My mission was to take the 2024 Overland Expo Ultimate Vehicle Build, a fully kitted GMC Canyon AT4X, on a trip from Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah to Redmond, Oregon for Overland Expo PNW. Between start and end points, I had carte blanche to do what I wanted.
I started planning the same way I always do, by opening Google Maps and looking at the highway drive time. I then open onX Offroad and check to see if there are any great trails on or near that route. Once I find a trail system in the app, I try to scout out dispersed camping spots that I might want to check out in person once I’m there. I then download maps of the areas I want to visit so I have offline access. It takes a lot of time and leaves little room for spontaneity.
There’s a Taoist principle called wu-wei. It’s a state of mind or spirit that focuses on following the flow of life and intuition, and letting things happen naturally. The most common interpretation of wu-wei is aligning our actions with nature, not forcing anything, and acting when it’s suitable. As an over-planner, it is exactly the type of thing that I don’t do.
This adventure was going to be different – mainly because I had very little time to plan before picking up the truck in SLC. In fact, I did almost no planning except to check the fastest highway route to get to Redmond and see the easiest access to National Forests along the way. I was going to leave it up to the universe to direct my trip.
Day One: SLC to Ririe, ID – 247 miles via I-15
I arrived in Salt Lake City and made it over to the Salt Palace Convention Center, where the Ultimate Vehicle was on display in the Overland Experience area at Outdoor Retailer. As the show wrapped, I talked to Brian McVickers from Overland Journal, and he asked where I was heading. I said I didn’t have a plan and was probably going to find some dispersed camping heading toward Boise. He asked if I wanted to go hang out with him at his friend’s ranch in Ririe, ID. If this wasn’t the universe directing me, I don’t know what it was! Of course, I said yes.
Brian and I left the Salt Palace around 4:30 pm and hit the road for Ririe, just NE of Idaho Falls. Even though much of this drive was on the interstate, the picturesque Wasatch Range gives way to the lush, green Snake River Plain. While it isn’t the most exciting drive, Brian and I kept ourselves entertained through radio contact using the Midland Radios MXT575VP4 Two-Way Radio with a Microphone and External Speaker installed in the center console of the AT4X. I loved how the radio controls were all in the mic, making it easy to use. The Midland radio was connected through the Switch Pros SP9100 Switch Panel Power System so one could turn it on and off at will.
We arrived in the dark close to 9:30 pm, so we didn’t get to see much that night aside from the fast-flowing Snake River on the drive into the property, so we had some dinner and a couple of beers and retired to our beds for the night.
The next morning, we took out Brian’s friend’s side by side and explored the vast property from the banks of the Snake River to the top of the butte above the property, where marmots darted in and out of the rocky outcroppings. It was an amazing spot, and I felt lucky to be there.
Day Two: Ririe, ID to Stanley, ID, 235 miles via Medal of Honor Hwy and US-93
Brian and I left the property at about 2 pm that day. He was heading for the Northwest Overland Rally in Washington, and I still wasn’t sure where I was going, but I was eyeing the Sun Valley area. When I got service again, I called a friend who lives in Boise and asked him to give me some beta about campsites in the area. He immediately texted me coordinates to his favorite spot, located just outside of Lower Stanley. That was my next night’s camp sorted. Thank you again, universe!
The drive to Stanley was mostly the scorching high desert near Craters of the Moon National Park until I started gaining elevation, and the brown, dusty terrain gave way to the jagged peaks of the Sawtooth Range Wilderness. The late afternoon sun cast serrated shadows over the valley below. Because it was late afternoon, I stopped to grab some food at Mountain Village Resort instead of trying to cook that night. The cheeseburger and fries hit the spot after a long drive, and I finished up, ready to find a campsite.
I followed the coordinates to Sawtooth View Loop, and it felt great to have the Torque Wheels Canyon 17x9s hit a little bit of dirt – even if it was graded hard pack. The resonant growl of the MAGNAFLOW Overland Series Exhaust System echoed through the valley as I followed the creek into the backcountry. I rounded the corner and was awestruck by the amazing view.
Unfortunately, the campsite my buddy sent me was occupied, so I continued along the trail, looking down trail offshoots for possible camping spaces. It was getting late, and every nook and cranny that was available for camping was taken that evening, so deeper into the backcountry I went.
READ MORE: Overland Expo Fosters a Space for “Women Who Wander”
I finally stumbled upon a pullout deep in the woods that didn’t have any campers in it. I pulled the AT4X over, leveled myself off, and quickly deployed the Alu Cab Expedition 3R Rooftop Tent for the night. The Leitner Designs ACS forged Bed Rack System is a perfect platform for this tent, providing a solid base and tons of storage. As I climbed into my shelter for the evening, I was blasted with a swarm of mosquitoes the size of small birds. I rushed into the tent, slapped the tent flap closed, and watched as hundreds of small blood-sucking creatures bashed themselves against the mesh windows, trying to get to me as the last light filtered through the forest. Luckily, I had the soft, downy AERONAUT Outdoors Hoverquilt and Firequilt to sleep under. I wrapped myself up and faded off to sleep for the night. I say luckily because by 4 am, the temperature got down to 31F, and it was frigid! I folded the bottom blanket over myself and covered up with the second blanket and I was toasty warm for the rest of the night.
I was awake by 6:30 am, and I was reluctant to pull myself out of the sanctuary of warmth and comfort of the quilt. But as one knows, you just need to rip the band-aid off and go screaming into the day ahead, so I quickly got dressed and went down the ladder to make coffee. I fumbled around with the Jetboil Flash Cooking System & Silicone Coffee Press, shivering the whole time. The water heated quickly, and I poured it over my instant coffee in my cup and broke camp as fast as possible. I sat in the cab of the AT4X, cranked the heat, the seat heaters, and the steering wheel heat, and sat there drinking my cup of coffee.
I was greeted by this view as I drove out of the backcountry. Worth it.
Day Three: Stanley, ID to Malheur National Forest, OR – 284 miles via US 26
This was going to be a long day in the driver’s seat, so I got moving quickly. Leaving Stanley, the drive along the US 26 meanders through forests and meadows teeming with wildflowers. The crisp morning air made it an amazing drive.
I descended the mountain into Boise and stopped to eat at Bacon Boise – an eatery all about pork; what’s not to love? After a quick meal, I hit the freeway and put some miles in as I crossed into Oregon. I had my sights set on an area in eastern Oregon called Malheur National Forest, though I had no idea where I was camping that evening. I put the pedal down and drove mostly back roads to Prairie City, where I stocked up on supplies for the next couple of days. I loaded my food into the Project X 41 QT Blizzard Box, which boasted a two-sided door that allowed me to open it from either side of the fridge.
READ MORE: Miles of Adventure with the 2024 Overland Expo Ultimate Overland Vehicle
Just outside of Prairie City, I took the first Forest Service Road and headed off into the dirt again. I explored the backcountry roads all over this area and visited Magone Lake, passed through multiple active clearcuts, and found myself at Lower Camp Creek – an unassuming Forest Service Campground with a pit toilet, tables, and fire rings. “That’ll do, pig,” I thought to myself as I pulled into a campsite, fed the Iron Ranger my $6.00, and set up camp. It all worked out perfectly. I had no real plans, but I found a great camp for the night. I needed a place to charge the fridge that night, and it perfectly fit on the dropdown table mounted to the RIGd Supply UltraSwing Tire Carrier.
The next morning, I broke out the Blackstone Grill Adventure Ready 20-inch Camping Griddle – a car-sized Blackstone griddle that is perfectly-sized for vehicle-based adventures. I cooked up some bacon, asparagus, I fried some eggs, and used the side burner to heat water for coffee. I sat and ate listening to the burbling of Camp Creek and the echoes of turkeys calling out nearby. No one was in camp with me the whole night.
Day Four: Lower Camp Creek to Ochoco National Forest 126 miles
I left the campsite early, intending to head to Redmond that day, and that was going to be a four-and-a-half-hour drive, according to Google. I didn’t have service, so I had to rely on downloaded maps for a bit. It was a gorgeous drive, gently descending out of Malheur National Forest, following the John Day River into dry, high-desert landscapes, and then ascending back into the cool forests of Ochoco National Forest. When I finally got a cell signal at the top of the pass, I checked the weather in Redmond. It was supposed to be 93F that day. I strongly dislike the heat, so I told myself that I was going to take the next Forest Service Road I saw and follow it until it took me somewhere else.
I got back on the highway and immediately saw a dirt road to the left. I slowed and turned down the dirt track and drove up to a sign for “Walton Lake – 13 Miles”. Yes! Perfect! I made my way through the forest to the lake campground only to be greeted with a sign that said: “FULL.” I was gutted. I drove into the campground anyway and found a site that was reserved starting the following day. I went to the camp host and asked if I could take it for the night. Luckily, they said yes!
Though a bit crowded with families, my site was across the lake with just a few other campers, and it was exactly what I needed. I opened the DECKED Drawer System, grabbed the Blackstone, the food container, and the tent ladder, and set up camp for the night. I took a short hike around the lake and then swam for a bit before returning to camp.
That evening, I cooked burgers on the Blackstone, laid on the picnic table and, watched the trees around camp sway in the breeze, made a campfire, and just enjoyed being outdoors. It was everything I wanted wrapped up in a perfect bow. From there I headed on into Redmond for Overland Expo PNW 2024.
Be on the lookout for more adventures with the Overland Expo Staff and the 2024 Ultimate Overland Build as it makes its way across the country to each Overland Expo event before heading to auction with the proceeds going to benefit the Overland Expo Foundation.
