Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2018 i Overland Journal

A long-standing issue with pocket or jack knives is that when tasked with legitimate field service, their inner workings become clogged with debris. Whether scaling a fish or whittling kindling, even the most judicious user will eventually find themselves at a workbench dismantling their knives for cleaning. Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) has addressed this dilemma with the Homefront folding knife and its “Field Strip” technology. Designed by Ken Onion, a world-renowned artisan, the 3.5-inch, modified drop point blade is shaped from AUS 8 high-carbon stainless steel (Rockwell HRc 57-58). The handle is made from 6061 aluminum, features a tip-up pocket clip, and tank jimping on the backstrap. The combination provides a good feel in hand. The back of the blade has a bayonet lug-style flipper that allows for…

One of the joys of backcountry travel is savoring a scrumptious breakfast with a cup of hot cocoa, or settling down around the fire at the end of the day for a hearty dinner. The issue, quite often, is crafting your menu with items that are not only travel friendly, but also tasty and healthy. Great Grub Camp Food, based in Alameda, California, has simplified the process with a new line of all-natural delicacies made with locally sourced ingredients: apricots from B & R Farms in Hollister, chocolate from Guittard Chocolate Company in Burlingame, and flour from award-winning organic grain producer Giusto’s Vita-Grain. These are not dehydrated backpacker meals, but dried mixes that are easy to store and prepare. While you can customize dishes, such as adding ground beef to…

When the Wrangler made its debut in 1987 as the YJ, Jeep purists poked fun at Jeep’s new prodigy, casting derogatory insults such as “Yuppie Jeep” and “Real Jeeps have round headlights.” While I agree with them regarding round headlamps, the YJ retained the DNA of its venerable predecessors in the CJ lineup. It had solid axles, a reliable 6-cylinder mill, and traditional leaf springs. A decade later we met the coil-sprung TJ, and in 2007, the internationally acclaimed JK. When Jeep announced that a new generation of Wrangler would replace the JK, the public, as well as those in the media feared the brand would succumb to soccer-mom factor: a wind-tunnel-designed land sled sans proper chassis and solid axles. I voiced my concerns with Jeep insiders during the last…

One of the most intense experiences an overlander may face is driving through an area infested with land mines. Suddenly, staying on the trail becomes not only a matter of ethics, but of life and death. It’s the local people who live in the most danger though. Land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) can lie in the ground for decades after a war is over, killing or maiming those trying to reestablish their lives. They also trap people in danger and poverty, preventing them from using their land, and accessing vital services such as healthcare and education. Overland Journal contributor Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent witnessed the work of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) while traveling down the remnants of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Southeast Asia. Founded in 1989, the UK-based…

SERVES 2 | PREP TIME 15 minutes | COOK TIME 15-20 minutes EQUIPMENT Dutch oven, hot coals, mixing bowl, knife 2 cups self-rising flour Pinch of salt 1/2 cup water 1/3 cup your choice of beer Recently, I had Overland Journal’s Scott Brady around to my home for breakfast. During the morning’s conversations, my wife brought up the topic of me making an awesome damper on a recent camping trip. Now, there are obviously a few cultural and communication differences between us Aussies and Americans, for Scott was looking at us quite puzzled and said, “What do you mean he made a damper? Like a shock absorber?” A few chuckles ensued before I set him straight and explained that we were talking about bush bread. A good-old Aussie damper, but…

We all know the familiar sound, the screech that comes from branches against paint, the all too common pinstriping that happens in the desert. Adventure also includes urban obstacles like shopping carts, stone chips, and door scrapes. The investment in a new overland vehicle or motorcycle is significant, so protecting that asset in practical ways is worth the expense, including proper skid plates, bumpers, and even paint films. Xpel is a heavy-duty film that serves as insurance against most scratches and chips and boasts a 10-year guarantee. For our project Tacoma, we elected to use two of the Xpel systems, the Ultimate and the Stealth.They both serve in essentially the same way but provide two different finishes. The Ultimate is their signature product, a wrap that is comprised of a…

The shadows got longer, stories flowed one into the other, and laughter splashed down the raw cinderblock canyon. “Wait, can you see the road?” my wife, Anna, asked me, squinting into the gathering gloom past the windshield of our Land Cruiser. Her night vision is suspect, but she wasn’t wrong about how dark it was on the winding tarmac coming down the shoulder of the active Volcán Pacaya. I shook my head. “Nope. Can you try the wipers?” Using her phone for light, she found the knob. The wipers dragged a feeble arc, confirming that the alternator wasn’t powering them, or more importantly, our headlights. The grade steepened, and the last of the twilight faded out along with nearly all of the charge on the battery. The road felt like…

The salted traveler accustomed to the South African Bushveld, swampy Okavango Delta, or the savanna plains of East Africa will be struck by the parched earth and seeming desolation of the Kalahari. What could possibly survive here? THE KALAHARI VORTEX Located on the southeastern border of Namibia is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the first Peace Park of its kind. It stretches from South Africa over to the southwest of Botswana, covering an area of 38,000 square kilometres, creating a considerable protected area. Meaning Place of Thirst in the Bushman San language, this vast ecosystem has been my sabbatical stomping ground for many years. Like most of the national parks in South Africa, it has an enduring and profound history attached to it. From its inception in 1931 as a national…

Hemmed in by verdant mountain slopes shimmered a pond. Black- and cream-colored koi swam about lazily, rushing forward only when somebody threw them some fish feed. My attention was drawn to the elongated patch of grass with a tiny shrine in the center dedicated to Onokoro, Japan’s first island created by the gods. The story goes that this landmass appeared when the gods Izanagi and Izanumi placed a magic spear into the waters of the sea; when they lifted it out, drops from the spear formed Onokoro. After then building a great palace that centered around a heavenly pillar, the pair walked in opposite directions around the pillar, and when they met each other again, they wed. The remaining islands were the result of their union. Among Japan’s plethora of…

I still remember my very first overland trip, a 4-day journey across El Camino Del Diablo, the infamous border road with Mexico that crosses the most remote region of the Sonoran Desert. The track has been in use for over 1,000 years, including the first European crossing in 1699 by Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit priest. Unlike the Italian padre, I had far more equipment, but was ultimately much less prepared. My Isuzu Trooper was loaded way beyond gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), with gadgets and gear stacked floor to ceiling. On a heavy steel Con-ferr roof rack, I had packed the heaviest items, including nearly 200 pounds of fuel, water, and an extra spare tire. To add insult to injury, I towed a trailer, stuffed to the gills with…

The week was beginning as many south-of-the-border adventures had: warm breezes off the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, toes in the sand, and several moments with a map laid out on the hood tracing thin squiggly lines that might lead to a place of interest. My friend Rich Currie and I had carved a 10-day window in the calendar and headed for Baja, Mexico, our go-to happy place when escape from the day-to-day grind calls.These were usually carefree affairs, with little on the agenda other than turning our phones off and transitioning into mañana mode. One night around the campfire, while enjoying a round of coldies and a visit from our good friend Don Julio, a faint flash of motion appeared in my peripheral vision. Glancing at the back of my…

During the past few decades I’ve been a studious observer of the automotive industry, specifically following the four-wheel drive sector and trends that move the needle. Back in the ’80s this was from an enthusiast’s perspective, reading various periodicals, the automotive section of the local newspaper, and spending a lot of time on the trail and at trade shows talking to manufacturers. It was a different era; the auto industry was struggling to satisfy stringent EPA,CAFE,and DOT mandates,as well as survive significant swings in the economy. As I made the transition to journalism, focusing on extended backcountry travel, I found myself talking with a lot of people in the field and had an epiphany.Those who I encountered that owned a four-wheel drive didn’t consider themselves “four wheelers”and didn’t particularly like…

While heritage collections are nothing new, the Mountain 600 hiking boots from Danner represent one of the best; they’ve kept the vintage look but added the latest and greatest materials and enhanced performance. Engineered to stand up to everything the Pacific Northwest could throw at them, these hiking boots use three levels of defense to protect your feet from the elements: fabric/material choice, construction, and a waterproof liner. The uppers are made from a high-tech suede that is naturally lightweight, waterproof, and abrasion resistant. Danner cut down on the number of seams to reduce the chance of water seeping through and to also reduce blister potential. A waterproof liner ensures your feet stay dry. While wearing the Mountain 600s every day for 3 weeks on a recent trip to Patagonia,…

It is hard to fathom that in many parts of the world, injuries and illness that might be easily treated are left to heal on their own. The result is that many will never leave their homes again. In the vast world of humanitarian organizations and NGOs that promise to save the world, several of us at Overland Journal have been blessed with the hands-on opportunity to work with one that puts the ox before the cart: the California-based Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM).What began as one man’s spiritual conviction to help those in need, FWM (a 501(c)(3)) has brought mobility to, and improved the quality of life for countless souls. From quite humble beginnings, it has emerged as one of the most respected non-profit entities in America, complete with a…

Some of the first tools early humans used were chopping tools. The earliest examples, made from various types of stone, were handheld, as their sheer size and weight precluded useful hafting. Later, more refined stone axes appeared hafted to wooden handles. As metallurgy was discovered and progressed through millennia, axes appeared in copper, then bronze, and finally, iron. Through it all, axe head shapes have remained remarkably consistent. Uses varied, depending on the environment, available resources, and relations with other people. So whether it is for procuring or preparing floral and faunal resources, clearing campsites and sustaining fire, or fighting fellow humans—some things have yet to change. A specific category of the modern axe can be termed compact hatchet. Generally, a hatchet is a type of axe specifically designed for…

Throughout the history of our publication, the Toyota Tacoma has remained the most popular vehicle among our readers, a reflection of the model’s reliability and accessibility. As travelers, we ask a lot from our 4WDs, expecting durability, capability, comfort, and capacity, all the while hoping for a great value and even some rugged good looks thrown in. The Tacoma is all of that and so much more, and has become an icon for North American overlanders. In 2004, we acquired our first Tacoma, a 4-door model that we modified for adventures around the Desert Southwest, ultimately taking it to the Arctic Ocean (Winter 2007 issue) and all the way down to the Darién Gap. It was originally a project for Expedition Portal and was soon adopted as Overland Journal’s first…

A cool wind whistled through the pines around us, and I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with crisp mountain air. We had only left the hustle and bustle of Portland’s streets that morning, but the city’s traffic jams and red lights already seemed a world away.Their constant drone had been replaced by the quiet tunes of nature’s melody, and I tried to appreciate its subtleties while my eyes surveyed the vista before me. Far below, a sea of clouds stretched out toward the horizon, rolling over the forest floor and breaking against the rising terrain like waves on a distant shore. Here and there, splashes of brilliant gold trees dotted the landscape; rising from the center of it all was Mount Hood, its snow-capped peak piercing high into…