Why take an E-Bike to Trona Pinnacles and go Overlanding? Well sometimes it’s good to mix things up and do something a little different. So, when the owner of Tasco MTB, Nate Miller and I got talking about e-bikes, an idea popped into my head. Why not combine some light off-roading with some light trail e-biking? Let’s be clear, this trip was not going to be about core Overlanding or Mountain Biking. The plan was set as a two-night Vehicle Supported Adventure trip to the other worldly Trona Pinnacles. Many of you may recognize the area, as it’s where they filmed parts of Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, and Westworld, to name a few.
The Tundra is an excellent platform, and Nate has a great example of an off road ready, Vehicle Supported Adventure rig.
Thirty miles east of Ridgecrest, we found ourselves at the entrance to Trona Pinnacles. It’s an easy five-mile dirt road that in dry conditions, most two-wheel cars can easily navigate the off road trails. Wet conditions are a different ball game and can swallow a car whole.
As I said, the Pinnacles are otherworldly, and you quickly feel you’ve entered another planet. The unusual landscape consists of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape from short and squat to tall and thin and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (tufa).
The area can get “busy” over the weekend (30 + rigs), but it’s a Sunday night, so it was easy to find a peaceful and secluded spot in this 14 square mile region. This is a primitive camping area, so it only has one pit toilet. Over land adventure is about self-reliance in the backcountry, so I’m used to the shovel/hole technique. Nate on the other hand, was happy to ride the two miles from camp to the pit. To be fair, two miles to an expert mountain biker on an E-bike made sense!
As a core overlander with a background in mountain biking, I’ve never actually ridden an E-Bike and I have to say I loved the experience. They were a great way to explore the area with ease.
Nate, while extremely talented on an E-Bike, has limited overland and off roading experience. So, it was a good opportunity to try out his Tundra in a backcountry environment.
As I previously stated, this trip was always about combining two passions in an amazingly scenic location. The overland ready rigs never really had to be put in four-wheel drive, but did however, perfectly support the pursuit of backcountry base camping. Add in cold nights around a campfire drinking good whiskey with a good friend and this was a great trip!
For more Overland and Off-Road Vehicle Supported Adventures, CHECK HERE
My love of Southern Utah and the American Southwest, dates back to the early 1980’s. Trapped in the back seat of my parents 1981 Pontiac Sunbird, I was forced to listen to John Denver and Neil Diamond Cassettes as we crisscrossed the Four Corners region, seeking out National Parks and roadside attractions. What I didn’t know at the time was, my parents were instilling a sense of adventure in me that has become incurable. As I write these words, my wife and I have been home less than 24 hours from a 2-week overland trip, and we are already planning our next vehicle supported adventure.
After 3 days of camping with a few thousand of our closest friends at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, we headed north for our first night off the grid. Having reservations to tour Upper Antelope and Rattlesnake Canyons the next day, we needed to camp somewhere close to Page, Arizona and the Navajo Nation. With my life-long passion for the Grand Canyon, it made sense to find some BLM land along the rim between Lee’s Ferry and Marble Canyon. Luck was on our side, and we were able to grab an amazing spot about four miles offroad from US Hwy 89A, overlooking Badger Creek Rapids on the Colorado River. As we were perched high above the Colorado River, we had everything we wanted from an off-grid overland campsite. We had views that went on for miles and miles. And we had the solitude only a place like this could guarantee.
The next morning, we played tourist and checked an item off our never-ending bucket list with a semiprivate tour of Upper Antelope and Rattlesnake Canyons. Our Navajo guide spoke to the history of the Canyons and the struggles that the Navajo people have endured throughout their history and more recently, the harsh realities of how Covid effected their Nation. Inside the canyons, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the rich colors and sweeping lines of the Navajo sandstone. As professional photographers, Beth and I were both beside ourselves with the natural beauty the canyons had to show us. After several hours, we left knowing we would be back.
With the Southern Utah high desert and unforgiving landscape behind us, we made our way to the tiny village of Escalante, Utah. We needed to put a solid charge on our dual batteries and to resupply before heading int the back country. We popped into a commercial campground named, Yonder Escalante, located just east of town where we were able to plug into shore power, go for a swim and catch a drive-movie from one of ten classic cars. The amenities of this place make it hard to leave. The next morning, before heading out, we stopped by the only grocery store in town and resupplied our drinking water along with enough food to get through the next several days. Next stop, Boulder, Southern Utah. With only 2 gas stations, Boulder is the last point of civilization before hitting the trail. Gas up here and be sure to carry extra fuel. If you stick to the main off road trail, you shouldn’t need it. But Beth and I had other ideas and rarely stick to the plan. We were headed deep into the back country.
Topped off with fuel and ready to lose ourselves, we pointed the Jeep south and headed into the great unknown. At least for us, it was unknown. There is no cell service to call 911 in this part of Utah, so be prepared and leave your itinerary with a friend. To put ourselves further into a past life, instead of relying on our Garmin InReach or GAIA GPS to guide us through the plateaus and canyons, we opted for a paper map that showed us the offroad backroads and dirt roads of Utah. With Grand Staircase Escalante to our west and Capital Reef National Park to our east and our quest for adventure, we knew the possibilities were nearly limitless. As we made our way deeper into the back country and thinking the views could not get any better, we were greeted with slot canyons and the Wolverine Petrified Wood Natural Area. The day just kept getting better.
With sun getting lower on the western horizon, we knew we needed to find a place to camp. Taking a right turn on what appeared to be a dirt road, ended up opening up to a place where we could stop for the night, giving us the most spectacular views of Grand Staircase Escalante. We quickly set up camp and explored the surround area before dinner. We were certain, there was not another human being within 10 miles of us. As we sat down for dinner, we reflected on the day and the good fortune we had to find the perfect spot and what was to come. Waking up the following morning, we were in no hurry to start the day. Sipping coffee and enjoying the magnificent views, we contemplated, where to next.
We leisurely broke camp and got on the trail, deciding to push for Valley of the Gods. But first we had one last obstacle: The Burr Switchbacks. With a grade of 14%, the Burr Switchbacks descends more than one thousand feet in less than a mile. The road is mostly 1 lane with several places to pull out and allow the uphill traffic to pass. Although the five switchbacks are big enough to accommodate a small overland trailer, I would not recommend taking an RV through this section of road.
We could not think of a better way to close this adventure than with a stopover in The Valley of the Gods. Located near Mexican Hat, Southern Utah, the Valley brings me back to my childhood trips with my parents as we crisscrossed the American Southwest in their 1981 Pontiac Sunbird. These are the memories that feed my appetite for tomorrows adventures.
For more Off-Road and Overland Vehicle Supported Adventures, CHECK HERE
Looking for an Off-Road and Overland Trailer, then CHECK HERE
Overlanding in Scandinavia: After 2 years of preparation, on April 18th, 2022, we left the French Alps, and officially started our Overland World Tour. We are Mathilde and Nicolas and we left everything to travel the world in our Land Rover Defender nicknamed Albatross. At 28, we embarked on a 3-year journey in our Defender td4, spanning 7 continents and 88 countries. No more apartment, no more job, no more deadlines. So much for a change of life.
Technically, Scandinavia is part of Europe, right? In some way for us and even though we already travelled quite a bit through the continent and are both European, Scandinavia always felt like a distant land, wilder and rougher. The land of Vikings. Embarking on our world tour, we couldn’t resist exploring Scandinavia, despite the urge to rush far beyond Europe. We made the most of the 2-month wait for our boat to Canada, driving 7000km through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway on our way to North Cape. We later drove 3000km through Finland before heading back.
Denmark and Sweden: we move in the car
Moving into the defender was more natural than we thought it would be. We settled into the car as if it was our new apartment. It felt immediately natural. Thinking about it, it’s probably the good weather of these first two weeks in Denmark and Sweden that got us so quickly accustomed to this new life. The water heating system (heat exchanger) installed before the trip allowed us to take hot showers regularly has surely helped as well. We were able to Offroad drive, hike in the sun, cook and eat outside, in short to make the most of Albos set-up.
We already travelled several times in Denmark and Sweden. So we focus on the places we had not seen, the western coasts. In Denmark we went through endless beaches and dunes stretching as far as the eye can see. There, you can even offroad drive on the beach: happiness overload. Be careful though, we heard too many stories of travelers with their vehicles stuck in the sandon the rising tide. In Sweden, we drove through archipelagos connected by ferry and rocky coasts, not the ideal for offroad but magnificent to discover by foot. Finally, we realized that the best part of these first two weeks were encounters with other overlanders.
As we document our travels on YouTube and Instagram, we get to meet a lot of travelers online, so we took the opportunity to meet some of those virtual friends in person. Most were Defender owners, and all had traveled extensively. We brought the beers, and they would invite us for dinner in their homes and propose to do laundry, a huge gift when you’re on the road! We would spend the night talking about the country, the culture, and traditions. Both of us understand quickly that these encounters are going to boost our trip, meeting people for us is key and is also the best way to learn about a country and will constitute the key moments of the next three years on the road.
From Denmarkand Sweden, you can easily hop in ferries that would bring you to Finland or to Norway if you wished to shorten the transit time to the location you wanted to visit.
Adventure mode ON in Norway
We understand immediately that Norway was going to be the country for us. Once passed the capital Oslo, the road starts winding through the mountains. There is no rest in this country. The roads go up and down at the rhythm of the valleys. Another world. On the south-western coast the land of the famous Norwegian fjordsbegins. You have to imagine huge mountains falling abruptly into the grey and narrow waters of the sea arms – we are talking 600m to 900m high cliffs.
There is so little space left to men in this extreme typology. The roads are magnificent, the hikes are breathtaking. We engage always more to the north; at this latitude the Spring weather is like a toss of a coin. One continuously travels between spring at the bottom of the valleys and winter in snow-covered passes under 3-meters high snow walls surrounded by frozen lakes. It begins to get cold. But after weeks on the road we are now well accustomed to the life in the car.
Norway is so grandiose that we forget about it even under the pouring rain. In the Summer, tourists and mosquitoes take over and it can get overwhelming both for the visitors and the locals. Visiting Norway at this period we had the opportunity to see these breathtaking landscapes in a more intimate way and find nice wild camping sites even in the most touristic regions. The downside of it, is that some roads are not yet open, and you will need to put your feet in the snow to reach some of the most famous viewpoints. Overall, we do not regret to have come so early in the season and would probably do it again this way.
We continued always north and passed the latitude 66°officially entering the polar circle. We are now surrounded by snow and small birch trees scattered in the plains. Both of us see our first reindeers on the road. It is mid-May, and we really have the impression to have reached the true north. There is no more night-time, we wake up at 2am thinking that it is time to wake-up.
In Bødø we hop in a ferry direction the extreme western point of the Lofoten archipelago. If you need to mentally represent yourself the Lofoten just imagine alpine peaks dropped on sand beaches. It’s a must if you come to Norway. Especially for its Grandiose hikes above the cold waters of the Arctic. Further up north, do not miss the islands of the Vestragren and Senja. They have nothing to envy in beauty to their Lofoten southern sisters and offer a wilder set of amazing landscapes.
In the end, Summer arrived at the North Cape. After 5 weeks, hundreds of tunnels and 7000 km on the road and off-road, it is under the sun and with 15 degrees Celsius that we made it to the northernmost point of the European continent. In just a few days, the icy road and the cold fogs described to us by travelers coming from cape north was replaced by a blue sky. It opened us a clear horizon from the edge of the cliffs above the artic ocean. We had finally reached the maximum latitude for this European loop. The midnight sun is well installed, and it is time for us to take the road south.
We re-learn to travel in Finland
We crossed the border in the extreme north of Norway to Finland. Just like magic, the sinuous Norwegian roads straightened into endless sections of straight roads. We had entered the Finnish Lapland. We never really prepare our itineraries in detail before entering a new country. In Finland we understand quickly that it will be very different from Norway. Not really a list of defined points of interest, hikes, visits, viewpoints. At the risk of being reductive let me try to describe Finland: it is flat and covered with forest. Goodbye the steep hikes and mountain views. Hello true wilderness. You do not visit Finland, you live it. Reindeers at every crossroads, off-road tracks in all directions, lakes, again and again lakes (180 000 listed in the country), and endless archipelagos are on the menu there.
How to make the best of this unique Scandinavia environment? We deflated the tires and we decided to cross Finland only using off-road tracks. In 2 hours, we had mapped the tracks which would take us south. Magnificent paths, rubble, dust, mud, and of course, rivers to cross. After only a day, Albatross our Defender had lost its immaculate white color and we constantly kept a 1-meter distance with it at the risk to be also covered with mud. We saw almost no one in 7 or 10 days. If it was not for a border control patrol while we were travelling along the border with Russia in search of the bears, we would not have interacted with anyone in the Lapland. We did not see more bears than we saw travelers on the tracks, but we found the best bivouacs of our entire Scandinavia trip in Finland.
In the Lapland and in the east, wild lakesides just for us, and abandoned boats, which we did borrow for a picnic. Further south in Lakeland, there were tons of free public camping areas with tables, docks to the lake, sauna, toilets, fireplace, and wood reserve for people to use. Of course, no one around. This was unheard of for us. Finland taught us to slow down, to appreciate simpler but equally beautiful landscapes. Finland is a 4×4 paradise for nature lovers.
Summarizing Overlanding in Scandinavia
Well, let’s talk about money, we have been asked multiple times: “Is Scandinavia expensive? Yes, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are expensive, Norway is even more. We go on hikes, wild camping, we avoid toll roads, and we cook in Albatross. That helps us save a lot and does not make the trip less pleasant. Eventually the recent fuel price increase (reaching 2.4€/liter) was what made the trip expensive.
In short, go to Denmark for the long beaches. Sweden for its rocky archipelago and forests. Norway for the breathtaking landscapes and Finland for the off-road and forests. A constant in all four? First the beauty of preserved nature and second the level of security. We don’t think there is another area in the world where you can leave your fully equipped and loaded overland vehicle, keys on, in the parking of a supermarket or overnight parked in town. Well, we met Norwegian people who were doing that on top of leaving the door of their house open when they were not there. The time of the Viking raids is long gone.
There is something for every overlander in Scandinavia. Just pick a set and enjoy the ride. You can re-live these last months of travel in Scandinavia or follow our current trip in the Americas through our videos on our YouTube channel or Instagram: Next Meridian Expedition.
It’s 2am and the sound of silence is deafening. Sleep is eluding me and as I look out the tent, the stillness of the night and the beauty of our moonlit overland campsite is breathtaking. I’m deep in the Owyhee Wilderness, with Firestone Tires and a group of journalists, influencers and Youtubers and we’re here to experience the Firestone Destination XT and MX/T tire range. The day has been long and epic, with terrain ranging from fast dusty trails, steep rocky ascents/descents, multiple river crossings and mud. Yes, lots of mud! Indeed, a perfect array of conditions to put the tires though their paces.
Firestone Destinations – Photography by: John Allen
The BLM manages more than 267,000 acres of public lands in the Owyhee River Wilderness. The Owyhee Canyonlands is a huge and remote area of eastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada. Hidden within this vast high desert plateau are deep canyons carved by the Owyhee, Bruneauand Jarbidge Rivers. The rivers of the Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge systems offer something for nearly every level of boating experience. The Owyhee and Bruneau-Jarbidge river systems provide visitors with unsurpassed solitude in canyons of unique beauty and form. From placid pools to turbulent whitewater; from vertical cliffs to steep grassy slopes; and from wildlife, such as California bighorn sheepto wildflowers, including the Bruneau River flox, these rivers and their canyons present visitors with challenging and extraordinary experiences.
Firestone Destinations – Photography by: John Allen
Simply put, the Owyhee Wilderness is stunning! It’s my first time in this region and I’ll be back. This is a pristine region and let’s keep it that way. Please Tread lightly.
Firestone Destinations – Photography by: John Allen
So, let’s talk tires. We’re here to experience the tires, not really test them. I say this as I drove multiple vehicles throughout the trip, some with Mud Terrains and some with All Terrains. The vehicles ranged from a FJ Cruiser, LR3, Lexus GX460and Nissan Frontier. Obviously to remove the individual rig dynamics and perform a true tire test, we’d need to experience all conditions in the same vehicle with both M/T and A/T applied. Deep in the backcountry that wasn’t going to be practical. This being said, my experience with the Firestone Destination Series was excellent. Both the AT’s and MTs handled everything that was thrown at them with ease. Of course, it was obvious that the MT’s provided greater offroad traction especially in the heavy mud scenarios, however at no point did I feel under gunned with the AT’s. The tire market is crowded, and one brands rubber often looks like another’s. I’d not used Firestone Tires before but can now genuinely say that I was impressed and wouldn’t hesitate to put them on the TAP Rigs.
Do you know these TOP southern California Overland Trails? If you want to go off-road exploring in the backcountry of Southern California, here’s seven of our favorite Californian Overland Trails. They range from easy to tough and will give you an amazing vehicle supported adventure in the mountains or the desert. Please Tread Lightly!
***** Editors note: Trail conditions inherently change with time and weather conditions! Be prepared and let someone know where you’re going*****
Overland Mountain Trails:
Laurel Lakes Trail – Offroad Trail length is 4.5 miles one way. This is an easy to get to gem of a trail close to Mammoth Lakes town. It’s a short trail in mileage, but relatively slow going due to uphill nature and loose, rocky terrain.
Coyote Creek Trail– The Coyote Creek Overland Trail is the main trail leading into a network of 4WD and ATV trails in the Eastern Sierra, just west of Bishop CA. The trail starts off in Owens Valley, crosses BLM land then enters into Inyo National Forest.
Wheeler Ridge Trail – Wheeler Ridge Off Road Trail follows an old mining road across a jagged ridge near 11,000 feet. It is located in the John Muir wilderness in the Inyo National Forest. Take notice of the trail description sign (most difficult) as front and rear lockers were required and the 4.5 lift and 35 inch tires were needed on our JKU were needed.
Off Road Desert Trails:
Lippincott Mine Road – One of the most infamous Californian Overland Trails. There is no trail marker or signpost for this road, coming from Saline Valley. From Racetrack Playa, there is a sign. This road is not on the map handed out by the rangers when you enter the park. Lippincott Mine Road, also called Ubehebe Road connects Saline Valley Road and Racetrack road. You can get to Saline Valley Road off of State Highway 190, west of Panamint Springs. For the moderately experienced off-road driver, this is a fun road that winds up approximately 2,000 ft and provides the Death Valley adventurer amazing views over the expanse of Saline Valley.
Berdoo Canyon Trail – Berdoo Canyon Overlanding Trail connects Geology Tour Road to Dillon Road. It begins at the one-way loop on Geology Tour Road. Berdoo takes you toward the San Bernardino Mountains and ascends into Berdoo Canyon. This slope can be the moderately difficult portion of the trail as it is easy affected by rains and contains some deep ruts and uneven, loose, sandy areas. The trail mostly follows a wash once in the canyon. This is a striking and remote area with high canyon walls and sparse vegitation. The trail then winds through a remote and serenely beautiful mountain area.
Sandstone Canyon/Fish Creek – This area of Anza Borrego State Park displays amazing examples of geological history and interesting rock formations due to weather erosion and tectonic upheaval. Overland Explorers will enjoy seeing everything from mollusk beds deposited in the wash walls from an ancient river, wind caves formed from water and wind erosion over millions of years, to spectacular examples of tectonic uplifting along the canyon walls.
The Mojave Road – This is one of the most iconic Californian Overland Trails that every off road adventurer should experience at least once. The Mojave Road is rich in history and stark, beautiful scenery. As this is a long, somewhat isolated road, it is recommended that you travel with other vehicles, carry extra gas and plenty of water. Be ready for anything and enjoy this historic journey through time.
For more Californian Overland Trails check out our Trail Guide HERE
For inspiring Overland and Offroad trips CHECK HERE
Death Valley Overland Trails: When Desert Season kicks into gear and you find yourself looking for adventure, then take a look at the Land of Death (Death Valley National Park). Here are just a few of our favorite trails.
Eureka Dunes
Dedeckera Canyon
Lippencott Road
Titus Canyon Road
Titus Canyon
If you looking for more information on Overland Trails in Southern California, then click HERE
