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00:00Expedition Overland's Pan-American Series is presented by General Tire. Anywhere is possible.
00:27Venture
00:27Venture looks different to everyone.
00:28For some, it might be as simple as a camping trip, or it could mean a journey around the
00:34world.
00:38Amelia Earhart simply stated that adventure is worthwhile within itself.
00:42I can get behind that, sure.
00:45But you honestly can't really define adventure for yourself until you've wrestled with it.
00:50Until it's beat you down and then picked you back up again.
00:56I believe that true adventure exists beyond what you might think is safe or obtainable.
01:00That's where you see miracles happen.
01:04Where you get smacked by the harsh reality of the present.
01:15Yvonne Chouinard is famous for saying, it's not adventure until something goes wrong.
01:24Without mistakes or conflict or breakdowns, your story will simply be boring.
01:33I believe that adventure is the distance between the present and your fulfillment of your dreams.
01:39How you navigate the in-between is the great unknown.
02:12How you enjoy and how you weave and how you weave slowly step back in your cam.
02:12Well, I'm so proud.
02:26Our adventure started over two years ago, when four guys decided to pursue our passion
02:31for overlanding and exploring the world by vehicle.
02:35Brian Erickson, Jeff Downer, Scott Cahill, and myself all decided to take a big step
02:41and leave the mundane to obtain the lifestyle of vehicle-based adventure travel.
02:48Just this year, my grandpa died, and he was an inspiration to me in my life.
02:54When he was 28 years old, he took 800 head of cows from Texas and brought them to Montana
03:01and started his own cattle ranch.
03:03And as I look at myself, I'm 28 years old, and it's time to do something that I'm passionate
03:10about.
03:12The past three years of my life, I've been in survival mode.
03:15With recovering from a serious accident and supporting my friends and family through cancer,
03:20I haven't had any adventure.
03:21And I need adventure.
03:23I just love being outside, and I love seeing places that I've never seen before.
03:28The more that I go adventurous places and do adventurous things, it gives me more courage
03:35to do things that I might be afraid of.
03:40This is a risk for me.
03:42I'm stepping out of the unknown.
03:45In my life, and this is my opportunity.
03:50It's important that we test these vehicles before we get to the Yukon.
03:53We need to know what vehicles are capable of, and what we're capable of.
04:00That was sweet.
04:01I was afraid I was going to run you over, but other than that, it was great.
04:06I was a little worried about that too.
04:09This is not your typical road trip.
04:11We're not using RVs.
04:13We're using sophisticated, four-wheel drive vehicles.
04:15We're going to extremely remote areas and living 100% self-sustained out of our vehicles.
04:23We learned a lot from that first trip to Moab, Utah.
04:26We had to acknowledge that we were total rookies.
04:29So we set off on a series of mini-adventures to stretch ourselves and to reveal our strengths
04:34and weaknesses as a team.
04:38The Boulder River drainage south of Big Timber in our home base of Montana was the first of
04:43five notable trips.
04:45It was the same trip where I cut my teeth into adventure as a kid.
04:50We picked up a new member, Jeff Giese, to round out the team.
04:57Ryan was still fresh into the world of enduro motorcycles and took some hard-knock lessons
05:02along the way.
05:04Hey, Ryan!
05:05You forgot something!
05:08This is a dream come true.
05:10Salt-of-the-earth guys, and they're the only guys I'd ever want to be out here with.
05:14I've got a great team, and I can't wait for the next trip.
05:16I'm already thinking about the next trip.
05:19That winter, we ventured into the heart of British Columbia, where a winter storm punished
05:24us with constant snowfall and wet conditions, pushing our equipment to the edge.
05:36Our teamwork was tested for the first time when we had vehicle damage and fuel range limitations.
05:46This just got serious fast.
05:48Yeah.
05:49If we can't get these two, three miles right here, we don't have enough fuel to get back
05:55the way we came.
05:58This is so insane.
06:01We made it.
06:02That was the most insane driving I've done in years.
06:08That's why you're out here is to step into the unknown, right?
06:11Yeah.
06:11So, if the unknown is going to happen, how do you deal with it?
06:19That spring, we returned to the enchanted land of Moab, Utah.
06:24It was an effort to see hard miles and test the vehicle's technical abilities even further.
06:30Jeff Gacy took it all in for the first time and loved every minute of it.
06:35In Lockhart Basin, our navigation was put to the test, along with our driving abilities.
06:46The vehicles performed flawlessly.
06:52One evening, camped in the Valley of the Gods, we had the opportunity to hear Jeff Downer's
06:57story.
06:58It's like, this is, really?
07:00This is it?
07:00This is how I'm going to go?
07:01You know, and I seriously thought that he was just going to back right over me.
07:14Next was Wyoming, where we took on the Morrison Jeep Trail, a trail that would take our technical
07:21skills and grit to the limit.
07:24Zach Collins and Ty Heaps, both dear friends of mine, joined the team for the first time.
07:31This very drainage was used by Chief Joseph when he took 700 Nez Perce Indians on a historic
07:371400 mile retreat, evading the US Army and its 2000 soldiers for over 4 months.
07:50This is intense.
07:51It took over 13 hours just to cover the 2 miles to the top.
07:59It was one of our finest victories.
08:04Our final excursion took us to Idaho, the land of so much more than potatoes.
08:13We explored the town of Mackie and met with the town mayor.
08:18Mayor Lowell was a passionate man who earns just $75 a month to run the town.
08:24We learned a valuable lesson there, that the people you encounter and the places they live
08:29in can have a significant impact on you, and the people you choose to explore with can have
08:34an equal impact on the places you choose to see.
08:38We hit the Craters of the Moon National Monument at the perfect time of evening.
08:42One beautiful, rugged place.
08:45You go from like sagebrush to rock to blackness.
08:48Eventually we found ourselves in the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, a feature created by the Craters
08:53of the Moon's erosion.
08:55We were like kids on a playground.
08:58There we blew our first tire while running at very low pressures.
09:02Performing the field repair built up our confidence that we can fix what we break.
09:08Ryan caught his first fish ever on a fly rod and lost a bet.
09:13On the final hour of our trip, Ryan presented us with awesome news.
09:17My wife is having a baby.
09:21We celebrated the end of our final training trip and Ryan's new adventure into fatherhood
09:26with a cigar.
09:28We then pulled out the map of our dream location, Alaska and the Yukon.
09:38Preparations began right away.
09:39First we planned our route at a remote Montana cabin.
09:43The main team would be a returning member Scott Cahill, Jeff Downer and myself.
09:48A new member, Toby Johnston, would join the team in June as a third cameraman.
09:54My wife Rochelle and Scott's wife Rhonda would be joining us for the first part of the trip.
09:59Then Ryan and Ty would come in later for the Yukon portion.
10:05Through the winter we built up our vehicles.
10:08The 100 series Land Cruiser needed a few additional accessories to optimize it for our long trip.
10:15Much needed air lockers and lower gears were installed as well as a dual battery monitoring system.
10:24Jeff installed ARB's slider rails and front fender bars for added protection.
10:29The big project was our prize 2013 Toyota Tacoma.
10:33Starting from scratch, we optimized it for overland travel by beefing up its suspension from Icon Vehicle Dynamics.
10:41We added beefier Deaver Springs to hold the coming Expedition weights.
10:47We also re-geared the differentials to a lower 456 gear ratio provided by Nitro Gear and Axle.
10:56Next we added front and rear protection to the vehicle.
10:59An ARB front bumper with worn winch and ultralight master pull synthetic line.
11:06A K-mar rear bar and a safari snorkel.
11:18A test drive was in order.
11:27Then a new ARE CX topper.
11:32ARB drawers and both rigs for ease of organization.
11:37And finally a custom set of fabricated rock sliders and fender rails for the Tacoma.
11:42Made by Dark Horse Customs.
11:47Next it was off to get the Tacoma wrapped and had this year's Alaska Expedition graphics placed.
11:53Most notable, the big X on the side in reference to the nickname we gave the Alaska Yukon Expedition two
11:59years ago is simply TRIBX.
12:03With the initial build of the vehicles completed, the team headed down to the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona.
12:10The Overland Expo, held once a year, is the largest gathering of Overlanders in the world.
12:16It will come from all over to learn and get training for their travels.
12:20Wherever they may take them.
12:25While there, Baja Racks supplied our roof racks just in time for equipped Expedition Outfitters to install our easy on
12:31rooftop tent.
12:37Rhonda received some personal driving instruction in the Overland Journal's special project, Land Rover LR4.
12:43When we come down the big hills, the computer will do the braking for you.
12:48First gear, low range, under two miles per hour is the target.
12:53You have it in mud and ruts.
12:54For the type of terrain we're in right here, mud and ruts is the perfect choice.
13:02Not all tools are physical when it comes to overlanding.
13:06After our return, we took a wilderness first aid course.
13:12Medical training is very much a tool and a necessity.
13:17Final preps on the vehicles took place.
13:20Rigid lights, radios, dual batteries and refrigerators all were last to be installed.
13:27Then our newly designed X-Venture trailer arrived from Shutt Industries.
13:33It has tons of cargo space and a cargo rack for our Globetrotter rooftop tent and ARB awnings.
13:39It's also equipped with onboard power supply.
13:41That is sweet.
13:43The X-Venture would be our pseudo production trailer.
13:48It is now one of our primary assets for the trip.
13:58Last minute crunch time.
14:00Right now we're 10 days out and it feels like it's tomorrow and we have all this stuff to do
14:06yet.
14:06So it's stressful right now.
14:12So we're headed over to Interwest Tire here in Bozeman.
14:15The very last mechanical thing we have to do to the vehicles.
14:20Put our new general tires on.
14:23So got some new shoes for the trucks and they're going to be tires that are going to get us
14:29through Alaska and the Yukon.
14:34So we're going to go pick up the other rig and get tires put on it and we're getting pretty
14:40squared away.
14:41Test time.
14:43How do you feel?
14:45Good.
14:45Really good.
14:46I got to get off work early today and go on a little test trip.
14:50Test everything we put on these things.
14:52Make sure that we are expedition ready.
14:55Why aren't you coming today?
14:56Okay, so I'm not going on the test run today because my back's been bothering me for a while.
15:01Tell them about the shingles.
15:02I don't want to talk about the shingles.
15:05I got shingles.
15:07That looks incredibly good compared to what it was.
15:11Thankfully I'm not really hairy there either so that's good.
15:14Any rolling?
15:15I don't know.
15:16Camera speed.
15:17Totally crappy day which is perfect for running.
15:21This is going to be Alaska weather to the T.
15:25So train like you fight, fight like you train.
15:29Let's go get wet.
15:31Today is a pretty big day because we finally have gotten the vehicles to a position that we can do
15:38a full run.
15:40And a full run as if we are shooting a show like we're doing right now.
15:46And testing all of the systems involved with making that happen.
15:50So from the lifestyle which we call the expedition side and then we have the production side.
15:57So we need to make sure that expedition equipment is functioning properly as well as our production side running properly
16:05as well.
16:05We headed up to the Cahills to have our first group meeting.
16:08Today's objective everybody is to run through all of our systems as much as we can to the best of
16:14our abilities within the time frame that we have.
16:18Generators, cameras, multiple camera mounts, opening up a tent, putting a tent away, cooking.
16:30Be very extra anal on our vehicles today, hearing sounds, hearing noises, really paying attention to what you're hearing.
16:36So we can make changes or we know at least what's normal and what isn't.
16:44Oh, who's that?
16:47Drop in here.
16:48Some glasses.
16:50Alright, ready to roll.
16:59I'm part of packing up our kitchen and I don't think we have any pans at the moment.
17:05And I've planned to sear some salmon and some plums for a salad that I made up.
17:11And I'm trying to think of a creative solution on how I'm going to be able to cook our fish
17:16and our fruit for our salad before we actually make it out into the...
17:21So we have a nowhere.
17:22We have no pans.
17:23None?
17:24And can I clarify that?
17:25So we have no pans at all?
17:28We have foil?
17:29Okay.
17:31So I thought you were saying pan.
17:33Pam as in like non-stick spray.
17:36You have pans and cooking metal pots.
17:40Crisis averted.
17:42Okay.
17:43My blood pressure just went back to normal.
17:46Oh, I need to air you down.
17:54What we're about to do is air down for the first time.
17:57The reason we air down is a few reasons.
18:01It increases the dampening ability.
18:06It rides better.
18:07It's better for this rough road to actually absorb impacts and vibrations.
18:13That's good for our camera equipment and our hard drives that are on board.
18:17And for us, our bottoms.
18:21It also increases our traction and just overall life quality on these hard drives.
18:28And now you're going to feel that straighter valve and it clicks in like a fork.
18:33I'm a pro now.
18:35I don't even know if that doesn't.
18:37It doesn't.
18:37See?
18:39Our first lessons completed with the tires, we dove into camera work.
18:44Shelby, you would like to ask if you could test that GoPro in the back of the cruiser?
18:48Copy.
18:50Our good friend Ross, a Hollywood crane and dolly grip, had come from Los Angeles to help us with our
18:55production side.
18:55Whatever he's calling this camera.
18:58We'll work.
19:04All right, let's hold at 35.
19:08Roger, 35.
19:11Can we turn the lights on just for, you know, to make it a little more visually interesting?
19:18Hey, Toby, you might want to warm up that trash bag so we can bag it and wrap it.
19:26Scott leaned out to work on a camera on the roof and rolled his window down, leaned out, and now
19:33the window won't roll up.
19:34And we're about to get nuked by a storm.
19:38You know, it's going to rain soon.
19:39You know, as soon as you put the windows down and the motor fails, doesn't it always rain?
19:45This stuff right here makes me really happy.
19:47I really like this stuff.
19:49This is just the best.
19:50The motor dropped down, so.
19:51It's our favorite thing.
19:52It's my favorite.
19:53Ross is on it.
19:57Ross is so cute.
19:58You just kind of want to put them in your pocket.
20:01Let's just put them in our toolbox.
20:02We got to just pop them out whenever we need them.
20:05That's all I got to say.
20:06What?
20:07You are handing us your pockets of underwear.
20:13The rain had put a hurt on us, but production lessons were learned.
20:19All clear back here.
20:21Alright.
20:22Okay, we're going to roll about 15 miles to the north here.
20:27Or, excuse me, to the south.
20:30Where's your door panel?
20:32I broke it.
20:33It's in the ditch.
20:34We threw it away.
20:35I didn't want it anymore.
20:38I counted on that one.
20:39It was three miles.
20:41Three!
20:44Food was the next item on the list.
20:46So we set up on the Boulder River to test our kitchen kit.
20:50Scott is not always talkative.
20:53But he is always up to something.
20:55Particularly sneaking food.
21:00The girls were seemingly satisfied with the workings of the galley.
21:03And the food was delicious.
21:06You're going to take a shower?
21:07No.
21:08I'm not going to take a shower.
21:14Alright, are you ready?
21:15I'm ready.
21:16The little things.
21:18The little things in life.
21:19I can do Alaska without water.
21:25I can do it.
21:25So this is our battery indicators here.
21:28And our secondary battery, our auxiliary battery has been nuked.
21:34So we have a warning system in the back that also beeps at us and tells us when we know.
21:38And that's how I knew I was over there dealing with dishes and stuff.
21:41And otherwise we would have had a dead battery.
21:42And now I'm going to be able to start it.
21:44And let our main battery charge our auxiliary battery.
21:46And that's going to keep us out of trouble.
21:49This guy is reading our main battery here.
21:51And this one is reading our auxiliary.
21:52And now this will start charging itself.
21:54And it will keep going all the way up until it's charged.
21:58The test day had been very successful.
22:00Despite a few technical errors and a window failure,
22:03the mock run revealed that we had only one thing left to do.
22:07It was finally time to step out into the adventure of our lives.
22:11And apply all the lessons we have learned along the way.
22:15Venture into the great unknown.
22:17All we have left to do is go.
22:36The End
22:37The End
22:43The End
23:08Transcription by CastingWords
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