The Sitka Bluff Berber Jacket: If you’re a bow hunter, you know Sitka as a brand that makes high quality technical garments that quite frankly, get the job done! Well now you don’t have to look like a hunter, but you can still have all the quality and technical features rolled up into a fleece Jacket ready for the trail or around town. Sitka has taken the same plush Berber fleece fabric and GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ with WINDSTOPPER® construction found in their Fanatic Jackets and turned it into a jacket for everyday use. For added durability, it has reinforced elbows, collar and zippered chest pocket with a rugged Cordura® blend fabric. A relaxed fit allows for easy layering and plenty of mobility, resulting in a warm, windproof, and incredibly comfortable jacket.
Sitka Bluff Berber Features and Specs:
Relaxed fit for easy layering
GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ with WINDSTOPPER® technology makes jacket 100% windproof
Plush Berber fleece is the same fabric as SITKA’s beloved Fanatic Collection
Reinforced overlays on elbows and collar: 54% Cordura®, 40% nylon, 6% elastane
Zippered chest, hand and internal pockets secure essentials
Hand pockets are fleece-lined for warmth and comfort
Drawcord hem for easy adjustment
Editors Note: This Sitka Bluff Berber fleece jacket is toasty and has become my go to layer when things turn cold and windy. Super well made and heavy duty construction at a price that makes sense as soon as you put it on!
In 2018, Mary Hannah and Andy from Expedition Rove made a decision that would change their lives forever. The decision to go. Since then, they’ve travelled through 35 countries, spanning 4 continents. They’re now preparing for the biggest adventure to date: Africa.
If you’d told us in 2017 we’d be overlanding around the globe in the years that followed, we probably would have laughed. We were always up for an adventure but we were locked into jobs that kept us in sunny southern California. But, in October 2018 we made a decision that would completely change the course of our lives: the decision to go.
On December 2nd, 2018 we pulled out of our driveway in our Land Rover Discovery 3 (LR3 in the US). Hit the road with our eyes set on Argentina. I’ll never forget the feeling of crossing the border into Baja. It’s not a significant border in the sense that it’s difficult, on the contrary it’s as simple as driving to Wal-Mart. But it was monumental for us none-the-less. In that moment the entire world opened up and the possibilities seemed to abound. We could go anywhere, do anything. We were on the road, full-time, with everything we needed packed out in our DIY build.
The following 9 months catapulted us into the overland world and life on the road. We dove head first into the shores and rivers of Mexico. Immersed ourselves in the food and culture in Guatemala. Took sunrise hikes up mountains and navigated never-before explored trails in Panama. Both of us sailed the crystal clear waters of Cartagena, and hunted down the infamous “Top Gear Bridge” in the heart of Columbia. We ran with alpacas, hiked 18 miles up to Machu Picchu, and explored the sand dunes of Peru. We marched 50 miles across the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Broke down on the side of a mountain in Ecuador, and weaved our way through the towering peaks of the Andes until we reached what’s known as “The End of the World” in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Our senses came alive! We were truly living in the moment and seeing the world through child-like eyes again. Taking it all in for the very first time. It was an addictive feeling, one that we didn’t want to end. So, it was no surprise when we shared with friends and family that we weren’t coming home just yet – instead we were heading to Africa.
We flew back to California,sold off nearly all of our belongings and flew to the UK to convert our new-to-us 2010 Land Rover Defender into our ultimate Africa setup. A few short months later we were loading the bright orange beauty into a container as it set sail to South Africa. But, the universe had other plans with Covid-19 lockdowns beginning around the world. We held on for as long as we could. But ultimately made the tough, but necessary, decision to ship our Defender back home to the UK. By the time it finally made it home, 7 months had passed since it first set sail and the Covid-19 waters were beginning to settle.
We saw our opportunity! Expedition Rove hit the road nearly immediately, with our eyes set on the Arctic Circle for Christmas. Without so much as a diesel heater in our Africa-ready build, it was a trip that put our bodies and setup to the test. The temperatures plunged down to -23C. Icicles formed inside as condensation from our breath rose to the roof overnight. Anything – from soap to olive oil – that wasn’t in our Dometic fridge was turned to a useless block of ice. Despite the temperatures it was a trip of a lifetime with the landscape and wildlife taking centerstage. Arctic foxes, roaming reindeer, and tiny arctic weasels dotted through the snow-covered landscapes. It was exactly what you imagine when you think of a winter wonderland. It felt like we had it all to ourselves.
When we touched down back in the UK we went back to the drawing board on our setup. If there was one thing we learned in the Arctic, it was that we needed the option to seek refuge inside our setup when the weather was less than friendly. Over the following year we completely redesigned our layout and converted it into a camper complete with an Alu-Cab pop-top roof, interior living space, induction cooking, and running water. All that was left to do was put it to the test and in the summer of 2022 Expedition Rove hit the road driving from the shores of the UK to the far reaches of Cappadocia, Turkey – exploring Europe in its summer glory.
7
To date, we’ve travelled through 35 countries across 4 continents but Africa has always been “the one that got away”. But, that won’t be the case for much longer. As I write this, Tango is getting unloaded from the container ship in South Africa, our bags are packed, and we’re saying our “see you laters” to our friends and family in the UK. In March 2023, we’ll finally be hitting the road and taking on a trip we’ve dreamed about for 4+ years. Africa, here we come.
Mary Hannah and Andy from Expedition Rove are navigating the world in their Land Rover. Follow along on their adventure:
Tactical Application Vehicles, LLC was founded by Walt & Karen Wagner. With Walt’s combined eighteen years of search and rescue and federal law enforcement experience as well as a lifelong passion for exploration he has been given the golden opportunity to blend the two and build something truly unique. With his amazing wife, Karen, beautiful daughter and their white lab, the four of them set out on a journey of faith and haven’t looked back. Having spent many years building vehicles and driving in every type of terrain imaginable, both as a hobby as well as professional, Walt has developed the ability to know what is going to work in the field and what is just for show. His drive is to be able to pass on that knowledge to people that have the same desire to explore the backcountry with the family or as solo missions. He approaches every vehicle with tact and careful consideration. The end product then becomes a Tactical Application Vehicle which usually has a subdued face and a slightly aggressive stance. These vehicles are ready to do work every day whether it be in the city for domestic duties or in the field.
#TAVSPEC or Tactical Application Vehicles Specification Toyota Vehicles are designed to be the only tool you will need for any adventure you have in mind from Alaska to Patagonia, while hitting Moab in-between. Every TAV Spec Toyota vehicle is designed to get you, your family and friends to and from the most challenging places on earth with absolute reliability and ease. Your #TAVSPEC Toyota is built on the legendary Toyota reliability (we firmly believe that Toyota has built the most reliable expedition vehicle platform in the world) to create a truly unstoppable platform for taking on your wildest adventure!
Action Trax Recovery Boards: This is going to be an embarrassingly gushing review, though yes, I did manage to find a con, but we’ll talk about that a little later.
My first impressions were great, they arrived well packaged in a sturdy box, no extra frills or packing, which I find nice these days. I try to be as environmentally sound as possible and it’s a detraction right off the bat if something arrives that is overlay packaged.
Pulling the Action Trax out of the box, the very first thing you notice are the multiple stainless-steel bolts at each end of the boards. You can see right away a big step up in durability and traction because of the bolts. The next thing you notice is that the Action Trax boards have a very solid almost rubber like feel to them with a very slight softness, which belies the quality material Action Trax uses in building these. Okay, done with unpacking and there’s not much more to say here until I get them on the trail and under some wheels!
After all the snow up here in the PNW, it took me awhile from unpacking them to getting them out on the trail, but I managed to find some mud, though almost frozen mud, so I don’t yet have experience with them in the real soft stuff. I suspect they will do quite well in the soft stuff, especially considering that they will flex a little more giving them a bit more traction on the soil beneath them and hopefully not end up shooting out behind the tire as easily as some of the stiffer boards do.
One of the amazing attributes of these traction boards, which Action Trax demonstrates on their website, is how flexible they are, and so I wanted to test that out myself. I found a nice deep rut and placed them crossways making a bridge over the rut. I then drove over them multiple times. They would bend, bend, bend, all the way down to the ground and then pop right back into shape as soon as the tire was off them, even in the freezing test site temps. I was thoroughly impressed by this!
Okay, now for the con, not a big one, but I wish the boards came with recovery straps in the package. The company has them available on the website, though unfortunately only in black. I feel that anything that you are trying not to lose should be in some type of bright color. Traction board recovery straps are a very wise thing to have on your boards, even a short rope will do but there have been more than a few times when my recovery boards have disappeared, and it was only by seeing the strap that I was easily able to find them under the sand or muck.
Final impression is that these boards are very well made, very durable, have a lifetime warranty, and an incredible amount of traction especially during that critical transition point from soil or snow onto the traction board itself. I can almost guarantee you’re not going to spin your tires on these boards and if you do, then ouch, I hope you have a spare tire handy!
Todd Rogers – Owner Four Points Adventures: Todd has 25+ years of backpacking and overlanding experience, including 10+ years volunteering with the Sheriffs Mountain Search and Rescue (a portion of which he was the Snow and Ice Sergeant), 2 years as a backpacking guide in Yosemite NP. In addition he has 10 years experience as an overlanding guide in the deserts and mountains of the American West from the cold of the High Sierra to heat of Death Valley NP.
TAP DISCLAIMER: TAP was provided this product to review for free, however we were not paid for the review and do not earn any financial remuneration for any sales generated. Todd Rogers is an occasional in-field contributor to the TAP platform.
A journey along the Magruder Road – Experiencing True Wilderness
Author: Mike Holland
“There’s a nice eddy. Do we have time to stop and fish?” Louise asked.
“Ahhh, we should probably keep moving.” I replied.
The river looked enticing and inviting. However, I looked over my map to spot a right turn into the wilderness. I felt invited to take a right turn into heaven.
The crystal-clear waters of the Bitterroot River flowed south; the Bitterroot Mountains towered to our west. It appeared we were “in” the pages of the Norman Maclean novel, A River Runs Through It. We skirted the Montana/Idaho border just outside of Darby, Montana, on alert for the right turn. Soon enough, we spotted the sign marking the Magruder Road trail.
The Nez Perce Trail runs east/west for 100 miles as it traverses Idaho and the largest wilderness area (roughly 3.4 million acres) in the lower 48. The trail, is actually a road, is also commonly known as the Magruder Corridor Road. This overland worthy dirt road follows valleys and rivers, traverses numerous mountainsides, and opens gateways into the Idaho wilderness. “The Magruder,” as locals refer to it, was named after Lloyd Magruder who was ambushed and robbed in 1863 while traveling through this wilderness.
My wife, Louise, daughter, Lilly, and friends, Liz and Sam, joined me on this foray into the wilds of Idaho. The Frank-Church Wilderness and Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness create the largest wilderness area. Land designated as wilderness generally bans vehicle travel. However, before it was designated wilderness, it was a national forest with one road crossing through it. This “road” somewhat followed the trail that the Nez Perce Indians created to travel through this harsh, beautiful landscape. When, the designation changed in 1984, Idahoans voiced their desire to keep the road open to access this vast, pristine landscape. They won. We won! This road allows visitors access and to adventure in this wonderful wilderness.
After ascending Nez Perce Pass, we pulled over to check our route. The road was smooth and fairly well-graded. Driving along the western side of the pass, we entered Idaho and noticed our watches updating to the Pacific Time Zone. We encountered no other vehicles. The mountains came “alive” as we visually examined all that surrounded us. The sun’s rays shined through the evergreens and created a magical, picturesque environment. After 30 miles, we stopped at the Magruder Bridge pullout, popped the top of our Four Wheel Camper, and set camp.
Louise prepped the rods to fly fish the evening hatch on the Selway River. All of us walked the bank to the river then waded into the chilly waters to cast our lines into the fish-holding riffles. Within minutes, Bullhead Trout accepted our flies. The fish were hungry, and the action proved fast and furious. Roughly one hour later, we had caught and released 20 or so fish. We prepared dinner and started a fire—all the while, the waters of Selway River flowed further into the Idaho wilderness. We slept in the comfort of silence.
The next morning, we returned to the river and caught and released numerous trout before continuing west. Resuming out trek, the road turned rougher. We ascended from the Selway River Valley and crisscrossed numerous mountainsides. The views were impressive; the land looked natural—untouched by man. Old fire burns and wildflowers covered this wild land.
As the road took a sharp bend, I spotted a small, weathered sign. It recounted the Magruder Crossing. In 1863, Lloyd Magruder, a mule-pack train operator and merchant was traveling with a group of men when they were killed by their “companions.” The murderers left hastily and escaped to San Francisco, California. Later, they were captured and returned to Idaho to be hanged. Many years later, on this stunningly beautiful day, we sat in awe of our surroundings, Mother Nature’s sheer beauty, and peace without conflict.
Back in the 1860’s, the horse trail showed the way. Today, the dirt road crosses the largest wilderness in the Lower 48. For the most part, weather permitting, the road remains fairly mellow and straightforward. It usually offers no surprises. Well, exceptions occur.
“How’s this side road to the lookout?” I questioned of the couple who we met at the intersection.
“Ahhh, your truck and camper are too big. And, you need to have lockers.” I was nervous, so I asked Sam to drive ahead in his Jeep and update me via the radio about the road conditions.
“It’s okay. Take it slow and you will make it without issue,” Sam called over the radio. I shifted the truck into 4-Low and followed the rough road to an old fire lookout. The truck “crawled” up the road slowly. We found an adequate parking spot and hiked the remaining half-mile. In awe, we thought of the rangers who used to staff this tower throughout the summer hoping to spot fires starting anywhere in this vast wilderness. The lookout cabin’s 360-degree view was breathtaking.
Toward evening, on the banks of Poet Creek, we found a grassy campsite and settled there. The fish were hungry again, and I caught ten or so trout on my Dragontail Tenkara Rod before I heard Lilly yell, “Dinner!” After dinner, we chitchatted around the fire. Within the towering evergreen forest, life was grand.
As we continued along the Magruder Corridor Road we spent another day fishing and exploring. We spotted wildlife, we caught trout, and hiked interesting trails. All too soon, we hit pavement—signaling the end of our route on the Magruder. Not many places exist in the US where one can experience untouched, unaltered land. This land is wild in its true sense. This land beckons exploration. Thanks to one historical route, we can travel the Magruder Corridor Road today and discover unimaginable wilderness.
Recommendations:
-A standard four-wheel drive vehicle will do just fine. A Four Wheel Camper mounted onto a 4-wheel drive truck proved to be the ultimate adventure vehicle.
–Cell phone signal is pretty much nonexistent. However, both Verizon and ATT phones work at the fire lookouts.
-Bring extra gas.
-Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are good shape. All season tires are ideal.
-Pack a handsaw in case deadfall blocks the road. Better yet, a chainsaw.
-Travel in the summer months.
-Pack fly and tenkara rods to fish along the way. The tenkara rods from Dragon Tail Tenkara packed nicely and were a blast to fish. (www.dragontailtenkara.com)
Featured Writer: Mike Holland and trip wingman Sam Thompson
It’s about time Americans and Canadians can enjoy the Australian way of camping and off-roading with Australia’s Trackabout Off Road Campers. North America is spoilt for choice with destinations, and it is only natural to want to build what you love and chase that feeling as often as possible!
Trackabout has a long-established history and what once started back in 1998 as a small business has grown into a streamlined manufacturer serving across Australia and beyond. With over 20 years and countless hours of being put to the test, the campers have evolved into touring beasts! When the touring tent was designed in 2017 it was a game changer, our patented tent means you can set up camp in 3 minutes, meaning our customers can tour in comfort and with ease. Fast forward to now, we have invested in our team and workshop to deal with our expanding customers in North America.
Australian made and owned, Trackabout has continued to prove itself as one of the best off-road campers forging a reputation based on innovation, quality, and comfort. We use only the best componentry and brands and manufacture in house to allow our customers to tackle their adventures – you can trust what you’re towing can handle the challenges you throw at it!
Trackabout offers two models, the Extenda targeted more as a family-based camper due to its larger size and the Explorer model suited for our couples or small families looking for a more compact and lightweight option. The Explorer can carry its own weight in payload at 2200lbs (1000kg), with the Extenda slightly longer by 2ft and slightly heavier. The main difference is internal storage with the Extenda having 871gal (3300L) vs the Explorer 581gal (2200L). The Explorer pantry is about half the size of the Extenda yet still massive and of course the Extenda tent space is slighter larger. The construction is almost identical, the kitchen and the options are in-changeable between the two models with both models 100% compatible with all our toy storage options (bikes, boat and outboard motor).
Our customers value a modern design, quality made product and enough toy storage for any adventure. The base model is a full off-road camper trailer, and the options only enhance the experience meaning every customer can customize their build. Each camper we manufacture is built to order, there is no one size fits all, so we work with our customers to ensure they build the camper of their dreams suited to their needs – Trackabout’s really do tick all the boxes.
Order your off-road camper trailer today and become part of the Trackabout family!
