If you’re someone who enjoys venturing into the backcountry, then your safety should be a primary consideration, and the ability to share your location and alert emergency services in the event of an accident is crucial. In the past, I’ve been a fan of SPOT Satellite Communication Devices (generally alongside a second “burner” mobile phone, and at sea, a Marine…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #46 Interview with Maggie McDermut, Land Cruiser owner and adventurer Summary: Scott Brady interviews Maggie McDermut about her thoughts on outdoor stewardship, the importance of overland training, and the value of solo travel. Maggie also shares numerous insights on traveling in Alaska, vehicle preparation for her BJ70 Land Cruiser, and lessons learned as a…

My family has been on the road for a long time now, almost a quarter of our adult lives and the majority of our children’s lives, through thick and thin. There has been an abundance of spectacular thick and inexplicably regular suffering of thin. You soon realize as you travel to foreign continents far, far from any home that you…

Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) are one of the best ways to adventure-road trip around the U.S. And what better way to celebrate Motorcycle Awareness month and National Road Trip day (May 28) than with the 10-year anniversary of BDR—an organization that literally defined the phrase “adventure riding.” What is BDR? Using double-track, forest service, and fire roads, the BDRs travel…

Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Lisa Morris and Jason Spafford   You’ve got the basics of composition under your belt, and with a good skill base, you continue your love of photography as a fun and creative outlet. Who doesn’t love visiting places tucked away off the beaten track, brimming with photogenic shots? When we journey near or far,…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #45 Interview with Bryon Bass, Explorer, Archaeologist, Vintner, and Overlander Summary: Scott Brady interviews Bryon Bass for the second time, diving deeper into every day carry (EDC), keeping yourself out of trouble on the road, tools, and watches. We also explore Bryon’s passion for wine, watches, and Toyotas, including his 300,000 mile Tacoma and…

Words By Chris O’Neill, Photography by Greg Fitzgerald Here’s the thing about being in your favorite place in the world when it’s 5:00 a.m., 20°F, and there are 8 inches of snow on the ground—it’s still your favorite place in the world. For me, that place is the Colorado Plateau, and I was there with my friend Greg, who I’d…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #44 Interview with Amanda Winther and Matt Swartz on living remotely, taking to the winds, and doing good as they go. Summary: Scott Brady interviews Amanda and Matt about their three years living on the road, learning to pursue their creative professions, and doing more with less. They also share their newfound love of…

Not as a complete definition, but as an often-overlooked component, I’ve started describing overlanding as “intentional self-deprivation.” This is the part you rarely see on Instagram. Those who use the activity to escape the city and trials of work-life could probably care less. Even when the weather doesn’t cooperate, disappointing for sure, it’s all part of the adventure before returning…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #43 Interview with David Soza: polymath, engineer, and wanderer. Summary: Scott Brady discusses with David Soza the merits of light weight and minimalism, along with the essential design considerations for expedition campers. They also do a deep dive on critical Tacoma modifications for strength and durability. David shares his experiences living remote and off…

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I can’t remember a time when our house was silent growing up, whether we were listening to Radio Caroline, the pirate radio station that inspired the film The Boat That Rocked, or my dad’s records. As a young kid, I was first drawn to the album art (something lost on…

Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness (HUMM) Cascades 2021 Event Described as “the best 48 hours of my life” by one participant (who later had to apologize to his wife for saying that), Horizons Unlimted’s HUMM event is essentially a make-your-own-adventure, off-road scavenger hunt. Riders form teams of two or four and spend two days chasing tags through British Columbia’s Cascade Range. As…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #42 Interviewing Mauricio Escobar on Overlanding in Colombia Summary: For this field interview, Scott Brady interviews Micho Escobar of Elephant Expeditions about overland travel in Colombia, riding BMW GS through the jungles, and the journey we all take towards adventure.   This podcast is supported in part by: Red Oxx Luggage Host Bios:  Scott…

In October 2019, I flew from Norway to Málaga for a bikepacking adventure with my girlfriend, Amber, and my good friends Bart and Michalina (familiar to those who read my recent article Bikepacking Scotland). This was a very special ride at the time, but even more so when we returned. It would be Amber’s first extended adventure cycling trip and…

Helinox Toasty Lightweight camp furniture has come a long way, and the brand Helinox is a perfect example of the intersection between smart design and modern materials. For instance, their Chair Zero is a 17-ounce camp chair that adds huge amounts of comfort in the backcountry despite its diminutive weight. But this week, it’s actually a furniture accessory of theirs…

  Show Notes for Podcast Episode #41 Interview with Sinuhe Xavier, Filmmaker, Photographer, and Global Traveler Summary: Matt and Scott interview Sinuhe Xavier, award winning cinematographer, commercial director, and photographer. Sinuhe shares his insights on traveling the globe on a motorcycle and in a 4WD as a lifelong learner. Sinuhe shares his insights on photography, Land Rovers, the Utah Traverse,…

If there’s been one ride that both completely broke me and reaffirmed that bikepacking completes me, it was Iceland. Home to some of the planet’s most active volcanoes, Europe’s largest glacier (Vatnajökull Glacier), geysers, stunning mountains, rugged coastlines, trolls and elves (yep), and, of course, the Icelandic Highlands. This country has gained a legendary reputation for adventure cycling over the…

Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford   A learned friend advised that if I were to raise funds for a big two-wheeled trip successfully, I’d have to adopt the mantra Don’t be too stupid to be poor. Being frugal is the easy part—surrendering the daily caffè latte, monthly subscription to premium television, and an annual visit to the…

Sitting down to write an article about the California 395 corridor stirs a conflicting range of emotions within me, mostly because I want to share this magical area with others, but in doing so, I worry that these places might end up getting “loved to death”. But then I remembered two things. One, anyone should have the opportunity to experience…

Midnight on 7 August 2008, Steve Burgess and Dan Richards in their Land Rover Defender 110 double-cab are just two miles away from the Alaskan coastline and a place in the record books.   Photography By Mac Mackenny Aand Steve Burgess Editor’s note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2021 Issue.   The year was 1986, and the…