Overland Journal Summer 2014

Seeing the Elephant Three companions and I recently completed the emigrant trail from Susanville, California, to City of Rocks, Idaho. It was a wonderful trip thanks to the Trails West markers and books. We also completed the Pony Express Trail from Ibapah, Utah, to Austin, Nevada. We all greatly appreciate Overland Journal’ articles about trips and gear. Our vehicles were a 1995 Bronco, 2003 Jeep Rubicon, 1989 Montero, and a 1975 Toyota FJ40. George Johnston 1995 Ford Bronco Kid in a Candy Store After three years of trying to get to Overland Expo, I finally made it last year and had an absolute blast. I have been four-wheeling since I was a teenager in the 1980s, but have been quite limited for opportunities to really get out and explore due to a less than desirable…

Ants Bolingbroke-Kent Ants Bolingbroke-Kent is a veteran of lengthy adventures in unsuitable vehicles. It started in 2006 when she co-piloted a bright pink tuk-tuk for a record-breaking 12,500 miles from Bangkok, Thailand, to Brighton, England, with her best friend. They raised £50,000 for Mind, were named Cosmopolitan U.K.’s Fun, Fearless Females of the Year, and wrote a book about the trip called Tuk-Tuk to the Road. She has since wobbled around the Black Sea on a zebra-striped Honda Cub, survived an attempt to reach the Arctic Circle on a Russian Ural, and spent two months traversing the Ho Chi Minh Trail on a Honda Cub (also pink). Her book, A Short Ride in the Jungle, released in April 2014. In between traveling and writing, she’s a TV producer and currently working…

. . . taking time to sit and listen has always returned tenfold over racing after some trivial pursuit. In February I celebrated an important anniversary, the passing of my great-aunt, Margaret Elizabeth Quinn. It may come across oddly that someone’s death, especially that of a dear family member, would be reflected on with anything but sadness—but not with Aunt Marg. You see, on January 6, 2012, we celebrated her 100th year on this planet; she remained healthy to within a month of passing. During the past six years as her conservator and trustee, I was fortunate to spend time with, and really get to know Aunt Marg. Though gravity and time were taking their toll on her body, she was always joyful and willing to chat. There was a lot…

Held in hand, Winkler’s products exude a subtle yet undeniable trustworthiness. Winkler Knives II Traditional hand-forged knives from a master bladesmith. Daniel Winkler, who started making knives in a high school shop class, brings nearly 40 years of experience to the craft. In 1993, he received the prestigious American Bladesmith Society’s Master Smith (MS) stamp for his diligent efforts. The society’s MS procedures include testing physical performance in highly abusive trials, as well as rigorous evaluations by other Master Smiths. A deep understanding of form and function is paramount. Continuing in his hand-forged tradition, Winkler began making limited production knives and axes for members of the military’s special operations community. To ensure they receive the best knives and axes available, he founded Winkler Knives II, a small yet evolving operation that keeps performance at…

Within any pursuit there are machines that achieve greatness, that rise above all others as the benchmark of excellence, desirability, performance, and heritage. Whether courting a Holland and Holland double rifle or Mercedes Geländewagen, the discerning buyer can find equipment refined to a higher standard. The BMW GS Adventure is one of these products, and while not perfect, it achieves a level of performance beyond its specifications. It is the most popular adventure-class motorcycle ever produced, with BMW just completing their 500,000th GS with the boxer engine. During the past few months I have lived on a 2014 GSA, ridden it down single tracks, and gotten it stuck in deep alpine snow. The following is my assessment of how the all-new Adventure performs and how it compares with other bikes…

In just a few short years Overland Expo has grown from a small gathering of a few hundred people to one of the West’s most popular and well-attended shows. Each year, thousands of overlanders from across the country and around the world make an annual pilgrimage to Flagstaff, Arizona, to participate in overland seminars and training. As popularity has grown, demand for an East Coast event prompted promoters Roseann and Jonathan Hanson to set a date for an inaugural Eastern version of Overland Expo. Overland Expo EAST will take place October 3-5, 2014, amongst the rolling and wooded hills of Taylor Ranch near Asheville, North Carolina. Like its Western brethren, it will offer dozens of overland activities including driving courses with professional instruction by Land Rover’s legendary Camel Trophy team, dual-sport…