American people say, “That’s funny,” when they are amused, which makes you doubt whether all the other funny crap you said was not funny. You can return any item bought, in any state of use, at any time and you will either receive a full credit, your money back, or a new item (OK, not…
Christmas in Utah
I’d been wanting to do this trip for a while now because my girlfriend, Olivia, has never been to these areas and one of my oldest/best friends Charlie has been wanting to go on a trip with me for a while now. We loosely talked about doing it a couple of months ago, but nothing…
When Bridges Collapse
“Forget about it. We just came from there. The bridge is gone. Repairs are going to take weeks.” Two Dutch motorcyclists, Bart and Renate, on their way from Ecuador to Ushuaia, gave us the news. We met them in Huanchaco, a beach town in Peru, one of those places where travelers intend to stay for…
Video of the Week: Colossal 2017
Last week we posted an article following the adventures of a few friends through Canada’s stunning backcountry. (You can read it here.) The trucks, trails, and photography reeled us in, and the landscape can only be described as epic, but it left us wanting to see more. Well, it looks like our wish was granted, as…
Oasis on the Playa
In the spring of 2015, I planned an expedition to the Great Basin Desert with some of my travel buddies from Prometheus Design Werx (PDW) and Exploro. It was to be a quick weekend of high desert trail riding and exploration and an escape from the monotony of the city surrounding us. Our vehicles for…
Colossal: The Canadian Wild
Colossal has always been about expansive views and the enjoyment of nature both on the trail and back at camp each night. It is not the trip to sign up for if you’re after bragging rights for the most technical trail, or sheer mental exhaustion after navigating a full day’s worth of California rock. As…
Dust and Snow in the American West
Five months. That’s how long it took me to crack. Just 5 months and the concrete jungle surrounding my Dallas apartment had driven me insane. A train rolled by every 15 minutes, passing cars echoed in a constant hum, and the view outside my window was nothing but a continuous reminder of the city in…
Tail Lamp: Camp Fear
Anxiety is not a word often associated with overlanding, but if you are adventurous enough to test the limit of your courage, you will experience your fair share of angst. I am not merely referring to the pre-departure turmoil (particularly the intercontinental let’s sell it all and see what happens journey) but more specifically, the…
Overlanding in the Snows of Japan
It took Coen 10 minutes to clear the roof, hood, and winch of a thick layer of snow. It had become part of a ritual now that we were on Hokkaido, the northernmost and coldest island of Japan, in the middle of the winter. Meanwhile, I packed everything away inside the Land Cruiser. The engine…
The Last Mile
For some, breaking away from the norm and living a life of adventure becomes, well, normal. When it comes to folks like Loren and Patty Upton, I maintain that Merriam Webster should add “Upton” to the definition of the word adventure. Back in June of 1984, the couple packed up their CJ-5, affectionately called Sand…
From the ExPo Vault: Sun Soaked Sands to The Great White North
Two FJ Cruisers take on a journey from San Diego to the Arctic Circle
Year in Review: A Look Back at 2017
And just like that, 2017 passed on by. It’s hard to believe that we’re standing at the forefront of a new year, a time that will be filled with endless possibilities, uncharted opportunities, and of course plenty of interesting adventures. As we prepare to begin the newest segment of our lives, we feel it’s best…
Mobility for a Million: Free Wheelchair Mission
In the vast world of so-called humanitarian organizations and NGOs that promise to save the world, several of us at Overland Journal have been blessed with the hands-on opportunity to work with one that puts the ox before the cart: the California-based Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM). What began as one man’s spiritual conviction to help…
36 Hours of Adventure: Perpetual Fire in Southern Utah
“Did you know there is a part of Utah that is always on fire?” I gave my husband a look of pure disbelief as he went on to say, “I guess there are these weird cracks in the ground above underground coal veins that are burning and always have been. Want to go see it?”…
Expeditions 7: Wild Africa
Cinematographer Bruce Dorn shares his obsession for African megafauna that will not only kill you, but also eat you. Bon appétit!
Find Your Range: Sportsmobiles and Silencers
The staff at Expedition Portal enjoy a bit of plinking now and then, and we know a lot of you do as well. Whether it’s teaching your kids the basics of knocking down tin cans with a .22 rifle, or getting ready for hunting season with your buddies, a little target shooting while at camp…
Patriot Games Lands Stateside
Ten years ago, four-wheel drive shows were virtually nonexistent in the United States. Sure, one would pop up here or there, but there was almost nothing that catered to overlanders or those looking for long-term adventures. Fortunately, times have changed. With the rise of platforms like YouTube, the ability to stream high-quality video, and the…
Expeditions 7: The Wonders of Oz
The Expeditions 7 team explores the remote reaches of the red continent.
Hiking in the snow: Miyanouradake Mountain
“Maybe you shouldn’t go. It has just snowed for the first time this year. Samui!” our hosts said. “Ah, a bit of snow. It can’t be that bad,” I answered, not wanting to be discouraged from my plan. I wanted to go on a hike in Shiratani Unsuikyo National Park on Yakushima Island. It would be…
Old Friends and a Dutch Safari
We were out of time. We had been in Holland for 2 weeks inspecting and rejecting Defender after Defender. Late one night, in a tiny corner of the Polish Internet, we found an advertisement for a 110 in Warsaw. We bought tickets immediately and hopped on a plane only a few hours later. We had our first RyanAir experience/nightmare…