Photography by Frank and Helen Schreider Frank and Helen Schreider were preparing to leave for the island of Flores, Indonesia, when the village chief in Komodo brought bad news. “There is no road at Labuhan Badjo,” he said, running a calloused thumb eastward over their map. “It starts here, at Reo.” Their map of Flores…
Craghoppers Clothing :: Long-Term Review
Editor’s Note: This Craghoppers clothing review was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue. In late 2012, we said goodbye to our home in Cape Town, South Africa, and packed the Land Rover for an expedition that would take us around the world without pause. We researched and sourced gear that would serve us…
Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway
Editor’s Note: Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue. They say the Million Dollar Highway begins and ends between the Colorado mountain towns of Silverton and Ouray, but traverse it, and you’ll also discover a plethora of dirt road hideaways laced with abundant scenery, lakes and streams, ample camping…
Eva Rupert :: Modern Explorer
Editor’s Note: This Eva Rupert interview was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. “Hey, I know you. You’re famous. I’ve seen you on TV.” I stood at the entrance to a convenience store in northern Nevada, about to buy food for a week-long motorcycle adventure in the backcountry. As she spoke, the woman…
Giant Loop Armadillo Bag :: Field Tested
Of all the things that can put the brakes on a motorcycle journey, running out of gas has to be the easiest to avoid. I ride by this maxim: “Know thy range, read thy map, and carry extra fuel.” That last bit became much easier when I bought Giant Loop’s 2-gallon Armadillo Bag, which is…
Food Storage for the Overland Traveler
Editor’s Note: This food storage article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. If you think about it, food should always come first. It’s the fire behind everything we do, from everyday human functioning to scaling cliffsides and hiking through high mountain passes. Living necessitates eating. Living adventurously? So much more so. Dream…
From Land to Sea: Overlanders Weigh-In On the Transition to Sailing
Editor’s Note: This sailing article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. Lead photo by Bryan Danger. Bumfuzzle | Pat, Ali, Ouest, and Lowe Schulte Photography courtesy of Bumfuzzle “Neither of us had ever sailed or had a boat. We were just Midwestern kids from Minnesota,” Pat Schulte says of the moment he…
Camper Van Essentials
Editor’s Note: This camper van essentials article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. Eight years ago, I overstuffed the biggest suitcase I owned and lugged way too much clothing, shoes, and gear to Vienna. I’d landed a journalism fellowship and a portal to Europe and spent much of the coming year exploring,…
On the Up and Up: Returning to the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route
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…
GMC AT4 Sierra 1500 Duramax Overland Build
Editor’s Note: This GMC AT4 Sierra article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. For our first full-size project vehicle, we selected a half-ton GMC with their AT4 (all-terrain 4WD) package. The base Sierra is known for its quality of assembly, overall driver comfort, and 60,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty. In recent years, GM has…
Rev’It Lombard 3 RF Motorcycle Jeans :: Field Tested
I wore blue jeans when I hit the trail on my first motorcycle. They were the uniform of the day, despite providing just a touch more protection than cotton pajamas in a get-off. When textile gear came of age, I moved on to a higher level of protection. Now technology has taken us back to…
When Nature Calls: Bathroom Solutions for the Overland Traveler
Editor’s Note: This article on overland toilet solutions was originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2023 Issue. When you announce your intention to travel by vehicle, an audience of loved ones and acquaintances will immediately become very curious. Not necessarily about border crossings or why you’ve decided to venture beyond a comfortable, predictable, and stable…
The Mighty Military Dodge M37
Editor’s Note: This Dodge M37 article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Photography by Richard Villacres Old trucks are special. They exude character, strength, and personality; they appeal to our nostalgia; and they are living, breathing, handmade machines which often require skill to drive and maintain. Nothing beats the smell of leather, canvas,…
Unbreakable: Vasilisa Komarova’s Six-Year Journey to Justice
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Illustrations by Wayne Watford. Editor’s Note: This article contains mature content that may be considered disturbing, particularly to victims of sexual assault or minors. Seven years ago, I was dispatched to London to deliver an enrichment program at the Apple Store in Covent Garden….
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…
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…
Halite Kraken and Void Bags :: Field Tested
Editor’s Note: This Halite Field Tested article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. We received two Halite bags in mid-2019 as we were planning a journey from Cape Town, South Africa, to Vladivostok, Russia. We were looking for waterproof bags to store on the roof of the Defender to contain soft goods: the…
Have We Found the Best Electric Vehicle for Overlanding?
Editor’s Note: This electric vehicle article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Electric overlanding is here and represents an exciting new option for vehicle-based travel. We are not suggesting that EVs will work for everyone, but they represent a compelling set of attributes that will target the needs of many adventurers. From the…
Worldschooling and Overland Travel
Editor’s Note: This Worldschooling article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Lead photo by Korey and Anna Hart Worldschooling is a style of education that recognizes the value of children traveling to international destinations where they can be immersed in other cultures, acquiring knowledge through a hands-on approach. Proponents believe engaging all five…
Made in the USA : Quality Gear to Last a Lifetime
Editor’s Note: This Made in the USA article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. American industriousness has set the stage for modern society since the Industrial Revolution, and the country’s creativity is enjoying a rebirth as entrepreneurs and creators seek to provide local solutions to local needs. The pandemic has exposed the…