Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2017. 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 this symptom. I am not merely referring to the pre-departure turmoil (particularly the intercontinental let’s sell it…
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…
Knocking on Uwharrie: North Carolina’s secret door into a National Forest.
The Rebelle Rally is the first all-female, navigational road rally run in the U.S. The challenge is based around navigation, not speed, but the driving component requires some serious 4×4 skills. Originally from New Zealand, I’m used to driving on dirt roads, but I lacked the recovery skills we’d need when our vehicle would inevitably get…
Overland Routes | The Texas Hill Country
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2017. Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would give you the shirt off…
2017 BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails
$20,000, cash on the barrel to keep our backcountry trails open for all.
Expeditions 7: Ghosts of Eurasia
The Expeditions 7 team traverses 20,000 kilometers from Nordkapp, Norway, to Magadan, Russia, on the world’s most northern roads.
The Grand Adventure: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon
The last few months of meticulous preparation had led us up to this point. It was a trip of over 4 years in the making for us, as we could never find the right time to go until now. Our route would take us along most of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon almost…
Expeditions 7: Into Oblivion
The Expeditions 7 team crosses the Icelandic desert and Europe’s largest glacier.
Expeditions 7: Northern Extremes
Prudhoe Bay to Cape Spear—The Expeditions 7 team transects North America on a trek around the world.
WestX1000: The Trials & Tribulations of a Millennial Nomad
It had been raining for days, maybe weeks. We were in Seattle where I grew up, where my father still resides. We were parked in front of his apartment on a narrow street, lined with cars on one side and apartments overlooking Lake Union on the other. Our van, a 2008 Ford Econoline E-150, was…