First Exploration Quarterly Field Camp Report

Our exploration community came together last week for four days of exploring, training, and best of all, camaraderie in southern Arizona’s beautiful Aravaipa Canyon. Forty explorers joined us and our sponsors—Graham Jackson’s Overland Passage, Goose Gear, Exploro, Swarovski Optik, and Sonoran Rovers—arriving as strangers and departing as friends.

With smaller numbers we were able to host overland training workshops with experts Graham Jackson, Jim West, and Jonathan Hanson in winching, non-winch recovery, and a morning drive up into the woodlands above the ranch. We had a pop-up training opportunity to work as a team to get a 12-foot-tall Bliss Mobil rig into the venue through a creek crossing with lots of low-hanging trees without tearing up the trees or the beautiful new rig.

Brian Fulton with Goose-Gear and Graham talked about storage solutions, Marcus Whittaker of Sonoran Rovers talked about the ins and outs of purchasing classic Land Rovers, Jonathan gave his popular toolkit and bushcraft knife talks, and Roseann lead a group on a beginner’s field sketching and journaling walk.

We enjoyed a panel discussion of Exploration Quarterly contributors, and a hosted dinner (catered by Oracle Patio Cafe) with an agave spirits tasting courtesy Sonoran Rovers. Ecologist and EQ contributor Ben Wilder gave a talk on agave cultivation and spirit production. Each evening we enjoyed movie screenings, including Graham Jackson’s Camp 6 Road, and two vintage overland films: Tom Sheppard’s Widest Beach in the World, and Rough Road to Panama and its sequel Rugged Road to Cape Horn by Sullivan C. Richardson (thank you René and Mike Van Pelt of GXV - Storyteller Overland for the tip!). A campfire, lively discussions, and more spirits followed.

We were sad for the four days to come to an end, but look forward to future Field Camps. We are looking at venues in Maine, the Pacific Northwest, and the Midwest. Send us suggestions of private venues in beautiful, wild places. We hope to see you soon.

View the full article

Followers

User Feedback

0 Comments

Recommended Comments

Create an account or sign in to comment

Announcements

Shore to Shore Rustic (by Discover 4x4 Adventures) Jun 18
Shore to Shore Rustic (by Discover 4x4 Adventures)

Join Discover 4×4 Adventures as we lead from the eastern sunrise on Lake Huron to the western sunset on Lake Michigan. This three-day trek begins in Oscoda Michigan with a sunrise gathering on Lake Huron and finishes with a beach sunset on Lake Michigan. Let us lead you across the state using the Michigan trail system as our main route and rustic camping at Michigan’s great state forest campgrounds.
*** Tickets limited to the first 15 Vehicles*** – Ticket price is per vehicle
Go check out the website for more details and to signup

18 June 2026 04:00 AM Until 21 June 2026 04:00 AM
- 1 comment
KOAR 2026 Sep 17
KOAR 2026

"KOAR" can refer to several things, most commonly the Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (an off-roading/camping event in Michigan's UP) or KOAR, LLC, a real estate investment firm, but also a Christian radio station (KOAR-FM) or even a fantasy deity. The context of where you see "KOAR" determines which entity it is, with the adventure retreat being a popular, active community event.
Here's a breakdown:
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR): An annual event for overlanding enthusiasts in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, featuring off-road exploration, camping, workshops, and community.
KOAR, LLC: A US real estate company focused on acquiring, developing, and managing properties, particularly industrial, self-storage, and mixed-use.
KOAR-FM: A contemporary Christian radio station in Searcy, Arkansas, part of the Air 1 network.
Koar (Mythology): In the GemStone IV MUD, Koar is the King of the Gods, ruling the Arkati.
If you're seeing it online, it's likely the popular adventure retreat or the real estate firm; for radio, it's the station; and in gaming, the deity.
Buy Tickets and see more: https://northologyadventures.com/event/koar-2026-keweenaw-overland-adventure-retreat/

17 September 2026 Until 20 September 2026
- 0 comments
KOAR 2026 Sep 17
KOAR 2026

OVERLAND BASECAMP COMMUNITY EVENT: The Keweenaw Peninsula is the perfect backdrop for a basecamp location centered around sight-seeing, hiking, and rugged two-track exploration for just about every level of comfort & ability. At camp there will be vendors, seminars, demos & clinics, door prizes, live entertainment and a play/activity area for the kids. Off-camp adventure options include two-track touring, rockhounding, waterfall chasing, astrophotography, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, sea plane tours and more (some activities require reservations and are not included in your KOAR ticket.) Camping, swag bag, printed guide, sticker, tee and all basecamp activities included with your KOAR Pass. Day Pass includes printed guide, sticker, raffle ticket and all basecamp activities, no camping, tee or swag bag. Some offsite activities require an extra fee (seaplane tour, mtb & sea kayaking for example.)
NOTE: Times, activities, and venue subject to change without notice.
REFUNDS: Full refunds available up to 30 days prior to the event only.
WAIVER: By purchasing a ticket to this event, you acknowledge and accept all risks associated with overland travel, camping, trail use, and event participation. You agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the event organizers, volunteers, landowners, sponsors, partners, and any affiliated individuals or entities from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses, or liabilities that may occur, including those arising from negligence. Your participation is voluntary, and you accept full responsibility for your own safety and the safety of any minors or guests in your care.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

17 September 2026 06:00 PM Until 20 September 2026 03:00 PM
- 0 comments
Detroit 4Fest! (by 4Fest Events) Sep 18
Detroit 4Fest! (by 4Fest Events)

Off-Roading, Food Trucks, Top Brands, Fun, Shopping, Family, Learning Off
Detroit 4Fest delivers an action-packed weekend experience! We’re packing a full season’s worth of adrenaline into one incredible Friday night kickoff and a high-octane Saturday session.
For the four-wheel enthusiast, 4Fest offers the ultimate playground—with trails to explore, hills to climb, and rock courses to test your skills. Between the action, refuel at our Food Truck Village, featuring the best regional eats and drinks for the whole family.
THE WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:
Friday NightFest powered by TYRI Lights: Kick off the weekend with live energy and off-road fun under the stars!
The Notch Shootout Hillclimb: Watch (or race!) as drivers battle the clock to conquer the toughest climb at 4Fest.
Saturday Night Celebration: Wrap up the weekend with live music —the perfect way to swap trail stories with the crew.
Vendor Village: Check out the latest rigs and gear from industry leaders like Jeep, Polaris, Ford, Honda, and more.
MASTER THE TRAILS: Take advantage of our expert-led seminars and workshops, including:
Women-Only 101 Off-Road Courses
Off-Road Skills 101 for beginners
Winching, Recovery, & Vehicle Safety
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

18 September 2026 08:00 PM Until 20 September 2026 01:00 AM
- 0 comments