Back in 1966, a group of Jeepers gathered in the northern Sierra Nevada along the banks of Fordyce Creek. They were in search of a long-forgotten wagon route that led to an 1860s mining camp known as Summit City. Perched on grassy alpine shores above Meadow Lake, in its heyday, Summit City boasted 4,000 residents,…
Ducati DesertX Discovery Adventure Tourer
With the debut of the DesertX Discovery, Ducati acknowledges the difference between adventure riding and adventure touring. The former being a hurried transit through natural surroundings, the latter a measured journey to explore and enjoy nature. Though the heart of the original DesertX beats beneath its red and black livery, the Discovery provides creature comforts,…
Overland News of the Week
Snow Peak Long Beach Campfield In this week’s Overland News of the Week, we’re excited to share the news that Snow Peak recently established the Long Beach Campfield between Seattle and Portland, along Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula. This 25-acre luxury campground redefines outdoor leisure while offering a unique camping experience. The campfield offers three…
BMW Marks 25 Years of the X5 with Special Off-Road Edition
Ah, BMW, the “ultimate driving machine,” but not necessarily a brand that leaps first to mind for rough-road prowess or as an overland platform. In fact, the BMWs we tend to cover on Expedition Portal have two wheels, not four. However, the Bavarian brand was among the first to stake a claim in the burgeoning…
BMW GS Trophy 2024 Goes to Namibia
The eighth running of the BMW International GS Trophy event takes place in Namibia this fall, with the riders aboard special R 1300 GS machines. BMW Motorrad is adding a host of extras to their R 1300 Style GS Trophy model, starting with the optional Enduro Package. The competitors will enjoy handguard extensions, handlebar risers,…
California-North BDR Film Goes Public
The CABDR-North (aka NorCal) BDR film, now available on YouTube, provides an end-to-end overview of the 13th BDR route created by Backcountry Discovery Routes. Like previous BDR films, this one gets down and dirty while also highlighting amazing scenery and seductive backroads. It also delves into the history and struggles of early settlers and shows…
Overland News of the Week
Opinel Releases New Grilling Set Fabricated in France, this grill set includes a stainless steel folding knife, a spatula insert, and extra-large tongs with a stonewashed finish. The No. 12B folding knife features a beechwood handle from sustainably managed French forests and is equipped with a bottle opener at the end, while the spatula is…
Tracks4Africa Founder Wouter Brand :: November, 22 1954 – June, 14 2024
Even if you’ve never traveled on the continent, you are likely familiar with Tracks4Africa, the pioneering crowd-sourced GPS mapping software and paper map publisher. Its co-founder, the enigmatic Wouter Brand, died last week at the age of 69. When GPS technology was made available to civilians at the end of the twentieth century, new travel…
Join Naresh Kumar as He Cycles Across America to Combat Human Trafficking
Naresh Kumar has cycled more than 10,000 kilometers through 13 countries on a tandem bicycle to raise awareness and funds to combat human trafficking. Now, you can join him as he travels from Oregon to DC, inviting strangers to join him on project Freedom Seat. Born and raised in a suburb of Chennai in South…
Mitsubishi May Bring New Delica to the US by 2030
The third-generation Mitsubishi Delica is one of the darlings of the JDM import scene. In both diesel and petrol versions, the funky little van from the Land of the Rising Sun offers an arsenal of options that have huge appeal for overlanders around the globe. True 4WD with a low-range transfer case, high ground clearance,…
Apple Adds Satellite Messaging for iOS 18
Off-grid communication for remote travelers has taken a big step forward with a significant announcement from Apple at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). When iOS 18 for iPhones launches to the general public in September of this year, it will include seamlessly integrated satellite messaging in the iMessage app. Reportedly, both iMessage and SMS…
Overland News of the Week
New RUX Clear We’ve all been arm-deep in a bag or container, exclaiming, “Where the heck is it? I know it’s in here somewhere!” Well, fear not, as in this week’s overland news RUX is now offering the RUX 70-liter, Waterproof Bag, and RUX Pocket in a transparent material. The company promises that by using…
Ineos Launches Arcane Works to Build Bespoke Grenadiers
In the world of modern luxury cars, customization is key. For example, Porsche offers a bewildering array of over 200 different configurations on their 911 model, and buyers generally spend over $20,000 on options alone when writing a check for one of those legendary sports cars. Porsche even offers entirely custom color options through its…
Overland Expo West 2024 :: More Gear
There are some subtle shifts happening at Overland Expo. With new owners since the middle of last year (Emerald Expositions, purveyors of huge industry events like Outdoor Retailer), the purpose and scope of the four yearly Expos are slowly moving. This was inevitable, given the sheer scale of Overland Expo now (especially the Flagstaff event)….
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
Feature Image Courtesy of The Journal of Lost Time AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When: June 20-23, 2024 Where: Leavenworth, Washington The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively…
Jeep Beach 2024
Each year, tens of thousands of Jeep enthusiasts descend on Daytona Beach, Florida for the annual (2024) Jeep Beach event. This is considered one of the largest Jeep gatherings in the world, an evolution over the past 21 years to its current form. The event includes trail rides, beach drives, training, obstacle courses, mud bogs,…
Overland News of the Week
Hilleberg Introduces Two New Tent Models for Spring 2024 In this week’s Overland News of the Week, we’re excited to hear that Hilleberg, the well-respected, premium Swedish tent maker, is expanding its range with the Saivo 4 and the Rogen 3. The Saivo 4, part of the all-season Black Label series, is a robust 4-person…
Overland Expo West 2024 :: Top Rigs
The 2024 edition of Overland Expo West was a blustery and wind-blown affair, in stark contrast to last year’s event which suffered one deluge after the other and was mired in mud for much of the weekend. Such is the variability of the weather in Arizona’s high country. But uncertainty from the skies does not…
Yamaha Volunteers Protect Public Lands
Yamaha takes seriously their responsibility to inform all motorized recreational vehicle (MRV) users of where they are welcome to ride, and where they aren’t. In doing so, they partner with non-profit organizations to prevent and mitigate damage to public lands. The company’s goal is to keep those lands accessible. Yamaha Heads to the Hills Yamaha’s…
Overland News of the Week
Storyteller Overland Acquires Taxa Outdoors In this week’s overland news, adventure lifestyle and adventure van manufacturer Storyteller Overland has acquired camping habitat and overlanding utility trailer brand Taxa Outdoors. Entrepreneur and former Global Brand President for Harley-Davidson Neil Grimmer will serve as the chief strategy officer of Storyteller Overland and CEO at Taxa. “With the…