The year was 1969, and it seemed that there was nothing we humans couldn’t do. Man had not only broken the sound barrier but created a commercial airliner that would do so every day. Computers that had once taken up small buildings were being condensed down to something that could fit on your desk, and…
From 0 to 4,665 Meters: Traveling Across the Silk Road and Pamir Highway
We left Germany some weeks ago, travelled through Eastern Europe to Russia, visited historical places, enjoyed the overwhelming hospitality of the Russians, and followed the vast open landscapes of Kazakhstan round the northern shore of the Caspian Sea. My girlfriend and I were on the road again with our 4WD—this time on the way to…
Outpost :: Los Angeles
Among the sea of events that dot the adventure travel landscape, there are few that are truly unique and worthwhile attending. One of those events is the Outpost series, which is held in locations like the redwoods of Northern California, and now in downtown Los Angeles. This was the first year of the LA event,…
Jordan Desert Cruisers
The streets are deserted, save a few lone Land Cruisers parked on the main street of the desert town of Wadi Rum. The Petra-Amman highway, which feeds the town, is closed due to snow. As a result, there are no tourists around, which gives most local people a chance to stay at home, drink tea,…
Garmin’s Overlander GPS Can Replace All of Your Off-Road Apps
These days it seems like there’s nothing a smart phone can’t do. From listening to music and taking pictures, to answering emails and browsing the internet, they’ve become integrated into nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It’s no wonder why most of us have ditched the old GPS units for an array of navigation…
Where the Road Ends
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2019. Photography by Jake Hamby and Alex Manne We rolled up the 20-foot-tall garage door a little bit before 3:00 a.m. The temperature inside the WWII-era steel Quonset hut plummeted as the wind forced snow and ice in around us. One by one we…
Overland for Baja
Photography by Ryan Resatka and Francis Fraioli It’s an expansive tract of land, roughly equivalent in length to the West Coast of the United States, but with countless roads that to this day remain unmapped and infrequently traveled. Like many deserts, it’s a place the earth wants for itself. The sense of isolation and beauty…
Expedition 65
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Gear Guide 2018. Photography by Alfonse Palaima, Scott Brady, and Colin Evans Expedition 65 was not a tour; it did not even have a leader. While some might view that as a recipe for ending friendships, it played into a grand experiment and ultimately a…
Never a Wrong Turn — The Story of Luka
An unexpected detour and dash of luck lead to a miracle pup deep in the heart of Navajoland.
Overland Expo East Moves to Arrington, Virginia and Announces Dates
As many of you have already heard, Overland Expo is under new management, and this year it seems that they’ve wisely chosen to change venues for Expo East. The new location, which was revealed to be Infinity Downs in Arrington, Virginia, will include accessible electricity in the main event common areas, WiFi connectivity, and hard…
Ice, Snow, and Falls of Fire
“Nature is best enjoyed with thousands of strangers, long lines, and lots of rules.”–No one ever Here’s the thing, I love national parks, but like many outdoor enthusiasts I find myself rather conflicted about visiting them. On the one hand, they encompass some of our nation’s most iconic and beautiful landscapes, but on the other,…
Until the Break (of Dawn)
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2018. Dusk is settling into the hills along the Sea of Cortez. The sky is a bruised purple, still streaked with veins of red and yellow, a reminder of the brilliant but difficult day behind us. Our band of friends rides west leaving the coast behind,…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: California Segment
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. What do you envision when you think of California? Shimmering oceans, warm beaches, and a stunning coastline? Perhaps towering redwoods or sparse deserts filled with Joshua trees? You wouldn’t be wrong to think of any of these things, but what if I told…
Where the Wild Places Are
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. Photography by Joe Fleming and Scott Brady TRAVEL CHANGES US IF WE LET IT. There is something different about Peru. On my third trip to this variegated country in as many years, it became clear. It is easy to say that the difference…
Overland Routes | Pacific Crest: Oregon Segment
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Spring 2018. A cool wind whistled through the pines around us, and I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with crisp mountain air. We had only left the hustle and bustle of Portland’s streets that morning, but the city’s traffic jams and red lights…
A Search for Petroglyphs in the Gobi Desert
“Okay, the big question is how to approach this point. From the north? The south?” Coen was zooming in on his iPhone, enlarging the area mentioned in the Lonely Planet guidebook. It’s the first guidebook we’ve ever had that includes a list of GPS Waypoints for certain sites. For overlanders, who typically travel without a…
Celebrating International Women’s Day
“…as woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.” -Virginia Woolf Six months ago I became the “woman behind the phone” managing the Women Overlanding the World Instagram account. On that site, I share tales and photographs sent from women adventuring all over the…
Adventures with Abby to Hogsback
It was two days after Christmas with the temperature in Johannesburg sitting at a boiling 37 degrees. Abby (my American pit bull terrier) and I were desperately looking for some activity or adventure to keep us occupied during the holidays, and I knew that staying in Johannesburg was not going to be an option. We…
How to Prepare for an Overland Journey in the Depth of Winter
A sound made us look up from our screens. “What’s happening? Did you turn the heater off?” Coen asked me, since I was sitting next to the control panel. “No, I didn’t, but it is shutting down, isn’t it?” It was 11:00 p.m and we were quietly camped in a parking lot. To maximize the…
What We Have Learned From European Overlanders
Parked on the rim of a canyon overlooking Cappadocia in central Turkey we watched bemused as a relatively large white overland truck searched a track riddled hill for a level area to camp. We had the best seat in the house to witness the sun set and for the following days hot air balloon show…