Journey with no boundaries
Magazine | Spring 2022
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Self-Drive Safaris and Overland Adventures for Discerning Travelers Let us help you achieve your ultimate adventure dream At v-adventures, we believe there is a better way to live your adventures and the African dream. Based in the United States, v-adventures was founded by Valentina and Antonio with the desire and passion for overland and self-drive safaris in Africa. Having spent years exploring the gorgeous and little-known areas of Africa, we are pleased to offer you a customized experience and help you make your safari adventure the best vacation you have ever had. We have decided to stay focused on the areas we know the most and where you will discover the unique pleasure of traveling overland or enjoying a traditional wildlife safari: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Living in the USA, we are now expanding our adventure options to the Americas: the gorgeous off-the-beatenpath trails in the US and selected destinations in Baja Mexico, Atacama Chile, Bolivia, northern Argentina.
Travel with us, and we will make sure to exceed your expectations.
Your holidays are principal for us, and we know time is always a constraint. Together with our team and our selected partners are focused on providing you with personalized itineraries and the most reliable vehicles to ensure the type of experiences you work so hard to enjoy.
YouTube: v-adventures
Facebook: v.adventuresLLC Instagram: valentinav_adventures
LinkedIn: v-adventures-llc Website: v-adventures.com Subscribe to our Newsletter
We are proud and excited to know that we can help you discover extraordinary places and fully live oncein-lifetime experiences without worrying about logistics.
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Journey with no boundaries
Magazine | Spring 2022 Cooking
Overland Adventures Magazine
34 An Adventure Must Have: Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill -Angela Hinkley
Spring 2022
www.OverlandAdventuresMagazine.com
37 On-the-go snacks-Great for the road or your next Hike! -Carlin Frimmel
Featured 32
Baja-Christian Polanco
13 Off-Road Therapy for Wounded and Disabled Veterans -Eric Walton 12
The Story of Blue Line Overland-Mason Berry
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The Wild Wet West-Elizabeth Switten
International 16
Dirt Biking through Burma, Part Two-Johan de Villers
14 Overlanding on an Active Volcano-Andrea and Mike Kammermann 20
Overlanding with Wildlife-Valentina Vallinotto
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There and Back Again, Part Two- Thomas Filbrich
Kids’ Corner 6
It’s Never too Early to Adventure-Zoey Savatgy
Maintenance
Cover Photography: Andrea Kammermann, 4xtremes
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to connect and inspire people from all around the world who have a common passion for adventure and overlanding. We will do so by publishing a magazine and hosting a website where we share informative, inspiring and fun content with existing and aspiring overland adventurers!
VISION STATEMENT
Our Vision is to help build an overland community across the globe where everyone’s perspective, knowledge and passion can be shared and valued.
CORE VALUES
It doesn’t matter what kind of rig you drive, or how much money you have spent building that perfect rig. We are all here for the same thing…. Adventure, a journey and maybe, just maybe, a destination! We want to give our passionate community a voice: whether you are a family making memories with your kiddos or are a group of friends enjoying a weekend together, or sharing an amazing trip with that special someone. We want to feature you! And let your journey expand our minds, help us learn something new… and soar into something amazing and life changing! We want our magazine to inspire the adventurous person in all of us, by:
30 What you Need to Know, When You’re on the Go -Scott Parker
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Being Inclusive
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Respecting everyone’s path and journey
Rig Builds
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Sharing knowledge and wisdom
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Encouraging everyone to Tread Lightly and be respectful of their environment
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Having fun!
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The Little Black Toyota-Michael Shaffer
Meet the Writers 8
Andrea and Mike Kammermann
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Scott Parker
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Valentina Vallinotto
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Editor In Chief: Mary Beth Ebnet
Art Director: Rich Johnson
Social Media Director: Jillian Perez
Writer: Scott Parker
Proofreader: Ellen Driscoll
Writer: Joey Slayton
Writer: A ndrea & Mike Kammermann
Writer: Valentina Vallinotto
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It’s never too early to adventure
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About Me My name is Zoey and I’ve been exploring since I was six months old; that’s been eight-and-a-half years. My favorite thing about exploring is getting to see and learn about new things. I go overlanding with my friends and family, and we travel to cool places in our off-road vehicle. Over the years we have traveled in a Nissan Xterra, Toyota Tacoma, and a Nissan NV3500 van. Below are some short comments on some of the places we have gone.
Point Sublime North Rim of the Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is 6,001 feet deep at the deepest point, and we camped right on the edge in the fall. Our campsite was surrounded by pine trees and had an amazing view. We made fajitas on our Tembo Tusk Skottle and ate dinner as the sun set over the Canyon.
Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone was awesome! We visited the park in the late fall. On our way to see some of the geysers, we encountered a buffalo traffic jam, where there was a herd of buffalo all around our van. There were also many deer that we saw while we were there. My favorite part was camping inside the park and waking up to a fresh dusting of snow.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial We went to Mount Rushmore the summer after my first-grade year of school, the year we learned about it. We camped in the woods not far from Mount Rushmore and it was nice to be out in nature. The next day when we saw the presidents carved into the side of the mountain, it was much bigger than I expected it to be. What a cool thing to see in person.
Colorado We spent nine days exploring Colorado in the middle of summer. It was cool to see the Alpine Lakes and camp in the Rocky Mountains. We even saw a donkey race in Buena Vista, Colorado. To compete in the race, runners had to run with a donkey for 13 miles. I enjoyed seeing all the old buildings that were left from the rich mining history of the region.
Advice My advice for other adventures is that sometimes the road is long and rocky but it’s worth it because you get to see many cool places. So, don’t be afraid to explore a rocky, the sooner the better.
Zoey Savatgy, age 9 Photographer: Nick Savatgy RogueOverland RogueOverland RogueOverland www.rogueoverland.com
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Meet the Writers Andrea and Mike Kammermann Scott Parker Valentina Vallinotto
Andrea & Mike Kammermann with dog Aimée We’ve always been curious about what lays behind the next turn. This is what got us into overlanding in the first place. It all started in 2010 with a Land Rover Defender 110 which we equipped and shipped from Switzerland to the US. From there, a threeyear journey started. First we crossed the United States from coast to coast, made our way to Alaska and then basically followed the Pan-American Highway from Prudhoe Bay all the way to Ushuaia, Argentina. From there we followed the east coast of South America to Venezuela. We had experienced many different cultures and landscapes, drove stunning tracks up to 5300 m asl (17388 ft asl) in the Andes, crossed the Amazon Delta on a small boat and the thick rainforest in the Guyanas. After that journey we knew that this is the lifestyle we want to pursue. This became
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our focus upon our return to Switzerland. A few years later we started out again with a Mercedes Benz Axor 4x4 expedition truck. We have now been living in it full-time for four years. Since then we have traveled to the hottest place on earth, the Lut Desert in Iran with 65C (149F), and the coldest inhabited town, Oymyakon, Russia, with -52C (-61,6F), crossed the Gobi Desert, drove across frozen rivers in Siberia and off-road in the Sahara Desert. To this date we have mapped our way through 55 countries, five continents and 250’000km (155343m). We can’t wait to see the rest of the world. Instagram: 4xtremes Facebook: 4extremes Website: www.4-xtremes.ch
Valentina Vallinotto I’m the founder and owner at v-adventures, a company based in Arizona, and co-owner of the Ndutu Safari Lodge, located in Tanzania. Adventure and African safaris are the keywords of my passions, my life, and my job. I climbed summits in the Alps, Kilimanjaro, in the Andes, and Chinese Pamir with my husband, Antonio. In addition, we dive in Egypt, Thailand, Maldives, Malaysia, Borneo, Belize, Australia. Nevertheless, between peaks and abysses, we always managed to insert a trip to our beloved Africa. I started Overlanding in Africa in 1978 with my dad. However, with Antonio, after the first experience, we realized the classic tour package was not for us. Thus, we began in the 90s to visit Eastern and Southern Africa independently, Overlanding, and exploring parks and lesser-known destinations with the eyes of the locals. So, we soon became passionate about conservancy too. The passion was so strong that soon it became my job. Living in the USA, I am expanding now our adventure options to the Americas: the gorgeous off-the-beatenpath trails in the US (both southwest and east
Scott Parker My love of the outdoors has always been my escape, and by combining my background as a certified off-road instructor with the International 4 Wheel Drive Training Association and my love of being out on the trail, I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with some amazing people in this industry. Over the years I’ve developed a relationship with some great off-road and overlanding companies such as BFGoodrich tires, RhinoRack USA, and SnoMaster USA. Those relationships have afforded me opportunities to teach, present and even represent their brands at some great events, while allowing me to make some lifelong friends along the way.
coast) and selected destinations in Baja MX. •
Founder and owner at v-adventures, a company based in Prescott AZ
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Co-owner at Ndutu Safari Lodge, located in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania
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Facebook: adventuresLLC
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Instagram: valentinav_adventures
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Twitter: V_adventures
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YouTube Channel: V Adventures
OUR OVERLAND VEHICLES In Africa: •
History with Dad, in the 60s-70s-80s: Land Rover Series, Toyota Landcruisers, FIAT OM 75, and yes, an Alfa Giulietta Spider!
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Valentina & Antonio’s African Safaris: Land Rover Defenders, Toyota Landcruisers, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Prado
In the USA: •
For our serious 4x4 training: Jeep JK Willys
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Our small-size Overland vehicle: Building #solivagant
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Out middle-size Overland expedition vehicle: #Ulisse (ambulance conversion)
In addition to my full-time job where I work for the U.S. government, I’m now working with Educational Training Services Consulting in Albuquerque, where we teach Austere medicine, backcountry travel, vehicle dynamics and offroad driving and recovery. Our goal is to educate and provide proven training so that our students feel comfortable when out on the trail, whether it’s for a day or an extended trip. I look forward to sharing my experience, training and education with you as we move forward. I4WDTA – certified off-road instructor Albuquerque, NM Instagram: etservicesconsulting Facebook: etservicesconsulting Website: www. ETServicesconsulting.com
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The Little Black Toyota Right after my wife and I got married we purchased a 2001 Toyota Tacoma, and over the next nine years we built and drove that truck all over the Southwest United States. We absolutely loved the truck and had spent a ton of time building it. It was perfect … until we started having kids. One kid was okay; we could kind of make a car seat work in the back of the extended cab truck, but then the second kid came around. By the time he was ready to really hit some long trails with us, our third kid was on the way! At this point I knew our family of 4, almost 5 had outgrown that little extended cab Tacoma and it was time for a change. My wife and I talked about a few different platforms, but really only one made sense to me for many reasons, and that was the third generation
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4Runner. Seating for five was obviously huge, but the other big reason was it shares a very similar platform to the first generation Tacoma. That meant I already had a majority of parts sitting around to build the 4Runner, a huge financial savings! The search was on and in January 2015 (one week after our third kid was born), we found the one in southern Utah, a bone stock 2000 Toyota 4Runner Limited. It had everything I needed to be compatible with the parts on my Taco: v6, automatic, 4wd, and factory rear locker.
started this build, I knew I wanted it to be that same kind of “dual sport” setup.
I test drove it around the block in Utah and made sure everything worked. I put it on a trawwiler, headed back to Las Vegas, pulled it in the garage and blew it apart! I hadn’t put a full mile on the truck when I tore it down. I had built the Tacoma to be a “dual sport” rig. My family loves overlanding and exploring old ghost towns around the Southwest, but we also love to rock crawl and push the boundaries of our vehicle. When I
The Tacoma had changed gradually over time as our desires for it changed, so we had a pretty good idea of how we wanted certain aspects of the 4Runner to be. We knew what worked and didn’t work for us. For example, when it was time to lay out the electrical, I was able to draw out the circuits I wanted ahead of time, gut the interior, and lay out all the electrical at once, instead of piecing it together over time and making a mess
So, with the 4Runner and Tacoma both up on jack stands, I started swapping parts. Some of the biggest pieces were the re-geared differentials with ARB front air locker, Marlin Crawler Taco box, Donahoe (Icon) front coilovers, and Camburg front upper control arms. With all the “good parts” off the Tacoma, we finally said goodbye to it and put all of our time into setting up the 4Runner for adventures.
Even with all the torque from the crawler, the axles and IFS have been super solid, really showing how tough these trucks are. I’ll admit I drive with a light foot, but it’s only because I can with the crawler and lockers. I don’t need to bounce over everything, I just point the truck where I want it to go.
of it. Not saying the 4Runner hasn’t changed over time, it’s definitely grown up in the almost seven years we’ve had it, but it was nice being able to lay the foundation from Day 1. Part of that foundation and probably one of my favorite mods is the Marlin Crawler Taco box. It’s a reduction box that bolts between the factory transmission and transfer case. This gives me an additional low range at 4.7:1 that I can use by itself, or stack with the factory low range, giving me a total crawl ratio of 179:1! By slowing the truck down significantly off road, I have extreme control of the truck in the rocks. Pair that with the factory rear locker and front ARB locker, the truck is pretty much a goat on everything except the extreme end of trails.
Probably my most favorite mod is one I like to affectionately call the “Car Seat Mod.” It was the whole reason we built the 4Runner in the first place. It’s nothing special, just the fact that we could put 3 car seats across the back seat and make sure the whole family could get out and adventure! My wife and I love the outdoors and we wanted to instill that love in our children. I’m pretty sure we’ve succeeded in that! One place I’ve struggled with the truck is trying to keep the weight down. Being “Dual Sport” means I’ve put heavy armor (bumpers, sliders, skids) on it to protect it on the hard trails, and also added stuff to make it easier for our family of five to live out of it (swingout, cargo storage box, etc.). Throw five people and all our gear for a weeklong trip to Colorado and it gets heavy and tight quickly! It’s taken us a few years to find a manageable balance, but with
the right gear and an understanding of what we really do and don’t need, we’ve made it work. If I could get the kids to stop loading it up with every rock they find along the trail would help too! This truck has served daily driving duty and taken us all over the Southwest United States with amazing friends, trails and camping with the whole family and all our gear in tow. Even with 265K miles on the clock it’s never left us stranded, which says a lot about the quality of these trucks and the abuse they’ll take with good maintenance and parts. Not sure what the next change is for the 4Runner, it’s always evolving, but I know it will be around for a long while still. I’m already teaching my oldest how to work it through the trail, and that’s what it’s all about.
Written by Michael Shaffer Photos by Nick Savatgy RogueOverland RogueOverland RogueOverland www.rogueoverland.com
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Blue Line Overland started as a warning to other campers, honestly. At Natural State Overland bonfire, we were camping with a group, and it turned out that most were cops and first responders. So, we struck an immediate bond. Oneway law enforcement, fire, EMS and other first responders who cope with traumatic situations started to tell stories about the past calls they have been on. Naturally, this started around the camp and quickly turned into who could tell the most disturbing story. This was great for the first responders around the fire. However, the non-service members quickly found themselves in a real-life version of a Stephen King novel. After a long therapy session, we all retired to our own tents to think about what amazing stories we would tell the next night. The next day started with an amazing breakfast and a day full of trails. Once the sun broke and the coffee was brewing, one couple from the late-night therapy session was no longer there and had left during the night. Come to find out later from a mutual friend that we had run them off with our stories and outspoken demeanors. This was comical to most, but then we came to realize this was troublesome. We needed a way to warn people what they were walking into. While I respect the approach our very large and scary member Lehman had of “Look guys, if you’re going to camp near us, I have to warn you. We’re pretty not right in the head!” That was warning enough to make many run for the hills. A small amount remained. I had been thinking on this for a while, before this incident, that it would be neat to have a law enforcement overland
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The Story of Blue Line Overland
group since the creation of Natural State Overland and All Over Overland. There wasn’t a law enforcement overland group and I had been throwing around names for months. But didn’t think anyone would be interested in the idea.
That evening someone threw out the idea of starting an overland group and so Blue Line Overland was born. Shortly after, we had a logo designed, our first T-shirt design, then patches and stickers made. We all knew we didn’t want this to be “just another overland group,” so Mike “Rubicon Mike” Bromberg threw out the idea that we give back through a program called Shop with a Cop. For those unaware of the program, it takes underprivileged children shopping for Christmas. These children are picked by school administration and they receive, in most instances $115 to $150, depending on funding. The child gets to go on a tax-free shopping spree with a uniformed officer. We quickly registered the domain, registered as a nonprofit with the secretary of state and started fundraising. At this time, it was very late in the year to be fundraising. I believe it was in October, and most Shop with a Cop money must be turned in by the end of November. I frantically started emailing companies, pouring my heart out and asking for anything free to raffle off. The first person on board was Bobby Culpepper with Cascadia Vehicle Tents. He said he would love to help and that he would donate an awning for raffle. We modeled the raffles from many others we saw on Facebook and the awing raffle sold out in no time. I messaged Bobby to let him know the good news and he said, “Heck, let’s do another!” I was absolutely blown away! After that, more companies like L.T. Wright
Knives, Power Tank, My Medic, Gaia GPS and Tembo-Tusk all jumped on board and we raised over $1,000 in just over a month.
Here we are now, almost four years later, with members from Cornwall, England to the remote mountains of Tennessee, and from the great white north of Canada to the sunny beaches of South Africa. We have grown to nearly 3,000 members. We have been able to sponsor Shop with a Cop programs in over six different states, giving over 150 children a Christmas, helping many families through tough financial times and donating to many other charitable causes. If you are at an event and see a Blue Line Overland member or our logo, please know that we are always there to help. If you happen to see police tape roping off a section for camping just know you are ALWAYS welcome! That isn’t to keep you out. It’s just a warning that we are not responsible for the cost of your therapist once you cross that tape! Here’s a hat tip to those original members who have been on the ride since day one Mason (Trixie), Daniel (Helen Keller), Jay (Sarge), Mike (Rubicon Mike), Andrew (Yankee), Chris (Snow Mexican), Milton (Dad), John Paul (FNG), Miller (Half Send), and last but not least....... Lehman
Mason Berry @Blue Line Overland Blue Line Overland
Off-Road Therapy
for Wounded and Disabled Veterans and camping. Our mission is to boost morale, introduce warriors to the fantastic off-road community and give them an experience they will never forget.
We want to get their minds off the hospital, off worrying about what’s next, and get them focusing on the fact that life is just as good as it was before their injuries. They can escape the daily grind along with the rest of us, join a family of friends (prior and currently serving) and four-wheel until a smile fills their faces.
4 Wheel to Heal (4W2H) is a unique non-profit organization dedicated to serving wounded and disabled veterans of all branches of military service through off-road therapy. Most veterans are used to roughing it and riding/ driving off-road style military vehicles (HMMWVs/MRAP). This familiarity, along with the camaraderie from the off-road community, makes these experiences absolutely one-of-a-kind for these deserving warriors.
Our Mission Many of the wounded veterans who have returned from combat are not the same as they were before they deployed. Some are missing limbs, some have been shot, others have hearing or sight problems, or are experiencing post-traumatic stress at extreme levels. They also may have been in a hospital for long periods of time, away from friends, family and life. 4 Wheel to Heal takes these veterans out, once they’re healed enough to do so, and gets them outdoors to show them the off-road world. We take veterans to events including four wheeling, rock crawling, mud bogging, off-road racing, shooting
Family is the key. The board of 4W2H considers itself a family and that’s how they see all of the warriors we serve and our volunteers. We are introducing these deserving veterans to their new off-road family through these events. The comfort level and sense of place these warriors feel at these events is easily apparent on the faces and easy laughs of the warriors enjoying off-road therapy.
Built to Heal 2020 Nowhere is the idea of 4 Wheel to Heal more prevalent than at the event we host ourselves each year to get warriors out on the trail while raising money for the organization. Last year’s event at Rausch Creek Off Road Park in Pennsylvania saw 54 rigs with eight warriors hit the trails among the fall colors while raising more than $5,000 for the organization! It’s truly an amazing thing to see these veterans who have overcome so much and face even more challenges revel in amazement at what is possible in off-road vehicles on trails such as Rausch Creek. Hit our events page on the website or Facebook to register for this year’s Built to Heal event.
Find Out More & Support 4W2H If you are interested in helping our cause, please contact us, visit our website or check out any of our social media channels. We are always looking for motivated volunteers and any donations to help us serve more warriors. Visit our website to join us as a Warrior Guest, check out our board members and current volunteers, and discover more about what we do for these wounded heroes who have given so much to their country. 4 Wheel to Heal is completely volunteer-run and 100% of all donations to the organization go toward supporting warrior events.
Eric Walton @4WheeltoHeal 4WheeltoHeal www.4w2h.org
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Overlanding on an Active Volcano Have you ever been woken up by the rumble of a volcanic eruption? That’s what happened to us as we were camping on Mount Etna in Sicily.
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We had been exploring the skirts of the volcano for days, going on extensive hikes to the craters of past eruptions and camping in different locations around the mountain. We had found a beautiful spot to camp under lush trees where we made a campfire to close out another day of hiking through the lava landscape. Around 2 a.m. I heard a loud rumble and as I looked out the window, I saw something glow behind the trees. Quickly I realized the volcano was erupting. I woke up Mike and we both got dressed in a hurry, got the camera gear ready and rushed to a place with an unobstructed view of the volcano. You might be thinking we’re crazy, we should have packed our things and left the mountain behind. But we didn’t feel afraid. Mt Etna is one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, and its eruptions aren’t infrequent, but it had been active for the last month so we were kind of expecting, or rather hoping, to witness an eruption. Fascinated, we watched the lava being catapulted into the air for a while, then we decided to go back to bed and set the alarm clock to sunrise. Luckily the volcano was still launching lava high into the air. What a show! We took
uncountable photos and just as the sun rose above the horizon, the eruption stopped, the mountain went quiet, as if nothing had happened. We still can’t believe our luck. We are so happy to have witnessed this and, in retrospect, that nothing happened. We did have quite a large distance between us and the crater but what really is a safe distance to a volcano? I mean, you never know how big the eruption is going to be and we did drive through lava fields with ruins of houses that had been destroyed by prior eruptions. (Some can be seen on photo nr 006) Experiences like this one reflect precisely why we love overlanding. Being able to camp in places without infrastructure for a longer period of time allows us to witness the raw force
of nature. Here’s a little tip if you’re overlanding with your four-legged friend: Dog boots are a great accessory. On short walks with Aimée, we had noticed that she was struggling on the sharp rocks. Luckily, we have little dog boots, which we originally bought for her to wear in hot sand or on ice. We put them on her paws and off she went, running around like a puppy.
Mike, Andrea and Aimée the dog 4extremes 4extremes
www.4-xtremes.ch Email: info@4-extremes.ch
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Dirt-biking through Burma, Part Two Now that you have the preliminary pre-travel general, health and travel documentation squared away, it’s time to focus on what you’ll need on the road. (Fall 2021 Issue Part 1)
Navigation, weather and accommodation It is vital to remember that good English maps for Myanmar are virtually impossible to get ahold of. This is even more true if you plan to visit the more remote mountainous areas to the west of the country. In addition to that, there does not exist any English road signs or markings, as everything is only in Burmese. Considering that the country is more than 260,000 square miles (or 676,000 square kilometers), our original expedition plans included hiring a seasoned local Burmese that would provide translation and navigation assistance with the numerous tribes we
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were going to encounter. This individual was unfortunately missing in action when we arrived in Mandalay and left us in a precarious position at the start of our trip. We therefore decided to purchase a data sim and for the entire expedition relied on Google Maps via our mobile phones strapped to our Honda 250 motorcycles. Even in the thickest jungle we had unbelievably strong 4G reception via cell phone towers. It does help to carry a spare power bank as electricity/charging is not always guaranteed on arrival at your chosen destination. In terms of safe accommodation, we did some intensive research for clean and safe bed and breakfasts that had previous travel recommendations. It would be useful to study a map of Myanmar beforehand to familiarize yourself with the general topography of the country. The country is divided in 14 provinces which consists of seven
states and seven regions. The terrain, weather conditions and fauna/flora differ greatly between the areas. Bear in mind that Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons. The hottest period is between February and May, when there is little or no rain and temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F). The rainy season is generally from May to October. The period during October to February provides better dry and cooler weather which is what we would recommend for travel. Plan your trip accordingly. With regards to the types of roads that you will experience in Myanmar, a proficient skill level of riding is required should you choose to do it via dirt bike. Originally, we would have preferred machines in the 690 to 800 cc range, but it is virtually impossible to rent off-road motorcycles of this capacity in Myanmar, never mind true adventure bikes. Nearly 95 percent of all twowheelers are cheap 125cc Chinese
scooters. Our normal KTM 1290/GS 1250 machines would have coped, but for some of the single-track mountain ruts they would have proved challenging to ride with. With this backdrop, what could possibly go wrong? We therefore promptly contacted a Russian motorcycle dealer that arranged for us two Honda 250 CRF dirt bikes on arrival in Mandalay after an exhausting international flight via Thailand from Johannesburg. With the benefit of hindsight, not having a guide turned out to add to the mystery of exploration in Myanmar. We were humbled with the hospitality of the mountain tribes in Mindat, deep in the western jungles, even without the benefit of being able to translate their language. Every time Kim took off her full-face motorcycle helmet, the villagers would come streaming out of their bamboo huts as it was the first time that they have seen a blonde westerner in their life!
Motorcycle spares and maintenance On any expedition, especially on dirt or adventure bikes, weight is of paramount importance. The lighter you can travel, the better! Having said that, when you end up on something as small as a 250cc machine, you must plan even more stringently on what to take on a three-week journey. If we were traveling on GS 1250s, we could easily have 100 pounds of gear with us, but on the little Hondas we had to make do with less than 40 pounds of total gear. We knew that the machines were relatively new beforehand when we rented them and that they just had a major service as well. So, we decided to keep tools down to a minimum in the event of a breakdown. We ensured beforehand that the dirt bikes were equipped with 30/70 on-road/ off-road tires which turned out to be a good balance in terms of the terrain encountered. Owing to the large number of
scooters that the Myanmar people use for daily transport, it is relatively easy to find a repair shop of some kind, even in the remotest of villages. Your biggest risk would really be to either have a flat tire or to run out of fuel. Plan your refueling stops carefully as you have a limited range on a small off-road bike and the country has very big distances to cover in some cases. In addition to that, be careful of contaminated fuel. We carried a small tire repair kit just in case, but for the rest of the time, a leatherman, duct tape and cable/zip ties should be enough. Interestingly enough, it was impossible to get ahold of chain spray at any point in time. Ask any repair shop for some old engine oil and apply with an old toothbrush. Works like a charm!
Trip Highlights One of the highlights of the trip was our arrival at one of Asia’s great inland lakes, Lake Inle in Shan state. The local fishermen on the lake practice a distinctive rowing style which involves wrapping one leg around the oar whilst balancing on the other leg on the stern of their small boats. As much of the lake is covered by water plants and reeds, this unique style affords them the ability to see above the vegetation whilst
rowing. It’s well worth planning your trip to spend at least two or three days around this lake. Another highlight was the golden temples of Bagan that easily rivals the magnificent pagodas of Angor Wat in Cambodia and should be a bucket list entry for any adventure biker! The hundreds of temples that are located across the plains of Bagan are the most inspiring testament to the religious devoutness of Myanmar’s people – and rulers – over the centuries. These Burmese temples are rated as some of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. If you have the spare funds available, park your bike here and rent an early morning hot air balloon for a sight of a lifetime! Whilst you enjoy riding the twisty mountain roads in Myanmar, do not forget to sample the exotic food and bear in mind that fuel will be at least 50 percent cheaper than in South Africa. Data costs for mobile phones are at least 70 percent cheaper and Myanmar’s local coffee (Genius) and whisky (Grand Royal) is exquisite and cost a fraction of what we pay locally. Our expedition finally ended after traveling more than 1,600 miles in 21 days without a single breakdown on the
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Our Itinerary for riders adventurous enough to follow! Google Maps link of adventure bike road trip: https://bit.ly/3sOpRNH
Destination, State /Territory & Attraction Thiri Thit Sar Hotel, Mandalay Shwenandaw Monastery and Royal Palace, Se Naing Guest House Mindat, Chin State Nat Ma Taung National Park,Mindat Trek & Park,Floral Breeze Hotel Kanpetlet, Chin State Mt.Victoria Sky Palace Hotel Bagan, Mandalay Mya Zedi Stone, Irrawady, Kyaukgu Umin,Pine Breeze Hotel Kalaw, Shan State two trusty Honda CRF 250s. Would we do it again? Hell yes, Myanmar is biking paradise!
A final note to fellow riders. Myanmar’s scenery rates an easy 4/5. You will experience some of the most majestic rain forests on the planet, curvy mountain roads and beautiful freshwater lakes. For those history buffs amongst you, give it at least a rating of 4/5 as well. Burma has a rich, if somewhat brutal, history but has amazing pagodas and temples to rival the best in Asia. On a cautionary note, bear in mind that traffic is insane in the city areas. The rural traffic does not adhere to rules of the road. Road conditions are
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generally single lane, single track and in the rural areas completely dirt and mud. Be Alert. ALL THE TIME. Massive trucks tend to come down the many mountain passes at blinding speed and will consume both sides of the road, without any yellow lanes for you or your bike to pass safely. Hence the need for intercom systems between the riders as well.
Safe riding! Johan de Villiers johan.villiers.5
Myoma Monastery, Green Hill Elephants,Famous Hotel Loikaw Kayah State Shwe Kyaung, Kyat Cave, Nan Kool Hill, Lawpita View Point, Inle Resort Shan State Inle Lake, Floating Gardens, Shwe Gu Guest House, Taw Kyal Waterfall, Kandawgyi Hill Resort Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay National Villages & Kandawgyi Garden, Thiri Thit Sar Hotel Mandalay Lions of Stone, Santa Muni Pagoda
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Overland with Wildlife Night. We were sleeping in our RTT on the bank of the Luangwa River in Zambia when something awoke us. Leaves and sticks were falling on our roof, while all around us was the noise of broken branches. I opened one of the tent windows, and a big long-leashed eye of an elephant looked at me in the moonlight. We looked at each other, then he kept going, eating the tree branches above us. “What can we do?” I thought. Nothing. Just wait. After a couple of hours or so, the noise moved away, and we heard the splashing of the elephant herd crossing the river.
What did we learn from this amazing experience? Never be an obstacle along an elephant path. We knew this safari rule.
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The area around us was wide, and our camp wasn’t an obstacle for them to reach the river. So we’ve never been in danger. However, we forgot the passion of elephants for the leaves and the juicy fruits of the tree we chose for shading our camp. Overlanding with wildlife, a lot of wildlife, is pretty common in Southern and Eastern Africa. And it’s a breathtaking experience. In traditional safaris, an experienced guide drives you through the wildlife. While overlanding, you have to know and respect some rules, for your safety and the protection of wildlife and the local communities. There are rules when you’re driving, when you camp, when you look for firewood, and when you use your openair restroom. While driving, first of all, never speed up. Roads are poorly maintained, and it’s extremely dangerous. At the same time, never drive in the dark. People walk along roads with no light, and cattle and wildlife cross and share
the trail at any time. Elephants, hippos and rhinos have always the right of passage. There is a sort of safety distance, where they are very comfortable and relaxed. These are the moments when you really enjoy driving close to these majestic creatures. At the same time, if the trail is narrow, and you can’t share the path, leaving them at the correct distance, they usually become very aggressive, and dangerous. We often had to reverse in the thick bush to leave space for elephants walking on “our” trail. Once, I was cooking dinner and a curious hippo approached our camp. We had to stay in the car until dark, waiting for him to proceed on his way. That evening we just had a quick cold meal. Plain game, like impalas, zebras, wildebeests and zebras, often congregate in herds. It’s lovely slowly driving among them. Even more, switch off your engine and let them flow, walking around your vehicle. Cape buffaloes are another story. They are
on the list of the Big Five since they are among the most dangerous animals to be hunted by foot. They are huge. Think about the wrestlers of African wildlife, and they are used to fight with lions since they are their favorite meal. Respect them and don’t stay too close, especially at night, which in the African bush is hunting time. African monkeys are super funny, however, they are thieves. Always keep all your stuff under control! Baboons know in the car you have food and they’ll learn how to open the doors of your car. It happened to us in the Kruger National Park (South Africa). While in Serengeti NP (Tanzania), a baboon stole a bag of biscuits from my hands! In a camp in Kruger, I made all my friends laugh while I was trying (with no success) to recover my mango from a velvet monkey. One of the great moments in a safari experience is the encounter with the big predators. Is it dangerous to approach them? Not at all, if you’re in
the car. Even in a topless rig, “game viewers,” the traditional safari vehicles. Why? First of all, because they look at you and the vehicle as a whole. A big metal, bad-smelling thing. Not interesting, since this not on their menu. However, if you speak loudly, drive too fast, or disturb their path, they
become nervous and their behavior is incredible. In the great plains, often cheetahs jump on the roof of your car to have a higher viewpoint to spot their prey. It happened to me in the Mara (Kenya). I heard a sound on the roof, looked at what was going on, and found myself face-to-face with a lovely cheetah.
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Once, a client told me that one night a hyena visited his camp. I was smiling, since one night they “realized” a hyena visited their camp. However, hyenas visit camps almost every night! Just look at the footprints around your car in the early morning. As with bears, never leave anything outside by night; they can steal items from barbecue grills to your shoes. One night, in the arid Kalahari Desert in Botswana, a thirsty brown hyena stole our 3-gallon plastic bottle of water. I really hope she was able to crash and drink.
By night the predators’ behavior is very different, since they hunt. And since you’re no more in the vehicle since you’re setting your camp, you have to behave accordingly.
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One other important rule with wildlife is to keep them wild. Don’t feed them, so they do not approach you looking for food. This rule is paramount with predators. Lions roar to check their positions: “Where are you?” “I’m here. And you?” And this sound can be heard from miles away. There’s no better song than hearing the lions roar by night. This is the soundtrack of a real safari emotion!
They rarely approach a camp with a campfire by night. They are busy stalking their prey. If they do, usually, it’s because they are curious: “What is this in my land?”.It’s wise to stay close to your car or your tent, go inside, and shoot amazing pictures of this magic moment. Peter Allison, a famous safari guide and writer wrote, “Whatever You Do, Don’t Run.” If you approach your overland in the African wildlife with these simple basic rules, this will be a once-inlifetime experience; however, you’ll become addicted.
Valentina Vallinotto Founder and Managing director at v-adventures, a company based in Prescott AZ Co-owner at Ndutu Safari Lodge, located in the Ngorongoro-Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania valentinav_adventures v.adventuresLLC YouTube Channel V_adventures
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The Wild Wet West
When picturing the West, most conjure an image of a vast desert landscape: Desolate, with tumbleweeds blowing by in the afternoon. It is hot, it is dry. Life is harsh and unsustainable. Yet, those of the West have a hidden gem that they guard in secrecy - hot springs. The majority of the hot springs in the U.S. are found on the West Coast.
History of Hot Springs in the United States Situated on the Ring of Fire, a meeting point of many tectonic plates that circles most of the Pacific Ocean, the West is full of volcanic activity, activity that has created the giant Mt. Denali, as well as all 13 of the tallest mountains in the U.S. It is also the cause of the many earthquakes and drastic landscapes, where in just a few hours you can be at the lowest point in the continental U.S. (Bad Water Basin, Death Valley National Park), and then the highest point (Mt. Whitney). The Ring of Fire, and its volatility, has led to the best swimming holes in the world. In
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the West, it is cherished, and has sprung a subculture on its own. The culture, known as “Soaking” is varied, and has changed over the centuries, as most things have. Initially hot springs were a place of healing and spirituality to Native Americans. Many grounds sacred to Native Americans are locations of hot springs. They were cared for, maintained, and used for many different types of ceremonies, including births. There are still many fantastic hot springs located on tribal land, and hidden to the public to protect their Native significance. As European settlers moved west, popularity naturally grew. Soon the phrase “Cowboy Bath” was being used to designate springs that were “soakable.” As the world changed in the 1950-60s so did the frequent visitors of springs. Freespirited people, hippies and those wishing to live connected to the earth flocked to springs. They were a naturalist dream, and clothing? Well, that was not a part of
the new hot spring culture. To this day, it is considered acceptable to enjoy a tub with strangers in the nude, for those who dare.
Change for The Worse Over the past two decades, with the rise in internet and geo-locations, hot springs are being enjoyed by increasingly larger amounts of people. The culture has changed again. Now bathing suits are more the norm. Sadly, this influx of visitors has also led to damage, contamination, and long waits to enjoy a soak. It has also led to those within the community to be secretive of their favorite places to soak, and land owners blocking access to locations that used to be open to all. It’s imperative that people respect the springs, and be respectful. So, do you want to travel out West and soak? Well, here are some tips to make sure you have the best time.
drain the tub halfway and move the flow of water away from the tub. This allows the next person to add the water they want to the height and temperature they desire. If one leaves water flowing into the tub, it will likely be too hot for the next soaker, and require hours to cool. Also, always leave the plumbing flowing. It freezes overnight in almost all locations in winter. If the pipe is closed, it is likely to break from the cold.
HOT SPRING 101 How do you find a hot spring? Simple! Where do you want to go? If you are looking at going into Southern California, Idaho or Nevada, search for springs that are in the state you are going to. There are also many great books that list some of the lesser-known locations. One favorite is Touring California and Nevada Hot Springs by Matt Bischoff. There are also many hot spring groups on Facebook that you may find helpful, especially to ask about road conditions. Many hot springs are on dirt roads and may not be accessible during weather.
What do I need to bring? A trash receptacle. These are Leave No Trace locations. That includes human waste. Many hot springs have become contaminated with E. coli due to people relieving themselves near springs. Even scat holes can leach into the shallow water springs that feed a tub. Bathing suits are optional. Be mindful of where you set your clothes down; mites live in the grass that surrounds many pools. Many will put their belongings in bags next to the springs to prevent the mites from going in their clothes.
Can I bring my children? Yes, you definitely can. Please be aware they may see nude people. It is acceptable in the culture for no clothing; it is not acceptable for you to ask someone to put their clothing on because it makes you feel uncomfortable. Also, it is advisable to not bring children under
Alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, what’s ok? 8. The pools are a point of relaxation, so children playing would be considered rude. There are many privatized hot springs, or springs that have been turned into parks that are great for kids, though. Aqua Caliente in Anza Borego State Park is one such location.
Any and all of this is acceptable to use at a hot spring. Glass containers should not be used. Smoking should be observed as in normal company. Always ask before lighting if others do not want smoke, and respect that. Wait to smoke until they have left, or you have.
Safety
Can I geo-tag a hot spring on my social media?
Hot springs are hot, and you can burn yourself. Many people have died in springs over the years, either from entering springs that were not soakable, or by staying in a spring for too long and getting overheated. Always test the water before you get in. Be mindful of your body temperature. If it is 30 degrees outside, you may not notice your body is overheating until it is too late.
Cleanliness Hot springs are natural. As such, they often are muddy, have algae, and may not appear to look inviting. Some have strong sulfur smells. This is a part of the spring; embrace it. Reduce your own contamination into the spring, though. Do not use a spring as your bath. Do not bring soap, shampoo, conditioner or any bathing products into the spring. Bring an umbrella if you need sun protection vs. putting on sunscreen. Do not relieve yourself in the water.
Maintenance Many springs have man-made walls and plumbing to tubs. Many also have drain plugs. Do not remove any piping scrubbing brushes or plugs from the tub. When you are done soaking, it is polite to
This is a grey area. Many will say no, some will say yes. There is a happy medium though. If you are at a well-known place that Google Maps told you, then it has been published already. Your geotag likely won’t cause it to get worse. If, however, you have found a spot that was from word of mouth, a book or harder to find, do not post the location. You put in the work to find a spot; someone else can also put in effort if they want to go there.
Can I camp at a hot spring? Sometimes yes, often no. If it is on public land, a good rule of thumb is to not set up camp within 100 yards of the spring. You wouldn’t want to see someone’s camp in your view while soaking, so please respect that others do not want to see your camp.
Happy Soaking! Elizabeth Switten outpostoverland offgridrebelles
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There and Back Again …
A Mystical Journey to the Land of Trolls PART 2
The story of Thomas Fibrich’s overloading journey through the magical areas of Scandinavia continues. Suddenly, out of nowhere, right in front of the North Cape tunnel entry, I recognized this lonely man who stopped me with his thumb up. It was already 7 p.m., and I wondered what was coming up now. After we introduced each other, my new friend Olaf from Germany asked if I would be so kind to give him safe passage through the 7km (4.3 mile) long tunnel that leads under the sea to the North Cape Island. Imagine, he was riding all the way up to that place only on his bicycle, having nothing more than a backpack and bottle of water with him - amazing. Together we rode to Honningsvag, the last settlement in that area, which gave Olaf the opportunity to dry his clothes and warm up in my car. It was raining outside and was very cold and windy, and I wondered about the physical abilities of that man. In Honningsvag I refueled my truck and got supplies from the local supermarket. Olaf and I said goodbye to each other and I decided to continue to the North Cape, another 30km (19 miles) ahead, starting at 9:30 p.m., which wasn’t that unusual there because shops are open during summertime until 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. Well, it didn’t get dark at all and midnight was as bright as lunchtime.
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The North Cape Museum was open until 12 a.m., and I entered it at 10 p.m. After having a look at everything, I tried to do a video call with a friend of mine. He asked me to do so because he wanted to know if it might be possible from there. It was and I reached him in Croatia on holiday, having dinner with his partner in a restaurant. I showed him the “Kong Olaf View” in our video call, and we wondered at how small our planet has become. After leaving the museum, it was time to explore the area for a camp site. Rain was hitting horizontally
and the temperature had fallen to 0 degrees. While looking around for a good spot, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Olaf again, fighting the hill with his bicycle, heading to the North Cape Museum. Guy just never seems to get tired or exhausted. The next day, right next to the North Cape, I spent my time making a drone video for my very special friend Lisa. I wanted to give her a little surprise for her birthday coming soon in a few days. This has become a kind of tradition to me. Every year, I try to prepare some little message, from one or more
special sites, all around Europe. It was supposed to be a much more relaxed travel than it was until then. The plan was to enjoy myself and not drive that much every day anymore. On my way back to the south, I will visit the Lofoten Peninsula; lots of people told me it is worth a visit. What can I say? People were not wrong - this place was magic! When I reached Lofoten Beach very late at night (but bright as an early afternoon), I decided to
have a bath in the Northern Sea, at 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit). Students of the nearby surfing school in their neoprene suits had to be wondering what this crazy man was doing in his shorts with shower gel in his hand, heading into the cold water and jumping in. A coffee at the same beach the very next morning was also an experience I will never forget. Whenever possible, I would open the roof-tent and sit at the backdoor entry of the tent, my feet resting on the top of my spare wheel. That way, I had a terrific view of the entire
environment, and I always enjoyed this so much. While I awoke and had my coffee, I realized that the journey was halfway done and I felt a little bit sorry about it. On the ferry, my loyal Hilux and I headed back to Bodø. This time, the sea was again very rough but I did not get seasick, at least not that much. Back at the geographical middle, in the country of Vikings and trolls, I explored and stayed at a couple of wonderful places, national parks and mountain sites. Being on my own, having time to reflect and enjoying amazing spots and the
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surrounding nature was the purpose of this adventure. For such reasons visiting Norway paid off in full. Every day a new wonder, every evening a new fantastic site for camping. I captured a thousand-plus different impressions in more than 1,200 photos and videos. In that area, I was looking for a safe place to make fire at the camp site, knowing this was allowed in Norway. At a lot of spots in that country, there was already a fireplace prepared from someone else who was using it at earlier times. Sometimes even firewood is still left, so that lighting a fire is not a difficult task. Usually, I do not start a campfire in countries in which I do not have a longer experience with camping or for the simple reason that it is too dangerous. For example, in Greece or in Portugal, there is every year big damage because of unsafe campfires. I don’t want to be responsible for people getting harmed or losing their property due to dangerous giant fires, like happened in 2018 in Portugal. But that evening, there was something to celebrate. It was the birthday of my beloved friend and I had sent the drone video I made at the North Cape to her that evening. That’s why I was in the mood to have a beer at a campfire to honor her birthday, while missing her a lot … by the way,
it is interesting to know that a beer at a Norwegian supermarket cost between six and eight dollars; this is quite a lot.
beach, where off-roading is allowed … and this time, I had almost the whole area just for me alone … Rømø Beach in Denmark.
The next days, I had my focus to visit another mystical place. It was called Trollstigen and already the trip to that site was an experience I would not have liked to miss. This road was mainly crafted by single manpower, without any big machines. The weather that day was simply a gift, rewarding me with impressions I didn’t experience in my life before. The view from the top of that rock was simply breathtaking, and I had to drive this curvy narrow street two times up and down, only to enjoy and keep a magical memory.
This journey opened a completely new perspective about northern Europe to me. Sure, I will be visiting also Finland and Sweden, as soon as the travel restrictions caused by COVID are reduced again.
Heading further to the south coast, knowing that soon I would have to take the ferry back to Denmark, I stopped one night in the middle of the woods on the top of a mountain. The next morning, I enjoyed my coffee at a waterfall so beautiful it made me want to stay forever. But the time had come, and I had to say goodbye to the country I never expected to be so spectacular but which exactly met my needs.
Understanding that being reduced to your very own and living with a minimum of resources is really something very wonderful and gives me feelings of happiness and satisfaction. It will not be only my passion; for the rest of my life, I will also try to live that way, every single day. The dream I have is to do such an adventure, all around the world one day. Stay free and explore this, our world, and enjoy this wonderful place we live!
Thomas Fibrich
On the way home, I remembered a place where I had lots of fun, and I decided to have a complete day full of fun and joy going nuts on the
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What You Need to Know When You Are on the Go I was taught a long time ago that traveling alone in the backcountry can be rewarding but also dangerous, but let’s face it; sometimes you just need or want to get away from everyone else. Should you decide to take off on your own, I’ve come up with a list of recovery equipment that you’ll want to carry with you. Some of this is dependent on how you have your vehicle set up, but this list provides you with the basics if you’re new to off-road travel. The first three items on my list are for people who are new to traveling off-road and it is assumed that they haven’t modified their vehicle yet or at least only have added a few things. • Air Compressor – while not technically recovery equipment, this little item can be a life-saver. If you are new to traveling off the beaten path, one of the quickest ways to get better traction and a more
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comfortable ride is to lose some air pressure. When we travel down paved roads, we want to decrease rolling resistance. This increases our miles per gallon, and we do that by inflating our tires to the recommended tire pressure, which is usually listed on the driver’s side door well. As we take air out of the tires, we increase the tires’ footprint, allowing for better traction; more contact equals better traction. Plus, at the end of the trip we need to air back up and having a portable or built-in air compressor can save you heartache instead of having to find a gas station that has a working air compressor. Driving on under-inflated tires on pavement can cause excessive wear and cause heat to build up in the tires, which is bad for tires. Of course, there is more to this topic than what I’ve mentioned here, but in short, it’s better for your tires and your vehicle’s suspension, which is better for you.
• Recovery Boards – this type of recovery gear is used to help you gain traction when none exists. Whether you’re stuck in mud, sand, snow or even in a rut, having a recovery board can help to provide you with the traction you need to get you moving. I would only caution that not all boards are equal and some use lesser quality materials. Everyone has their own preference, but the Maxtrax boards have been my go-to for years and have never failed me. Regardless of the brand you prefer, this piece of gear doesn’t require you to make any changes to the front of your vehicle, such as an aftermarket bumper and winch. • Shovel – a real shovel and not a little fold up shovel should be in everyone’s gear. This handy piece of equipment can help you to dig yourself out of ruts and clear sand, snow or mud from around your tire so you can decrease
rolling resistance, allowing you to keep moving down the trail. As I mentioned before, the first three items are for people who haven’t modified their vehicles yet, but that doesn’t mean you forget about them once you add things like a winch. There is brilliance in the basics and having those simple tools can cover many situations. When teaching a basic offroad recovery class, I try to impress on my students that sometimes the basics are all you need, such as letting a little more air out of the tires or using your recovery boards instead of pulling out your winch or hooking up a tow strap. These last two methods are more invasive, require more skill and come with a higher degree of risk. That being said, as you venture further and further away from civilization you will want to become more skilled in off-road driving and recovery, to learn the ins and outs of other types of recovery gear, and how to conduct a stuck assessment. Taking the steps to learn about how and when to use the equipment listed below can help to reduce risk so that you and your vehicle survive the endeavor. This next set of equipment is assuming you’ve now discovered the joy of overlanding and are looking to up your game so that you can safely recover yourself when the terrain gets a little tougher. I recommend a basic winch recovery bag, assuming you’ve decided to add a winch to your vehicle and you have accounted for the weight of your vehicle at adventure weight. Well, what does that mean? It’s the weight of your vehicle plus the weight of all passengers and gear. I would also mention if you normally pull a trailer on your adventures, adding that additional weight into your decision will help you avoid your gear breaking when you need it most. Like the recovery boards above, choosing the right gear can be hard, and everyone is making and selling recovery gear nowadays. When choosing the gear you want, I would suggest buying from a reputable manufacturer. Look for the working load limit and safe working load to see if it will handle your weight and much more, and ask if the products are pull-tested so that you know the
items you want are capable of working with your equipment. Knowing the safe working load limit will give you peace of mind knowing your gear won’t fail when you need it most. • Soft shackles – 2
Scott Parker I4WDTA Certified Instructor Federal Government Off-road Instructor Member of BOLD Overland 20+ years of off-road experience
• Hard shackles – 2
Scott Parker
• Tree saver – 1
explorationcaptured
• Static tow strap – 1
Exploration Captured
• Pulley block -1 (aka snatch block)
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• Full grain leather gloves – 1 set
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All the gear listed above is a good starting point, and is not meant to be anything more than that. Having the listed equipment above, combined with the skills you can learn in a basic recovery class, can provide you with the tools necessary to handle most situations. Don’t forget that your brain is your most valuable asset. Try to keep calm and think through the situation, look for things that can cause the recovery to go bad, and you’ll almost always succeed. Having the right tools and training means you can have fun and it’s one less thing to worry about.
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Baja miles and miles. This route would have no hotels, cellphone reception, gas stations or grocery stores. Baja! There is so much meaning in just a single word. It is the land of fishing, racing, camping, beaches, wine, bars, party, Cabo, and of course, Tijuana. But these are just a few of the many things that come to mind when you think of Baja, California. There is so much diversity packed into a strand, a peninsula. One moment you can enjoy the snow in the mountains, then drive a few hours out and enjoy a bonfire at the beach.
We had a plan, but I knew anything could happen. We could break down, get lost, or even fall in love with a spot and stay longer. Our plan was just a rough draft for our adventure. Meeting locals is half the fun. They know a lot of secret spots that can easily be missed. This was the case for about a quarter of the places I discovered while on this trip.
One fateful afternoon my wife told me they might not approve her vacation days. So, I responded, “Quit, and then we can travel down south for a few days.” Little did we know that a few days would turn into three weeks. In trying to decide where to visit, our destinations started stacking up and so did our total days of travel. I think the most difficult part of going to Baja is never having enough time to see it all! The more you search, the more you fall in love.
The day finally came when all the planning and preparing paid off. We woke up at five in the morning and started getting ready. With San Pedro Martir on our minds, we headed out. After a few hours of being on the road, we arrived at Mike’s Sky Ranch. After two hours of driving through a washed up and beaten trail, we decided to head back. Fast forward to 16 hours of driving, and we ended up in San Quintin. From there we headed down south to our next destination: An oasis.
After days of planning the destinations, we mapped out the best route. This time, we decided to utilize as many dirt roads as possible. We wanted to see more than just the basic tourist attractions. We planned to camp out with nothing but the stars and visit virgin beaches with no humans to be found for
There are many oases in Baja, California, from hot springs to a cold pool of water surrounded by palm trees. Some are easily accessible, while others are a few hours away from the main roads. No matter which one you choose, though, you’ll enjoy yourself! The problem was that my wife and I had our eyes set on one of
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the most difficult oases. From the border town of Tijuana, the trip takes about 12 to 16 hours of driving, assuming your car makes it there in one piece. The town this oasis is closest to is called Cataviña. In case you ever decide to visit, make sure to fill up at El Rosario and bring a few extra gallons in a reservoir. There aren’t any gas stations for miles. Remember, you’re going to the middle of the desert, literally. We arrived in Cataviña at about 11 at night, popped up our roof tent and called it a day. We woke up early in the morning and made breakfast. We reheated some frozen birria we brought back from Tijuana. From there, we met up with a local friend named Ian. I asked for his help because he mentioned that the trail was technical and not very forgiving. About five miles from our campsite, we hit a dried-up riverbed. It was full of loose sand, so I decided to air down a few psi and turn on my 4HI. Though our journey was just starting, we felt that nature didn’t want to give access to just anyone. After a few miles of driving through the dried river, we finally got to a harder surface. Most of the trail ahead was fairly easy to drive through. A few technical sections, but nothing like what we were about to endure. After about an hour or two of driving, we got to a
mountain that let us enjoy an amazing view. We were right in the middle of the peninsula. We could see Bahia De Gonzaga and the highway. Sadly, the mountains blocked our view of the Pacific Ocean. The best part was about to begin. After we enjoyed the view, we started heading down the mountain. I went from 4HI to 4LO. 4LO is commonly used for slow speed technical situations, such as rock crawling. The mountain was a bit steep, but that was the least of my worries. I knew that if I tipped over, I could possibly roll down the mountain, and that made me nervous. The trail quickly went from a slow rocky track to a steep slant with big holes. Most of the ride from there on was at a slow and steady pace. There were a few sections with very sharp turns and 19-degree angles that had me clinging onto the truck. The whole time I had to keep a straight face, hoping not to show my wife how worried I was. Most of the off-road experience I had was with highspeed desert trails. This was completely out of my ballpark. Nevertheless, I was full of adrenaline and enjoying the rush of trying something new and extreme! I remember I kept thinking to myself, don’t worry, you have skid plates. That’s what they’re for, after all. My buddy kept telling me that I should get thirty-threes just about every chance he could. “Thirtyfives are your best bet, but if you had at least thirty-threes, that would be perfect.” In all the trails I had been to, I was fine with being stock height and stock tire size. To this day, it was the only trail that has made me want to upgrade to larger sized tires. Luckily about 70 percent of my undercarriage was protected; even my shocks had skid plates. I had about eight inches of ground clearance, give or take
an inch, with lower tire pressure and the weight I had in the bed. I think with about 10 inches of clearance, you should be just fine. After about an hour of spotting and intense crawling, we got to the last tough section. My buddy told me to pull over and take a glance to decide to either go through with it or simply make camp and call it a day. The oasis was about a two-hour hike from camp. When I got off the truck and saw the last section, I didn’t hesitate to make my decision. It was clear I had to count my blessings and leave my truck behind. That final section was full of tire marks, scars left behind by other travelers. There was even an abandoned red Jeep Cherokee. My buddy told me it couldn’t make it up, so they just tossed it down the hill. If I had to rate the difficulty of the trail, I would give it a seven of 10. You have to constantly switch from 4HI to 4LO at a few sections. A spotter isn’t necessarily needed all the time, but having one will
save you any headaches and possible damage to your vehicle. As I stated before, having more than 10 inches of ground clearance would be enough to clear most of the trail. There are plenty of rocks along the way to give you more height if needed. 4WD is a must, as there are very steep hills that are slow and technical. Plowing through them is not an option because you could tip over and roll down the mountain. I would recommend going for at least three days. The first and last for arrival and departure, and the second to enjoy the hike and oasis. There are ruins of an abandoned mission. You can enjoy the old missionary trail full of petroglyphs along the way. If you’re lucky, you can also find some arrowheads. It was an amazing experience, both off-road and enjoying nature. We were in the middle of the desert, underneath a sky full of stars, surrounded by friends!
Christian Polanco @Baja a Descubrir
Baja a Descubrir Baja_Descubrir
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An Adventure Must-Have: Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill Let’s talk about one of my favorite topics, food, and even more importantly, adventure food. Whether you are using your Lodge Dutch Ovens, a skillet over a propane grill, or a good old-fashioned hot dog on a stick in the campfire, camp food just tastes better. That first sip of percolator coffee in the brisk morning or the burnt marshmallow sticking to your fingertips are what memories are made of. I have been an avid Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill enthusiast for a couple of years. The 18” Skottle Grill is a large pan that is pre-seasoned and sits on three legs with a BTU Kovea Scout burner underneath. The newest edition
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of this product comes with adjustable legs for uneven ground, which is easier to store and carry, and for tall people like me who stand and cook, it does wonders for the back to cook at hip height. My favorite part of the kit is the beautiful durable Skottle Grill carry bag for easy storage and transport.
My Top Five Favorite Things about the Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill • Setup is a breeze. If it takes more than five steps to setup, I’m out. I am not a fan of instructions, and have
no patience for having to watch a 20-minute YouTube video on how to assemble a product. If it is not intuitive enough for me to figure out with just common sense, then I don’t want to assemble it. The Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill has an easy and quick one-person assembly (#singlegirlproblems). It runs on propane, so I don’t have to wait for coals to be at the right temperature and can be at a location where fires are not permitted. • Food cooks evenly and fast. I love food. After a long day on the trails, or adventures, all I want to do is have a good home-cooked meal. The Tembo
Tusk Skottle Grill evenly distributes the heat over the center of the pan and the temperature gets cooler further out on the edges of the pan, which is perfect for keeping cooked foods warm or warming up foods such as tortilla shells or English muffins. You can adjust the heat easily and smoothly with the Kovea stove flame control, even in the wind. The preseasoned surface and propane heat give food the perfect taste of camping and outdoors, but with the ease and comfort of your home appliances.
Community of Recipes When you purchase your Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill, a whole community of adventure enthusiasts comes with it! You will find recipe books and posts all over social media with people’s favorite meals cooked on the Skottle Grill. Here is my all-time favorite meal to make on the Skottle Grill inspired by a recipe given to me by Cora Jokinen.
• Easy storage and transport. Whether you are taking your Skottle Grill on an overland trip, keeping it in the travel trailer for adventures, or just using it at home, the take down and pack-up part of the product is seamless and smooth. Dis-assembly is just as quick and intuitive as the assembly. Then, you pack it in its adorable storage bag where it can be tucked away in a vehicle, camper or garage taking up little to no space.
Pull chicken and onions to the sides to keep warm.
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Scramble the eggs.
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Pull chicken and onion back to the center.
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Add your rice noodles, peanuts and peas. Toss all together.
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Don’t forget to say “Yum.Yum.Yum.” after your first bite.
Keep in mind you will be adjusting the temperature on the Skottle Grill at almost every step. For additional instructions on how to use your Skottle Grill, head to my favorite resource YouTube!
• Fun! Seriously, getting together for a Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill cook-off or gathering around the campfire cooking under the stars is so much fun! Cooking and sharing meals bring people together. It’s always fun to try a new recipe or have a taste test competition. As a family on an overlanding trip, a romantic dinner under the stars with your sweetheart, or just in your backyard at home, the Skottle Grill makes cooking entertaining and a community activity. • Little clean-up. As I always say, “adventure more, adult less.” This includes meal clean-up. The Skottle Grill takes less time to clean than it takes you to read this article. You put water into the pan, turn on the heat and then scrape the pan. Next, you drain the pan and wipe with a light coat of oil. Voilà, clean-up is done! Now if you really want to win at this, cook a meal that doesn’t require utensils and plates, like tacos!
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Tembo Tusk now has two different Skottle Grill kits to choose from! They also offer many accessories for the Skottle Grill and other products sure to make your adventure more comfortable and convenient. Be sure to check out their products at www.tembotusk. com
Chicken Pad Thai Onion (Medium)........................... 1 cup Eggs................................................... 2 Sesame Oil............................... 2-3 Tbs Peas...............................1 15-16oz can Pad Thai Seasoning Pkg.......... 2-3 Tbs Peanuts-Crushed.......................½ Cup Chicken Breast....................... 2 Pieces Rice Noodles..................12-16 oz Pack •
Boil the rice noodles until done (yes, you can do this on the Skottle Grill). Rinse in cold water and set aside.
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Chunk onion (I keep the chunks big because I hate to eat onions and pull them out), sauté’ in sesame oil.
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Chunk chicken breasts and add to sautéed onions.
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Add Pad Thai seasoning and cook until done.
Angela Hinkley angela.hinklet.7 freebirdthecamper www.angelaandheradventures.com
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On-the-go Snacks Great for the road or your next hike!
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Banana Bread Muffins Banana bread is great but muffins are quicker to bake and easier to pack! Soft, moist, and packed with dark chocolate chips and walnuts, these banana muffins are a perfect quick breakfast or hiking snack! Yield: 12 Muffins PREP TIME: 20 MIN COOK TIME: 20 MIN TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN EQUIPMENT: • 2 Medium/large bowls • Wooden spoon/spatula • Measuring spoons and cups • Muffin tin and liners • Oven • Wire cooling rack INGREDIENTS • 3 large ripe bananas • 2/3 cup (135g) brown sugar • 1/2 cup (125mL) vegetable oil • 1 egg • 1 tsp (5mL) vanilla • 1 1/2 cup (200g) all-purpose flour • 1 tsp (5g) baking soda • 1/2 tsp (2.5g) salt • 1 tsp (2.5g) ground cinnamon • 1/2 cup (80g) dark chocolate chips • 1/4 cup (35g) walnut pieces INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tins with muffin tin liners or grease with baking spray. 2. Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add vegetable oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir together well. 3. Mix together dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix! 4. Add chocolate chips and walnuts and gently fold in. 5. Fill muffin tins to 3/4 full. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. 6. Cool on wire rack. Can be stored 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 2 months in the freezer. NOTES: If planning on using for a hiking
snack, I would recommend baking them the day before or storing in the freezer until the day you’re heading out. The banana adds considerable moisture to the muffins; therefore, they can spoil fairly quickly if left at room temperature for more than 2 days.
DIY Trail Mix Mix and match your favourite flavours for a quick and easy snack for the trail or on-the-go travels! YIELD: 2-3 CUPS TRAIL MIX PREP TIME: 10 MIN TOTAL TIME: 10 MIN EQUIPMENT: • Large mixing bowl • Measuring cups • Wooden spoon • Airtight containers or resealable bags INGREDIENTS • Classic Sierra Trail Mix • 1 cup unsalted peanuts • 1/4 cup cashews • 1/4 cup almonds • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds • 1/4 cup raisins • 1/4 cup smarties or M&M’s (optional)
NOTES: All measurements are suggestions. Feel free to experiment and add more or less of the ingredients you love! Authors Box: Carlin Frimmel OUTDOOR FOOD BLOGGER Hi there! I’m Carlin, a lover of all things outdoors, adventure, and food! I am a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about nourishing our bodies for all types of adventures and for enjoying food for the wonderful thing it is! I own and operate an outdoor food blog, Camp Kitchen, where I share easy, approachable and delicious recipes to be enjoyed in the outdoors on all types of adventures.
Carlin Frimmel carlin_frimmel Campkitchen
CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY • 3/4 cup almonds • 1/2 cup cashews • 1/4 cup dried cranberries • 1/8 cup white chocolate chips • 1/8 cup dark chocolate chips SWEET N’ SALTY • 1/2 cup almonds • 1/4 cup walnuts, halved or quartered • 1/4 cup multigrain cheerios • 1/4 cup pretzel sticks (mini pretzels would also work) • 1/4 cup dried blueberries • 1/8 cup white chocolate chips INSTRUCTIONS Measure out all ingredients into a large bowl. Stir to well combined, portion out if desired, and store in airtight container(s).
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DO YOUR
PART
Image by - Vill Van Der Merwe - Instagram @geoscoutadventures
Do Your Part to keep motorized trail access open, healthy and beautiful. That means riding responsibly, leaving the trail better than you found it and volunteering with organizations that are proactively working to improve trail access, like Tread Lightly! Joining Tread Lightly! keeps your access open. Visit treadlightly.org.
I RIDE, I DRIVE, I OFFROAD, I TREAD LIGHTLY! 39
