Our Approach to Overlanding Overlanding came to our family by surprise. We were not huge outdoor enthusiasts, big campers or hikers, and to be honest, we didn’t really like sleeping in a tent (too many critters ...insert nervous shiver). But when a good friend invited us to go “Overlanding” (what is that??), and introduced the idea of taking our Jeeps across the mountains, on rarely-accessed roads, to camp in a remote part of the wilderness just a few hours from our home - we decided to go for it. What we found was an instant connection to our deep love for adventure, exploring, and trying new things. We found that Overlanding requires a great deal of preparation and planning; a mind open to exploring and being a little uncomfortable at times; it requires perseverance and problem solving; and it requires gear. Lots of gear. And it just so happens that all those requirements fit exactly with what we love in life. We began by learning, testing. Research became our hobby. Rig walk arounds informed a never-ending wish list for our Jeep. Gaia maps and topo were the stuff of nightly dreams. And YouTube channels were our source for Overlanding news. Packing...this deserves its own article because it is so critical to our approach. This was a priority for us, a 10
close second only to ensuring we had the rig ready to take the terrain and keep us safe. With a great deal of research and watching how other Overlanders approach packing, we crafted our unique way to stay organized and get everything we needed in the Jeep to be off-grid for 2-3 days as a family of four. We were also intrigued by the challenge of not only getting the gear and the goods into the Jeep, but following some of the ‘glamping’ tenants of comfort; my wife coined her own “@glmrlnd” approach as a way of ensuring gourmet food and drink are on the menu, and we have a clean home-like atmosphere at camp for us and the kids.
