Dear adventurers,
The May issue last month marked three years of the existence of this publication. I am humbled by the incredible stories we have shared and the remarkable community we have fostered. To our writers and our business supporters, thank you for helping make this dream a reality.
But it is not just our supporters and contributors who deserve recognition It is you, our passionate readers and adventure enthusiasts, who have made this journey truly special. Your unwavering support, feedback, and engagement have been the driving force behind our growth. It is your thirst for knowledge, your insatiable curiosity, and your hunger for new experiences that have propelled us forward, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to live adventurously
Libby 2008-2023
Gratefully yours, Cindy
Pope
NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES
TURNS THREE
And we need your feedback!
We are thrilled to have 36 issues under our belt- who would have thunk??? We have many to thank for this publication's success. We want to thank our advertisers for supporting this, the writers for sharing their stories, and to you readers who keep devouring and sharing this content
Thank you all so much
We are not content to rest on our laurels. The quest to improve and better serve this
this community is our goal, and you can help us with some honest feedback in our reader's survey Let us know what you like, and what we can improve on, we got you
Please visit this link to fill out the reader survey. We will randomly draw the name of one respondent to win a bag of our Boreal Brew coffee roasted
for us by Got Your Six Coffee Co and a Northology camp mug on Monday June 12, 2023 Winner will be announced on social and notified by email
50% off camping with code MAVC50
NorthWoods Überländer, is the ultimate adventure vehicle event, held in conjunction with the Epic Bike Fest in Cable, Wisconsin This weekendlong celebration of outdoor recreation brings together overlanders, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts for a one-of-a-kind experience Explore the rugged terrain of Northern Wisconsin, learn new skills, and connect with a community of like-minded adventurers
NORTHWOODS UBERLANDER Presented by NoWhere Vans
June 9-11, 2023 in Cable, WI
Tim breaks down a trip out west for easy digestion and reflection.
I set out on this trip knowing I wanted to hit a few key spots on the road directly West. Before I left, I bought the annual “America the Beautiful” national park pass for $80 which gets you in to most parks and monument. The places I wanted to hit were The Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse National Memorial, and the Devils Tower.
The first location was The Badlands and though it is no Grand Canyon it certainly resembles it in beauty The roads through the rock formations were astonishing. The mornings and evenings were great as well, the sun hits the landscape and everything in your mind just fades away as you stare in its glory I will mention that the nights were by far the best, in the middle of the grasslands with these formations only being seen by starlight and moonlight nothing is more serene. The warm night breeze sets in as you stare up into the night sky, I’ve never seen so many meteors enter the atmosphere and I’ve never seen the night sky so clear, the Milky Way was ever prevalent. If it’s one thing I regret on this trip it’s not staying one more night at the Badlands. It’s crazy to think that if you took a long weekend and are devoted to the drive you can experience The Badlands and bask in its eternal wonder
Next stop was Mt. Rushmore which seeing pictures didn’t really seem that cool but when I got there all I could think is how in the heck did people carve such accurate faces on the side of a mountain. If humans want it done, it shall be so Mt Rushmore is neighbors to South Dakota’s Custer State Park which is where Theo and I would stay for the next 3 days Our campsite was directly in the middle of the massive park and to get anywhere would take 45 minutes of mountainous, twisty, tight roads which reminded me of when I went to the Tail of the Dragon in South Carolina Though the tail of the dragon is 11 miles of windy roads I argue that the roads at Custer State Park seemed endless
The dog friendly park offered so much including a wildlife loop road, The Needles Highway, Black Elk Park, and much more that I didn’t have time for. The hike up to Black Elk Peak was one I will never forget, Theo and I Hiked around trip of 6 miles to one of the Highest spots in the Black Hills; the day was a hot one of 80* and with me a backpack full of water for Theo an I The trek up was gorgeous and at one point I could see our destination to the top where the lookout building was and all I could think of is “holy cow Theo we have to go up that high and hike that far?” After that I said “Lets goooo” and didn’t care if anyone heard me The funny thing about this hike is that when we finally got to the top there are these metal stairs that you can see through maybe 20 or 30 feet down and
Theo would not cross them. I told him we didn’t hike all this way to not see the top so in a moment of The Lord of the Rings nerdiness I said, “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.” I know it didn’t make much sense, but I had to carry Theo to the peak, it was awesome That hike was probably the highlight of Custer State Park though I did see a lot of deer, Pronghorn, prairie dogs, and of course bison which would be chilling right alongside the road They seemed just like cows but with horns however it is something remarkable seeing one up close and how important a species was to the indigenous and invading peoples of history.
"...in a moment of The Lord of the Rings nerdiness I said, “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you. ”
The next day I went to the Crazy Horse Memorial which is going to be the largest mountain sculpture in the world The Visitor center was full of history and though I wanted to read everything I could, Theo was in the car and I had little time I will say this, the little amount I did read gave me insight to how little I understand indigenous people and how movies/tv portrays them. The monument is funded solely by private investors and purchases visiting the memorial and gift shops, so I bought a few things there We likely will not see the great Crazy Horse Monument completed in our lifetime.
It’s also humorous to note that Theo’s legs would not work the entire day after hiking Black Elk Peak, I tried to take him for a walk but after 10 feet he just plopped After Crazy Horse I stopped at Black Hills Bun & Co. for a Buffalo burger which apparently won best burger in the U.S. in 2014. I got the double Buffalo patty with bacon, cheese, lettuce, onion and wow there is something so much tastier about buffalo meat than cow
Our third day in Custer State Park was somewhat of a lazy one being that Theo couldn’t walk and I just didn’t want to hike anywhere. We took the truck and drove the wildlife loop which was somewhat disappointing until I decided to find an unpaved road less traveled The sign said it was open to the public, but it was mostly gravel and in part a little sketchy I’m glad I took the road because that is when I saw some more wild bison
The last destination was The Devil’s Tower which is a sublime sight to see Dogs are not permitted so I walked the paved 1 3-mile loop around the tower and I’m glad it was a sunny day because it is just gorgeous The science of how it became to be is also fascinating, from what I read it was created from volcanic magma and pressure.
After visiting the tower, I decided to make the trek back home and wanted to camp one more night at the Badlands. The plan didn’t really pan out as I remembered there weren’t any bathrooms there and I was just completely drained of life from doing so much already Theo and I decided to drive as far as we could back home then get a hotel for the night; also, a proper shower was greatly needed and so was a proper bed The road home brought us to the middle of South Dakota at a Quality Inn which was pet friendly for a fee On the way home I found out my brother was going to be in La Crosse visiting his girlfriend and they got a campsite as well, so I did what I’ve been doing pretty good so far and set up camp, again. That night I got to see an incredible view of the city that Adam and Anna showed me which was pretty cool, La Crosse is way more beautiful than Green Bay
Earlier this year I bought a 2014 Toyota 4Runner to achieve such explorations as this one. Its off-road capability is that of a Jeep and some would argue better, but I won’t go down that rabbit hole of which is superior I bought a Toyota because I’ve known of their incredible reliability, and I have a small obsession with Japanese engineering. I felt like it was a good idea to bring both sets of keys with me and was I right. Originally, I had the spare hidden away underneath the chassis but that soon went away During areas in which pets weren’t allowed I kept Theo in the vehicle with the A/C running while I went and did a few short hikes and site seeing. I wasn’t gone for more than an hour and I could lock the vehicle knowing Theo and all my valuables were safe. While the spare key was always in the vehicle I made sure to have my original on my locking carabiner on my hip. Before my trip I bought some screen material and cut it out in the shape of my windows, to hold it up were a plethora of little magnets; this came in handy when sleeping in the truck on warm nights to keep the bugs out During the entire 2,000-mile-long trip I averaged 18.9 miles per gallon which isn’t the greatest but in the overland community that isn’t half bad Normally I run ethanol free 91 octane which gives me the longest range on a full tank but in some areas the only choice was 87octane with 10% ethanol. I have nothing against running ethanol especially if your vehicle is designed for it, I encourage it due to it being a cleaner burning fuel The 4Runner is a little older and I just wanted to have the greatest range on a full tank Overall I couldn’t see myself doing this sort of trip in any other vehicle
The most valuable piece of equipment I brought were wet wipes. Yes, you read that correctly, bio-degradable aloe vera wet wipes These can be used for several things other than the obvious of wiping your ass with them These came in handy for cleaning used dishes, wiping off Theo’s feet, showering, mending rashes, and cleaning the stove. Along with wet wipes were reels of bamboo biodegradable toilet paper which worked great as napkins and paper towels. I did bring a portable, foldable shitter which I had to use at The Badlands National Park because there are no bathrooms
The stove I used was a Coleman 2 burner collapsible propane stove which worked great for everything I needed to cook. The cooler I used was a Lifetime cooler like that of a Yeti but way cheaper, I loaded up all my food and beverages Saturday night and packed it with Ice that lasted until Tuesday the next week, though there was ice left I would say half of it melted; I’m unsure if I would’ve had more success with a Yeti but this performed admirably.
Water is always essential and the 7gallon jug I brought did just fine for both Theo and I; we did stay at a campsite that has potable water so I became a bit more liberal with the use of H2O but I could’ve rationed it easily for a week long trip without a water source. I brought a Jerry can that holds 5 gallons of gasoline but was never needed as I wasn’t too far away from civilization
Flashlights are key especially later in the year when it gets darker sooner, the ones I brought did the trick including the magnetic one that I can just throw anywhere on the truck or canopy There was only one night I slept in my tent, the other nights I slept in the back of the truck on a Coleman self-inflating sleeping pad; though it is self-inflating I used my Ryobi air pump which has an air mattress attachment to inflate the sleeping pad The canopy I brought saved a lot of my other equipment from the rain since in order to sleep in the truck I had to remove a lot of items from it. Binoculars, lawn chair, med-kit, shovel, table, go-pro, blankets are other items I brought which came in handy for obvious reasons The worst item I brought was a cheap set of aluminum camping pots and pans; they didn’t disperse heat evenly and everything I tried to cook ended up stuck and burnt to the bottom of the pan. Next trip I’ll be bringing cast iron or non-stick pans
Soup is king, chunky soup with the lids you can open without a can opener were great almost every night for dinner, just throw it in a pot and heat it up and you have a good hearty meal. Most mornings I cooked eggs which didn’t turn out so well due to the cheap cookware. Mio with vitamins was a great supplement to the water Bubblr for morning energy was great, I was considering bringing a coffee grinder and all the necessities to do that, but it seemed like a lot of work. Sandwich meat, bread, cheese, mustard, lettuce was the choice for most lunches. Of course, what’s a trip without beer? Being that I was on vacation I would end the day with a couple of Busch Latte’s which I think were well deserved
Though I thought I prepared myself for everything I soon came to find out I didn’t prepare enough The days when the sun was out came close to 90* and the nights were approaching 40* On cloudy days it was 55* the entire day. I would’ve packed more shorts had I’d known The two heavy sweatshirts I brough did the trick during the cold days. Comfortable foot ware is always a must and the two pair of hiking boots worked well. For those of you who don’t know Salomon (the Ski company) makes boots and they are comfy AF.
Theo was such a great travel companion; he somehow knew when the trips would be long stretches and when they would be for site seeing. I packed more than enough food for him in a sealable container and him and I would drink water from the same 7gallon container I brought Most days he would wake me up (as he always does) around 6:30 and we would go for a
walk I brought treats for him to chew on, toys to play with, and two leashes (one extendable, one not). Though he was allowed most places he was not allowed inside buildings My original plan was to leave him behind with my folks but I am so glad I brought him with, he is my buddy and instead of talking to myself on the trip I had my best buddy to talk to and look after
I set out having a good idea of what I want to do but nothing was set in stone; I had no itinerary, no reservations, no idea of what might happen The nervousness about unknown plans is what I think is great in life, one cannot simply live knowing exactly what will happen every day of their life During the journey I always seemed to figure it out along the way Whether it was talking to park rangers about where to set up camp or simply driving around to find it out along the way things always seemed to work out in the end with time to spare Honestly some of the worst experiences I had on my trip were with other people; huge campers with generators made me want to move to a different campsite. However much I despise humans, I did miss enjoying all these experiences without someone to share it with,
whether that be close friends, family, or a significant other, life is meant to be shared My suggestion to those wanting to do something similar I say don’t sweat it; everything falls into place. Some part of me knows that living like this isn’t so bad even though I am a person of routine and order. Our whole lives are routine and order and it’s almost depressing; this trip made me realize that there is so much to see out there and you need to experience it for yourself. There was no sense of supernatural power, no epiphany’s that one always thinks will happen on such adventure; there was just the thrill of adventure, adrenaline of the unknown, serenity of not dealing with day-to-day life, and the bliss of unattachment This is but the first trip of many that I want to do, and I can’t wait to see what else the world has to offer for me to see!
awomans awoman's placeisinthe placeisinthe woods woods
Women Offroaders: A Recap of the Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend
The Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend, organized by Northology Adventures, recently took place at Northern Chill's Chill Ranch in Polar, WI. This empowering event brought together 32 women with a shared passion for offroading and adventure. With a diverse range of activities and informative classes, the event aimed to enhance participants' skills, promote camaraderie, and celebrate the growing presence of women in the offroading community.
photos by Sarah Michals / Sarah Michals Photography + Design
esenters
iscover 4x4 Adventures
Northwoods Overland
1 Adventures
dwin, GoGoGoodwins
Northology Adventures
s, SJ Micahls
alum Katie Abraham &
The weekend kicked off with an array of educational classes designed to equip attendees with valuable knowledge Sessions covered a variety of topics, including trail trauma response, pet first aid, vehicle recovery, navigation, and rig setups These classes provided essential skills and information, ensuring that participants were well-prepared for offroading adventures while promoting safety and responsible practices on the trails
Moreover, attendees were treated to inspiring talks by experienced offroaders who had participated in the prestigious Rebelle Rally Keri Porter and Katie Abraham shared their personal experiences, highlighting the challenges they overcame and the lessons they learned. The insights and stories shared during these sessions were both motivational and educational, encouraging participants to push their limits and embrace new adventures.
As a gesture of appreciation and support, participants were welcomed with goody bags with items from camp sponsors Saturday evening brought a thrilling twist as thunderstorms rolled through the area but despite the weather, prizes were given away, adding an element of anticipation and surprise to the event
Northology Adventures
Northern Chill
MidlandUSA
Got Your Six Coffee Co
Discover 4x4 Adventures
Northwoods Overland Adventures
GoGoGoodwins
1941 Adventures
New Holland Overland
Orbis Overlanding
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend was the thrilling trail ride through the picturesque Langlade County forest. Divided into three groups based on skill level, participants had the opportunity to test their offroading skills and bond with fellow enthusiasts. Whether navigating rocky terrains, conquering muddy paths, or maneuvering through challenging obstacles, the trail ride provided an exhilarating experience that further solidified the participants' love for offroading Membersofthe4Lakes4Wheelersoffroadclub were on location to assist with trail guides but theladiespulledcableontheirownandspotted eachotheronthetrail
*Trail permission granted by special use permit issued by the LangladeCountyForestry,Parks&RecreationDepartment
Beyond the technical skills and adrenalineinducing activities, the event fostered a strong sense of community among the participants
The Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend created an inclusive space where women could connect, share their experiences, and build lasting friendships. The mutual support and encouragement among attendees showcased the camaraderie that lies at the heart of the offroading community.
The Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend was a resounding success in celebrating and empowering women in the offroading world Through educational classes, inspirational talks, sponsor giveaways, and a thrilling trail ride, participants gained valuable skills, forged new connections, and enjoyed the camaraderie of like-minded women This event not only showcased the increasing presence of women in offroading but also highlighted their passion, determination, and ability to conquer challenges both on and off the trails As the Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend continues to grow, it promises to inspire and empower even more women to embark on unforgettable offroading adventures.
HAMBLOCK FORD
FORD PERFORMANE PARTS
THE BRONCO NATION
WILD HORSES 4×4
NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES
ROCKTOWN ADVENTURES
TACKFORM
PANDA MOTORWORKS
METAL TECH 4X4
AUTO ACCENTS BY GINA
AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS
GREAT LAKES
UNDERCOATING
MIDWESTTREAD COM
JILLY'S JERKY
VOLCANO FALLS
BRIGHTER FOCUS
PHOTOGRAPHY
RV PERFORMANCE
AMERICOLD-BELVIDERE
LASHES BY LAYCI
BIRD DOG OVERLAND
CODY THE BRONCO
KONA THE BRONCO
HAMBLOCK FORD, BELVIDERE IL
2-5PM
FREE SWAG BAG FOR FIRST 100 BRONCOS CAR SHOW WITH PRIZES
RAFFLES, FOOD TRUCKS, DJ & MORE
ROCKY GLEN OHV ROCKFORD IL
5-10PM
OFF ROAD NIGHT RIDING ($50/VEHICLE)
This community is amazing! For the third year in a row, Northology Adventures brought folks together for a trail cleanup hosted by KORC, and for the second year, gathered everyone at the Trails End Campground for a campout celebration centered around the cleanup. There were 30 particpants and half of the campout fee was donated to KORC- totaling $750! Way to go, friends!
"Thank you to everyone who came out to the 3nd Annual KORC Keweenaw Clean-Up! Over 75 volunteers attended the event to help keep the Keweenaw clean Together we collected over 4,500 pounds of trash from areas like High Rock Bay, Keystone Bay, the Mandan Road loop, Schlatter Lake, Fish Cove, Hoar Lake, Hunter’s Point, Brockway Mountain Drive, Manganese Bridge Road, The Delaware Shortcut, Copper Harbor streets, and motorized trails starting from as far south as Calumet! While several county road sides, parks, and parking areas have more new trash and we have several legacy dumping sites on public land that still need more work, the good news is that beaches and trails are staying cleaner.
Thanks to the efforts of these volunteers and others, our beautiful Keweenaw is ready for the summer season Please do your part to help maintain clean views along beaches, roads, trails and parks by disposing of all trash and recycling responsibly."
"Thank you to the following businesses and groups for helping make the event such a success:
The Mariner North
Ace Hardware of Calumet
Keweenaw ATV Club
Keweenaw Snowmobile Club
Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen's Club
Copper Harbor Trails Club
Northology Adventures
KOAR Community
Fresh Coast Cabins
Cross Country Sports
Keweenaw Coffee Works
Studio 13
Copper World
The Gas Lite General Store - The Genny
The Fitz Stewards of Bete Grise Preserve "
Thank you to our supporters for your faith in this community and for the goody bag and giveaway donations!
Shawn Hamachek
MidlandUSA
Northology Adventures
Trails End Campground
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
New Holland Overland
Got Your Six Coffee Co.
Orbis Overlanding
Keweenaw Boat Tours
The MOORE Expo
Thanks also to the volunteers who came out to show their love for the Keweenaw, we can't do this without you!
Photos by Shawn Hamachek, Jun Tan, Alan Branam, Sarah Michals and Cindy Pope & Mark Daggett
MEDORA
MOUNT BOHEMIA
BETE GRISE
MOUNT
HOUGHTON
MOUNT HORACE
GREELEY
BARE BLUFF
MONTREAL FALLS
FISH COVE
BIG BAY
KEYSTONE BAY
Historically, the Keweenaw holds many of the Upper Peninsula "holy grails" of overlanding in Michigan. We ditched the 4WD for a different kind of exploration.
By Cindy PopeAs the 24' cabin cruiser left the dock and trolled out into the water, the rugged beauty of the landscape unfolded before my eyes The shoreline of Lac La Belle revealed a mesmerizing tapestry of cottages and pine forest stretching into the distance The dense forests that bordered the coast hid a deep mystery, whispering tales of ancient secrets and hidden wonders With each passing moment, I found myself in awe of the boreal beauty that surrounded us
We set out for our journey along the southern Keweenaw shore guided by Captain Jason Swain of Keweenaw Boat Tours A returning UP native with 20 years of Coast Guard experience, we knew we were in good hands Captain Swain's expertise and passion for the Keweenaw shore were evident His knowledge of the area's geological wonders and the diverse wildlife enriched the experience, making every moment that more meaningful
The untamed beauty of this remarkable stretch of the shoreline, guided by a captain who understood its essence, created a truly unforgettable adventure
We passed through the channel leading out into the Keweenaw Bay with its wild inlets and coves (note to self, come back and explore by kayak) and passed by the Mendota Lighthouse A small fishing boat was headed inbound as we left the canal and we smiled and waved as boaters do The expanse of the southern shore lay before us in the brilliant sun, wild and inviting us to come closer
The experience of seeing key features of the landscape from the water is a real treat Here we could see Mount Houghton popping up from the forest, the rock face of Bare Bluff and could that white area farther out on the shore be Montreal Falls? It surely was, rushing full and boisterous with spring runoff as we floated nearer We went as far as Keystone Bay, with its sandy beach and old camper tucked into the woods on the private land next to the public area.
Possibly my favorite view was that of Fish Cove. I have visited a few times, and even floated on my paddle board from the small cobble beach on the eastern side where the sea stacks loom; it was so good to see those views again
We set course to return and found ourselves passing by the singing sands of Bete Brise beach and back into the Mendota Canal Captain Jason pointed out an old fishing boat, abandoned on shore which set our minds to wondering why and how it met its fate there Surely there was a story hidden in the waters
This expedition was a testament to the untamed spirit of nature
From the towering cliffs to the endless sandy beaches and the vibrant wildlife that called this place home, every element spoke of the raw power and captivating allure of the southern Keweenaw shore The memories forged during this extraordinary journey will forever be etched in my mind, a constant reminder of the boundless wonders that await those who seek to explore the untamed wilderness.
"Experience the ultimate tour of the Keweenaw only Keweenaw Boat Tours can provide We provide a variety of options that cover the entire Keweenaw waterway Choose from a Jacobsville Lighthouse and sandstone cliffs tour, an awe-inspiring Superior Sunset cruise, or a brand new adventure for 2023 that takes you from Lac La Belle to Keystone Bay, at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula" -from the Keweenaw Boat Tour website
keweenawboattours.com
(906) 281-1556
KeweenawBoatTours@gmail.com
"As pet lovers ourselves, we understand that it costs LOTS of money to board your pet while you are on vacation, not to mention the worry associated with leaving your pet with someone you don't know. This is their getaway as well, so bring Fido along Pets can enjoy a nice boat ride too!"
Photo of Kamp by Mark Daggett
Not everything goes right on every trip. We have all been there- bugs, rain, breakdowns, crabby children, bickering spouses.... at the end of the day you can finally settle in and have a nightcap and relax. If you're extremely lucky, mother nature can reward you for all of your effort. At the Northology Spring Cleanup Campout, the stragglers were gathered around the campfire late Friday night, May 19th and just before midnight, the sky lit up with a flickering show. Visible to the naked eye, the lights danced as the campers stood in awe. Hugs and high fives were exchanged between shutter clicks and long exposures. It was suggested that the drinks served earlier brought the lights out, and that is the story we are sticking with. Cheers!
Northern Lights Cocktail
Ingredients
1 oz. (30ml) Smirnoff Sours Berry Lemon
1 oz (30ml) Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka Red Bull Blueberry
Lemon Wedges
Blueberries
Steps
Fill shaker with ice cubes. Add all liquid ingredients
Shake and strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice cubes
Garnish with lemon wedge and blueberries.
From Copymethat.com NOTE: we did not shake and strain, we added ingredients in the order listed, floating the Red Bull on top to give the illusion of the swirling lights Color changing LED puck lights added to the ambiance
Camp bar setup at Trails End, Brockway Mountain in the background
Photos by Cindy Pope
TRAILS END CAMPGROUND TRAILS END CAMPGROUND Campsites & Rustic Cabins
14203 M26 Copper Harbor, MI
ByCindyPope
The kayaks in front of me disappeared over the horizon line. What are we running, a waterfall? I'm pretty sure that swimming this set of rapids is outside my comfort zone. Angela is sitting in a pool at the top and I drop in to get a better look. Darn it, I'm pretty sure I have no business attempting this but there's no turning back now. Angela gives me her big atta-girl smile as I turn towards the drop and paddle over the edge into what I am sure is the whirlpool from Land of the Lost.
Immediately I do exactly what Jamee reminded us not to do in her pre-run pep talk. My left hand lets go of the paddle as I bounce off of big rocks. I grab the side of my kayak and over I go. Out of the boat I pop. I try to gather my thoughts- which way is up? Did I just inhale one gallon of river water or was it two? I am now bouncing, bouncing, ouch. Can I catch my boat? Hey, I'm still holding my paddle! Whoa, that was another big drop and lots more rocks. Finally slowing down I see a familiar face coming to my aid. Am I alright, asks Jamee, patting her head in the universal I'm ok sign. I pat my head and nod as I struggle to hang on to my kayak. The panic subsides and I make my way to river left to drain my boat.
Sarah paddles over to help and Grace stops to check on me as well. Megan and Bo are recovering their boats, too, with smiles on their faces. I'm pretty sure I am the weakest, least skilled boater of the bunch but being with these gals made me feel like I could try, I could push myself, I could defeat fear. I was ridiculously less than successful but I did it. Instead of freezing in fear or portaging the rapids, I chose to charge forward. I came out the other side with plenty of bumps and bruises but not the regret of a missed lesson. I am so thankful for the friendships and the trust I had with these gals that day. Its so empowering to know that when the going gets tough, I have people to count on. On the river, on the trail, in life, thanks to those who want to see others learn, grow and succeed. When you are out of your element and struggling, that's where you find your real-life comfort zone.
"
...I turn towards the drop and paddle over the edge into what I am sure is the whirlpool from Land of the Lost."
Ultralight set conveniently links up spice containers providing up to 6 different spice options with removable screens for easy refilling.
3-In-1 Camping Spork: No need to pack multiple camping cooking utensils – our spork features a dedicated fork and spoon, plus a serrated fork edge for cutting
The Kovea All In One Mini is a must-have for solo camping or couples on the go. It comes with everything packed into a sturdy hard case. The ceramic coated cast iron pan stows under the burner for transport and the removable pot support provides for easy cleaning. 100% LOVE.
The 1 liter cooking pot and stove are one integrated unit, the built in ignitor lights the stove instantly. The sturdy, hard anodized aluminum pot features a locking stainless steel handle for secure and safe handling, combined with the insulating neoprene cover on the pot.
These are affiliate links and we may receive a small commission from purchases at no cost to you.
USE CODE "BOREAL" FOR 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE
June 9-11 NorthWoods Überländer, Cable, WI
July 7-9 Overland Expo Pacific Northwest
July 13-16 Crawl for the Cure Gilbert, MN
August 25-27 Overland Expo Mountain West
September 29-30 Big Iron Overland Rally West Mineral, KS
September 14-17 Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat Copper Harbor, MI
October 6-8 Overland Expo East
October 12-14 Rendezvous in the Ozarks
October 19-22 Overland the Red Stanton, KY
Please notify us if you want your event listed at info.northologyadventures@gmail.com
"Sam and his crew are awsome they know the trails well and have good eye for what your jeep is capable of "
"Sam was awesome. Give us exactly what we wanted and then some. HIGHLY RECOMMEND him if you want to explore some awesome trails "
justiceexplores@gmailcom
"Sam is amazing! He knows his area, his spotting, is conscientious of what he’s bringing you through and is extremely patient!! Excellent and I would give 150 stars!!! You need to be able to trust your spotter and I would follow him anywhere!!" justice explores JusticeExplores
A monthly feature bringing you our favorite YouTube videos from some great creators- check them out and be sure to subscribe! To watch the videos, click on the video thumbnail on the right.
Finally, a video from the BEST Frey of all- Andrea! Follow along as she attends the Midwest Women's Offroad Weekend and tackles the muddy trails in the Freymobile with her trusty sidekick, Carol Mowrer of TCTeardrops Much fun was had, and many swears were bleeped in this fun romp in the Wisconsin woods.
Talented videographer and celebrity guest Braxton Klavins has split his Welcome to the Outdoors channel into one soley for the Overland Expo content, and one for reviews, trip videos and his Jeep Gladiator build. In this episode, Braxton fills us in on some of the best products and vendors at the 2023 Overland Expo West.
ith the OklahomaKentucky Overland ins! Jeremiah's deft camera work captures the sprawling openness of Oklahoma and the ruggedness of the canyon in New Mexico in beautiful cinematic grandeur. Bravo, my man.
oad Weekend, hort intro but this is all Cara, giving us a glimpse into the event and to the advanced trail ride that weekend. It is obvious that the terrain and challenge was a surprise to all the gals that day, but they pulled together and got through with smiles a mile wide.
ht unseen and attempting to 5%? Kind of a no-frills of slick video productions, made up drama or contrived, scripted content. The next PBR is on us, sir.
