Editor’s Note: This Washington Backcountry Discovery Route article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. Photography by Kris Newsom Perched on the edge of the Lion Rock escarpment in Washington’s central Cascades, I leaned back in my chair and watched the molten sun drip behind Mount Stuart’s jagged silhouette. Behind me, a clicking…
Riding Georgia’s Infamous Abano Pass :: Video of the Week
The Abano Pass is a stretch of unpaved track linking Omalo to Pshaveli in the northwest region of Georgia. Featuring 70 kilometers of gravel, rock, mud, and water crossings, at 2,864 meters (9,396 feet) above sea level, the road is the highest drivable pass in the Greater Caucasus mountain range. Well-known within the adventure biking…
KTM Adventure Rider Rally Arizona
KTM brings their 18th Annual Adventure Rider Rally to Page, Arizona, from October 13-15, 2023. Holding it near the Arizona Strip allows riders to choose from routes in both Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Rally headquarters will be at the Lake Powell Resort in Page. Getting Started Pre-ride activities will start on October 12. KTM…
Threedom – Creating Cultural Connections from Ireland to India
After a long, hard day in the saddle, all we want to do is to pitch our tent within the grassy compound of a random farmyard, but our host is having none of that. “This my house!” says Krystof in broken English, pointing proudly to his nondescript house behind us with a rusted pitchfork. “You…
The 1964 Volkswagen Bug That Could :: Feature Vehicle
Studies show that the act of witnessing the journey of an underdog instills a sense of hope. Whether we’re following a protagonist’s quest in a novel or watching Rocky, the experience affects our biochemistry, altering our mindset for several days. As any vehicle aficionado knows, this phenomenon extends to our daily drivers, the Land Rovers…
Honda XR150L First Ride
The wait is over: Honda’s 2023 XR150L dual-sport motorcycle has hit American shores. Honda introduced the friendly, inexpensive dual-sport at a late-June press launch in Solvang, California. Expedition Portal was there to ride the XR and report on it. Honda Comes Through with the XR150L First announced back in March, this beginner-friendly bike is aimed…
Border Shock: An Overlanding Family’s Nightmare
Editor’s Note: This border crossing article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Words by Chris Simon, in collaboration with Richie and Abigail Gubler. Overland border crossings are exciting, unpredictable, and stressful. No matter where you are in the world, things can go unexpectedly wrong at official border checkpoints. This article tells the story…
onX Maps Offroad App Adds New Features
onX Maps has boosted its Offroad app with a new proprietary Route Builder feature. In recent years, the Montana-based company has made big waves in the GPS navigation world with its suite of online and offline mapping software that caters to many stripes of outdoor enthusiasts, including those of us that are drawn to the…
South Dakota’s Black Hills: A Land of History and Heartache
Editor’s Note: This South Dakota article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Small and isolated, South Dakota’s Black Hills seemed the ideal place for a self-imposed writing retreat. I’ve been working on a book for years and hadn’t so much as typed a single letter in the manuscript for over four months. I…
Overland Expo PNW—July 7-9, 2023
I’ve always considered Oregon—especially the Eastern desert regions—to be an overlooked and underrated overlanding destination. Like all Western states, Oregon contains a huge variety of landscapes, and they belie the rain- and IPA-soaked Portlandia stereotypes. Nearly 53% of the state is public land, and there are many miles of dirt to explore, from Arch Rock…
R1250 GS Ultimate Edition
Motorcycles like the BMW R 1250 GS Ultimate Edition only come around every 100 years or so. This year BMW Motorrad marks a century of building motorcycles and chose the R 1250 GS to carry the banner…in the United Kingdom. Sorry Yanks, this beauty is only for those across the pond. We do get two…
72 Hours Overlanding in the Utah Desert :: Video of the Week
This video of the week follows filmmaker Sinuhe Xavier, Rashad and Ron Frazier of Camp Yoshi, and Ben O’Meara of Huckberry through Southern Utah as they curate the perfect route for Camp Yoshi—an organization making the outdoors more inclusive through trips into the remote wilderness. Piloting the Jeep Gladiator Wayout, Xavier leads the group by…
Finding Shackleton :: Video of the Week
Dana grew up in Zambia, where she and her family spent time camping in Luangwa. Her parents drove an old Land Rover and pitched tents in the bush, providing perfect opportunity for barefoot wanders through the grass. Fond memories and time spent in Zambia’s wild places laid the groundwork for her love of overland travel….
The Polaris Xpedition May Be the Perfect Base Camp Exploration Vehicle
Polaris Off-Road has unveiled an entirely new platform for side-by-side vehicles, and boy, do we wish it was street-legal. The 2024 Polaris Xpedition includes the Xpedition XP and ADV models and has, according to the press release, “introduced a unique category of ‘adventure side-by-sides,’ thereby amalgamating traditional off-road capabilities with the comfort and cargo features…
Five Things to Know About Overlanding the UK
The UK is an absolute riot to drive through. Twisty, narrow roads bordered by mossy stone walls lead to lush glens filled with bluebells, quaint towns whispering of a captivating past, and seaside coves that stretch for miles. Charmingly, it’s impossible to escape the bahs of baby sheep in the spring. Whether you’re passionate about…
Feature Vehicle :: 1985 Toyota FJ62 Land Cruiser Fit for the Saudi Arabian Desert
Editor’s Note: This Toyota FJ62 article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Photography by Richard Giordano Few can say they’ve purchased a vehicle from the Saudi royal family; even fewer own a Land Cruiser as meticulously spotless as off-road and automotive shop owner Luai Alsheheli’s. “This 60-Series Land Cruiser was one of many that…
Mammoth Overland Unveils ELE Off-Road Trailer, Designed for Ultimate Survival in Extreme Conditions
Are you a prepper with an unshakable conviction that the end is nigh but still want to get out there and enjoy nature while the Four Horsemen streak across the sky? Are you a danger tourist looking to explore war-torn territories or spend a season living among the grizzlies, or do you live in and…
Video of the Week :: Bored With Your Nine-to-Five? Try a Microadventure.
Photo by Alastair Humphreys British author and adventurer Alastair Humphreys cycled around the world for four years, raced a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean, completed an unsupported crossing of Iceland by foot and packraft, and walked 1,000 miles across the Empty Quarter desert in the southern Arabian Peninsula. But not all of us are cut…
The All New 2024 Ford Ranger and Ranger Raptor
Ford has announced an all-new lineup of Rangers. The new 2024 Ford Ranger isn’t just offering new color options and random accessories. Ford did its work and talked with current Ranger owners and consumer groups around the world to ask and learn what they wanted to see in the next evolution of the model. I’ve…
Ignik Grows Product Line, Launches Tank Accessories
We love practical, multi-purpose gear which is well-designed and constructed to survive harsh environments and heavy use. Ignik, the outdoor brand headquartered on Bainbridge Island, Washington, is set to expand its product offerings with the introduction of propane tank accessories; the company has unveiled the 20-pound Tank Case/Seat and 20-pound Tank Tote, designed to facilitate…