Overland Adventure 2021: Day 1 Full Coverage!
Your one stop for the full story of exploring southern Utah’s backcountry.
The 2021 Overland Adventure Presented by Jeep was more than just three days on the trail. We gathered adventure enthusiasts from all corners of the country and different walks of life who were joined by their shared a passion for exploring what lies beyond the paved road. As we led the way through the lesser-known parts of Utah, we carved out as many memories as we logged miles on our odometers. Friendships were made, photographs were taken, and we shared stories, meals, and even the spare seats in our vehicles.
It Began With a Call to Adventure
Show us how you get off the grid, into the wild, and away from it all. Show us the tools you use and the machines that make it all possible. We asked, and you answered in a big way. We sounded the call to adventure across fourwheeler.com and our social media platforms—and your response was overwhelming. After receiving a staggering volume of applications during the limited application period, we carefully selected 20 ofyou, theFour Wheelerfans, to join us on the 2021 Overland Adventure.
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The range of vehicles was broad with numerous Jeeps as well as many other makes and models of 4x4. Some pulled trailers, others were old iron, they ran on diesel and gasoline, and nothing was even close to ordinary. There was no formula, rhyme, or reason to outfitting your overland vehicle, however all were required to have four-wheel drive and be fit with unique sleeping accommodations, among other requirements.
This year, Overland Adventure participants were guided deep into the backcountry of southern Utah by lifelong off-road enthusiast, world-renowned 4x4 instructor, and distributor of jolly Midland GMRS radio banter, Nena Barlow. Nena is recognized as an International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers' Association Master Trainer and her unfaltering enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of the American Southwest, and acclaimed 4x4 acumen are only a handful of the reasons we selected her to lead the 2021 Overland Adventure. Alongside handling many of the nuances of the expedition, Nena kept the group engaged and informed using her Midland GMRS radio as we traveled while also moderating the flow of dad jokes, pointing out geological and historical oddities, and stopping traffic for tarantulas crossing the road.
By day, we catered to everyone's' sense of adventure and each night, we fired up the grills, satisfying appetites with an array of smokin' hot BBQ and southwest-inspired recipes, making certain no camper climbed into their bedrolls hungry. In addition to the two evening meals that were included with registration, participants were invited to join the Second Annual Overland Adventure Camp Chef Showcase—an exhibition with one rule: show off your favorite campsite culinary creation. The Camp Chef Showcase took place on the second night in camp, and we will cut into the results in a future issue ofFour Wheeler.
As the event kickoff date of May 25, 2021, drew nearer, and the overlanders were preparing for adventure, so were Overland Adventure's sponsors. Jeep wrangled its pair of overland-equipped Gladiators while teams from American Adventure Lab, Bubba Gear, Falken Tire, Midland, onX Offroad, Redarc, and Warn Industries each outfitted vehicles for the expedition. Overland Adventure kicked off in Page, Arizona, near the shores of Lake Powell. As participants arrived and greeted each other for the first time, they were stunned by the sculpted ochre and red slickrock formations shrouding the natural amphitheater.
AfterFour Wheelerstaff conducted safety checks, the participants proceeded about the amphitheater and were invited to meet and greet the enthusiastic staff from the sponsors of Overland Adventure. Jeep, the presenting sponsor, had two of its Gladiator concept vehicles, Wayout and Farout, on display for the participants to experience. They were joined in the Sponsor Showcase by crews from American Adventure Lab, Bubba Gear, Falken Tire, Midland, onX Offroad, Redarc, and Warn Industries. Once the inspections, handshakes, and feature photography wrapped up, the sun had dipped in the sky and the teams parted ways. Some took advantage of one last hot shower before the trails while others ventured off to the shores of Lake Powell to kick off a week of off-grid fun in the dirt.
Drivers Meeting
As the sun rose over the painted rocks, participants gathered again, this time, just over the border in Big Water, Utah—it was time for the first drivers meeting of the 2021 Overland Adventure. Ken Brubaker, Editor ofFour Wheelermagazine gave a hearty welcome and introduced the smiling face who would be behind the glass of "Sparrow" the Firecracker Red Jeep Gladiator Rubicon—Nena Barlow. After reminding the group of trail etiquette, sunblock usage, and the difference between 10100 and 10200 rest stops, Nena passed the floor to Curtis Cole. Curtis was a participant of the inaugural 2019 Overland Adventure and returned to give a helping hand from the righthand side of his Land Rover 110. Nena was joined by Paul Stapell. As a fellow Barlow Adventures employee, International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers' Association member, and flatfender Jeep afficionado, Paul was eager to help navigate, tell stories, and provide an extra pair of gloves for any trailside hiccups.
Climbing the Grand Staircase
After the parade of vehicles departed the drivers meeting, it wasn't long before we left the tarmac behind and aimed toward Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Cottonwood Canyon was our introduction to the types of scenery to be expected for the week. The canyon followed the Paria River for some time and was bordered by spectacular formations on each side. One formation was called the Cockscomb, named after its resemblance to the colorful "comb" on a rooster's head. Navajo and Dakota sandstone as well as Tropic shale could also be seen. We paused to take in the splendor of Grosvenor Arch. The arch (looking closely reveals it's actually a pair of arches) is named after Gilbert Henry Grosvenor, the first fulltime editor of National Geographic magazine.
As the trail wound us nearer to the town of Escalante, Utah, the track narrowed, and we began to climb. Trees reached inward toward roof racks and abundant washouts slowed our pace. Lunch was had atop a ridge where we stopped to marvel at the now white soil beneath us, and the vistas in all directions. After winding through the tightest canyons of the day and fending off overheating issues, we spilled out into more wide-open country as the sun splashed the mountains in its late-afternoon glow. We made camp nestled in a mountain alcove where the red rocks glowed to our east and the treelined ridges from whence we came made up the horizon.
Campers spread their individual sites out across the meadow and before long, the bell sounded for supper. BBQ was the flavor of the night and after almost 100 miles of dirt, appetites were in full swing. Excited voices soon turned into clinks of cutlery in the sunset. One by one, campfire circles were built and populated, and laughter faded into the night beneath the constellations. With many more miles of dirt on the horizon the following day, most retired to their bunks early to rest up.
Where to Next?
This is only the first day of the 2021 Overland Adventure, and the participants have much more ahead as they journey through the Utah backcountry, with Moab as the final destination. Follow along online and in upcoming issues ofFour Wheeleras we explore deeper into the Grand Staircase, make tracks in the lunar-esque clay hills around Factory Butte, and drop into the awe-inspiring landscapes surrounding Moab and the Colorado River.
Overland Adventure Coverage!
There's loads of coverage of the 2021 Four Wheeler Overland Adventure Presented by Jeep at:
FULL OVERLAND ADVENTURE COVERAGE
Here you can read about all the Overland Adventure participants as well as updates from each day of the event!
Day 1 of Overland Adventure in Photos
Barb Rainey's Day 1 Photo Collection
Preston Gladd's Day 1 Photo Collection
Brit Mansell's Day 1 Photo Collection
Bruce Davis' Day 1 Photo Collection
Duke Newport's Day 1 Photo Collection
Pat Zarzycki's Day 1 Photo Collection
Overland Adventure Sponsors
American Adventure Lab
Bubba Gear
Falken
Jeep
Midland
OnX Offroad
REDARC
Warn
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