PACKING IT ALL IN
BIG IRON RECAP
#XPDN2 IN THE U.P.
How much is too much and do I need a trailer?
Joey the Brofessor reports from the Middwest's newest overland rally
Seeing the U.P with a new appreciation
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THE GEAR BUNKER VEHICLE PROFILE
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PACKING IT IN Asa Meadows wonders where it's all gonna fit
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FRESH COAST CABINS
BIG IRON OVERLAND RALLY
Turning a love for old cabins
The Brofessor wraps up an event
into a rustic modern retreat.
that leaves him wanting MOORE.
CLICKABLE CONTENT! I hope you have been checking out the links and videos in the latest issues, it sounds like many of you
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THE 600 MILE TRASH RUN
BORDER TO BORDER TRAIL
when you turn the page,
It takes people from all over the
Minnesotans put together a
and you can click on
Midwest to make a difference.
beautiful trans-state route.
underscored texts and all
are excited about the video feature. The links should breifly highlight
the ads have links toohappy reading!
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CAMP COOKING
XPDN2
Resipes for the overlanding
Showing the U.P. off to some
gourmet.
new folks & friends
-Cindy
Northology Adventures Magazine has made all efforts to make sure that content is accurate on the date of publication. The views expressed reflect the author(s) opinions and are not necessarily the views of the publisher or
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OFFROAD IN MICHIGAN
MOLEISURE XVENTURES
Answering the permit & pass
Big Bend National Park is a big hit
question for the last time.
for these full-time overlanders.
editor. All content is published in a good faith. Northology Adventures does not guarantee or accept liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by this magazine or errors in the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers.All rights reserved and nothing can be partially or in whole be reprinted or reproduced without a written consent. By using links in this magazine, you
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MEANDERING RUN
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN GUIDE
Serving up a dish of hot road
A traveler's itinerary in the
trip tunes & releases
highlands of Wisconsin
acknowledge that and agree that Northology cannot be held responsible and shall not be liable for content of other websites and advertisements.
Cover photo by Asa Meadows Inside cover by Cindy Pope
RUSTIC CABINS & CAMPING 14203 M26 Copper Harbor, MI
PACKING IT IN
EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK by Asa Lee Meadows
I wasn’t a backpacker, so I never developed that minimalistic mindset. I’ve always gone by two mantras “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it” and “Two is one and one is none.” Needless to say, I always overpack. This really became apparent at the winter camp I did at the beginning of March. I had 2 propane tanks, a 10lb for cooking and a 20lb for a portable fire pit. I had my diesel heater and a Mr. Buddy. Also packed were a normal sleeping bag and a 0* mummy. It dropped down to -2* F overnight on the second night, and I did end up using all of those things, so they weren’t superfluous, but when it came time to pack up in single digit temps, I was thinking to myself, “why do I have all this stuff?” It can be a pain to pack up vs just closing up and driving away. I guess just because you can bring all this stuff doesn’t mean you have to, and I think
there are other topics on whether or not to trailer from the amount of gear, to the mobility aspect of pulling something over or through varied terrain. When I first got my Tepui roof top tent (RTT), I had it mounted on top of my Jeep. I only had so much cargo room in the back of a four door wrangler, so I didn’t think I over packed. But thinking back on it now, my visibility out of the rear window was almost non-existent. I’d have a cooler, sleeping bags, clothes, cooking set, all that stuff stacked up from the floor to the roof. When I was lucky enough to find a military trailer to use for my trips, it came with some new pieces of kit and storage room. My initial idea was I’d keep it loaded with all my camping gear, so I wouldn’t ever have to pack before a trip or unpack
“IT’S BETTER TO HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT”
when I got home. Just park it and forget it. My trailer is an M101 CDN 2 trailer, which is the Canadian version of the m416. It comes with a 3500 pound axle and it is rated to carry 2500 pounds of whatever. It’s also claimed that it can float with up to 500 pounds of cargo. I don’t think I’ll ever be wanting to float it, especially with the drain holes in the bed, or carry over 2000 pounds, but it’s nice to know it can. There are some adventure trailers out there that cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars, like the smittybilt, to $26,000 for Turtleback expedition, or even up to $53,000 for a Patriot X3 base model. It’s not even a comparison to my spartan trailer. I think the original owner of my trailer paid $900 for it, but then he added 35” tires, a custom steel lid, a nice red paint job (that matched my old jeep, I need to repaint it now) and adjustable shocks and air bags. I thought it was a steal at $2000. All I had to do was fix the safety chains. I found his original build thread on Expedition Portal.
The main disadvantage to using an old army trailer is having to lift anything you want to get up and out if it. It doesn’t have any drawers or slideouts. It has a modest lift to it to fit those 35s, so it can be cumbersome to get really heavy things out. Luckily, the type of RTT and lid I have, I can open it up when the tent is deployed and close it back. It’s possible to cut the rear wall and put in a tailgate from an old CJ or fabricate one. I don’t think I could do that to this trailer. I’d sooner sell it to someone that wants to keep it intact, and go with a cheap adventure trailer. But the big advantage to this trailer is I have a 4’ x 6’ bed I can load up my gear in. It also has a very deep 2” receiver hitch on the back, and a basket that can go into that hitch with multiple pin placements. The previous owner had that basket to hold his camp kitchen. I can strap that camp kitchen down and leave it out while traveling, but the downside is dirt, dust and mud can easily mess it up. I could cover it with something, but usually I just lift it up and out of the trailer, which can be hard to do at times.
KITCHEN SINK WEIGHTS SJK Slumberjack tarp Full 20lb propane tank Portable fire pit RTT Annex sides RTT Annex floor Trailer Tarp 2 portable toilet seats 5 empty jerry cans Coleman 2 burner Fridge Fridge slider Camp Kitchen Coleman table Hitch ext basket RTT awning poles, 2 thermarests, port water pump, 2 colapsible trash bins, stablizers
14 35 15 9 6 5 15 25 10 35 16 50 8 40 10 293
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: Tongue length / rear access. On my old jeep, I only had a teraflex leveling kit, and 33s. When I hooked up the trailer, I could not open my rear tailgate. The spare tire would hit the front basket where I usually have water jerry cans and a 12v RV battery. I had to use a receiver extension to have room for the spare tire to clear. I think if I would have put 33s on the trailer, and maybe brought the lift down, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But with any trailer, you want to make sure you can get inside your vehicle, or at the least, not pack anything you might need on the trip until you disconnect the trailer. Luckily the new JL is higher, at least the receiver hitch is higher, so now I can open the door fine...on level ground. Tongue weight. I had some issues before in how I had things placed inside and on the rear of the trailer. With the trailer empty, and that rear basket on, the tongue weight is only 65lbs. If I remove the rear basket, the tongue weight is 90lbs.That camp kitchen weighs 50 lbs, and when that is on the rear basket it almost wipes out the tongue weight; I can lift up the front of the trailer with one hand. If I don’t have a battery and full jerry cans on the front basket I won’t have enough weight on the tongue and I can’t put the rear basket on the trailer. If you don’t have enough weight in the front, at highway
Trailer tongue length is important- make sure you can still get inside your vehicle.
speeds you can have some serious trailer sway. I’ve had to stop many times at the beginning of a trip to rearrange things. I’ve read that tongue weight should be 10-15% of the trailer’s Gross Trailer Weight. I’ve also seen it expressed as 20-25% of the trailer weight + cargo weight. I’m not trained to give specifics, refer to your owner’s manual. Weight distribution. Another thing to keep in mind is how you put cargo in the trailer bed. Obviously heavy stuff in the rear will affect the tongue weight, but if all the heavy stuff is on the passenger side, then left turns at speed could be interesting. There’s also tire wear and suspension considerations. I believe a general rule is 60% of the cargo weight should be in the front. Definitely refer to the trailer’s manual.
So to sum this all up, if you pack for trips like the Clampetts from the Beverly Hillbillies like I do, then a utility trailer might be for you. But get to know what you are bringing. More stuff doesn’t always guarantee a better trip. Sometimes less is more. I’d love to hear from some minimalists and some tips and tricks on how to pare down and still have a good time. Hit me up on instagram https://www.instagram.com/asaleemeadows/ or reach out to Cindy if you’d be interested in doing an article on your style.
Have enough weight on the tongue to prevent trailer sway at highway speeds.
Distribute the weight- evenly side to side and 60% of the weight on the font half.
OVERLAND PIONEERS- TRANS AMERICA TRAIL SERIES In this video we tackle the Mississippi section of the Trans America Trail, the river bottoms, forests, farm fields and quaint towns on our way to the Big Iron Overland Rally in Kansas.
WELDING, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SANDBLASTING, PAINTING
Lynn & Jason Makela love cabins. The couple just celebrated the one-year anniversary of their purchase of the old Eagle Harbor Lodge and it's nine cabins. NINE. Can you even imagine how busy they have been? I'm exhausted just thinking about it. The resort is now called Fresh Coast Cabins and we visited them in May. In lieu of a traditional profile of Lynn & Jason, how about we let the pictures tell the story? We want you to know the kind of experience you will have here. I promise you, even if the Friday night pizza bake gets rained out, or the mosquitoes threaten to drive you mad, you won't even care. Have your morning joe while you watch the sun rise or have a drink at the fire pit while freighters chug by on the big lake. The magic of this place will slowly wind its way into your heart and you will never want to leave.
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SUMMER ESCAPADES
BIG IRON OVERLAND RALLY Written by Joey "The Brofessor" Slayton Photos by Nathan P. Anderson The scene was set in Springfield, Missouri in February
it ever should be. In the midst of all the pressure and
of this year. The Midwest Overland and Off-Road
circulating rumors of the cancellation of MOORE,
Expo was scheduled, but so many outside forces
Chris still pressed on and worked hard to ensure all
were working their magic against it. Event organizer,
city and state mandates were met. Just when one
Chris Holloway, was feeling the pressure as COVID-
bullet was dodged, another came flying in ready for
19 restrictions were in full swing and mandates were
a kill shot. A winter storm of epic proportions was
still in effect, making life harder than
heading towards the Midwest with a fury.
The storm not only threatened the area of Southern Missouri, but also all of the surrounding states and beyond. Attendees and vendors alike were now worried if they would be able to make it to the event, and if they did, would they be able to make it home. However, when the time came to show up, everyone showed and showed out. Vendors pulled in with their snow-covered rigs as if they were made for such a time as this. The doors opened and attendees walked in as nothing was stopping them from getting out of the house and being around their people. It was magical and everyone felt it. Chris felt it. This reassurance in the process and most definitely in the people, made Chris want to do more, or MOORE as he likes to say. He was not finished the day the last vendor pulled out of the fairgrounds. His mind was still at work. His desire for instituting incredible overlanding and outdoor events for the Midwest was unwavering; it never stopped. He immediately began to research, seek out a venue, and think about a new event. His mind labored and felt the need for a hybrid event, something fresh and different, something no one in this area had ever seen or been to before. It was in this moment, in his mind, that the Big Iron Overland Rally was born.
"SOMETHING FRESH AND DIFFERENT, SOMETHING NO ONE IN THIS AREA HAD EVER SEEN OR BEEN TO BEFORE- IT WAS IN THIS MOMENT... THAT THE BIG IRON OVERLAND RALLY WAS BORN."
About 40 miles west of Joplin, Missouri, sits Big Brutus. In 1962, Big Brutus was born as the largest electric shovel in the world, costing $6.5 million. Standing 16 stories tall and weighing in at 11 million pounds, Brutus was able to fill three railroad cars in one scoop. Today, Brutus stands in West Mineral, Kansas, as an eternal tribute to the mining heritage of Southeast Kansas and to miners all across the nation who toiled to support their families. In 2018, Big Brutus made the National Register of Historic places and is open weekly for visitors to come and behold. This was it. This was the place. This is the rally spot and the reason behind the name, Big Iron. It was perfect. It was different. It was a setting like no other, a place to fulfill this dream. A dream, which would come true very quickly. Less than one month after MOORE was over, Social Media trumpeted the sound that would ring loud for a short time. On March 10, 2021, the announcement came to all who would hear - Big Iron Overland Rally, May 14-16, 2021. Are you kidding me? In less than two months, you are going to be able to pull off another event? I can hear the naysayers now thinking that it was too late to announce, or too soon to pull off. Nevertheless, the crowd was hyped and the pot was stirred. Bands were announced backed by Stage Sponsors and vendors announced one after the other as camping spots opened. Less than a month later, all camping spots were filled. Messages were pouring in from those who felt left out, those who did not get a chance to grab their spot. They were on the fence at first, but when they finally had their eyes opened to what others had been seeing for weeks, they wanted in. Chris, as always, never stopped working for the people. He opened up many more spots so others could join in on the party. It was sure to be a time to remember. Pulling in on that Friday morning just before the event was to begin, I saw vendors already setup in their areas. Campers had their spots staked out with many more to be rolling in very soon. Towering in the background was Big Brutus. I could not take my eyes of it. Its enormity was overwhelming. It was the centerpiece for the rally and all gathered around as if to hear stories like a grandfather tells his grandchildren. We found our spot and began the process of setting things up. The atmosphere was that of sitting around a campfire. Everyone was there to enjoy the outdoors, good company, and good
music. Children and their dogs ran around enjoying their newfound freedom after being cooped up in dads rig for hours trying to get here. Skies were clear and the temps were perfect. The threat of rain was there, but this is what we do. We are Overlanders. There is always weather and we were just glad to be here in spite of what may come. I, working the booth for Artemis Overland was sandwiched between Ryno's Van and Rugged Bound out of Houston, TX. Jeremiah from Overland Pioneers was also there as well as Jeff from Badac Adventure Co trailers out of Oklahoma. Across the way was Overland Addict, Natural State Overland and Adventure Motors out of Kansas City. Yona Adventure Gear, Overland Rentals, ActionTrax, 7x Offroad Trailers and others stretched far around the corner. We do not get to see each other often and have to take opportunities such as this to speak and get some face time in so I was hoping to be able to walk around and talk to everyone. It was not long until more rigs rolled in, and the fields around Big Brutus began to fill. People came around the booth and visited about this or that, meeting new people and hugging old friends. It was a vivid reminder of just how each person makes overlanding what it is. Early into the afternoon, the bands started up under the rear of Big Brutus. The trombone of Dance Monkey Dance or the guitar of The Dirty Strings were often interrupted by a dog barking, the whizz of a drone flying overhead, or the casual conversation of someone dropping by to say hi. People were hustling around the pavilion as classes were being taught by Matt from Ozark Overland Adventures, Switchback Outdoor Safety and MidlandUSA. As evening fell on the first day, embellished stories were told around the fire pits as the Adam Johnston Band took us deep into the evening.
Through the early Saturday morning hours, we were awakened to the sound of thunder rolling across the prairie and rain hitting the top of the tent. It was not long until I was back asleep but sooner than I wanted it to, morning came and so the coffee had to be started. The rain continued and we prepared for a long, wet day, as the forecast did not look enjoyable. Fortunately, as many times, the weathermen were fooled by a greater power, and around noon, the rains stopped. The bands, now moved up to the pavilion due to the forecast, fired up and gave us some amazing background music as we talked to people coming by the booth. It seemed as if everyone decided to get out and walk around now that the sun was peeking out around the neverending sea of clouds. Songs of Lauren Vonahnen followed by Charlie Mellenger rang throughout the sites as conversations were had about this or that at different booths. People toured Big Brutus as a few guys broke out the bags for a competitive game of cornhole. Ryno flew by us on his golf cart running around making sure things were getting done and people were getting where they needed to be whether to camp or to class. Chris walked around and visiting with everyone. He was in high spirits and deserved this moment. Arkansauce carried us with their banjos and mandolins into the early afternoon. Many gathered around the pavilion. I took a moment to do that walk I was looking forward to. I was able to get around seeing Overland Essentials, McKee Off-Road Designs, Overland Cookware, Antigravity Batteries and GoTreads around the vendor area, but it was now time to back at the booth to visit with passersby. A family came by and a little girl asked for stickers.I scrounged one up, handed it off and watched her run away smiling.
An hour or so later, the same little girl came back with her siblings and asked if I wanted to buy a sticker or a t-shirt. This was fun, and I decided to play their game, exchanging a few dollars for a few things I already had. When children look at you with those eyes it is hard to say no. Soon I heard Chris on the microphone. He was serious and seemed as if he was saying something really heart felt. I stepped around the booth to have a listen. Mason with Blue Line Overland took the microphone and told the story of the little kids asking for stickers and selling t-shirts. They came by his booth asking for stickers, but then asked what he did. After telling them that their organization raises money to help children in need, they seemed interested and then walked away. Not long afterwards, they took all they had collected, went around and sold it and came back to give him around $100 to help other kids. Not stopping there, they continued, with vendors donating things to thing and handing them money for their cause, they returned to Mason with more, almost $600! They had done the ultimate in sacrificing their own for the sake of others. Everyone was amazed and so excited. Another reminder of how awesome this overlanding family is.
I had already started cooking dinner on the grill, when Chris popped around the corner asking for an item to add to an auction. He had found out that, since Big Brutus was now on the National Register of Historic Places, it was a requirement that it be painted once every 20 years at a cost of over $200k. He had also found out that there was an auctioneer on site that worked at Big Brutus. He had arranged to do an auction of items donated by vendors and wanted to donate that money back to help in the repainting of the big machine. Not long after Arkansasauce was done playing, Chris, Michael from All Over Overland and the auctioneer took the stage and, with the help of some extremely generous vendors and bidders was able to raise $4940 to go to this cause! How incredible! Yes, it had started out as a vision of someone who wants something MOORE for Midwest Overlanders. Yes, it was to be different than what people were used to, but it had become so much MOORE. Not only a great event with amazing bands, entertainment, a National Landmark, great camping, vendors and people, but now had raised around $5500 for charity.
Sitting around the fire that evening, listening to Sequel Dose and Cadillac Jackson, as the peach cobbler formed inside the Dutch oven, we talked about how stupid cool this event was. So different from all the others that we have ever been a part of, but different in a really good sort of way. Not only an event that gives us a place to go and meet people, share in our love for the outdoors, and enjoy quality entertainment, but also an event that gives back helping to preserve the things we love and also helping others. The bonfire around the giant scoop had voices singing long into the night. The pressures of putting on an event were now over. The rain that was supposed to come never did, as the weather was absolutely perfect. Sunday morning we arose to blue skies. It was still early, but the tents were coming down and the awnings were being put away. Some still were asleep from the previous night's long celebration. Leaving such a good time and heading back to reality is not something most people are in a rush to get back to, but this time back to reality was also different. We just thought we had seen it all. Arriving back to the social media world, we saw Big Iron wasn't over just yet.
Mason posted that someone wanted to match the $600 that the kids had raised doubling the donation to help needy children. Then Chris posted a photo of him handing a check to the great people at Big Brutus with the following statement... It’s about community, that’s the force behind our culture and you proved it! Thanks to you, moments ago we were able to present a check to Big Brutus, Inc. for $8,563.00 We had approximately 150 rigs and 500 people in attendance. There were 8 bands that played over 16 hours of music. 8 classes on 4 subjects were taught, and collectively attended by 160 eager learners. The live auction had $2,500 worth of items, and sold for $4,940 in which 100% goes to helping preserve the Big Brutus historic landmark. A portion of tickets also went to Big Brutus to bring the total donation to the Big Guy over $8,500! From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of all the Big Brutus staff and board, thank you. Chris Holloway
You do not have to be the biggest to be the best. You just have to have heart, an unbreakable will, and a vision. You saw what could happen and you made it happen. You blew our minds in putting an event together nobody had ever thought of before. You came around my camp one last time before we said our goodbyes. You looked Rhyno and myself in the eye and said, "You know. This was cool. We should definitely do this again." I believe we all agree. Thank you Chris! Bring on BIGIRON22!
T
calendar submit your event at info.northologyadventures@gmail.com
JUNE
6/12-13 Northology Driftless Run 6/18-20 True North Overland Camp Norway, MI 6/26- ChiTown 4x4 Open House Carol Stream, IL 6/27- Sunday Adventurers Meetup, Roscoe, IL
JULY
7/15-18- Crawl 4 the Cure Gilbert, MN 7/17 Performance Off-Road Open House / 4x4 Show or Shine Waukesha, WI 7/24 New Holland Overland Holly Oaks Day Trip / Meetup
The 600 mile trash run OVERLANDERS GO THE DISTANCE FOR THE KEWEENAW
By Cindy Pope Photography by Josh Shymanski
Any excuse for a trip to Copper Harbor is good enough. Being able to lend a hand in keeping some of our favorite camping places clean just sweetens the deal. On May 22, the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition hosted a cleanup of the area along Mandan Road out to High Rock Bay and around the Clark Mine. Eager volunteers showing up included Sarah Michals and her friend Jamie, Josh Symanski, Shane Piantek, myself and husband Chad. KORC provided trash bags, gloves and the Mariner North provided refreshments and food. Thank you, KORC for giving us the opportunity to give back.
"The Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition was created in 2019 to bring together a variety of user groups with one shared goal: to protect the Keweenaw's vast landscapes for everyone, forever. Whether you bike, snowmobile, hunt, hike, or birdwatch, we need your help to make this vision a reality. Whether you are a powder hound on skis or a hunter that values well-managed and undeveloped forests, protecting the Keweenaw's at-risk landscapes is vital if we are to preserve our local traditions. The loss of lands owned by absentee investment firms affects us all. It is for this reason that we have united to stand up for our entire community. By bringing together groups under our umbrella, the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition can speak with one voice to better advocate for our shared interests. " -KORC Become a member today!
BORDER-TO-BORDER TOURING ROUTE By Scott Benolken
photo: Josh Mork
photo: Josh Mork
The “Coming Soon,” sign on the Border-to-Border Touring Route in northern Minnesota can’t come down soon enough for the touring clubs and wheelers in Minnesota, the surrounding states, and Canada. My club, Tread Lightly Off Road, out of Grand Marais is one of them. While not officially open until the state DNR completes agreements with the road authorities along the route, adventure riders - wise to the map on the DNR web page - are already exploring parts of the nearly 800 mile route individually, with their clubs, and with guided tours.
photo: Josh Mork
photo: David Finch
From the shores of Lake Superior to the point where Minnesota meets the North Dakota border with Canada, with a whole lotta “Explore Minnesota” in between, the "B2B" moves riders through the cathedral pines of two national forests, multiple state and county forests, the breathtaking lakes region, and the vast open prairies and deep rural areas of northwest MN.
The B2B is one of nearly 20 new projects in the works for the MN Four-Wheel Drive Assn., and is designed to be the headliner for a brand-new, state-of-the-art, destination touring and trail system they are building in partnership with the DNR, that will open Minnesota’s back-wood forests and wild prairies to a new wave of nature-loving, all-wheel and four-wheel driving adventure-seekers. Keep an eye on what we’re doing here. Things are looking up in Minnesota
Border-to-Border Touring Route - Minnesota DNR MN4WDA Tread Lightly Off Road Group
photo: David Finch
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TOP MIDWEST PADDLING DESTINATIONS MICHIGAN- LAKE SUPERIOR Keweenaw Adventure Co offers world-class, professionally guided Lake Superior sea kayak tours in Michigan, great for all levels of experience.
ILLINOIS- CACHE RIVER The Lower Cache River offers an unforgettable experience through magnificent cypress-tupelo swamp and you can see the 1,000+ year old State Champion Bald Cypress Tree,
WISCONSIN- WOLF RIVER With calm upper flows and the wild whitewater in Langlade County, the scenic Wolf feels like a wilderness river destination for everyone
ADVENTURES IN CAMP COOKING So, you're packing up the rig for a trip and you are thinking about food. Are you bringing lunchables and pop tarts or do you bring full-on gourmet fixins? Do you cook meals or wander around at dinner time looking for handouts? For those that just have to pull out all the stops and get a good camp cook in, here are a few recipes to get you motivated. Email your favorite camp recipe to us at info.northologyadventures@gmail.com
SKOTTLE JAMBALAYA Jim Roy Skottles are awesome for one pot meals. And one of my favorite is Jambalaya. When making jambalaya on the Skottle I prep all my sausage and veggies first. Here I used Dearborn brand Holiday Kielbasa and Hot Hungarian sausage. Any of your favorite sausage can be substituted. (Pro tip -Chorizo)
Skottle Jambalaya I brown the meat first then move it to the outside of the ring to stay warm. I then use about 1 tablespoon of butter and sweat my shallots, garlic, and jalapeño. When soft they get moved to the outside edge as well. Add 2 cups of water, this will de-glaze and get all of that flavor back in the rice. Add rice and bring to boil. Note this takes some watching as the water boils faster than in a pot. When the water reduces to around 1/2 add back in sausage and veggies. Cook till rice is soft and enjoy.
DECONSTRUCTED BEAN BURRITO SALAD Merri Morrall In the summer when we take road trips, I like to keep things light and fresh. I chop up everything to make this salad, put it in individual containers, then mix it up when we are ready to eat. You can also make extra salsa fresca and eat it on your chips or in your eggs. It’s a win/win.
EGGS IN THE POCKET Cindy Pope I make this in a Kovea Mini I got from Artemis Overland but I imagine it would work in any skillet with a lid. Make more or less depending on the size of your cooking vessel and how many you are feeding. Eggs in in the Pocket 1 can of hash or finely diced potatoes & breakfast meat(s) of your choice. 6 eggs
Deconstructed Bean Burrito Salad 1 cup of romaine lettuce (chopped) ½ c salsa fresca - make your own or buy pre-made ½ c black beans ¼ c queso fresco - this is a light cheese like feta, but better ½ c corn ¼ avocado, chopped Homemade Salsa Fresca 2 tomatoes 1 jalapeno pepper 1 white onion Fresh cilantro Juice of 1 lime ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp oregano Salt and pepper to taste Chop ingredients very fine and mix. Refrigerate for 2 hours to let the flavors blend.
Sautee' the hash on medium heat until it starts to brown. With a spoon, make 4-6 egg-sized indentations in the hash and then crack an egg in each divot. Cover and cook until the eggs are desired doneness and hash is crispy.
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SEEING THE U.P. THROUGH NEW WRITTEN BY JIM ROY OFFROAD GARAGE PODCAST BACK IN FEBRUARY MY WHEELING PARTNER AND PODCAST CO-HOST JASON AND I WERE ASKED TO ATTEND XPDN2. XPDN IS AN OVERLAND ADVENTURE PUT ON BY MILESTAR TIRES WITH ASSISTANCE FROM PAUL AND AARON FROM FRESH COAST OFFROAD, ALONG WITH SEVERAL INDUSTRY PARTNERS.
EYES
XPDN2
XPDN1 took place in the desert out west, XPDN2 focused on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Some of the sponsors were local like Rancho Suspension, and Ace Engineering, others like Torq Masters came from New York, All Pro off road from California and Trails Magazine from Nevada. All the folks we met were amazing people who love off-roading and adventure. For me a native Michigander the best part of the event was watching everyone embrace and love the beauty that Michigan has to offer. From crossing the Mighty Mac to Tahquamenon falls, and Mt. Arvon everyone loved the grandeur of The Upper Peninsula. The event was amazing and I am grateful to have been apart of it. Search the hashtag #XPDN2 for more pics.
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OFFROAD IN BY CINDY POPE
Nothing gets a Facebook group discussion heated up like a post about the MI DNR ORV/OHV license and pass sticker program. Confusion and misinformation abounds and this leads to arguments and personal anecdotes about being harassed by local law enforcement. Taking all that into consideration, the DNR website is a great tool to clear up the confusion. The site states in black and white what the requirements are for your vehicle, and this article will directly address the rules for secretary of state licensed vehicles we off-road, overland and camp with and in.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE DNR REGULATIONS IN THE MITTEN STATE But let me digress. And I apologize if I get really basic here but once someone asked if they needed a pass and permit for "dirt roads" in Michigan. Please note that this article addresses only the MI DNR routes and trails. There are many County, State and National Forest roads to enjoy that are open to the public (please check with the National Forest Service for maps and open dates of seasonal NF roads.) Let's start this discussion by looking at the DNR' guidance for passes & permits below. The row that refers to streetlicensed truck or passenger vehicle is highlighted in yellow.
Looking at the table on the previous page, an SOS licensed vehicle only needs a permit and pass when on "designated ORV routes not passable by a conventional two-wheel drive passenger vehicle and scramble areas." This is possibly where the confusion starts. Scramble areas are easy to identify like Silver Lake, Drummond Island or St. Helens (scramble areas also can require MI recreation passes and there are signs that clearly indicate that they are in fact, scramble areas requiring permit and pass. No argument there.) But what is this "not passable by a conventional twowheel drive passenger vehicle" B.S.?
When you open the map, you will see the full trail (notice the Jeep on the thicker line in the screenshot to the right? A clue!) At the bottom is a legend which clearly states the permit and pass requirements for the route (2nd & 3rd photos on the right.) Here is your hall pass, your get-out-ofjail-free-card. On every ORV route map I have ever opened up, the legend clearly states "ORV Route- ORVs of all sizes... ORV license and trail permit required unless licensed by the Secretary of State." If you opened the motorcycle or atv trail map, you'll see those rules. The cool thing is these maps are geoenabled pdfs, so you can use
To clear up the confusion, let us take a look at a DNR ORV route and check the map provided for clues. Above is a screenshot of the MI DNR ARCGIS interactive map. Zoom in to see the route in question, here we chose Tin Cup, and click on the route line. A cickable pop-up appears and will bring you to a page with map links.
them on Avenza - you can track yourself and see where you are in real time. They are also available as gpx files. This is really useful in keeping yourself on the route. I also suggest using Gaia if you want to explore off the the trail, especially the MVUM layer if you are in/near National Forest land and the private property layer.
ORV ROUTE VS ORV TRAIL A designated ORV route means any road that has been properly signed on the ground by the DNR for ORV use. A designated ORV trail means a path or way capable of travel by a 2 -to -4 wheel vehicle not more than 50 inches in width and properly signed on the ground by the DNR for ORV use.
Thank you, Chris Koren, of the Marquette DNR office for help in answering some of these questions. He can be reached at korenc@michigan.gov. All info in this article is taken directly from the MI DNR website or from Chris. This article is correct as of day of publishing and is not intended to be legal advice. MIchigan DNR website Avenza Gaia GPS discount link
So there you have it. The DNR website says there are only three types of trails, and the one for SOS vehicles is an ORV Route, very easy to identify. Every DNR ORV map has a legend which CLEARLY states what is permissible. Scramble areas are signed, and there is signage on the trails and routes. So what is with the confusion? Word of mouth, misunderstanding and hearsay are the main culprits. These screenshots were taken from the MI DNR site and confirmed by a DNR officer in the Marquette office (sorry to burst your bubble but he said that all the ORV Routes by design are passable by a 2wd passenger vehicle.)
And why aren't permits and passes required for SOS licensed vehicles? Maybe because there are private property and residences on some of the routes, you could hardly require people pay to go to their own property. Maybe because hunters and loggers use them? I forgot to ask that! To those who are still convinced they need to buy the license and pass for ORV Routes because it's "insurance" or they feel like they want to contribute, or it looks cool, go right ahead. But at that point, plan a trip and go to a scramble area to get what you actually paid for. I hear Drummond Island is nice this time of year.
10 reasons you should visit Big Bend NP Words by Delia Mo Photos by Enoch Leisure
Big Bend Top Ten Backcountry campsites Off-roading Boquillas del Carmen, México Hot Springs Chisos Basin Stargazing Rafting Terlingua Ghost Town Marfa Big Bend Ranch State Park
1-Backcountry campsites The backcountry campsites are on a reservation system and they get filled up quick! All of the backcountry campsites are off primitive dirt roads that may or may not require 4-wheel drive. Once you book a campsite you have the whole site to yourself. There are campsites right next to the Rio Grande, in between the Chisos Basin Mountains and the Chihuahuan desert, and some tucked nearby canyons. You are allowed to camp in the backcountry for up to 14 total nights in a year, at $10 per night.
2- Off-roading There are many areas of the park to go off-roading. Four wheel drive and high clearance vehicles are recommended on these roads. You can drive on River Road which runs parallel to the Rio Grande. This road is mostly gravel with minimal obstacles, although high clearance would help, four wheel drive isn’t necessarily needed. There are also a lot of backcountry campsites along this road, all with great views of the Rio Grande. Old Ore Road is a great scenic road as
well with minor obstacles which may need 4 wheel drive in certain sections. Black Gap Road, a Jeep rated trail that is not maintained requires 4 wheel drive and high clearance for most of the road. Traveling on this road is at one’s own risk. There are a few off-camber parts, but the main obstacle on this road is a 4 foot shelf that you either go up or down depending on the direction you’re going on the road. Please be careful on this road as it’s a single lane, two-way road and passing can be difficult.
3-Boquillas del Carmen, MX Don’t forget to bring your passport! You can cross over to Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico for a cultural day trip. Once you go through the Port of Entry, there are people waiting in boats to take you across the Rio Grande. The cost is $5 round-trip. After getting out of the boat, you have a choice of riding a burro into town or walking 0.5 miles to town. The burro ride is also $5, round-trip. When you get to town, there are a bunch of souvenir shops, a couple of restaurants and a bar. If you want the full Mexican experience, you can hire a guide to give you a driving tour around town.
4- Hot Springs There are natural hot springs that you can soak in in the park. It’s off a 2-mile narrow and windy dirt road that can be tricky for some drivers. Big rigs are not recommended on this road. Once you get to the parking lot, it’s a 0.5 mile walk to the hot springs. Along the way, you can also see the remains of J.O. Langford’s once impressive, but now desolate bathhouse. The hot springs are located next to the Rio Grande, so if you get too hot, you can take a dip in the cold river to cool off. This is a good place to relax, hang out, and meet some new people.
5- Chisos Basin The Chisos Basin is the mountain region of Big Bend. You can hike up to Emory Peak, the highest point in at 7,825 feet. Although it is a strenuous 10.5 mile round-trip hike, the views are worth it. You can also feel the temperature change from the sweltering desert below to the top of the snow capped mountain. We had to traverse some patchy snow areas on the north side of the mountain, close to the peak. When you get close to the top, there’s a bit of rock scrambling to do to reach the summit. There, you’ll find some solar panels, radio equipment and antennas.
6- Stargazing Big Bend was designated as an international Dark Sky Park in 2012. Due to its remote location and lack of human occupation, there is little to no light pollution inside the park. Which makes Big Bend a great place to stargaze. Reserve a backcountry campsite, set up and have dinner, then relax under the stars with your beverage of choice. It’s also perfect for shooting night time photography and astrophotography.
7- Rafting The Rio Grande has cut out 3 major canyons in Big Bend. Boquillas Canyon, Mariscal Canyon, and Santa Elena Canyon. Most people hike these canyons and only really get to view them from the top or the entrance. You can choose to join a raft tour which floats you down the Rio Grande and you can get up close and personal with each canyon. 8- Terlingua Ghost Town About 8 miles west of Big Bend, there is Terlingua “ghost town.” I put ghost town in quotes because it is not what you would think of when you hear ghost town. The town has life to it. There are gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, bars, adventure shops, etc. A popular event that is held in Terlingua is the New Year's Day Chili Cook-Off. All the locals and tourists congregate outside Terlingua Trading Co and Starlight Theatre for an all day celebration. Night time festivities can be had at Starlight Theatre where they offer dinner and live music. 9- Marfa Another small town outside of Big Bend that is worth checking out is Marfa. Here you will find art galleries and the Marfa Lights. The Marfa Lights or Marfa Mystery Lights are an unexplained phenomenon. When night falls, colorful
lights seem to dance along the horizon southeast of town. There is no explanation for them but they appear every night no matter the season or weather. Make your way over to Marfa and speculate about them for yourself. Prada Marfa is another unexplained sight to see. It is located off Highway 90, 25 miles northwest of Marfa. It is a permanent art installation by artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The reasoning behind this art piece is up for interpretation and it's a good place to take some Instagram photos. 10- Big Bend Ranch State Park To the west of Big Bend National Park is a Texas State Park that you can explore, Big Bend Ranch State Park. This park is similar to Big Bend but larger. It has 238 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It also has 70 miles of unmaintained dirt roads, perfect for overlanders.
I hope this list gets you excited about heading down to southwest Texas and exploring what that area has to offer. There are many other things to explore in and around Big Bend National Park, but I’ll let you find them yourself. :)
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MEANDERING For many outdoor enthusiasts Memorial Day weekend and the month of June kick off summer travel plans. Since most of us lived 2020 in lockdown mode, summer 2021 promises to be full of vacations, road trips and get-aways. Those who read Northology Adventures generally enjoy the outdoors and travel or at least the idea of traveling. So what helps pass those road trip miles? Music! Like most, I spent most of my 2020 at home. Hunkered down, I listened to more music than ever. Much of that time was spent exploring new music by unfamiliar artists, playing music genres much different from what I would normally listen to. I listened to many of the CDs in my home music library and even delved into those old Boston and Chicago albums that I hadn't heard in ages (seriously, those first six Chicago albums are fantastic). Jazz, classical (I'm a sucker for Mozart) and the Allman Brothers all sounded great. But I wanted, needed something different. I mean really, how many times can one listen to Dark Side Of The Moon? Sacrilege! You get my drift.
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My Deezer HiFi streaming service totally helped my new music needs. Millions of full albums, playlists and EPs at my disposal for the cost of one CD each month. And the sound quality with their HiFi version is full CD quality. If you enjoy finding new and old music I recommend Deezer highly. I can access my Deezer choices through smartphone, tablet, desktop and Sonos at home. Other services such as Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon, Spotify are great ways to enjoy more music than ever before. Choose the one best for your listening needs. So here are ten new artists and their albums that I discovered during Pandemic 2020. Give them a listen and see what you think. Road trip!
Craven Faults Erratics & Unconformities Electronic music that will test your sound system, headphones and earbuds. Best listened to in its entirety. Be patient. Listen to the music wash over you, slowly changing and adapting. Just like those miles of roads change sometimes ever so slowly. Meditation with a jolt.
Bobbie Gentry The Girl From Chickasaw County This eight CD box set proves Bobbie Gentry was much more than just Ode To Billy Joe. This set retrospective covers her career and offers southern rock 'n roll, country, jazz and easy listening all in one set. With many guest artists, the music is first rate and the set itself is a real joy to own.
Dave Pike Music for the Jet Set Think 1960s. Pike plays marimba with a great backing band. Produced by Herbie Mann, it has a vibe of the times. Highlights are Jet Set, Sunny and You've Got Your Troubles. Grab a martini and chill around the campfire.
Mogwai As The Love Continues ZEROZEROZERO (soundtrack) Les Revenants Where have I been? Mogwai has existed for over twenty years and I just discovered them. As The Love Continues was released in 2021 and not only do I love the album, it encouraged me to investigate others such as ZEROZEROZERO and Les Revenants. Someone said their music was "powerful textural solace serenity." A great description. Djabe and Steve Hackett Back To Sardinia Steve Hacket, the original guitarist for Genesis, meets jazz-rock band Djabe. The result is a wonderful mix of jazz, trumpet and solo Hackett sometimes playing the background, at times up front. Well recorded with a wide soundstage so buy the CD or vinyl for the full audio effect.
Psychic Lemon Frequency Rhythm Distortion Delay As the title suggests this is intense. Think progressive noise rock. Not for the faint of heart. If you are road tripping at night this will be spooky fun.
Paul Moran Smokin’ B3 Volume 2, Still Smokin’ Session player, soloist and B-3 Hammond organ and keyboard player for many artists ranging from Chrissie Hynde to Van Morrison. Moran rocks the B-3 in this very enjoyable and upbeat jazz selection.
EOB Shangri-la Ed O Brian proves Radiohead is more than just Thom Yorke. A unique, dreamy and upbeat sound. Ed's sparse vocals let the musicianship shine.
Monolake Silence This is a quiet album as the title suggests. Recording quality is superb with the quiet passages being super quiet. A perfect late night listen once you've crawled into your sleeping bag.
Micky Dolenz Dolenz Sings Nesmith Both of these artists have experienced much success in music. After moving on Nesmith became an early country-rock performer with his First National Band and Second National Band. Dolenz went on to have a successful solo and acting career. Now the join up and again with Dolenz singing these new versions of Nesmith's original songs. A seriously great album, great songs and wonderful singing. My early pick so far for Album Of The Year.
A NORTHOLOGY GUIDE
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN Things to do and see in Langlade, Oconto, Marinette, Forest and Florence Counties
Where to go, what to do Nicolet National Forest Lakewood-Laona District fishing, boating, picnicking, camping, hiking & more. Lakewood shopping Boutiques, winery, candy store, sporting goods, Crandon International Raceway- the world's most iconic off-road raceway. Quartz Hill Trail A short but challenging hike with a view at the summit Kosir's Rapid Rafts The most exciting and challenging whitewater rafting trips in the area. Nicolet-Roche MTB Trail Rated one of the top 10 single track trails in Wisconsin,
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
Our Northeastern Highlands Most of the northeaster portion of the Northern Highland is covered in woodlands. The most common trees of the Northern Highland are the Sugar Maple, Aspen, Basswood, Hemlock, and Yellow Birch, as well as Red and White Pine. A large amount of the forestland in the region is included within the 1,519,800-acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. State and county forests also cover a significant part of the region, and only a small portion of the land is devoted to agriculture. -Wikipedia
Selected Lodging Camp Lake Resort, Mountain, WI Pinecrest Resort, Pickerel, WI
The Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway
Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel Carter, WI Spur of the Moment Ranch, Mountain, WI Waubee Lodge, Lakewood, WI
Selected NF Campgrounds Eagle River- Florence District Lauterman Lake- open yearround with 5 walk-in sites on quiet water Kentuck Lake Reservable campsites and a boat launch. "The Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway A 145-mile route winds through Wisconsin’s northern counties including Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas. Here you’ll discover life moves at a refreshingly slower pace and centers around time-honored traditions and values." Beautiful in every season, you'l find sleepy villages, lively casinos, antique shops, mom & pop stores along this historic route that traces parts of the original Military Road from Fort Howard in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan.
Lakewood-Laona District Boulder Lake Large campground with swimming & boat launch. Bagley Rapids Riverside camping on the Oconto River
Nicolet National Forest Roads If you feel like an off-road tour is more your style, stop at a NF Ranger office for a Motor Vehicle Use Map and Auto Tour information.
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
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Why did you choose this vehicle? Off-road capability, dependability, space, and ability to modify it. Plus…jeep history! What outdoor activities or hobbies do you have? Kayaking, hiking, trail riding, photography What is the next thing on the build list? Upgraded axles, gears, and adjustable shocks Where was your latest adventure? Texas! To Padre Island National Seashore and Big Bend National Park. What drives you to adventure? How do you get there? We want to see and share all the rigs that get us out in nature! If you would like to have your vehicle profile included, email us at info.northologyadventures@gmail.com. Published submissions will receive a sticker swag thank you gift and be entered in our Rig of the Year contest in December.
Name: Jill Wartgow @1941_adventures Hometown: Kewaunee, WI Vehicle 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara DrivetrainEngine: 3.6L V6 Transmission: Automatic Transfer Case: NV 241 Front Axle: Dana 30 Rear Axle: Dana 35 Suspension/wheels/tiresSprings & Such: Metalcloak dual rate springs, 2.5” front, 3.5” rear Tires & Wheels: 18" Helo he901 w/35" Milestar Patagonia M/Ts Steering: Factory Lighting: Led Lighting pkg and various off-road lights The extrasFabfours front bumper, Rough Country 9k winch w/synthetic line, Rhinorack Pioneer Platform w/backbone system, Smittybilt Gen2 Overlander XL w/annex, Rhinorack 270° batwing canopy, Aspenora 54 qt. Fridge, Ace manufacturing tire carrier, Trailscales trail armor, Rotopax
PHOTO BY Cindy Pope
