Innehållsförteckning för Winter 2017 från Overland Journal

All the gear, all the time (ATGATT) is an important mantra, but let’s be realistic for a moment. There is a difference between looking like the Michelin Man stuffed into one of Stark’s Ironman suits, and the gear that actually works and endures riding in the wilds of overland travel. Protection must be balanced with durability and wearability. In the case of riding boots, this also includes all-day ergonomics and walking comfort. Aerostich Combats were designed 25 years ago in the classic “engineering” style, with much of the support and protection of the MX (motocross) models, including a Sidi sole. These full grain, all-leather boots are manufactured by Sidi in Romania and feature Scotchlite reflectors and generous ankle and heel padding. The front enclosure is wide to allow for quick…

The long-standing leader in portable power solutions, Goal Zero recently updated one of their most popular products: the Yeti 400. The new model now has a state-of-the-art lithium battery system, reducing the weight by nearly half at just 16.3 pounds. Considerably smaller than the original, it also introduces a number of technical features that improve on an already excellent user experience. With its large control panel, managing the Yeti’s 428 watt-hours of stored electricity has never been easier. The brightly lit digital display has multiple power level indicators as well as selectable readouts to measure input and output values in watts, volts, amps, watt-hours, or as a percentage. Those metrics can also be conveyed in more simple terms as hours to full or empty. That information is particularly helpful when…

As a touring and adventure machine, the Rally feels built for travel. Founded in the province of Venice, Aprilia started out by making bicycles after World War II; by the late 1960s they were producing motorcycles. In typical Italian fashion, they manufacture models with a deep emphasis on design and performance.This enthusiasm continues to the track, where they are the world’s most successful racing brand with 54 world championship titles and 294 MotoGP wins. All of this translates into a uniquely capable and spirited motorcycle with the Caponord 1200 Rally. As a touring and adventure machine, the Rally feels built for travel, a reflection of the long wheelbase, comfortable saddle (even for the pillion), large adjustable windscreen, and upright seating position. Standard equipment reads more like a luxury sedan than…

While Overland Journal’s Living Legends section features those that have created a long-standing name for themselves in the community, Modern Explorers seeks to draw attention to luminaries in the making. To the people that are currently in the thick of it, setting tracks on the path of their own destinies, inspiring others to do the same. Justin Coffey and Kyra Sacdalan have their eyes on the prize: living a life of travel their way, bringing family and friends into the fold whenever possible. They co-created WESTx1000, and what started out as an “excuse to ride dirt bikes in Baja,” has become a vibrant multimedia company providing inspiration for fellow adventurers and thrill seekers. While the couple’s long list of sponsors indicates decided recognition in the moto and off-pavement worlds, they…

I meet Nena Barlow in the ponderosa pine-clad mountains halfway between Sedona and Prescott, Arizona. Nena is a 4WD trainer and the owner of Barlow Adventures, a company that offers off-pavement experiences in the American Southwest. As a certified Leave No Trace instructor, she also knows everything and a bit more about environmentally responsible driving. First, Nena deflates the air pressure from her truck’s tires, perhaps the most important action to take when leaving a maintained road. “It does several things for us. It spreads out our weight on the ground and increases traction, so we are less likely to sink into or break tracks in the soft stuff, decreasing the chance of spinning tires or getting stuck,” Nena explains. Deflating the air pressure not only increases the vehicle’s capability,…

In the early hours of April 30, 1948, a tall man, anxious and out of place, stood next to a peculiar little car on the exhibition floor of the Amsterdam Auto Show. Only 27 years old, passersby could not have known, nor would have guessed, that he was largely responsible for its creation. Wearing an unfamiliar placard, it was unlike anything else on display with its small size, boxy shape, and paucity of creature comforts. Nobody, not even the young representative himself, realized that day was one of the most significant in automotive history. When Arthur Goddard was chosen to present the newly revealed car, it was a decision made like many others over the course of the previous year––it was practical. He was available and as the primary engineer…

Reducing tire pressure for a given terrain is standard practice for those who venture off the tarmac. While slight variations might not seem like a big deal to some, depending on the tire, rim width, vehicle weight, and surface, a few psi will make a significant difference in the way a vehicle handles, rides, and performs. ARB has addressed this issue with their new digital tire inflator. As with all gauges, its NPT air chuck clips on the valve stem. However, the base unit, which is encased in a sturdy rubber housing to protect it from drops, also attaches to an air supply, thus turning it into a shop-style inflator. Depressing the rubberized thumb trigger cuts airflow and registers pressure with calibrated accuracy to +/-1 psi in the 25-75 psi…

The Skycamp from iKamper is an industry first for hard shell tents, offering enough space for four people. Usually the first decision to make when purchasing a unit is between hard or soft shell. The most common factor involved is the amount of sleeping area needed. Historically, hard shells have been great for two, but once you add a third and fourth person, space gets tight and the choice leans heavily toward folding soft models. In addition to ample sleeping space, the Skycamp features all of the amenities that have become standard in today’s premium offerings: a comfortable mattress, quilted interior lining for insulation and sound deadening, optional shoe rack, hanging storage bags, and a suspended media pouch. It also accepts an awning and annex room for additional space, and…

With a legacy dating back three quarters of a century, the Jeep is surely one of the world’s most iconic vehicle platforms. From the U.S. government’s initial call for a four-wheel drive light personnel carrier in 1940 to setting the standard for 21st-century capability, the seven-slot grille has a place not only in the hearts of Americans, but backcountry enthusiasts the world over. During the recent recession when the brand was struggling financially, they closed their museum and liquidated its inventory. Although this was an economic necessity at the time, gone was one of the most comprehensive Jeep collections the world has known. All was not lost however, as a few years ago the guys at Omix-ADA (Rugged Ridge/Alloy USA) began acquiring rare models with a plan to create a…

The wings ricocheted off rough air as rising thermals wreaked havoc on our small craft in an attempt to thwart our approach. Our pilot, José, lowered the flaps and our airborne sarcophagus reared back in retort, the airspeed indicator dipping toward the no-fly zone. A carpet of jungle reaching as far as the eye could see now consumed an increasing portion of my rear window. We were six adult men with loads of gear in an overburdened Cessna 206. The afternoon was humid and hot, and we had capped the 1,400-pound weight limit before the last bag was tossed in. My mind raced back to my days as a pilot—these were not ideal flying conditions. The headlines would read,“American Journalists Perish in the South American Jungle.”I glanced at my buddy…

Our engine had been running all night, but in the morning, we had to use low range 4WD to gently break the tires loose from where they had frozen in place. They said it was impossible. It was January 1996. There was no road. Everyone knew that. During the summer it was bottomless, tire-sucking permafrost and flooded rivers. Only now, still in the grips of a Siberian winter, was there a chance to drive west. There was no information. No one had ever tried to drive across all of Russia, including Eastern Siberia, ocean to ocean, wheels on the ground. But during a reconnaissance trip to Siberia the previous year we had talked to a man who said his brother had hauled potatoes northeast, down the Lena River to the…

Eyes transfixed on the trail ahead, my peripheral vision tracked the setting sun as it dissolved into a sea of cacti. Volcanic tabletop mesas in the distance gathered last light, radiating a warm afterglow across the desert. Pulling off on a sandy two-track, we located a clearing amongst stands of cardon, cirios, and cholla to set up camp. Silence, the type known only in remote regions of the world, set in, arrested occasionally by the sweet cadence of coyotes howling in the distance. This was Baja California Sur, la frontera, a surreal land of extremes anchored firmly in the North American narrative. Once thought to be an island, this narrow strip of land extends south from the Colorado River some 800 miles. As part of the Pacific tectonic plate, it…

In the 2014 Fall Issue we broached the topic of self-drive travel in foreign lands. While most of us dream of motoring across Africa’s Kalahari or the Outback of Australia, the planning and logistics of such an adventure can be quite daunting. Shipping your personal vehicle makes sense if you are planning on a yearlong sabbatical, but for those of us with limited time, hiring a four-wheel drive or dual-sport motorcycle is a prudent option. Sourcing your steed in-country is more economical and eliminates the hassles and paperwork of importation, as well as the long shipping times that will bookend your trip. For this insertion of Fly in and Drive we are reviewing hire companies on seven continents that can put your tires to dirt (or ice) as quickly as…

The bartender mutters something about not being paid enough for this and cautiously approaches the smoldering cannon. He kicks it over and ducks. I find him straddling a bar stool in Chicken, Alaska. Dave, my boyfriend, is engaged in a conversation with the bartender about blowing up women’s underwear, which the bar is known for. When I walk in, Dave says, “There she is,” and I feel my panties creep up a little in fear. The bar is perfect, if you’re into sketchy. The interior is the kind of dark that’s always dark, no matter the weather or time of day. The walls and low-hanging ceiling are completely covered in baseball caps, lewd posters, and the unsubtle, colorful addition of exploded women’s undies. Is this the most interesting part of…

As travelers to remote parts of the country or world, we tend to think we plan for the unexpected. We gather information on regions to be visited and learn a few phrases in a foreign tongue. After preparing our vehicles mechanically for the long haul, we then stuff every nook and cranny with the provisions we think we will need: tools, spare parts, recovery gear, extra food and water, etcetera. I’ve been through the drill hundreds of times, yet every so often I realize I’ve overlooked something—occasionally a very significant something. Earlier this year I revisited a camel trek I did through eastern Morocco a decade ago (“Walking With Mohamed,”Summer 2017). I referenced an accident I was involved in while covering the Outback Challenge prior to my time with Mohamed;…

An age-old quandary for outdoor enthusiasts has been what to do with our beloved and once-waterproof jackets, windbreakers, and parkas when they soak up water (wet out) like a salt flat on a hot day. Fortunately, Nikwax has been perfecting solutions for this dilemma for decades. Founder and outdoors-man Nick Brown began with boot wax (Nick’s Wax) in 1977, and has since expanded the company’s lineup to include products to clean and weatherproof garment materials ranging from cotton and leather to down and Gore-Tex. In preparation for the winter season, I picked up a package of Tech Wash and TX.Direct to revive my now-thirsty Mountain Hardwear parka. The process was as easy as running the jacket through the wash twice, first with the former and again with the latter. Tech…

In an era when thousands of soldiers are returning from duty to face the challenges of readjusting to civilian life, guidance from support organizations can make the difference between a smooth and rocky transition. This November, a group of adventure-minded combat veterans plan on embarking on an expedition to help fund the Lone Survivor Foundation and inspire their fellow brothers and sisters in arms to strive for excellence in their post-service life. Departing from the frozen northern reaches of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the Where the Road Ends team will pilot four Kawasaki KLR650s fitted with sidecars for over 19,000 miles to Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America. While many riders have completed this journey, what makes this endeavor unique is that they are planning to cross…

For decades, the humble sleeping bag has gone relatively unchanged with only subtle variances evident from one offering to the next. It’s the mark of a proven format, but isn’t the only way to squeeze in your 40 winks. New designs have emerged, some born of wilderness savvy, others derived from heady sleep science.The modern sleep system, far more than just an insulated bag, has revolutionized how campers spend the moonlit hours. Over the course of a year, I set out to test the best sleep makers, some suitable for the soloist, others created for cuddlers. NEMO EQUIPMENT SYMPHONY LUXURY DUO | EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD (DUAL SYSTEM) The perfect antidote to insomnia, the Symphony Luxury Duo represents the cutting edge in backcountry bedding. Like nearly everything in the Nemo Equipment…

Everywhere I traveled stood derelict farmhouses and the fragile shells of barns bent slightly in the direction of the prevailing wind. Like all young boys, my childhood was filled with fanciful tales of soldiers clad in shining armor, new lands explored, and the quest for treasure. As a resident of Glasco, Kansas, I assumed such exploits only unfolded in places distant, if not imagined.The sea of wheat that surrounded me betrayed my appreciation of the truth, as such characters and narratives actually played out just miles from my house. When I first heard his name, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján, he sounded like an implausible actor in my local history. I was well acquainted with the many yarns spun of cowboys, Indians, and pioneers who scratched a meager living…

Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it, but show up on their land uninvited and they’re likely to send ya packing faster than a prairie fire with a tailwind. Trouble is, there’s very little land in Texas that isn’t private. Between the constant creep of urban sprawl, seemingly endless ranches and farms, and of course the oil claims, it’s tough to find an inch of dirt to drive on—but there are still a few vestiges for those who know where to look. Take this route for example,…

SERVES 4 | PREP TIME 2-3 hours (5 minutes active) COOK TIME 40 minutes | EQUIPMENT Fire pit, firepan or charcoal grill, cedar plank, aluminum foil 1 large fresh salmon or steelhead fillet 2 tablespoons honey mustard Lemon pepper salt 1 fresh lemon Sprigs of sage, mesquite, rosemary, or alderwood Honey Your favorite spices There is nothing quite like an outdoor meal with fresh salmon or steelhead from the Pacific Northwest. My favorite method for cooking these fillets is with a cedar plank to give the meat just a hint of outdoor woodsiness. The first time I cooked with a cedar plank, the salmon ended up blackened—the unintended consequence of the wood going up in flames. Since then, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep the plank from igniting, while…