The sailboat heels hard to starboard, the wind gusting to gale force and prompting a further reduction in sail area. Despite the robust cockpit enclosure, several adjustments require clipping into the lifelines and maneuvering the foredeck. I move slowly toward the mast, the rain sheeting off my jacket, the hood guarding my face against the stinging torrent. We were crossing…

Show Notes for Podcast #129 2022 In Review: Vehicles, Gear, and Industry Updates Summary: Matt Scott and Scott Brady share their experiences from 2022, including project wrapups, new vehicles, the state of new overland models and EVs, and significant changes in the overland industry. They also chat about their favorite kit and some of their travel and vehicle plans for…

Lead photograph courtesy of Tucker Sno-Cat Archives. Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  After decades of deliberation, I bought a snowcat a couple of years ago—a Kristi, manufactured in Denver about 1963. Powered by a 36-horsepower VW air-cooled motor, it had sat idle outdoors for over a decade. Perhaps the idea was seeded in boyhood…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  Travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle affords rapid access to the middle of nowhere, which is a potential mecca of peace and tranquility until said vehicle breaks down, or its jockey becomes ill. As an emergency and wilderness medicine physician, I’ve been trained to identify stranded steeds and queasy jockeys…

A traumatic experience such as the death of a loved one can be a catalyst that motivates us to look at our life choices and consider significant changes. My family and I have first-hand experience of this. When we were in the initial planning phase of our global travels, my father abruptly passed away a day before my daughter’s fourth…

The cost of classic Land Rovers has skyrocketed in recent years with clean examples such as this essentially stock 1993 Defender 110 200 Tdi listed for over $40,000. However, fear not because the Discovery offers much of the same charm without the eye-watering price tag. Furthermore, in some respects, the Discovery provides certain advantages over the classic Defender, and not…

Summary: Matt Scott interviews Scott Brady on his first drive of the (prototype) Grenadier Trialmaster SUV from Ineos. The Grenadier represents a significant offering to the overland market, being the first build on purpose SUV for overlanding in several years (since the 200 TLC left the market). The Grenadier combines classic styling with body on frame construction, 5-link suspension, solid…

BMW Motorrad USA is collaborating with Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) on their newest project in the west, Oregon. The ORBDR brings the total routes created by the non-profit BDR organization to an even dozen. It is the second with BMW as a partner, the first being the Wyoming BDR. ORBDR Film Premier Save the date: February 4, 2023. On that…

Show Notes for Podcast #126 Leander, Maria, and Lennox of Akela World on Circumnavigating the Globe in a 1977 Mercedes Benz  LA 911B Summary: Austrian overlanders Leander, Maria, and Lennox completed the Silk Road to Vladivostok, Korea, Japan, Borneo, Indonesia, Australia, and the USA in their 1977 Mercedes Benz truck. In this podcast from the field, senior editor Ashley Giordano…

Photography by Richard Giordano  Those who know Torfi Birkir Jóhannsson describe him as the guy you want around when things go south. He welded a D-ring screw to a pintle hitch during an Arctic whiteout, acted as chief mechanic and logistics expert on various expeditions, and volunteers for the Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg, Iceland’s Search and Rescue team (ICE-SAR). He was part…

You’re out in the backcountry, enjoying your time in the back of beyond. Suddenly, there’s an emergency, and you need to use your two-way communications device to call for help. What do you say? Most travelers and outdoor enthusiasts know the importance of being able to communicate at all times—even in the backcountry. A two-way communication device is essential if…

By Matt Swartz and Scott Brady  Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  Few vehicles offer the overland traveler versatility, utility, and flexibility like a pickup truck. But that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect platform. Pickup trucks are kind of like a blank canvas, offering loads of potential in the way of payload, hauling capability,…

The centuries-old mansion on Puebla, Mexico’s central plaza had been converted into a restaurant on the bottom floor with new apartments above. We sit in the living room of one of those apartments on the second story. With its towering ceiling and decorative tile floors, it surely used to be the salon of high society. Today, the room is part…

Show Notes for Podcast #125 Tina and Dave Payne on Family Travel and Seizing the Moment Summary: Dave and Tina Payne on growing up in Africa, directing horror films, and choosing to say yes to exploring the world with your family. Guest Bio: Host Bio:  Scott Brady Scott is the publisher and co-founder of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal and…

Ken Block, one of the giants of contemporary car culture, died in a snowmobiling accident on January 2. Block loomed large as a rally racer, taste-maker, and seemingly indefatigable advocate for all things automotive. An entrepreneur at heart, he walked away from a multi-million dollar shoe and sportswear empire to take up a career in professional rally and, in the…

Show Notes for Podcast #124 Stefano Melgrati on minimalist ADV overlanding and the joys of connection Summary: Stefano Melgrati is an infectiously joyful traveler, with a broad smile and love for seeing the globe and meeting its peoples. Stefano traveled on $28 per day, crossing Europe, Africa, and the Americas.   Guest Bio: Stefano is an Italian by random chance,…

Scott O’Sullivan considers himself to be a motorcycle lawyer first and a personal injury lawyer second. The Denver, Colorado-based attorney created the group, Rider Justice, five years ago as the motorcycle advocacy arm of The O’Sullivan Law Firm, P.C. and has since advocated for and helped injured riders for more than 20 years. What’s to know about Rider Justice beyond…

Show Notes for Podcast #123  Neale Bayly on overcoming adversity, surviving war zones, and the joys of giving back Summary: Neale Bayly is a traveler, humanitarian, motorcyclist, writer, photographer, and father. Neale shares the challenges of growing up a troubled youth in the UK, and slowly overcoming all limitations to travel the world and ultimately start a not-for-profit that gives…

Bunes Beach, or Bunesstranda, is located on the northern side of Moskenes (part of the Lofotodden National Park) and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Lofoten. They say that adventure is as much about the journey as the destination, which is certainly true of Bunes. A ferry that leaves from Reine and arrives at Vindstad…

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue.  I frequent locations that don’t have cell service, where I’ve come to appreciate two-way satellite communication devices. And while earlier personal locator beacons simply alerted SAR, modern two-way messengers like the Spot X do that and a lot more, like allowing you to send and receive SMS…