Overland Expo 2016

We rolled into Flagstaff late in the afternoon. It was Wednesday, May 18. Having diverted from interstate 40 for the infamous route 66, we were met with desert pine forests that gently faded into the heart of old Flagstaff. Our social media feed had directed us to Peace Surplus for an Overland Expo meet and great that night. This was our first taste of the west and we’d do it in the comfort of the local flagstaff outfitters. I lost count of how many strangers I shook hands with that evening. Not a one struck me as someone I couldn’t trust me life with.

The next morning was special. You could feel it looming in the dry desert air. It was opening day for the event that brought us over 1,700 miles from our cozy beds. I took extra care packing my rig up before breakfast. A mere 50 hours prior I was still in Knoxville, TN trying to button up the last modifications to my Tacoma for the trip west. I had never been past the Mississippi River in my adult life. I had spent a summer in Arizona when I was a child, but only remembered watching the 1996 summer Olympics in a cheap hotel room somewhere near the University of Flagstaff. This trip was different.

Mormon Lake

Snaking our way south down Lake Mary Road led us to the Mormon Lake. Overlanders and outdoor enthusiasts from across the world were diverging on this area for an annual event like no other. Overland Expo 2016 West.

I had never witnessed anything quite like this in my life. I’ve been playing in the dirt since before I could speak, owned more four wheel drive vehicles than I have fingers to count, and attended Overland Expo East. None of that prepared me for what I saw next. A sea of equipment thought to be proven enough for supporting life away from civilization, each with a unique owner that dreamt it up and made it reality. I had found heaven on earth.

We spent the next few hours setting up camp and meeting our neighbors. I took a break to walk around the designated section for weekend camping and resisted the urge to poke each increasingly amazing rig I came across. Everything from mostly stock scooters to totally unique six-figure multi-ton trucks could be seen settling in for the weekend.

After passing what seemed like nearly endless rows of rigs, I had a sneaking suspicion this event was going to be large. The fact I couldn’t find a serviceable port-o-potty helped to confirm those suspicions. Event staff later announced it was a record breaking year for attendance – over 10,000 adventurers packed Mormon Lake that weekend.

I was quick to wake the next day and start my rounds of the vendor area. There was a clear segregation between east coast attendees and the locals that were still very much asleep. Seeing no correct path around the event, my group decided on the row closest to the Land Rover course. Hours passed as we stumbled through each tent full of new and exciting gear. I vividly remember looking down at my watch and thinking I had blown past lunch in all of the morning’s excitement only to realize it was 9:30AM. I hadn’t even made it past the motorcycle section.

The remainder of my day was spent doing damage control; damage control of my wallet, damage control of my attention span, and damage control of my pale east-coast skin. We spoke with the crews from Team Overland, Overland Bound, OutdoorX4, and others claiming to have ingenious solutions to problems I never knew I had. As my stack of personal business cards dwindled, I knew it was time to head back to camp for some rest. I would save the rest for tomorrow.

 

It seems every Overland Expo has its own unique weather obstacle. Usually it’s rain, or the bitter cold, or a hurricane. Other times it’s all a little bit of everything. As we made our way back to the truck we would stumble across this year’s main weather obstacle. Wind had ripped an awning from its poles and closed half of our roof top tents, leaving fully extended ladders pointing in random directions as if to warn us of an impending apocalypse.

That night we had recorded gusts of 40-50 mph. I gave up around 1-2am, closed the tent, and slept in the driver’s seat of the Tacoma. There was no way I could sleep in a tent being constantly shaken by what could have easily been ten of the angriest warriors from medieval times.

The following morning I set out to see the vendors we had missed the day prior. I was excited to meet all the companies I’d heard so much about. Having been to trade shows and the Expo East event, I assumed I knew what to expect. I was wrong. The vendors and organizations in attendance at Expo West made everything I’d seen before pale in comparison. A long list of amazing companies lined this more prominent section of the vendor area we had so easily brushed off the day prior.

We finished out the day trading war stories with as many vendors and organizations that would have us. This was surreal. I took the opportunity to pry as much critical information from those more wise than I for my own future benefit. I would later come to find out this new found inspiration and knowledge would pay off far more quickly than any of us would have preferred.

– The author, Kevan Ray, is one of the proprietors of Bold Overland, a team dedicated to furthering outdoor adventure training and pursuing all forms of overland exploration. Check out their website by visiting www.boldoverland.com or follow along via social media.

* OutdoorX4 Magazine – Promoting responsible 4×4 adventure travel and outdoor recreation