Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2017 i Overland Journal

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with the off-highway modifications I have made to the G-Wagen—the vehicle has easily crossed any obstacle I have encountered on technical trails. The reality of a pinnacle overland vehicle is that it requires almost no modification for global adventure travel. Models like the Land Cruiser, G-Class, and Defender are essentially ready to go from the factory; even in stock trim most iterations will handle any conceivable “road”condition. So, why do we modify our vehicles at all? Some of it is certainly vanity (if we are honest with ourselves) and the rest is an attempt to customize away a compromise, or influence some degree of convenience or comfort. There are also those truly necessary modifications that are demanded because of terrain or payload requirements. In…

For photographers, safely portaging a heavy load of expensive equipment is an age-old pursuit. During a typical assignment, the value of my gear will often exceed that of my vehicle, and a substandard backpack may not only compromise my cameras, but my career. I picked up a Tanuck 40L, which was designed in collaboration with Overland Journal contributor Chris Burkard, and have utilized it as my main camera bag on numerous assignments this year. Its weather-resistant Cordura shell has proved durable and kept my equipment clean and dry, while removable compression straps allow me to cinch down the load as needed. The exterior features MOLLE-style webbing, D-ring attachment points, and large pockets for water bottles. There is also a sleeve for a hydration bladder and the included rain cover. The…

No matter how you slice it, Chevrolet has delivered the truck that overlanders have been asking for. When Chevrolet unveiled the ZR2 Colorado in Los Angeles their message was clear: Look out Toyota. Now, after spending a weekend with it on both trails and pavement, we’re thinking that message sounds a lot more like Move over, and see you later. Here’s why. SUSPENSION The latest Colorado is packed with off-pavement goodies, but the game changer is the new 2-inch Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) suspension. The DSSV uses a series of spring-loaded valves that open and close at varying rates depending on the speed of the internal shaft.This controls the flow of oil through the shock, and allows engineers to optimize several distinct damping curves. In layman’s terms, it…

When a guy named Tarek invites you on a spur-of-the-moment jaunt to drive the dunes near Al Faqa in the United Arab Emirates, you say yes. You wedge yourself in the cab of his 79 Series Land Cruiser pickup using a couple of gear bags and hold on for dear life. The man is a master in the art of sand driving, a maestro of energy management, carving lines on the infinitely changing canvas of sand using clutch and throttle, steering wheel and gearshift. Your teeth dry out from smiling as you experience—at high speed—tilt angles normally reserved for airplanes. Buy the ticket, take the ride. For my stepdaughter Amy and me, the journey in Arabia began in the Emirates, amongst the hyper-modern extravagance of Dubai, before moving on to…

The capital of Conakry sees more rainfall in the month of August than the Pacific Northwest of the United States sees in an entire year. “ Road closed,” the immaculately uniformed officer leaning on a shiny AK-47 says offhand. “The ferry washed downstream last week,” he adds, giving all the explanation I need. Turning back now means hundreds of miles on muddy, potholed jungle tracks. So much for best-laid plans. As is customary in these situations, I lay maps on the hood, and a crowd of military men and spectators forms, everyone pointing to a different place on the map trying to determine our location. I had been planning to cross over from Guinea-Bissau at a tiny border post that required getting across a river and a tiny track not…

In the ever-expanding lexicon of the backcountry traveler, a new word has emerged which, depending on your personal perspective, can register as a compliment or a pejorative. That term, glamping, is a clever portmanteau melding the word glamorous with camping. It is in many ways a reinvention of Victorian-era travel when the most well-heeled adventurers retired to the outdoors in heavy canvas tents festooned with rococo-styled wooden furnishings lacquered to a glossy sheen. In recent years some have tried to revive the golden epoch of luxury camping only to realize authentic campaign tents and furnishings are bulky, heavy, expensive, and woefully impractical without a dozen dutiful porters to help with setup. While the classically minded pedants cringe at the substitution of canvas and wood for nylon and aluminum, it is…

Arguably the first rebel to don a leather jacket, Brando was the personification of counter culture. In the dawning years of the 20th century and amidst a flurry of technological innovations, two significant yet seemingly divergent advancements would become inextricably intertwined. Conceived almost simultaneously, the airplane and motorcycle were birthed from humble beginnings. Powered flight evolved from frail and impractical kites, and the motorcycle was an adaptation of the newly invented bicycle. Both captivated the same breed of plucky thrill seekers easily swooned by the visceral sensations of fast accelerations and heavily banked turns. Antique photographs of those pioneering individuals depict an age of adventure with brave dare-doers clad in similar pieces of functional apparel. From their leather skull caps fitted with metal-framed goggles, to heavy jackets made of waxed…

Exceptionally easy to maneuver and operate, it will undoubtedly bring many an aspiring enthusiast to the fold. In the motorcycle touring world there exists an unspoken implication that bigger is better. With the modern adventure motorcycle swelling in size with each successive evolution, it was high time someone answered the pleas of the public and reversed the trend with a smaller, more manageable bike. Kawasaki’s latest model, the Versys-X 300, is just what many riders have been waiting for. With its small yet spry 296cc parallel twin motor, the X 300 tips the scales at nearly 200 pounds less than the largest motorcycles in the adventure category. What the small motor lacks in displacement is offset with impressive performance numbers. Capable of producing 34 horsepower, not all that much less…

Available in two- and four-door models with a wide range of trim options, the PRO-4X package is ideally suited to overland travels. It wasn’t all that long ago when the full-size pickup market was dominated by the big three American automakers. Although the Nissan brand has Japanese origins, many of their trucks are designed, built, and tested right here on home soil. They are in many ways as American as apple pie. On the heels of their popular Titan XD truck launched last year, Nissan filled yet another slot in their 2017 lineup with a slightly lighter-duty truck: the new Titan half-ton. Available in two- and four-door models with a wide range of trim options, the Pro-4X package is ideally suited to overland travels. A foot shorter than its XD…

Considering two-thirds of our planet is covered by water, it’s heartbreaking to think that this year 3.1 percent of all global deaths will be attributed to contaminated drinking water. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge opined in his epic poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” Words penned over 2 centuries ago, they still ring true today. Even if you’re surrounded by H 2 O, you still have to make it safe to consume. For the modern traveler, waterborne illnesses are of genuine concern. If you’re lucky enough to ingest a relatively benign bug, your mild discomfort might be short lived. Gulp down something more sinister and it could cost you two coins for the ferryman. The first step in staying healthy, and alive,…

When I think of Cuba, I have visions of posing next to marlin like Ernest Hemingway, puffing on a Romeo y Julieta cigar at the Churchill Bar of the Hotel Nacional, or cruising el Malecón in a 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. Unfortunately, these romantic visions are usually based upon a pre-communist Cuba. Since the ousting of the country’s brutal dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, things have changed considerably. Fifty-eight years of American embargo and Fidel Castro’s Marxist–Leninist form of communism have taken a significant toll on Cuba’s economy and infrastructure, but surprisingly not on national pride. Most of the world has always been allowed to visit, except Americans, and I have had a burning desire to travel to the country for as long as I can remember. I wasn’t…

Overlanders tend to be dog aficionados, always jamming a dog or two into their already cramped trucks—sometimes even making room for strays found along the way. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) also has a soft spot for our canine friends. This California-based nonprofit organization trains and partners shelter dogs with handlers such as firefighters and first responders. Teams are deployed to find people in wreckage from natural and manmade disasters which can range from earthquakes, mudslides, and tornadoes to bombings and major vehicle accidents. When it comes to tracking survivors, no one does it better or quicker than dogs. “There are dogs in the shelters that can do this. There is no reason to go out and breed these animals,” says Denise Sanders, SDF’s Communications and Development Officer.…

After months of use I’d say this is one of the best rack solutions I’ve tested. The welded steel roof rack is an iconic four-wheel drive accessory, but their classic designs just don’t cut it on today’s vehicles. Today’s adventurers expect a more aerodynamic and versatile cargo system—one that supports all of their passions instead of just off-pavement driving. To address this growing need Rhino-Rack introduced the Pioneer platform. Constructed almost entirely out of powder-coated aluminum, this modular tray system is resistant to rust and impressively light. The smallest model weighs just 28 pounds, while larger variants barely break 70 pounds. Lengths range from 48 to 107 inches depending on your needs, and installation kits are available for factory roof rails, gutter mounts, and unique applications like the Jeep JK.…

In 2008, the closest contact we had with Afghanistan was seeing some of its mountains from Pakistan when traveling from India to Iran. But one thing marked us deeply. While dining in Quetta, two fighter jets suddenly flew north overhead; they were so low that the ground trembled. “What was that?” we gasped. “War—military planes are going to bomb Afghanistan,” our friend answered. We couldn’t believe what we had just heard. Wars do not fascinate us, quite the opposite, but we have travelers’ instincts. The more we see, the more we want to see. This event with the jets embedded a great interest in our dual psyche for Afghanistan, for its people, and in wondering if they had a decent life in the midst of such instability and violence. We…

When most people envision New Mexico, they picture the outlines of rocky plateaus, desert sunsets, and Native American culture. It’s understandable, as you can certainly find these things in abundance throughout the state, but there is also something more: the Continental Divide. Drivers can climb to towering heights, weave through dense forests, and walk amongst ancient lava beds. There are hot springs carved from cliffsides, and clear streams just waiting to be fished or swam. In many ways the region is a less-trafficked version of Colorado—one that is underappreciated by, or unknown to four-wheel drive enthusiasts. Last summer we set out to change this with Hema Maps by bringing the area together with some of the most famous trails along the divide. GENERAL INFORMATION The Continental Divide, or Great Divide,…

As travelers, one of the joys of returning home is sharing our adventures with friends and family or posting photos on our social media pages. Unfortunately, many only share half of the experience. While most people put their cameras away when the sun goes down, I’d like to touch on the fact that photography can be a 24/7 adventure. Whether camped in the desert on an overcast night or under crystal-clear skies, nocturnal opportunities abound to create compelling images of your travels. The cast of characters may include companions around the fire, silhouettes of geological formations, local vegetation, and lest we forget, the bazillions of stars that sweep the heavens. The key is to always listen to your mind’s eye. If you glance around camp or up at the sky…

Born in the deserts of North Africa many centuries ago, shakshuka has since spread in popularity throughout the Mediterranean region. Since the dish includes eggs it has traditionally been served as a breakfast. But in places like Israel, where it has become increasingly popular, it is often served for dinner as well. While the meal’s versatility is certainly a plus, what makes shakshuka great for overlanding is its ability to be made in a single skillet and its reliance on relatively shelf-stable ingredients. All you need is a can of tomatoes, some chiles, onions, spices, and a few eggs. Keep these ingredients on hand and you’ll always have a hot meal waiting in the wings. SERVES 2-3 | PREP AND COOK TIME 35 minutes EQUIPMENT Cast iron skillet, knife, cutting…