We just got the new issue of Surfer’s Journal in the mail and the new cover rocks (we really dig the Jeeps):
As far as we know, this is the first time Surfer’s Journal has depicted anything other then a surfer on the cover.
Autoblog has posted their hands-on review of the new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It’s a glowing review with only a handful of negatives. It looks like a fantastic desert truck.
- Chuck
Intrepid adventure driver Scott Brady has been featured in another episode of Mobil 1 The Grid, which airs on the Speed Channel. This segment continues his Central American adventure. The focus shifts from the jungle to volcanoes, beaches, and ultimately the literal “end of the road” in Yaviza, Panama. Enjoy!
The video can be viewed here.
- Chuck
Over on ExpeditionPortal, a recent thread posed this question for forum members: “how many countries have you visited?” There are a ton of interesting responses - with one member having visited 80+ countries in his lifetime. Very impressive.
Here’s my list:
North America:
Bahamas
Canada
Mexico
Turks and Caicos
USA (I’ve been to 26 states, mostly out west.)
Central America
Belize
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
South America
Brazil
Ecuador
Europe
UK
France
Switzerland
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Estonia
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Poland
Hungary
Slovakia
Italy
Netherlands
Belgium
Spain
Oceania
New Zealand
If my arithmetic is correct, that puts me at 34 countries. Not bad considering I just celebrated my 24th birthday? Head on over and make your own contribution here.
- Chuck
Canon is marketing it’s new D-10 as an adventure camera. It’s waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof. It looks like a pretty nice value at roughly $300.00. The styling leaves a little to be desired but it looks like Canon paid attention to the most two most important factors: functionality and durability.
Engadget has nothing but good things to say about the camera. The camera was put through the ringer on a Central American vacation - a few of the same areas Scott visited on his Ends of the Earth expedition. A few minor quibbles aside, it looks like a solid buy. They mention that their camera shipped with the accessory kit. Unfortunately for us regular joes, the accessory kit looks like it will set you back a cool $100 bucks.
Anyways, here is the link to the review. It’s also on sale over at Amazon - it’s on sale for $286.00
Two new adventure articles have been uploaded to the EW website. Check out these links:
Enjoy the articles.
- Chuck
Recent happenings in the technology world has provided a lot of food for thought lately. Especially cell phones. Apple just unveiled a new iPhone 3GS today as a matter of fact. GPS has been a recent stable of cellphone technology and it’s becoming more and more integrated as things progress.
The one constant in technology is change. It’s hard to predict in what ways gadgets can change our lives but it usually isn’t quite how we originally intended. Classic science fiction from the ’50s and ’60s usually focus on gadgets like flying cars, robots, and space colonies. None of this has really proven or practical. Yet if you watch the same shows, you rarely see anything like the Internet, cell phones (especially the smartphones of today), or even laptop sized computers.
As gadgets shrink we seem them integrated into more and more items. Turn-by-turn GPS routing is now available in cell phones. Smartphones are now pocket-sized computers. What does this mean for the overlander? I view this as having both good and bad aspects. It’s easier then ever to stay connected while away on an expedition. This means it’s possible to run a business, alert emergency contacts, and navigate with satellite imagery while on the road. I’ve even seen someone navigate through Mexico City using only an iPhone.
On the other hand, now you’re connected. What was once viewed as an escape from the day-to-day world is now subject to some of the same workday responsibilities. Families and bosses can stay in touch with you. It looks like this trend is only going to increase as phones become more and more sophisticated.
Overall, I think this is more or less a good thing. Anything that allows one to spend more time on the road enjoying life as well as maintain business and personal relationships is undoubtedly a good thing.
Plus I have to justify my new iPhone 3GS purchase!
- Chuck Nordstrom
Overland Training is officially over. Final exams took place on last Saturday and everyone passed. Overland Training’s objective is this: “Overland Training was created to prepare vehicle-dependent expedition travelers for the challenges and opportunities associated with exploring the globe.”
I completed the driving section in early February before traveling to Central America. Last week I was finally able to complete the classroom section and take the final exam.
Overland Training begins with a hands-on driving section. Different types of terrain are discussed and students learn the skills necessary to handle each one. Recovery equipment, airing down, and vehicle inspection are some of the topics discussed. Come prepared - when I completed the driving section in February it was cold and rainy. We even had hail, which took all of us by surprise. The group crowded into the available vehicles (Dave Nordstrom had his XV-LT and several Sportsmobiles were present) to escape the inclement weather and prepare meals. It was quite a test for the XV-JP, which had been hastily waterproofed the day before. The driving section ends with the completion of a trail drive, and is a perfect way to test what you have learned so far.
The classroom section covers a variety of hard and soft skills - everything from border crossings to tire repair is discussed. Everything is seen through the lens of Graham jackson’s London to Cape Town expedition. None of the discussion is theoretical - Graham has seen just about everything. Loading and lashing was one of my favorite lessons - everyone gets to show off their own personal method of storage. Tire repair is also a great hard skill to know. There’s a ton of creativity and ingenuity out there. Not to mention the fact that the Expeditions West shop is a hotbed of fully-kitted expedition vehicles.
Personally, I felt very comfortable with many of the soft skills but I sorely lack a lot of hard skills. It was really great to become more proficient in a lot of these areas.
Completing Overland Training is valuable in it’s own right, but it is also a major component of Overland Certification. Overland Certification consist of three major elements: completion of Overland Training, obtaining a HAM license, and completing WFA certification. Becoming Overland Certified comes with a wealth of benefits - t-shirts, discounts, hats, and a nifty laptop case.
I plan on getting my amateur radio license in the next couple weeks - then I can join the ranks of the elite.
I just returned from my first expedition into the Arizona high desert. Scott Brady invited me to join the EarthRoamer expedition he was leading and I readily accepted. Our group rendezvoused and purchased groceries in Northern Phoenix and then we were off.
After a short drive, we headed off the highway and began to drive to our first stop - the old mining town of Crown King. Crown King is located about 28 miles off I-17 and is considered a “living ghost town”. The old mining town has become the center of a small local community.
The drive to Crown King was a diverse mixture of ecosystems. As we gained elevation, the vegetation began to shift from away from shrubs and cacti. Conifers gradually began to dominate the scenery. The road was dusty, winding, and a lot of fun to drive.
After a couple of hours, we arrived at Crown King. The local landscape is dominated by the Crown King Saloon, which was where we planned to enjoy lunch. A couple of cool beers and a tasty burger was just what the doctor ordered.
From Crown King it was a 30 minute drive to our campsite, which was located near Horsethief Basin in Prescott National Forest. It was one of the nicer campgrounds I’ve spent the night at recently - each site had a picnic table and a small shelter (which I’m sure was a haven for mice, but the idea was sound). Everyone was quite tired and the night ended early.
The sun was shining the next morning and it was apparent it would be another beautiful day. Our route for the day was the old Senator Highway, which would take us to our campsite just a few miles outside of Prescott.
The first part of the day was spent descending back down into the scrub brush. The rolling hills were very picturesque and this scenery was completely new to me. We encountered several water crossings, which are always a pleasure to drive through.
We found a shady spot to enjoy lunch in and encountered some fellow travelers. They were traveling on quads, but were quite familiar with the EarthRoamers. It was fun to talk to someone who was just as enthusiastic, if not more so, then we were when it came to overland traveling.
The rest of the day was spent covering the mileage to our campsite. Our planned campsite had been closed due to some tree clearing work that was occurring, but we had scouted a very nice dispersed campsite right up the road. There were some beautiful spots and I wished I had a ground tent for a split second. We spent quite a lot of time on the road and the driving was very enjoyable.
We spent Friday morning driving into Prescott to visit the Sharlot Hall Museum. The Sharlot Hall Museum is dedicated to Arizona’s territorial history. It consists of several authentic territorial buildings as well as a multitude of artifacts from Arizona’s history. It’s an inexpensive way to learn more about Prescott’s past.
Due to some delays, we didn’t get to take the overland route to our next destination, Rarric Canyon. It turn out the the on-road route is extremely cool and takes you through several interesting towns. My favorite was Jerome - an old mining town perched on the side of a hill.
Our campsite was outside of Sedona in a beautiful desert location, near the Mogillon Rim. We spent the remainder of the afternoon hiking down to a small canyon near our campsite. The wildlife was abundant - we had an encounter with a rattlesnake, a grasshopper as big as my thumb, a Wolf spider, and the bats were visible in the dusky sky.
Dinner was a jovial affair as we were in our most beautiful campsite yet. We built a small campfire and spent much of the night around it, telling all sorts of stories. In the morning, we went our separate ways.
It was my first opportunity to explore the Arizona high desert and I enjoyed it. I look forward to spending a lot more time out and about.
As always, here are some photos to enjoy:
I was able to sit down with Tom Collins for an interview on Sunday. It took me a couple days to get it edited but I’m ready to post it. Tom was a really great guy who was willing to sit down with me for about an hour. It was a great opportunity. He’s had an interesting life and has some great stories.
How about we start by you telling me about yourself?
Tom Collins, El Jabel, Colorado. I graduated from San Jose State in wildlife conservation. No jobs in Colorado, headed to Wyoming. Lived in aspen for 12 years, basalt for 18 years. 7 years in El Jabel.
What’s the make/model of your vehicle?
Ford F-250 - through my job I’m always driving brand new Land Rovers. When I was doing Toyota road trials, I was driving new FJs. This is my work truck. I do have an old Ford Bronco, and an old Toyota Pick Up. Motorcycles: KLR 650 and a KTM 525. I have more then an abundance of vehicles.
What sparked your interest in overlanding?
When I was a kid, we were always camping. Wandering backroads in northern California, going deer hunting. I had a wide variety of vehicles, everything from pick-ups to old Jeeps. I just kind of grew up with it, exploring - Sierras, Coast Range, over by Bishop and all those places. It just kind of grew and grew and it never left me. Then I got into motorcycles and just started exploring further. I worked for Santa Clara County doing mosquito abatement and we had swamp trucks. I worked for the state park system and there was an always an abundance of trucks to drive.
My dad always hated motorcycles so naturally I wanted to race them until I was 18. The Bay Area was home to the best mile and half mile riders. Then I saw the international motocross riders and it was the perfect combination of man and machine. Then I just bought a bike and carried on. Now I just do it for fun. I had a blast racing. Met some great people. It’s just like the overland crowd - everyone is friendly and it’s a good time.
You know about the motorcycles, we do about 100 miles of single track in a day. I’ve never really done a long trip on one. I’ve strapped sleeping bags and gone elk hunting. I’ve never gone to Central America.
What was your first vehicle?
It actually was a 2-WD 1958 Chevy pick up - V8 with a 4 speed. I put a big block of marble in it and drove it all over the back roads of Telluride and Aspen. I got it ridiculously stuck in Bodie, California. I got stuck a lot, there were holes in the oil pan and the wheels were splayed out. I had a pick up topper and I took it to Mexico too. I took it to Mazatlan and we drove all over the beaches. One of my friends had an FJ truck and we drove that thing all over. We went down into parts of Baja, but nothing super rough. I took a lot of motorcycles down into Baja, we took some down to pre-scout the Baja 1000. I was able to race for Ford in an F150 and we finished second in our mechanical class. Most of the other vehicles, Ford Bronco, Jeeps, it was all short trips, 4 wheeling trips on the passes in Colorado. All the other experience lead to the Great Divide expedition in 1989. I took it to Bill Baker. All along to the great divide as close as we could drive on legal roads.
At the end of the Great Divide, we did have a corporate jet setting in Pueblo waiting to fly the journalists out. We drove all the Great Divide trucks out onto the tarmac and then poof they were heading back to New York and LA.
I had a brand new Great Divide Range Rover so I could prepare the Road Book. I had 35,000 miles on it and I think 24,000 were dirt roads.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your vehicle?
The one that scared me the most was I was on the light hill right across the street from my house. I was deer hunting that day and I had my Camel car. I turned to go down a ridge I normally hunted on but I turned down one ridge too soon. I didn’t have my chains on but I should have. I noticed I was on the wrong ridge but I had already tipped over the ledge. I went into reverse and the tires spun and the snow turned into ice and the car shot like a toboggan. The car started going sideways and hit a small rock, and it tipped over. There was a 300 foot ledge on my left and I opened the door and it stood up like a kick stand. I crawled out, ran up the hill. I used the 20 foot rope and winched myself up the hill. Then I went home and had a beer. The door was fine too.
What’s your favorite region/trail/location to drive?
You know, I love driving in Moab. It’s so much fun, there’s all kinds of challenges. There are trails that aren’t difficult but are beautiful. I can get trails that are god awful hard and you need a really capable vehicle. I can get sand too. For pure beauty, I love Colorado as well. I told this at the slide show last night but during the G4 Challenge, everyone said Colorado – my back yard. For Land Rover Trek we have made rafts out of 55-gallon drums and had races. You have to put a car on the raft, pull it across and winch it up the hill.
Can you tell me a little more about the process of making the Camel Trophy team?
I was working construction - a carpenter. My wife was a dental hygienist. Her boss traveled all over and brought back Australian overlanding magazines. In between patients he would come out and ask me if I wanted to go with him. One day I was reading a magazine, saw an article about the Camel Trophy and said, “this is me”. Then I read Gary Westcott’s article and found out there was a US team. One day I went to the Eagles Club in Aspen and saw the Camel Trophy - 1984 Borneo on ESPN. I pointed to the TV and said “that’s me”. Half of them said “Yeah TC” and the others said “No way”.
They flew me down to Denver for the interview. I didn’t think they would believe all the stuff I was doing so I brought photos. I was riding moto cross, river rafting, and bare backing broncos at the rodeos 3 days a week. I even brought my short course speed skiing certificate - I took 2nd place in the country. That was a fluke - I tried it once and didn’t have a fancy downhill suit. From that dentist, he gave me some books from all the passes and he really pushed me to do it.
The guy believed me and everything. I didn’t hear from anyone for a while. Then he told me I made it and I could go to trials. That year they didn’t have a big budget so they didn’t have US trials so they flew us to Europe and we did trials at the International Trials. I ended up making the team with Don Floyd (who had tried out the year before). The 20 countries represented the countries where Camel Trophy outerwear was sold. They brought in the US to really make it a ‘world’ competition’.