A MIDWEST OUTDOOR OVERLAND ADVENTURE PUBLICATION
NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES OCTOBER 2021
KOAR 2021 RECAP ALL THINGS OVERLANDING
DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK Mountainbike Trails building up the community
TRAIL COMMS
Midwest_funrnr gets on board with GMRS
KORC CLEANUP // NEW LODGING FEATURE // OVERLAND EXPO WEST
07
CAMP COOKING
03 60
VEHICLE PROFILE
62
THE GEAR BUNKER
COMMUNICATIONS
Midland install & review
12
18
DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK
FALL DRIVES
Community backs the bikes
Top Midwest leaf peeping routes
20
32
KOAR 2021 RECAP
MOLEISURE XVENTURES
Jason Fletcher wraps it up
A full time blast from the past
36
42
WELCOME TO THE CABIN
OVERLAND EXPO WEST
New lodging review feature
A family rivalry
50
56
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
KORC BEACH CLEANUP
Shots from the mountain
Report from the inaugural event
INTERACTIVE CONTENT Or, how to read this magazine! Clicking on the video play icons allow you to watch the embedded videos directly on the page. There are also live links that will briefly highlight when you turn the page to indicate the linked content and you can click on underscored text and the ads too- thanks for reading and sharing! 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 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 acknowledge that and agree that Northology cannot be held responsible and shall not be liable for content of other websites and advertisements.
Cover photo: Joshua Colegrove Photo: Bo Robinson Contents Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald Cover photo: Josh Colgrove
BAKING OFFGRID WITH THE OMNIA OVEN
OVERLAND PIONEERS + KEWEENAW OVERLAND ADVENTURE RETREAT The 2021 KOAR event was bigger and better than ever. Watch and see why this event and location is as good as it gets. See you 9/15-18/2022
Thank you from the KOAR team
ON THE TRAIL AND ON THE ROAD
COMMUNICATIONS
MIDLAND MXT275 INSTALLATION AND THOUGHTS
By Jordan Schutt Until recently in vehicle communication has been a tertiary priority in our community. This has been traditionally handled by the installation of a CB Radio or a personal cellular phone. For anyone who has relied on either of these options for their infield communication then you already know the draw backs. A cell phone tends to lose signal exactly when you need it most and the fuzzy sound, short range, and antiquity of the CB has rendered it mostly useless. The best use for the Cobra 75 I keep in my Xterra has been for checking with truck drivers about backups on the interstate and using the Firestik antenna as a feeler on the front of my truck for clearance with my roof top tent. The realm of radio has a learning curve, or at least a feeling of difficulty to get into and understand. Initial research really leads down the rabbit hole of licenses, testing, power ratings, frequencies, HAM, GMRS, FRS, etc. It's enough to confuse and scare anyone away that looks at things from a surface perspective and is not use to digging in deeper into the technical aspects and pulling things out of the hobbyist realm and into a more consumer ready state.
@MIDWEST_FUNRUNR The good folks at Midland have helped take the confusion our of getting into a more stable communication platform. The MXT275 in particular is ready to communicate on GMRS and FRS channels and transmit with 15 watts of power. This really helps you bump up your range and clarity over that range. In short, it is a game changer of in field communications. The ability to install the 275 similarly to the Cobra 75 CB can make for an extremely clean and mostly hidden installation. In our 2020 Toyota 4Runner we already had a complicated dash board setup with an Expedition Essentials dock, plenty of RAM mount accessories, cellphone, and Garmin Overlander. Keeping additional clutter to a minimum is key so being able to only have the mic unit and all the controls contained in that mic unit makes this an easy solution. The actual body of the MXT275 is tucked away in our center console, currently held in place with velcro but will be bolted in once I am sold on its placement.
For power concerns the 275 comes with a cigarette lighter plug. This would work good in the 4Runner as there is a plug inside the center console, however, we prefer to keep that available for charging our mobile devices. The cigarette lighter plug was clipped off, the harness extended, and I tied it into a Blue Sea fuse box for constant power, this also allows me to use the
radio and monitor the radio what our vehicle is turned off. You can use any antenna with this radio but I used the Midland ghost antenna. It is very low profile and while I'm sure you can get more distance transmitting and receiving with a longer whip, I will use the ghost antenna now and evaluate changing the antenna on a trip by trip basis and how remote of a location I plan on going to. At KOAR 2021 we were hit with some wind and storms. This allowed me to use the weatherband on our MXT275 to get a feeling of how much longer we could expect weather to be a factor in our trip and how to best plan around it. Also, there is the ability to setup weather alerts so that if things were to worsen it would break into whatever station we were monitoring and give us an alert as to what we could expect. This kind of information is extremely valuable in the field and probably one of my favorite parts of having an in vehicle communications solution. Finally, it is worth mentioning that to transmit on GMRS one should have the appropriate license. My personal feelings about this being put aside I did get on the FCC website and obtain this license as it is inexpensive, covers our whole family, and is very easy to get. It feels overkill to have to do this for GMRS when compared to the intricacies of being a HAM operator but that is beside the point. It takes 5 minutes and you and your family are covered for 10 years on GMRS frequencies. I typed out our given call sign and stuck it to the top of our radio in case we are ever asked about it.
To wrap up my thoughts on communications it has been interesting to watch the progress. The first KOAR was in 2018 and few of the vehicles there had anything beyond a CB radio if they even had that. At KOAR 2021 it was obvious that in vehicle communications has moved from an afterthought to a priority right up next to all terrain tires. Being able to relay marshaling, trail conditions, and so much more helps us adventure and adventure as a community. I was extremely happy with the installation and performance of my MXT275 and look for many more years of putting it to use.
TRAILS END CAMPGROUND RUSTIC CABINS & CAMPING 14203 M26 Copper Harbor, MI
DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK "THE DICKINSON TRAIL NETWORK HAS GAINED COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THROUGH THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND THE MOMENTUM IS JUST BEGINNING." -DTN
The Dickinson Trail Network (DTN), established in 2019 as a dba of the Dickinson County Bike Path, focuses on building, maintaining, and promoting non-motorized trails throughout Dickinson County, Michigan. As of October 2021, this group of dedicated volunteers has constructed 30 miles of new multi-use singletrack bike trails in Norway, Iron Mountain, and Fumee Lake Natural Area with plans for additional trail systems and bike paths.
If you are interested in checking out DTN’s trails in Norway, sign up for “The Ogee Challenge” which has 8-, 12-, and 24-mile races on Saturday October 16th, 2021! Join us the Friday before for fun events like bike skill competitions, a Crit Race, and youth events. The Millie Hill Trailhead offers eight trails overlooking downtown Iron Mountain. The trails range from easy to advanced difficulty with downhill flow, downhill technical, wooden skills features, and even a jump line. Millie-on-Aire, the newest trail still under construction, will feature a breathtaking birds-eye view of downtown Iron Mountain with a fun, flowy decent mixed with rollers and jumps.
DTN is in the fundraising stages for a professionally built trail system on Pewabic Hill in Iron Mountain. The new trail will showcase 6-miles of world-class professionally built trails which will include berms, bridges, and jumps you see at the best bike parks in the Midwest. This new system will also connect the Millie Hill Trail System with 300 acres of privately owned land that DTN already has permission to build miles of trails to expand the already impressive network. During the winter months, DTN switches from trail building to trail grooming to provide year-round enjoyment. Their grooming machines create classic crosscountry glide tracks and multi-use corduroy snow surfaces, while the snowdog and Rokon machines create a 24"-wide singletrack trails ideal for fatbiking.
Dickinson County is quickly becoming a destination for eco-tourists looking to bike, hike, and snowshoe and serves as a hub for biking and outdoor enthusiasts heading to points north of Iron Mountain. The community can already see the economic impacts of DTN activities in Dickinson County. The trail system is adjacent to many downtown districts, where small businesses benefit from increased traffic from tourists and residents alike. Local businesses and industries use the DTN network to promote healthy lifestyles with their employees and as a recruitment tool to attract and recruit young professionals to the community. The Dickinson Trail Network has gained community and local government support through the accomplishments over the past three years, and the momentum is just beginning. Looking forward, DTN plans to roll out a restructured marketing campaign, develop a robust Trail Partnership Program for local businesses and corporations, and continue to connect the community through trails and partnerships. These collaborations allow businesses and individuals to provide support both financially and through in-kind donations in exchange for the indirect benefits from a thriving trail user community; and directly through the promotion of their place of business. To learn more about Dickinson Trail Network or to make a donation, visit www.dtntrails.org. Also check them out on Facebook and Instragram.
MICHIGAN- COVERED ROAD A scenic dirt road with a tunnel of trees that make it look like it was a scene taken straight out of a movie. This off the beaten path drive will lead you to the Upper Peninsula ghost town of Redridge, the historic Redridge Dam and Lake Superior.
MICHIGAN- TUNNEL OF TREES Northern Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees on M-119 is one of the state’s most iconic attractions, never more so than on a fall color tour.
MINNESOTA- EDGE OF THE WILD This super scenic byway winds over hills through the colorful mix of pine and hardwoods of Chippewa National Forest.
WISCONSIN NICOLET-WOLF RIVER SCENIC BYWAY The Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway is located in the heart of the majestic Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and home to the headwaters of the pristine Wolf River.
I L L I N O I S -R I V E R S I D E B Y W A Y Experience the history of the mighty Mississippi River with this trip along a portion of the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.
ILLINOIS- SOUTHERN LOOP
RELAXING AUTUMN DRIVES
Experience the beauty of Shawnee National Forest with this loop through five towns set among towering rock formations, tree-lined trails and southern Illinois vineyards.
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
ide Read the gu
online!
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
recap by Jason Fletcher As the fall season approaches, the temps start to drop and the bugs disappear. This time of year is my favorite for a few reasons. Cooler temps mean better sleep and more relaxation around a campfire. The leaves start to change colors and it’s so beautiful that I often find myself just driving around to see it happen. Lastly, it signals that it’s time to start prepping for my favorite Overlanding event of the year, KOAR. KOAR stands for the Keweenaw Overlanding Adventure Retreat. It’s the brainchild of Northology Adventures AKA Cindy Pope. She’s assembled an amazing team of outdoor enthusiasts who help plan trail runs and create new events and activities for attendees to enjoy. For 2022, there were some significant additions and it was better than ever! Location The event takes place at the beautiful Trails End Campground. This has been the venue for the last couple of years and it is honestly a perfect fit for the crowd that attends KOAR. With heavily wooded, private campsites, you can fit everything from a Subaru Crosstrek to an Earthroamer into the spots with no problems. The spots are situated around a large pond that adds some ambiance and makes for some amazing views as the sun rises or sets. With space for a large vendor village, some amazing cabins you can rent, and, most importantly, some nice pit toilets so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own toilet solution, it’s a fantastic spot for anyone that’s into the outdoors.
The campground is located within a minute or two of beautiful Copper Harbor. This quaint, small town has a surprisingly large number of options for visitors to enjoy. From fancy restaurants like the Harbour Haus where you could spend hundreds for some marvelous food to the Pines Resort for some delicious pasties, you have lots to check out. Some other places to check out include the Jamsen Bakery for some fresh coffee and bakery goods and the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge for breakfast. They have some great breakfast burritos that are a great way to start your day. Speaking of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, it’s also a spot where you can get access to Wifi. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), there isn’t any cell phone reception in Copper Harbor. If you need to get a message out or drop a sweet pic on Instagram, you can go to the Lodge or the top of Brockway Mountain (right across the street from the campground) to get connected. Once you’ve eaten and checked your email, you can then begin exploring. As mentioned above, you can drive to the top of Brockway Mountain for some amazing views and photo opportunities. With a capable rig, there are
Photos: Derek Angara
multiple trails that you can tackle. From the overlook at the top of Cliff Mine Trail to deep mud pits and beautiful lakeshore views at High Rock Bay and the Rocket Range, there is a ton to see. Also, make sure to hit up the Gay Beach and the Gay Bar in Gay Michigan. Included in your admission to KOAR is access to daily classes and the vendor village where you can see the newest gear on display. There is also an annual gear swap where you can bring stuff you no longer need which can earn you some money and help benefit a charity. Or, you can choose your own adventure and just venture out. One year, I followed a regular attendee around and we toured the coastline, checking out amazing history and beautiful lighthouses and views. There is so much to see up here that you could spend the three days of KOAR trying new stuff and not see the same thing for years. The Activities With each year that passes, the KOAR team takes what they learned the previous year and optimizes and adds to it. For example, this year they had a big focus on Moto Koar to ensure that bike folks had fun things to do. Also, there was a kids corral run by the Nelson family to help keep kids occupied while their parents checked out the vendor village. If you’re into exploring, seeing amazing views, and testing the capabilities of your vehicle,
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
then the multiple trail rides (from 2 wheel bikes, to beginner 4x4, to advanced 4x4) might be for you! As your first night winds down, enjoy some adult beverages by a fire in your camp or head over to the vendor village to see what’s on display there. Say hi to your neighbor and make some new friends or invite people you know to join you at this awesome event. Each evening as you wind down from a day of exploring, you’ll have everything from amazing live music, to awesome gear giveaways from the sponsors, and more. The final night of KOAR is highlighted by a massive bonfire that is built using a chainsaw and actual tree trunks. If you’re anywhere near the vendor village, you’ll feel the heat and experience one of the coolest, most unique aspects of KOAR. The People Arguably, the best part of KOAR is the people. From the team that creates and manages the madness, to the attendees with their different rigs and camping setups, to the people in Copper Harbor, you’re going to make new friends each year. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the warm and often funny staff. You’ll get checked in and given your gift bag and receive instructions for how to find your campsite. As you drive back
Photo: Cindy Pope
Photo: Chris Offenwanger
Photo: Ben Wicklund
into the campgrounds, you’ll get waves from people walking around the camp and other folks in vehicles. Even if you don’t have a Jeep, in KOAR, you get the Jeep wave from everyone. Once you make it to your unique campsite, you’ll sometimes be paired up with new people you may or may not know. Say hi and feel free to show off your rig and make friends. The same thing happens on trail rides. You’ll be paired with other folks looking for the same level of challenge and get to know them along the drive.
Photos: Derek Angara
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
Photo: Chris Offenwanger
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
If you drive into town to get gas, you’ll meet some of the nicest people as everyone that works there (that I’ve ever interacted with) has been one of the nicest people I’ve met. The small town restaurants are often delightful and quirky/unique. So, if you are looking to interact with and befriend people that are into this hobby we call Overlanding, this is a great place to go. I know where I live, there are few people who understand Overlanding, let alone love it to the point of building a vehicle to do it. So, coming to KOAR can be a really fun and educational time since you’ll see a ton of builds and meet new people from all over the US that are into your hobby. If you were unable to attend this year, make sure to get your tickets early for KOAR 2022. They do sell out, usually on the first or second day, so don’t hesitate! Catch Jason on one of his many overlanding content outlets: YouTube Facebook Instagram Podcast Website
Photo: Jeremiah Oschwald
Photo: Joshua Colegrove
KOAR 2021 by the numbers3 days 237 attendees 143 rigs 25 vendors & sponsors $5k worth of giveaways 2 kegs of KBC beer 100 bags of GY6CC coffee 24 kids at kid's koarner $1k donated to KORC 500lbs trash cleaned up 10 team members/volunteers 1 giant bonfire
Special thanks to Will & Ashley Nelson for introducing Kid's KOARner to this year's program! Fun was had by all and we invite them back for more in 2022!
Photos: Will & Ashley Nelson
ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE
TOYOTA & JEEP SUSPENSION SPECIALISTS GEAR & AXLE UPGRADES - FULL REPAIR FACILITY OVERLAND VEHICLE OUTFITTING CALL 989-593-2533 FOR QUOTE expeditionvehicleoutfitters.com
WELDING, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SANDBLASTING, PAINTING
A DAY IN THE
FULL TIME
LIFE EDITORS NOTE: Delia Mo & Enoch Leisure made an appearance at the Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat and chatted with attendees about their full-time overland life during the demo & clinic sessions. As event coordinator, I did not get much time to hang with them but in honor of their appearance, we are rerunning this article Delia wrote for us last year. Little did we know they would be with us, but we are so thankful they made the trek! -Cindy
Here’s a sample of a day in the life of MoLeisureXventures. By Delia Mo
9AM It’s time to wake up. The sun is shining through the roof top tent turning it into an oven. It’s way too hot to sleep through. I get out of the tent and start setting up the kitchen to make breakfast. Enoch folds up the tent. Today we’re having hash for breakfast. A simple recipe consisting of potatoes, peppers, onions, ground sausage and eggs. Throw everything in the cast iron and you only have one pan to clean up. Other breakfast options are french toast, breakfast burritos and on hike days we usually make oatmeal.
10AM We get to the park entrance from our campsite. We try to be as frugal as possible so we use the iOverlander app to find free campsites generally within about 30 minutes of a park entrance. The campsites should have a nice view too. We have high expectations for our free campsites. If we can’t find a campsite outside of the park we try our luck at a park campground. Sometimes we get lucky and the ranger finds us a spot even though the campground says “full.” We stop by the visitors center to pick up a map and newspaper. Time to start planning our days in the park. We normally don’t plan for a park in advance. This makes our adventure much more exciting as we don’t have pre-existing expectations that could be ruined.
11AM Depending on the park, there’s usually a road that cuts through the park with scenic pullouts for quick views and pictures. We’ll drive this road first and then choose some hikes for the following days. We usually pick a strenuous hike if not the hardest in the park. Sometimes it can be a lot for our bodies but nothing a couple of days of rest can’t fix. We like to do a long hike (about 8 miles) along with a short hike (about 4 miles).
1PM
Lunch time! If we’re on a hike, we pack sandwiches and chips. If we’re just driving around, we either stop at a restaurant for a meal, reheat leftovers from dinner, or just make sandwiches (it’s just so easy).
3PM We’re either still on our hike or still driving around the park. Sometimes we look for WiFi so we can update ourselves on what’s happening in the world or catch up with friends, family and social media. We can spend a lot of time sitting in one spot watching videos or just browsing the internet.
5PM Time to find a campsite. We’ve been trying to be better about arriving at our campsites before sunset so that I have time to make dinner. Enoch used to drive all day, taking random roads for fun, that we wouldn’t arrive at our campsites until after dark and then we would go straight to bed after setting up. So now, I make sure we have a campsite by 7pm the latest.
6PM We make it to a campsite. Enoch levels out the car and starts setting up the tent. I pull out the stove and start prepping for dinner. Tonight we’re having chicken parm subs. When we first started the trip, we would eat a lot of ramen and non-perishable food. Recently I’ve been experimenting with new recipes, using fresh ingredients. We have a refrigerator, we might as well use it right? I like to find recipes that only use one pot or just the cast iron. Less mess equals less dishes to clean. Other dinner options are burritos, quesadillas, a Mexican quinoa dish, meatballs, burgers, and arroz con pollo.
8PM If we have a fire, we’ll hang out outside by it. We’ve gotten weird reactions when we tell people that we rarely ever make a fire. We don’t find it necessary and purchasing firewood can get pricey.
9PM We’re usually in the tent by this time. Once the sun has set and everything becomes dark and quiet, we’ll start getting ready for bed. If we don’t have a hike planned and there’s cell service at our site, sometimes we stay up catching up on the world and we’ll sleep in in the morning. But usually we rise and set with the sun. It just feels more natural that way. The next day, the sun rises, we get up, and start a new day. A lot of days are driving days, but that’s what overlanding is about! We take the roads less traveled to explore as much of the country as we can. Hopefully this inspires you to get out, explore and keep adventure alive!
Follow our adventures on Instagram @moleisurexventures
NUTRITION IS PERSONAL
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ABOUT THIS FEATURE Rustic Retreat Reviews
WELCOME TO THE CABIN
We don't always camp and we definitely have standards when it comes to non-camp lodging. Chain hotels? No. Haunted houses? No. Never-remodeled-orupgraded-in-60-years? No. We do love the rustic, the quirky, the historic, the off-the-beaten-path stays. In this monthly feature we plan to review some of the places we have stayed and give you an honest opinion. We are compiling a listing of our favorite Hipcamps, Air bnbs, cabins, lodges, yurts, whatever- if its fun, fresh or funky, we will let you know.
Make yourself
at home!
BY CINDY POPE
If you are an establishment owner, please reach out and let us know about your place, we want to find the unique and share it with other adventurous travelers! If you are a traveler who wishes to submit review, please email us immediately! In this issue: Elk Creek Cabin, Aqua Log Cabins Next issue: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Fresh Coast Cabins
ELK MOUND, WI Elk Creek Cabin
"A rustic retreat where you can escape the city lights, but yet are only a 15 min drive from the sought after destination of Eau Claire. Travel back in time to days before we had the modern amenities we have come to rely on." -Elk Creek cabin listing micro wood-burning stove oil lantern lighting solar usb charger outdoor solar lights bedding available composting toilet outdoor heated shower private pet friendly on Class I trout stream firepit
Instagram-worthy
A friend and my husband and I were wandering the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin when I had the bright idea to check out something I had seen on Instagram. We barged in at Elk Creek Cabin the week before Christmas. We couldn't believe how cute this cabin was, and that the owners had built it themselves. "I guess if you own a sawmill, you have to build a cabin," says owner, Phil Norvold. The one-room cabin has a convertible sofa, kitchen area for prepping coffee and drinks, and a nice loft that stayed pretty warm according to our traveling companion. It was chilly at night, and my husband called the tiny woodstove "interactive," in that you had to stay on top of feeding it but it kept the cabin cozy. We 100% recommend this cabin if you are looking for something rustic, unique & adventurous!
LAC LABELLE, MI Aqua Log Cabins
"The Log Cabins... are made of 16-20 inch in diameter British Columbia Red Cedar logs. These (upper unit) log cabins sleep up to six with a full size bed, a twin bed, set of twin bunks, and two pull out couches. The log cabin has its own screened in porch and a large front deck overlooking Lac Labelle. Each has its own private bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. The Lakeshore Units (lower level) are stone sided on the outside and half log on the inside. These units sleep five with a full size bed, twin above it, and set a twin bunks, and a pull out coach. Each Lakeshore unit has its own screened in Porch." Satellite internet Linens and towels not included No cooking No pets No smoking
Cozy northwoods
value
With off-season rates just over $100, this is a fantastic value and even better if shared with friends or family. We loved the location, community firepit on the pier and the ease of checkin & checkout. It seems as if they have changed their pet policy so be aware if you are looking for pet-friendly accomodations.
NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES Lodging Directory
WISCONSIN Elk Creek Cabin Elk Mound MICHIGAN Aqua Log Cabins Lac LaBelle As our list grows, we will be adding info to help you find the coolest, most rustic, out-of-the-way stays in the upper midwest! Let us know if you have a place we need to check out!
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DAVID ZEMLA Sibling Rivalry and Color Matching at the Overland Expo
So, here’s the thing… Sibling rivalry absolutely transcends childhood. If you have brothers or sisters, I suspect you're nodding your head as you read this. My sister and I are well into middle age and we are currently sharing pics of our Jeep’s, each with a low key neener neener vibe. Two inch lift? That’s nice, but three and a half has to be better. Softtopper and mattress in the bed of your Gladiator? I guess that’s cool, but I’m a card carrying member of the RTT nation and prefer to sleep on the proverbial top shelf. Neener that little sister. Our rivalry narrative operated across states and time zones as she was in SoCal and my family and I live in the sticks of Wisconsin. I did however, have to admit her high zoot 2020 Gladiator was making my 2016 JKU look a little dated and a semi dare/plan to meet at the 2020 Overland Expo in Colorado meant they’d eventually be parked next to each other. Action had to be taken and my driveway was soon largely consumed by an F250. The regular cab variety of these machines, especially gasser and a few years old are relatively inexpensive and have a solid track record of reliability, which almost makes up for their voracious appetite for fuel. I was soon a member of many #fullsizeoverlander Facebook and Instagram groups and lovingly referred to my truck as the big girl. My crew felt differently and nicknamed it Trail Whale. I suspect that was not a compliment.
East meets West, with puppies, Gladiators, and a dose of family reunion
I had kept the Gen 1 Smittybilt tent off the JKU and intended to put a rack on the Superduty to host the unit. It soon became clear I’d have to build something myself and by spring of 2020 the Ford was racked, sitting on 37s and fully set up to explore. My sister's Gladiator had received similar mods and she was now leading a woman’s only camping group in SoCal while I was camping the woods of Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As you can imagine, we were disappointed and somewhat understanding when Overland Expo cancelled all events for 2020, but it didn’t keep us both from enjoying the wilderness in our rigs, I mean, what’s more socially distant than the middle of nowhere? Fast forward to mid 2021 and the Overland Expo is back on. I’m still in Wisconsin, but my sibling has relocated to Idaho. Vehicular A.D.D has me eying the Gladiator and I’m now accompanied by an energetic yellow Labrador pup named Ranger. Big dog life and single cab life turned out to be a direct conflict. The thought of lifting a lab eight feet into the air on a spindly ladder was also a sure recipe for disaster. Time to punt?
With only weeks to go before the Expo and much to my wife’s chagrin, I dragged home a Willy’s Gladiator in Sting Gray. Lovely rig, but other than a locally sourced and very used JCR rack for my tent (now on its third vehicle!), it would remain bone stock. Not my style, but time and work travel have conspired against me. With puppy loaded on my end and a fresh iKamper RTT sitting on a Datin Fab rack on my sisters end, we both hit the road from opposite sides of the country. Roughly one thousand miles for each of us. She had plans to enjoy the epic sights of Flaming Gorge in Wyoming, while Ranger and I were stuck with
"Day two of our adventure from Wisconsin would see an endless, dead straight road and a record number of rest stop visits."
Unfortunately the lovely woman at the registration table made kissy noises to Ranger and the energy built up across seven hours of napping was released in the form of an airborne puppy and a broken table. Not a great start to our time here and my sincere apologies to the Expo team. Send me the bill on that one. Once inside the facility we tried not to ogle the endless variety of well sorted rigs and focus on setting up our own, but the second we could, the touring began. Unimog with a full kitchen? Sure, that works. Sixty thousand dollar Jeeps pulling forty thousand dollar adventure trailers? Oh yeh and welost track of how many there were! Middle aged sisters with a clearly home built plywood trailer? Their smiles seemed to be far wider than that Jeep guy. Solo female travelers in well sorted, but tiny SUVs? Pretty fair number of that combo as well. Each one an expression of their owners and each a four wheeled escape module of their own construction. We touched on the expo area, but it was clear, we’d actually needed the two full days in front of us to get through it all.
Double Nickel campground within earshot of busy highway 80 in very flat Nebraska. One of us had a better first night than the other. Day two of our adventure from Wisconsin would see an endless, dead straight road and a record number of rest stop visits. Six month old puppies are very similar to six year old kids and apparently can only tolerate so much time in the back seat. She’d share her need to run/pee by licking my left ear and I was flinchingly surprised every time she did it. A thousand miles of dog spit is a lot, but I guess it’s better than a similar amount of dog pee. By Thursday evening Ranger and I had rolled into The Ranch facility in Loveland Colorado, knowing we’d need to enter together to be parked together, this was deliberately timed and worked out very nicely. Big hugs were shared by all (sorry about the dog hair, sis) and we ..."it was clear, we’d actually needed the two headed to the sign-in area. full days in front of us to get through it all. "
Temps were on the high side all evening as nature put on a lovely lightening show for all to enjoy. The giddy enthusiasm was not limited to our Gladiator book ends as those around us seemed to be sporting just as goofy a smile. We crashed hard that night, many of us with visions of Trasharoos and Jackery’s in our dreams. Ranger, on the other hand, was not a fan of the high winds and decided that over snuggling was the best solution for a good night's sleep (for her, not me). We woke Friday to a lengthy list of classes and seminars (expo indeed!) and blistering hot temps. The previously downloaded Expo app was shooting off reminders of upcoming classes before my second cup of coffee and Ranger had now befriended a surprising number of campers (yeh, umm, sorry about the dog spit). Seminars ranging from wilderness coffee prep to canine medical care combined with a Harley Davidson demo trailer (Wait…. What?). For obvious reasons we settled on dog medical care and winter camping tips to get the day started. A random zig zag of the vendor area had us
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realizing it was far too hot and we really should formulate a better plan of attack to see it all. The next realization was the value of those 270 awnings, particularly as the sun moved across the sky and the meager shade from our tents had more than just Ranger panting. Several other observations hit me as well. Color matching was far more of a priority than I would have guessed. The wildly popular Quicksand Tacoma apparently required a complimentary sandy colored Trasharoo and matching khaki tent. Rolling a Tank Green Wrangler? Yeh, well you’d better pony up for the matching green camp chair as well. I stared at my brown tent and gray Jeep with a new found level of disdain. The sibling rivalry had now escalated to include my overland brothers and sisters and I had a bad feeling about the impending hit to both bank account and marital bliss. Pictures were taken and plans were made nonetheless.
"The next realization was the value of those 270 awnings, particularly as the sun moved across the sky and the meager shade from our tents had more than just Ranger panting."
Day two of the Expo ended with a quick dinner, sharing of our regional Bourbons (who knew Baraboo Wisconsin and Boise Idaho could produce such tasty beverages) combined with a few hours of chatty catching. Ranger had now done five miles of walking with twelve inch legs and was out cold in the dirt like any good camp dog should be. Speaking of my canine companion, each morning and night was highlighted by my heaving her fuzzy fifty pound butt in and out of the tent, generally with an audience of camera wielding onlookers. The only upside being, she slept very well once she was in. Not entirely sure how this will play out when she puts on the next thirty Lbs that her paws are saying is right around the corner. I foresee a sophisticated series of pulleys and winches as a possible solution, or possibly a Sprinter van. Day three greeted us with a cool morning and a well thought out approach to vendor row. We intended to consume as much overlandiness as humanly possible and Ranger was suited up with a backpack to help carry the inevitable swag. Ten odd years back I had done the Flagstaff Overland Expo and seem to remember being able to get through the exhibits in under an hour. That amount could easily be spent in an individual aisle in this year's show and we could not get enough of it. Unbelievable rigs that appeared to be constructed to survive in the wilds of the Yukon during a zombie apocalypse sat next to every form of the now ubiquitous Jeep and there was no shortage of relevant gear. I’m not saying it came in color matching options, I’m just saying how many colors of tread boards do we really need? By lunch our heads were swimming with newfound gear needs and maybe a little heat stroke. The upside, at least for Ranger, was a generous amount of conspicuously placed water bowls keeping her from suffering a similar fate. Overlanders are a dog friendly bunch. A subtle reminder from my now overheating phone suggested we had a class at 2:00 that was titled Elevate Your Outdoor Meals, so back to the seminar tents we went. Hats off to Chef Corso of MONTyBOCA as my idea of camp food had until this point consisted mainly of charcoal and a burger. By the end of his short class, I was planning an elaborate pull-out kitchen and a future of
"We intended to consume as much overlandiness as humanly possible and Ranger was suited up with a backpack to help carry the inevitable swag. "
"You’ll invariably make friends, up your camping game and just maybe if you do it right, reach a higher level of color coordination in the wild. " fancy camping cuisine. Luckily there were plenty of these sorts of tools in the expo area and each booth was staffed with engaged and enthusiastic people. No small task after nearly two days of blistering heat combined with regurgitating the same product narrative several thousand times. Thank you for your patience when I was the 1001st eager face asking the same thing. Back to the sibling rivalry, sis offers to make dinner, I was more than grateful as that MONTyBOCA guy had ruined my desire for another burger. Little did I know it would be done in an Instagram worthy fashion, replete with a sizzling skottle in the shadow of her fresh iKamper tent. I was clearly getting out overlanded by my little sister. More notes were pecked into the phone. Naturally she also set up her shower tower and washed off the day's grime while I trundled, head hung low to the less than tidy shower trailer that placated my need for a deep cleansing with the water pressure equivalent of a child attempting their first loogy. More stuff was added to the list. We wrapped Saturday satiated and awash in all things Overland. Neither of us was looking forward to the thousand mile drive home, but I’d be comfortable in saying we had quenched our Overland Expo thirst and would be better “prepper campers” because of it. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these events (there are generally three a year, strategically placed across the country), I could not recommend it enough. You’ll invariably make friends, up your camping game and just maybe if you do it right, reach a higher level of color coordination in the wild. See you at Overland Expo East in October and pretty sure sis and I will be repeating this past weekend's shenanigans at the Flagstaff event in 2022. Does anyone want to trade a tan RTT for a gray one? Kidding, not kidding.
A NIGHT ON
BROCKWAY MOUNTAIN Astrophotography from the Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
The Keweenaw peninsula of Michigan is a fantastic place to find dark skies filled with the moon, stars and sometimes the aurora borealis if you are lucky. Asa Meadows facilitated an astrophotography session at the 2021 KOAR and we are showcasing some shots from those participants and others that were aiming for the sky during KOAR. Photos by Michael Ehlert
Photos by Joshua Colegrove
Photo by Jeremiah Oschwald
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500
pounds of garbage properly disposed of during the inagural KORC beach cleanup Photos by Joshua Colegrove
Report from KORC on the event"Thank you to everyone who participated in KORC's 1st Annual Keweenaw Beach CleanUp. Over 50 people participated and almost 500 pounds of trash was collected and disposed of properly! Please join us in a big round of applause for the volunteers, organizations, and supporting businesses who helped make it such a successful event. KORC steering committee members were stationed at The Mariner North parking area and directed volunteers to clean-up focus areas along the entire Keweenaw Point—from Hebbard Park on the northwest around the Tip to Fish Cove on the south."
The final data from our trash tally forms will be submitted to the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach program. Prizes were donated by The Mariner North, Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat, Copper Harbor Trails Club, and Rock Solid Trail Contracting, LLC. An extra special thanks go out to KOAR and the Keweenaw ATV Club who both turned out in big numbers to make the largest contribution to the amount of trash cleaned up. Thank you to The Mariner North for the use of their parking area, organizing picnic tables and seating, and for donating refreshments for all the volunteers. Thanks to Roger for cooking the hot dogs and brats. Thank you to the Copper Harbor Trails Club for the use of their table and tent. Thanks to Rock Solid Trail Contracting, LLC for bringing a trailer and hauling the trash away. Thanks to Keweenaw Community Forest Company and the Great Lakes Research Center GIS for making our map. Thanks to The Print Shop in Houghton for donating the printing cost of the maps. We are looking forward to hosting another successful beach clean-up next year!
To learn how to help, visit: https://www.keweenawoutd oorrecreation.org/
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ADVENTURES IN CAMP COOKING
SKOTTLE PHILLY STEAK SANDWICHES BY CAIT & JORDAN SCHUTT
Prep
Time
Serves
Level
10 Minutes
Everyone
15 Minutes
Easy
Prepping your steak for these delicious sandwiches will be easier if you slightly freeze the steak before slicing. Or you can buy pre-sliced steak and veggies if you are feeling like cutting out the prep! Obviously, the traditional Philly steak is served in a hoagie roll but use your imagination and go with tortillas or toasted English muffins for a spin on the old standard.
Directions Ingredients
STEP 1
Thinly sliced steak
Add in 2 tbsp olive oil with onions and bell peppers, cooking until onions and peppers begin to brown. About 3-5 minutes on high heat.
Oil for frying
STEP 2
Bell peppers & onions garlic
Move your veggies to the sides of the skottle and add 1tbs oil and the steak. Cook steak in batches, if needed, to avoid crowding.
STEP 3
provolone cheese crusty rolls
Continue until steak is all cooked and add vegetables back into skillet along with garlic. Continue cooking until garlic is fragrant & serve on rolls with cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.
Adapted from Short Rib Chili Nachos from NYTimes Cooking
● 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs, patted dry ● 5 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, more to taste ● 1 1⁄2 teaspoons black pepper ● 5 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled ● 1 bell pepper (if you are camping with kids or spice-averse folx; you can change this to 2 serranos, or jalapeños if you want to bump up the spice) 1 onion, peeled and quartered lengthwise 1 (28-ounce) can chopped tomatoes 1⁄2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro stems, and 1/4 cup chopped leaves 2 teaspoons dried oregano 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder, to taste 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 (12-ounce) bottle Mexican lager, like Negra Modelo
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1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Coat short ribs in salt and pepper and let sit. 2. Place a large, dry Dutch oven over high heat. Add garlic, peppers and onion to the dry pan. Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly charred all over, about 10 minutes. 3. Transfer garlic, peppers and onion to a blender. Add tomatoes with juice, cilantro stems, oregano and 1 teaspoon salt. Purée until smooth.
CHILI SHORT RIBS FOR TACOS BY NATALIE MARTIN 4. Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add olive oil. Sear short ribs in batches, until well-browned all over. Transfer cooked ribs to a bowl. 5. Stir chili powder, cumin and coriander into the pot (add a tablespoon of oil if it looks dry) and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it begins to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomato-pepper purée and beer and bring to a simmer. Return short ribs to pot, cover and transfer to oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then uncover pot, give meat a stir, and continue baking until ribs are fork tender and falling off bone, 30 to 45 minutes longer, for a total cooking time of 2 to 2 1/4 hours. (If you have time, let short ribs mixture cool, refrigerate overnight, then remove fat before proceeding.) 6. Once ribs are cool enough to handle, remove from pot, reserving sauce. Discard bones. Chop or shred meat (your preference). You can boil the sauce down if it seems thin. When using this for tacos, I just reserved the meat and used the sauce for other things. This recipe could be adapted for an instant pot as well, but the nice thing about doing it in the oven is that the length of time gives the meat lots of flavor. You may not get similar results with the Instant Pot. You could also take the puree and meat and put it in a crockpot on high for 4-6 hours. If you are planning on taking this camping, I would double the recipe and have half for one night's meal and then pack the rest up for camping! Chili Short Rib Tacos Chili Short Rib Meat Small Flour Tortillas Packets of Pre-Made Guacamole Pre-Chopped Cilantro Pre-made Lime Crema or Sour Cream Pepper Jack Cheese or Cheese of Choice Lime Crema Ingredients Half cup sour cream or greek yogurt 1 or 2 TBSP lime juice Salt and Pepper to taste 1. Make up the lime crema before your trip, we keep ours in the screw top zip lock containers and it will keep for up to a week 2. Using a flattop grill, cast iron, or frying pan heat up your taco meat. 3. If using a flat top, you can heat your tortillas on there with a little ghee or oil to get them crispy. You can lay your cheese on top to melt it as well. 4. If not using a flat top, you can heat them up over a stove top flame, wrap them in foil and put them near your campfire, or just eat them as is. 5. Assemble your tacos to taste with cheese, store bought guac, sour cream, crema, chopped cilantro, or any other toppings you would like!
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As a content creator for Overlander.com and rep of many A-list overlanding equipment brands such as Xventure, Redarc, SnoMaster and Zarges, Jeremiah's vehicle needs to perform on road and off, without sacrificing comfort or dependability. See more of Jeremiah's travels, product reviews and amazing photography & videography at OverlandPioneers.com
Why did you choose this vehicle? I feel it’s a all around perfect mid sized truck. What outdoor activities or hobbies do you have? Overlanding What is the next thing on the build list? ARB compressor Where are you off to next? Ozarks
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: Jeremiah Oschwald, @Overland Pioneers Hometown: Lexington Ky Vehicle: 2021 Jeep Gladiator DrivetrainEngine: 6 Cylinder Transmission: 8 speed Front Axle: Dana 44 Rear Axle: Dana 44 Suspension/wheels/tiresClayton 2.5 Overland Lift with Falcon 3.3 shocks Falken Wildpeak MT 35 The extrasLighting: Baja Designs Putco Rack. S nomaster Fridge. XVenture Trailer. Rugged Bound tent and awning. RedArc Redvision
THE BIG Winter Weekend RUSTIC CABINS SNOWSHOEING SKIING FATBIKING BONFIRES SUNSETS MOONLIGHT AURORA FROZEN WATERFALLS DATES TBA
Trails End Camground, Copper Harbor, MI
