Have you ever stopped to think about the number of overland brands, shops and content creators that work out of the Northwest? Install and custom fab shops are working overtime to support enthusiasts. It’s become like pub-culture in the UK. We all have our local shop. Regional overland groups on Facebook abound. Search YouTube and you’ll find countless channels based in our great states, some with a heavy following and more documenting their adventures for a smaller, but just as important, audience. Instagram, TikTok and and every other platform are full of creative content surrounding our Overland Community. It was this overwhelming sense of Community that started me thinking. Then I read Northology Adventures, a beautiful digital magazine based in the Midwest, that published a series of articles by my brother. I realized we didn’t have anything like it for our content-rich region. Needing a creative outlet of my own, I researched how to start a magazine. How hard could it be? I realized that to get subscribers, I needed to become a social media manager. This does not come natural to me so thank you for the handful of likes and comments. It will get better. Thank you to my big brother, David Zemla, for all the things. Thank you to Talus Expedition Gear, my local. And of course Cindy Pope at Northology for mentoring me along the way. The Launch Edition of Aired Out Northwest will drop on July 30. You will find me at Talus supporting the Hersch X 4xFor Meetup. And you’ll find this, a digital magazine full of stories and pictures from people who do the things that we all love to do in the places we love to do it.
Thanks for reading!
Rebecca Z.
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1851 Century Way, Unit 1, Boise ID 83709
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What’s Inside Atomic Annie The War Rig Girls Take Magruder Succor creek road Overland Expo PNW with Scaia Offroad Byo shower gear review Women’s Fireside chat Trail recipes Sometimes You Want to Go Further Off the back
Atomic Annie - The War Rig By Travis Blankenbaker
The creation of Atomic Annie started for me in 2016.
She was an old farm truck that
hadn't moved in 20 years. I heard about a Mad Max themed event called Wasteland Weekend. Since I have been a huge Mad Max fan since I was a kid, I thought "what better way than to go than in my own War Rig!" I started by pulling off the grain bed, building a new flatbed, adding the cab section of a 51 Chrysler New Yorker, and a 70s camper. The Ford 460 I had swapped into it was a bit underpowered, so I decided to body swap the truck onto a heavier International chassis with a DT466 diesel and 13 speed transmission.
Atomic Annie will never be completely done…
After rebuilding the truck on the International chassis, I once again drove her to Wasteland Weekend in California from Central Wyoming. A 2400 mile round trip! Atomic Annie will never be completely done. There are many more upgrades in the works and planned for the future. The camper is fully functional, water, power, heat, etc. and now that the drivetrain is proven itself, the adventures are just beginning.
Follow the build and adventures on social media! Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/F600AtomicAnnie Instagram #atomicannietruck And the YouTube tours https://youtu.be/lsjvRMuO1ZE https://youtu.be/_4i2zRQoqtU
Girls Take Magruder Seven women, two dogs, four jeeps and a 4Runner took on the 100 mile dirt road between Elk City Idaho and Darby Montana known as the Magruder Corridor. What could possibly go wrong?
The answer is… not much. Road conditions were good. Rigs held up. Friendships were made. Our only complaint being the mosquitoes that sent us to our tents as soon as we got to camp. The steep and slightly sketchy climb to Burnt Knob lookout was well worth it to get those views. This was the only time we went in 4 Low.
Pic by Jessi Rouda @adventure.bender
Pic by Rose Martin @wylderaven
New growth and endless beargrass made the old burn areas eerily beautiful. Day 3 brought high winds and the smell of wildfires too close for comfort, cutting our trip short. But we accomplished what we set out to do and that’s enough for us. Over a hundred dirt miles on our rigs and big smiles!
Pic by Jessi Rouda @adventure.bender
Succor Creek Road - A Local Wonderland By Rose Martin
Succor Creek Road is a mixture of rolling desert grasslands, breathtaking canyons, and agricultural land. Located in eastern Oregon and part of the Bureau of Land Management, Succor Creek Road also runs through the Succor Creek State Natural Area. Coming from the Adrian side, the trail starts alongside sheep ranches that were built and settled by Basque migrants between the 1880s and 1930s. The trail winds thru the grasslands where you will periodically see free-range cattle grazing. You will come up by Succor Creek, a burbling stream that drifts beside the road, and cuts through the canyon. Then you will start noticing the rising cliffs and rock formations that are part of Succor Creek State Natural Area. This area is ground zero for rockhounds searching for thundereggs which are designated as Oregon's state rock.
Succor Creek Road gradually winds back to rolling grasslands, ending with agricultural land once again. There are several offroad trails off this road that are great for exploring during dry weather. Succor Creek Road and Leslie Gulch Road are two great trails to combine for an easy scenic day trip. This trail is hard-packed dirt with washboards and potholes along the way. There may be car-sized puddles and mud along the way depending on the season but is very doable in 2-wheel and all-wheel drive. There are free-range cattle throughout, so be aware, and remember that they have the right of way. Please keep your pets leashed as well.
There are numerous dispersed camping areas off the sides of this trail. Most of them will be designated with rock fire rings. Succor Creek Campground offers several campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and a pit toilet. This is a remote recreational area, with no commercial campgrounds nearby. This trail is a straight thru that can be started at Highway 201 in Adrian or Highway 95 between Rockville and Sheaville. From Homedale, ID head west on Highway 19 for 4.8 miles to the Oregon State border. Continue onto 201 N. for 1.8 miles, then turn left onto Succor Creek Road. Follow Rose Martin’s adventures @wylderaven
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The Journey to Overland Expo PNW with Scaia Offroad By Andrew Cutler We don’t totally recall the first time we, as a couple, felt connected to overlanding. Perhaps it’s something that morphed from our love of nature and travel. Or it may have stemmed from the purchase of a rooftop tent that we bought from an online stranger, which forged a new friendship and an awareness of a combined passion.
Fast forward about four years to 2022. Well into a global pandemic, a monotonous series of canceled trips and travel plans, we said that this was going to be the year. The year to return to international travel and to go to the United States with our friends that we purchased our first official piece of overlanding gear from; the rooftop tent. After a previously canceled Moab trip, we were beyond stoked to make this 7 day journey to Overland Expo with our good friends and travel companions, their two children and two dogs a reality. Plans were in place; BDR roads, epic lookouts, camping in solitude and reconnecting with nature.
This was going to be the trip of recent trips, with a big pot of gold at the end; our first major Overland Expo. After packing, then re-packing to minimize, we had our gear sorted and we’re ready to roll. All we could do now was to sit back and wait for the hours to fly by until we hopped in the truck for our trip. Fast forward again to just before our trip to when our rig gets rear ended, substantially. What now? To travel, not to travel? Will all of the checklist items for ensuring that the truck is mechanically sound pan out in time? So many scenarios and timelines are tossed into thin air.
After feeling discouraged and
The next day was filled with
depleted, and after many discussions
exploration with a stop at a ghost town
and deliberations, we decide to push
in Shaniko, Oregon and a quick jaunt
on and continue as planned. Well,
up to a 97 foot waterfall, just outside
mostly.
Bend, Oregon, named Tumalo Falls. After driving through Bend to get to
The thing about near and dear travel
the falls, it was clear to see why the
companions is that they ‘get you’ and
Pacific Northwest (PNW) Overland
they’re there for you. They respect
Expo was being held around this
your decisions and they understand
location. Everywhere the eye could
that life isn’t painted in straight lines.
see, there are gear shops, bike trails,
Once it all comes in to focus, you
hiking paths, rivers and towering
realize that these people don’t
mountains. What’s not to like?
generally care about the glitz and the glam. They care about you. With the go-ahead to travel, we sit down together and revamp our plans. No more BDR, no more backroads. It’s touristy vibes, good laughs and great company that is the priority. Our first stop brought us across the Canadian border to Alta Lake, Washington where it was super hot (even though we had rolled in around dinner time). Great views, comfortable chairs and a quaint lake were just what we needed for a first night of camping.
When rolling up to the Overland
Inside the Expo grounds was filled
Expo PNW, we could see a vast
with drool worthy rigs, gear, swag,
landscape of overland inspired
accessories, training sessions, food
vehicles which were all camping
trucks (that huckleberry smoothie
at the venue. Every rig, every
though!) and passionate people.
setup, every niche you could think
With hundreds of booths, it seemed
of was represented; from enduro
like you could walk for an eternity
bikes to Westfalia campers to
without hitting the same aisle twice.
outfitted backcountry explorers
The demos, trail courses and the
(new and retro), if you wanted to
film fest were some of what really
see it, you likely could… in some
drew us in. All in all, It seems that
form or another. The camping
everyone was truly in their element.
grounds were definitely a big part of everyone’s day. It was not only the place to talk shop, but also to throw a ball, converse over campfires and just to genuinely relax with like minded folks.
The highlight of the Overland Expo was definitely the people; those who poured their talents into the film fest and others who braved the heat to represent their workmanship. They help keep us going and in turn, we fuel them right back up so that they can continue to broaden the overlanding industry. What better way to spend a weekend? For those who’ve asked us, yes, we’ll be back next year. Perhaps volunteering or being involved in a manner that we can give back, in our own way. After all, isn’t that what this community is about? Supporting one another, learning and driving further from our experiences? For us it’s about latching on to what allows us to live a lifestyle that we don’t have to escape from, a lifestyle that continues to give back.
Follow Andrew & Rachel Cutler’s Scaia Offroad adventures @Scaia_Offroad
www.datinfab.com 208.713.1359 sales@datinfab.com
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Jeep UTV/MC
Aired Down Northwest is a free, quarterly, digital magazine dedicated to our local Overland Community. Watch for our next issue in October featuring your favorite YouTubers, Meet Up Calendars, Reader Rigs and much more! Follow us @AiredDownNorthwest and on Facebook AiredDownNorthwest.
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BYO Shower An honest review of the Geyser Shower System First, let me say I purchased the Geyser System before Aired Down Northwest existed AND before I went to Overland Expo West where they were all the buzz and giving out $50 coupons. Instead, I had an REI gift card burning a hole in my pocket This is an honest review and I am in no way sponsored by Geyser. If you’ve made it to an Overland Expo this year, you know everyone was alking about the showers. The Geyser people proved brilliant by offering free showers. My sister-in-law became an instant fan. She’s the “can I plug my curling iron into your inverter” type of camper so I feel like her opinion is extra valuable here. Geyser offers two options; standard and heated. Add one gallon of water to the heated unit, plug in to your 12V power and 30-40 minutes later you have hot water. If you don’t want to run your power for that long, try the standard system. Boil one liter of water on your camp stove. Add that to two liters of cold water and you get the same end result in less time.
The Geyser System comes with reusable sponges and quick release hoses. You get different color sponges so less risk of accidentally sharing with a friend or the dishes. Pop the sponge off for a steady stream but keep in mind you’ll go through water much faster. The 12V cord is 16 feet long. Plenty of room to connect to your vehicle or other power source without getting the space around that power source wet. Both systems have safety features to prevent scalding.
Pro Tips Get a good privacy tent. Not the kind that creates a noir silhouette at night. Have a plan for where to keep your clothes and towel. A wood bath mat will lift you just enough out of your own bathwater. Have a place to sit down while getting dressed unless you have really good balance. Use camp safe soap. Dr Bronners, Sea to Summit and Camp Suds are just a few readily available.
What didn’t I love about it? This is a stretch and not even related to Geyser but it’s clumsy in the privacy tent. Mostly operator difficulty but still real. Privacy tents with mesh tops collect mosquitoes just FYI. Overall, Geyser far exceeds any non-propane shower system I’ve seen. It is pricey at $260-325 on www.geysersystems.com. But if missing a hot shower is keeping you or your loved one from a multi-day adventure, then Geyser is well worth the spend.
Fancy Sausage & Peppers For Two Not everyone can be a Marco. This recipe looks and tastes like you tried hard but couldn’t be easier.
Prep at home: 1 sweet Italian chicken sausage 1 spicy Italian chicken sausage Cut in to coins 1 pepper any color sliced Handful of small potatoes halved or coined A few twigs of fresh rosemary Toss it all in a baggy with enough olive oil to lightly coat and keep in your cooler or fridge.
Cook at camp: Heat pan or skottle with some oil. Throw all ingredients on and move them around until pleasantly browned.
Mix it up Any veggie / sausage combo will work. Go crazy. Just keep the pieces thin enough to cook evenly, especially potatoes which can take forever if too thick. Add garlic, onions, and your choice of seasonings and herbs. You can make this recipe as easy or complicated as you’d like. Prefer it in sandwich form? Slice the sausage and peppers long ways. Add onions to the mix . Toast a hoagie roll and melt your favorite sliced cheese over the top. You cannot go wrong with this recipe!
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Your favorite comfort combo from home works just as well at camp and it hits the spot on cool nights.
Ingredients: Any tomato soup Bread Butter Lots of cheese
Cook at camp: Heat pan with oil if needed Butter both sides of bread Add cheese and put together Continue to flip until melted and brown Heat soup in separate pot over low-medium heat Stir until heated through
Make it Easy & Delicious Trader Joe’s Organic Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper soup comes in a box and does not need to be refrigerated until it’s open. It packs a ton of flavor and is the perfect consistency for dipping your grilled cheese. Experiment with your cheese and bread combinations. Gouda on sourdough is a personal favorite. Just before sandwich is toasted, sprinkle generously with grated parmesan cheese and flip one more time, pressing in to the pan. That’s how you get the crispy cheesy outside!
Destinations… Because Sometimes You Want to Go Further By Kevin Layton
My Wife and I are travel partners, and if we can’t go together, I still get out there solo. We are fortunate enough to have more freedom for travel since she is a teacher, and I am a professional photographer. Now our three kids are older and just about on their own, so we have a lot more free time. On this particular trip, she and I trucked over to HWY 395 and ended up at Laurel Lakes near Mammoth, Ca. This was the main destination, but we also did a little dispersed camping near June Lakes and another night at North Lake. We just love getting away, exploring, and enjoying the time in nature regardless if the weather is favorable or not. The weather challenged our attitude this time, but also left us with lots of memories.
ing 2 hours to reach Laurel Lakes (High Clearance 4x4 is a and excitedly set up camp. The wind howled through the as a drive, we packed up the next morning and traveled up was a must after a long night. Once caffeinated, we ds Lake Mamie, where we shared a meal and hiked around cape since it was still so early.
sun was higher and the wind had picked up once again. wind and explore the lush green area around the lakes. We he local general store wherever we go, so we grabbed a ne for an actual filling meal.
t we just didn’t have enough time and I wanted to be able to stead of just run around hopping from spot to spot. At this ing than relaxing, but it’s just so hard to not share h my life-long travel partner. A piece of advice: If you want to to select a few areas/sights and fully explore them. ming and fruitless.
Off of HWY 395, it was a very slow-going 2 hours to reach Laurel Lakes (High Clearance 4x4 is a Must). Once there, we poked around and excitedly set up camp. The wind howled through the canyons all night, so even though it was a drive, we packed up the next morning and traveled up to Mammoth. A warm morning coffee was a must after a long night. Once caffeinated, we changed course and trucked up towards Lake Mamie, where we shared a meal and hiked around the extremely quiet and serene landscape since it was still so early. Next up: Twin Lakes. At this point, the sun was higher and the wind had picked up once again. We were curious enough to brave the wind and explore the lush green area around around the lakes. We are suckers for snacks and treats at the local general store wherever we go, so we grabbed a snack and headed out towards Big Pine for an actual filling meal. There is so much to see off of 395, but we just didn’t have enough time and I wanted to be able to enjoy our time while we were there instead of just run around hopping from spot to spot. At this point, it sounds like we did more hopping than relaxing, but it’s just so hard to not share everything I have seen over there with my life-long travel partner. A piece of advice: If you want to really enjoy your time there you need to select a few areas/sights and fully explore them. Otherwise, the trip can feel overwhelming and fruitless. My favorite parts of each day on the road, even on this trip, are the early mornings and evenings because I am constantly trying to get the pretty light for photography. Attempting to see every spot in those two time frames is difficult, but always gives us an excuse to explore and camp, sometimes in the same locations, over and over. It’s a lot of work, but the memories my wife and I carry home back into real-life make it all worth it and leaves us wanting more.
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Random babblings of an overland curmudgeon That sub head seems kinda harsh, doesn’t it? My babblings are relatively well thought out and I see myself as more of a seasoned overlander than a curmudgeonly one although today's narrative may prove me wrong on that last part. Let’s talk roof-top tents. You’re probably thinking oh man, not another geezer waxing poetic about the good ol’ days of ground tents, a lost connection with nature and the silly spend on RTTs. You’d be wrong. I love the top floor accommodations. In fact, my Smittybilt Gen 1 lasted through three different rigs before it was replaced with a new model. I’ll never sleep in the dirt again and I will happily pay for that luxury. There’s plenty of nature around, I don’t need it poking me in the back or sniffing around my tent at 3:00am.
I also feel like much of the pushback on sky camping can be traced to what is arguably a substantial spend. If you’re not comfortable with the numbers on an RTT, that’s OK, I’m not jumping into an Earthroamer, but you’ll never find me poo pooing their massive magnificence. Enjoy your dirt bed and watch out for the ant hill over on the left of the semi flat spot you pitched it on. I do take issue with some of the other Overlander must haves. Here’s the thing, five gallon propane tanks have become a must have hanging off countless rigs and trailers. Sort of a gas filled prepper/camper badge of honor. These things are just just dumb. Five pounds is really not enough to make it through more than a few days off grid. Be honest, do you carry a spare one or are you one of the countless campers that keep a twenty pounder hidden in the bed of your truck?
Final rant for this issue is the ubiquitous Overland Expo. This show has grown from a single annual event attended by a rag tag group of travelers to a nationwide celebration of off-grid goodness that is now host to thousands of khaki Tacomas and overloaded Gladiators. Here’s the deal guys, you can’t look at these things through the same lense as traditional overlanding. Yeh, I know who you are! What’s the alternative? Probably just own up to your usage case and carry the big one, but there’s also a ten pound bottle available that I suspect would alleviate a lot of propane range anxiety. Speaking of anxiety, help me understand the Trasharoo. You can’t spit out your day old boutique coffee without hitting one of these spendy canvas trash bags.
This is a tradeshow you get to camp at. Stop bitching about the close quarters or the entry cost and look at it as the coolest exhibit hall you’ve ever been a part of. Try camping at SEMA, they get all weird about campfires in Vegas and almost no one thinks your pop up shower hut is cool.
Am I supposed to just throw trash in there without a liner? How would I even hold up a trash bag inside this thing? Once it’s full do I disconnect the elaborate system of straps and clips and dump it in a trash can? Do I then hose it out on the road or let it mold until I get home? Is a stinky trash duffel a sign of an accomplished camper? I have many questions on this trend. Spoiler alert, I have one anyway and am currently experimenting with proper usage techniques.
Maybe I am a little curmudgeonly, perhaps I need to get off grid and find my happy spot for a bit. First I should wash out that stinky Trasharoo and I’ll need to have the local propane purveyor tell me my tank is so cute. See you in the wild!
