What an unbelievable, beautiful experience.
I apologize in…read moreadvance for how long this got, but I'm still ecstatic about the trip and started gushing.
I had always been curious about this kind of travel, long before I'd ever heard the word "overland". When the covered wagons struck out westward, how did they prepare for a life on the road? What do long-range sailors pack with them on their boats for a month at sea? What would I want to bring with me if I was going for an extended trip to places where I could expect absolutely no support or resources?
I wanted to try it for myself, but I knew I didn't have the hands-on experience to outfit a vehicle on my own, but without a vehicle where could I learn?
I needed to gain some experience in someone else's rig.
That's what led me to Idaho Overland Adventures.
After looking over their options, we decided to go for the guided tour that they offer. My girlfriend and I packed what seemed like impossibly light bags for a four-day trip ("just some clothes and a toothbrush", they said), and came to Boise.
The guides:
Our guides were Joe and Brianne, the owners. They were amazing guides, highly experienced, and I was immediately glad that we opted for the guided tour.
The trip starts with a briefing on the setup of the rigs, the planned route and contingencies, and safety and communication procedures.
I'm an airline pilot, and everything about the setup, down to the use of checklists and the radio procedures, reminded me of the behind-the-scenes preparation to make a flight happen safely. It was far better organized and professional than I'd ever expected.
The rigs:
The trucks are outfitted brilliantly. Everything has its place, there's nothing unnecessary or useless, and while we were more than equipped for our four days on the road, there is room to prepare for a much longer trip if you want to. It was truly amazing how much equipment was on board, all of it well thought-out and easy to access.
The terrain:
The route we took was beautiful Idaho backcountry. Following river valleys, then up into mountains and back down through dense forested land, as steam from hot springs poured from the faces of the rocks, I was amazed at how much the scenery changed as we drove on. We came late in the season, so the terrain in places was alternately snowy, muddy, or wet.
This was where I was REALLY glad we'd done the guided tour. At my own experience level, there were several points where I wouldn't have been comfortable continuing on my own, and would have turned back to find an alternate route. But Joe has so much experience out there that he was able to teach us some of the technical driving skills we needed.
Not for a moment did it feel like we were beyond the capabilities of our guides and equipment, and I learned the most at precisely the points in the terrain that I would have shied away from if I had been on my own.
The camping:
This trip was all about being on the move, but you have to sleep at night, right?
Again, we were astonished at how efficiently all the equipment was set up.
The tent (a pop-up type, set up on the roof of the rig, with a ladder) was cozy, our guides got a big, warm fire going, quickly unfolded a sizable kitchen and made us AMAZING meals. "Camp food" was fun as a kid, but four days of hot dogs and frozen hamburger patties doesn't hold the same charm that it once did. We ate fresh salmon, steak, or chicken, prepared with veggies, and after a long, bumpy day at the wheel, it tasted like the best thing I'd ever eaten.
I am so glad that I did my trip with Idaho Overland Adventures. I'm proud to have learned and used some new skills, and gained some real, hands-on overland driving experience.
I will absolutely be back next season. Thank you, guys!