Innehållsförteckning för Spring 2016 från Overland Journal

Inspired I wanted to say that I really appreciate all you guys do. It is so cool to see the many people inspired by what you share. Four years ago, the day I graduated from college, my friend Robin and I took off for a short overland trip to the Arctic Circle, Norway. When we returned home a few weeks later his dad introduced me to Overland Journal and it opened my eyes and sparked a huge desire to see more of the world. Thank you for playing a big part in the inspiration for our trip to Mongolia. Milo Zanecchia EXPEDITION PORTAL contributor 2000 Toyota Prado J95 Love it So far I’ve received my first two issues and I love Overland Journal. I really enjoy the adventure stories. I…

Filson’s Heritage Sportsman bag is the next best thing to a travel companion, and mine repeatedly pulls double-duty. In the cockpit of my Cessna it holds a flashlight, airplane manual, snacks, and a wide-mouthed “multipurpose” plastic bottle. It is also frequently placed into service on the passenger seat of my Jeep, where it organizes my field journal, binoculars, maps, cell phone, and other items. The Heritage Sportsman’s rectangular form holds about the same amount of gear as a daypack, but its large U-shaped top zipper makes access handy. Inside, the main compartment houses two snap-closure dividers that fold away when not in use, making room for flip-flops and a few days’ worth of clothes. Long external pockets along the front and rear work well for maps, pencils, and note pads,…

A few years ago the guys at Mac’s gave me one of their new utility mats. At the time I wasn’t in need of a mat, nor did I want any more clutter in the back of my truck. But I accepted graciously, said thank you, and slipped it onto a shelf in my garage when I got home. A few months later I was under a rig on the Fordyce Trail with differential parts in my hands and rocks in my back. I said to myself, “I sure could use that mat right now.” Mac’s Utility Mat has been a go-to piece of gear for me ever since. It is cut from .75-inch, ultra-tough foam pad (the same material used to make life jackets as it doesn’t retain water…

Back in 1990 I spent a lazy week in Utah, drifting through the narrow chasms of sedimentary red rock that channel the tranquil waters of the Green River to their date with the mighty Colorado. I’d read of the river’s headwaters high in the northern Rockies and the area’s Yosemite-like granite monoliths and cascading falls. I later pulled out a map and traced a thin blue line east, west, and north as it squiggled its way toward Wyoming and a place called Green River Lakes. Nearby were the towering peaks of the Tetons and Yellowstone, the world’s first national park. To the northeast was Cody, a Wild West town with a reputation for cutthroat cattle rustlers, resolute lawmen, and high-noon gunfights between soon-to-be dead men and their quicker-to-draw executioners. I…

If you look at the data chart you will note that lumen count does not necessarily equate to high lux received by a desired subject. Our test results quantify the significance of selecting the proper optics for a specific use. Adjustable beam lamps excelled in range testing, but most will not survive being dunked in a creek. LOW-COST HEADLAMPS All of the low-cost options tested impressed me. The fully submersible Princeton Tec Vizz had good range, and in reserve mode lasted for a remarkable 90 hours. The Pelican felt durable and provided excellent projection and initial output, but run time at the highest setting was shorter than expected. The most consistent (and lightest) was the Petzl TIKKA +. Overall range was good but output over time left us wanting more.…

Few words conjure visions of adventure and the surge of adrenaline as Camel Trophy and the name Tom Collins. The Trophy was an epic of human resilience and vehicle prowess, and Collins, affectionately known by his friends as TC, led the U.S. team for more than a decade and became one of the most prominent figures in expedition travel. I met TC in the early ’90s at an auto show and, like countless others, bombarded him with questions about participating in the Trophy. I found him to be assertive yet tactful, soft-spoken but confident, a man with grit and integrity who looks you in the eye when he has something to say. While researching TC for Living Legends, I reached out to his friends, coworkers, and employers. As each person…

The United States is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world. Although it contains magnificent deserts, wide-open plains, dense forests, and murky swamps, few places hold the beauty and grandeur of the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. It’s an area rich with flora and fauna, valuable minerals like silver, gold, zinc, and lead, and some of the best four-wheel drive trails in North America. Many of these roads are over 100 years old, but their origins go back much further. Long before the first immigrants set eyes on these mountains, Native Americans called them home. Local tribes would use the warm months to trek up from the plains and hunt for furs and gather food in the high country. Their ancient footpaths led safely to summer camps,…

Some of you may remember the water filter and purifier test we published in the fall of 2009. It was one of the most comprehensive evaluations of its kind, and is still relevant more than six years later. If we had to do it again, however, we might have to declare a different winner—the new Guardian from MSR. Commissioned by the U.S. military and released to the public after six years of development, the Guardian has redefined expectations of what a small and portable water purifier can achieve. Capable of filtering out harmful bacteria and protozoa, it also removes viruses like Norwalk, rotavirus, and hepatitis A. What is equally impressive is the Guardian’s efficiency. It can produce up to 2.5 liters of purified water per minute, and due to advanced…

North America is a land of opportunities when it comes to overland travel. When you cross the Rockies heading west, a vast array of two-tracks spreads across to the Pacific, north to Canada, and south to the Mexican border. A decade ago, BFGoodrich launched their Outstanding Trails program to help local clubs not only preserve and protect these historic routes, but also keep them open for future generations of OHV users to enjoy. The clubs who maintain these areas are given a $4,000 grant to be used for public education, cleanup projects, signage, and camp area improvements. Thus far the program has donated nearly $150,000 in grants to 35 clubs, and is scanning the country for its 2016 contenders. Grants are made possible by the continued support of BFGoodrich, 4…

Whether you are scaling the peaks of the Himalayas or chopping up kale for supper in a remote African bush camp, having a reliable source of light can mean the difference between falling off a cliff and leaving your pinky finger in the soup. During a recent trek through Kenya with Overland Journal contributor Sam Watson, the headlights on the 1973 Range Rover Classic we hired were barely bright enough to read by, let alone illuminate the elephants that lumbered across the road. Sam and I traded off driving while the other held a headlamp out the window to light the way. The situation was not ideal, but it confirmed my long-held belief that these pocket-sized torches are an indispensable piece of gear. CONSIDERATIONS There are a number of characteristics…

COAST HL27 $60 VALUE AWARD Coast, which began as Coast Cutlery in 1919, jumped into the lighting sector in the last decade. The HL27 incorporates the company’s Pure Beam focusing optic system, which allows the user to choose everything between a wide proximity pattern and long-range pencil beam. The spot pattern retains a slight halo that illuminates the peripheral areas well—a nice feature. A rotating dial on the lamp head adjusts intensity between 0 and 330 lumens. It was right in the middle of the pack during testing, offering 200 feet of usable light and operating at nearly full power for four hours. It runs on three AA alkaline cells, and though it does not have a waterproof rating it was subjected to and passed the IPX4 test. Made in…

A cold wind roaring across Desolation Bay bites my ears as I turn my back to shield my eyes, scanning the shoreline for signs of life. We picked up fresh wolf prints along the water’s edge, and a few miles back on the highway we passed a large grizzly. As far as my eyes can see there are no signs of man, and the wind has whipped the surface of the water into what looks like rain clouds across the bay. The scene is intense and raw, and its natural beauty, one that has been crafted by years of evolution, has my senses on high alert. Moving my head alters the buffeting in my ears. I hear wolves howling as they did nearly 30 years ago, when I lay under…

Protecting Guatemala’s natural resources and people through conservation and education. The river dwindles until we have to duck away from the heavy branches above. The park ranger tilts the boat’s engine to avoid the thick, subaquatic roots—tentacles that reach toward us. Birds shriek as we pass through this tunnel of greenery that winds through the wetlands of Bocas del Polochic. A rickety wooden pier appears, and sweat starts trickling down my back as the boat slows. We are on our way to visit a project run by Defensores de la Naturaleza Foundation (FDN), a Guatemalan nonprofit conservation organization. The foundation manages four protected areas in Guatemala, among them the Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge and the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve. Their regular work includes reforestation, wildfire prevention, and…

MENU MAIN: Lomo Saltado SIDES: French fries or rice BEVERAGE: Pisco sour Even though ceviche claims the honor of being Peru’s national dish, in our opinion it should be lomo saltado—you’d be hard-pressed to find a Peruvian restaurant that doesn’t serve some form of it. The name doesn’t translate well; it literally means “jumped loin,” but we’ll leave that one up to your imagination. Lomo saltado highlights Asia’s heavy influence on Peruvian cuisine and makes use of several peppers that are found in many of the country’s traditional dishes. You aren’t likely to find aji limo or aji amarillo chilies outside of the region, and attempts to replace them will likely have Peruvian grandmothers turning over in their graves. However, in the name of convenience, and with no offense to…

Climbing in behind the wheel of a new Wrangler reveals the soul of a stalwart warrior and character of a weathered woodsman on the hunt. The year 1941 began on a Wednesday. In the predawn hours a three-quarter moon crept toward the western horizon, casting silvery hues across Toledo, Ohio, as it yielded to New Year’s Day. It would be a day of joyous celebration for some, a day of hopeless despair for many. In the months that followed, Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, and Dumbo would grace the big screen, Glenn Miller recorded “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” and sculptor Gutzon Borglum struck the final chisel on Mount Rushmore. But beyond the protected borders of the United States, the world was unraveling at a frightening pace. Germany had invaded much of…

Last year we tested air compressors, an essential piece of overland gear. The evaluation included inflating tires, reseating beads, lab testing for airflow, amperage draw, thermal management, and running air tools. When the dust settled, ARB’s CKMTP12 twin mobile received the coveted Editor’s Choice award. It has become a permanent part of my kit and been used everywhere from Moab, Utah, to Mexico. Its Pelican-style case is tough and easy to tote from one rig to another, and the air hose, gun, and hardware are holding up well. Although current draw is on the high side (53.4 amps) and it is a bit noisy, the unit functions as a mobile shop. Air-up times are fast and the 4-liter tank has been a great asset when running pneumatic tools. I do…

If you are the type of person who dreams of breaking away from the norm and stepping out of your comfort zone, you are not alone. Inspired by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s BMW ride around the world in the Long Way Round, John Eldredge, author of the New York Times best seller Wild at Heart, set off with his sons and a few friends to create their own epic. They wouldn’t take on the globe, but rather a thousand miles of the Centennial State’s most scenic two-tracks. There was one small catch…none owned a dual-sport motorcycle and five of the six had no off-piste experience. A Story Worth Living drops you off in the high peaks of the Colorado Rockies riding pillion across frigid creeks, through alpine meadows, and…

CLEARWATER Shelby $149 Clearwater Lights, based in Rancho Cordova, California, has built a firm reputation for producing ultra-high-quality motorcycle driving lights. The Shelby, their first offering in the headlamp market, is technically better suited for the mountain bike crowd than hikers and it could literally substitute for vehicle headlights—it is that bright. The housing is CNC milled from 6061 billet aluminum and extremely well made, as are the headband, battery pack, and accessories (reflected in its 16.5-ounce weight). It has a single 12-watt LED collimated by a polished and plated aluminum reflector and is projected through an optical glass lens. The rubber-sealed power pack contains four 1200mAh rechargeable 18650 Li-ion batteries. The Shelby puts out 900 retina-burning lumens and was by far the brightest lamp in the test, offering usuable…

Big, beefy bumpers are not just for show. If they are engineered, built, and installed correctly they can prevent incapacitating damage during an animal strike or other collisions. In Part I of our long-term Ram we put rubber to the road, managed damping, and fitted the Tradesman 2500 with a comfortable, self-contained abode. With thousands of miles of off-pavement travel in its future, it was time to address body armor, recovery equipment, and auxiliary lighting. A few other backcountry basics to tackle included keeping the differentials free of contaminants, and installing a reliable source of air. Because I had opted to leave the vehicle at its stock height, and considering its long wheelbase and relatively low approach and departure angles, protecting the sheet metal was a priority. Big, beefy bumpers…

There’s a moment near the beginning of every journey when it hits you: that nerve-tingling anticipation, that glorious realisation that you’re really off on another adventure. This time it came as we buzzed west over the Severn Bridge under a perfect May sky, sunshine glinting off the water far below. BAM! In an instant I felt my shoulders drop, a smile bolt from ear to ear, and an involuntary whoop escape into the wind. My boyfriend, Marley, and I had set out on a two-week motorcycle jaunt around Ireland to ride part of the newly launched Wild Atlantic Way. Unveiled with much fanfare and shiny signage by Fáilte Ireland, this epic driving route wiggles 1,600 miles around the west coast—from Cork in the south to Derry in the north—via a…

All snakebites from venomous and/or unidentifiable snakes should be considered medical emergencies, and victims should be expeditiously evacuated to a hospital. Of all the vertebrate animals on earth (humans excluded), none pose a greater threat to human life than venomous reptiles. Adventure travelers are at risk for snake envenomation due to unfamiliarity with local snake habits and the close proximity obtained during hiking treks and photographic attempts. Delayed evacuation and the sketchy supply of antivenin (antivenin, rather than antivenom, is the medically correct term) in medically underserved areas increases the risk of an envenomation becoming life threatening. Before heading to the bush you should have a basic understanding of venomous snakebites and related first-aid techniques. BACKGROUND Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. Venomous animals inject toxin into their prey through a…