Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you had in-cab winch controls? Do you own a vehicle with both a wireless winch controller and a garage door system, such as HomeLink? If so, you can program your garage door opener to operate your winch. I have used this method with Toyota and…
The Overland Expedition Medic
All bleeding stops, eventually. This morbid maxim, with two very different outcomes, is taught to first-year surgical residents during day one of rotation with the trauma surgery service. The moral being that if medical professionals do not learn their craft well, a patient could bleed out. The same dire lesson is especially true for anyone…
Duration Health
Suffering a medical emergency while traveling is a scary experience, especially when far from home and definitive medical care. For those who travel remotely, I recommend taking a wilderness first aid course and bringing an activity-specific first aid kit capable of handling the first 24 hours of accident or illness. But, what if your travels take…
“Over 50 Outside” Offers Hiking Sponsorships for Women Over 50
Overlanding is all about adventure, exploring the the backcountry, relying on your own preparedness and resources, and spending time outdoors. Aside from vehicle-based travel, putting boots to the trail is remarkably similar and aims to achieve many of the same goals when the road runs out. Oboz, Osprey, and Outdoor Research, in collaboration with 52…
Observation Skills: Did You See That?
As overlanders and remote explorers, we often find ourselves in unfamiliar territory, which tends to make us more aware of our surroundings. As a result, one of the most critical skill sets for us is observation. Looking is seeing with your eyes. Observing is seeing in detail, listening to sounds, watching interactions and movements, applying…
Leave No Trace—Outdoor Ethics for Riders, Overlanders, and Other Land Users
I was camping in eastern Washington a month ago. We had a gorgeous spot right on a river and plenty of space for three vehicles and six dirt bikes. On arrival, I jumped out of the truck and headed into some trees to relieve my water-filled bladder. Walking a few feet away from camp, I…
The Perfect Campsite Breakfast
If Mrs. Bell had her way, we would eat Greek yogurt with seeds and nuts and bananas and a small spoon of jelly for breakfast every day. Last night’s dinner was pasta which was actually baby marrow (did she think we would not notice?) with watermelon for dessert. I am forced to drink a gallon…
Off-road Training for a Post-Round-the-World Rider—What I Wish I Knew Before I Left
I’ll admit that after 708 days riding around the world, my first thought was, what could I possibly learn in a Level 1 off-road course? I’d spent two years swerving around stray dogs and potholes, hopping my fully loaded F 800 GS up mountain roads, and throttling through countless creek crossings—what would weaving between orange…
Weather a Dull Moment
Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford. Typically, what do you do when the weather isn’t playing nice? Weather is the defining quality of a landscape, and aside from the extra effort involved, the wilder it is, the more compelling your photograph. It determines the two most pivotal landscape features: lighting and mood….
Video of the Week: Off Road Training with Live Work Wander
In this week’s video of the week, Jessica and Jorge from Live Work Wander join Chris from Overlanding BC for some four-wheel-drive training in their Toyota Troopy. The focus here is on “technique before technology,” which means smart use of gears, selection of high or low-range, and smart line choice before resorting to the vehicle’s…
The Dark Night Rises: How to Shoot Night Skies
Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford. When done right, starry-night-sky shots are impressive. Astro-photography can seem like a daunting genre, but trust me when I say it’s an easier task to undertake than you think. A few hundred shots in, that light will be shining as bright for you, and I’m here…
A Distilled Guide for Travel Photography
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…
How to Shoot a Minimalist Landscape
Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford Arguably, location is the most crucial aspect to consider when shooting minimalist landscapes. Certain places seem to lend themselves to minimalist photography more than others. Indeed, it’s possible to create minimalism in many locations with a carefully selected composition and the right lens. However, shooting from…
Water You Doing Today?
Words By Lisa Morris, Photography by Jason Spafford I’m always drawn to photographing water, whether in the form of white-fringed waves crashing on the shoreline to a lake as still as a millpond or the sheer power raining down in a waterfall. Shooting water is a tonne of fun and easy to create results that…
Overlanding in a Language Vacuum
No ticket is more revered in international travel than competency in local languages. Speak Spanish or Hindi or French? You’ll trade jokes with border officials in Tijuana or easily pick your way through Varanasi, India’s holiest and most chaotic of cities. You’ll exchange numbers with the attractive barista at that café in Saint Germain, Paris….
Soft and Hard Light
Words by Lisa Morris, Photos by Jason Spafford Light isn’t something you can hold. You can’t touch it, or feel it – it lacks physicality yet bears a presence. So to take pleasing pictures, you need to start treating light as the subject – a shape-shifting object with the power to make or break the…
How To Shoot Into the Sun
Words by Lisa Morris, Photos by Jason Spafford The sun, a brilliant round disk of light and warmth, can be tricky to encompass in a well-balanced picture. Due to an acute intensity of brightness lies an inability to view it directly overhead. Although challenging, with some inexpensive equipment, the sun is a dramatic image-enhancing inclusion….
How to Shoot Snowscapes
Words by Lisa Morris, photography by Jason Spafford. I don’t know about you, but the excitement of seeing the first snowflakes settle fills me with a purity of spirit. Especially when everything gleams white in graceful silence, leaving behind a grey and dreary world for a fresh and sleek one. Snow and frost transform…
Managing Your Money on the Road
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…
How to Bring Your Kids Onboard for the Journey: Overlanding Parent Styles
For all the usual reasons—long work hours, lack of time together, a love of the open road—our family plans to overland for a full year, from Canada to Panama, starting this summer, if the pandemic permits. Our kids take issue with this plan. Both enjoy weekend trips into the wild but are not sold on…