof Food Storage for Moto Campers
Many of us traveling overnight or long distances on motorcycles are going into bear territory; that’s why we love our ADV and dual-sport bikes—to get off main roads and into the backcountry. But what about storing food out of reach from bears while we sleep at night? Growing up in the Canadian Rockies, I often…
The Art of Getting Unstuck: Self-Extraction Techniques for Sand
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2022 Issue. It’s 125°F with a sticky 90 percent humidity level in the Al Badayer Desert, and I am seriously stuck. The Range Rover has four dangling wheels from when I’d gotten a little too excited with the throttle. I try to open the driver’s…
Field Tested :: LivBar
Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, corn-free, GMO-free are words that all jump off the wrapper of the LivBar, lined up on a playbill of claims to fame. They are also honey-free, to ensure a vegan-friendly status. Coffee Maple Cacao, Lemongrass Cherry Matcha, Blueberry Vanilla Kale, and Raspberry Kale Maca are some of the accompanying exotic flavors that…
The Overland Adventure Rallies Return (With a New Name) For 2022
Lead photo by Bryon Bass As rally organizers gear up for this year’s full season, I know I’m not the only one looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Overland rallies are where like minds come together, bundling up for nightly bonfire raffles, visiting with colleagues and friends, listening to stories from…
Far Bank Fly Fishing School Offers First Season of Free Educational Videos
While fly fishing might not be the first thing that comes to mind regarding online education, Far Bank is changing the narrative when it comes to what is possible. The fly fishing school recently launched its first season of a free, comprehensive, and feature-film quality educational fishing series hosted by renowned fly casting expert Simon…
Good to the Last Drop :: Instant Coffee Options for the Trail
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2022 Issue. I have a secret to share with you: I’ve been drinking instant coffee for the last few weeks and have been enjoying it. I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, especially after past articles where I have no…
Garmin’s Acquisition of GEOS Might Affect Those With Additional Evacuation Coverage Who Activate inReach SOS Function
Early last year, Garmin announced the acquisition of emergency monitoring and incident response service GEOS Worldwide Limited, which operates the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) for SOS rescue efforts triggered by Garmin’s inReach personal satellite communication device. “With this acquisition, Garmin is now able to provide even more peace of mind to our inReach…
Overlander Mexico
When you face the unknown—whether people, places, or concepts—the talons of fear have a way of gripping down relentlessly. The year was 2018, and my husband and I were facing doubts before overlanding into an unfamiliar country for the first time. We would have experienced less of a mental rollercoaster were it not for our…
Field Tested :: Overdue App
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2022 Issue. Many of us don’t leave details of our trips to the backcountry with trusted contacts: Where are we going? When do we plan to return home? Who are we with? What colour and type of outdoor gear will we be wearing? What safety…
Plan the Experience
“Are those the Bears Ears?” my brother Rob questioned as he pointed at red rock formations to our south. “Sure, I guess those look like large ears.” I knew the Mormon pioneers blazed an overland route through here in the mid-1800s on their way to settle the southeastern corner of Utah. But that was about it. “Trapped” inside my…
Nissan Partners with Tread Lightly to Promote Responsible Recreation
Tread Lightly and Nissan announced a partnership to promote responsible off-road recreation through marketing, stewardship, and education programs to ensure outdoor recreation opportunities remain accessible for current and future generations. As part of this collaboration, Nissan will consult with Tread Lightly to ensure off-road activities are appropriately presented in promotional content. Nissan will also support…
Old Versus New : A Real-World Perspective
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2021 Issue. It’s common wisdom in overlanding circles that older vehicles are the smart choice for exploring remote and seldom-visited corners of the globe. Because they were built without computers, function perfectly fine without the need of fancy gizmos, and are made with virtually…
Lineup Announced for the 2022 Adventure Travel Film Festival
Offering several opportunities for fun-filled weekends this summer, the Adventure Travel Film Festival has returned with two locations for 2022: Perthshire, Scotland (July 8 to 10, 2022) and Cotswolds, UK (August 12 to 14, 2022). The Festival’s lineup includes a tantalizing array of independent adventure travel stories. Filmgoers will join Naresh Kumar’s tandem bike journey…
The Art of Winching
This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. Editor’s Note: We noted several practices shown in Johan’s images that vary from how we would demonstrate winching in the field. This includes ensuring that each winch line is dampened with a sail. However, none of the images demonstrate improper use or practices, just a…
Armchair Adventure Bootcamp – February 25 to 27
Once again, offering a full schedule of workshops, presentations, and masterclasses, this year’s Armchair Adventure Bootcamp is set to take place during the weekend of February 25 to 27. Participants can expect over 20 hours of virtual content and may catch up on any sessions missed for six months after the event. Presentations and classes…