My equipment? A stock jeep? Pretty easy to justify!
Yes, not many opportunities for week long trail runs. I was thinking more to the point of traveling 4-5 days unsustained via linking off road trails or on some of these longer routes. Lots of folks on here do that and report on it.
What do you think is the minimum continuous period one can do unsustained to be considered overlanding?
As far as the trip you mentioned it sounds like the actual traveling is 90% pavement outside of the trails you explore separately. That would fit in the category of camping to me, but that is just me.
As far as those trailers you linked - I think that is exactly why there is all this debate!!!!
Not sure what you mean by "unsustained", we travel self-sufficiently, we are "sustained".
Why do you believe there should be a time constraint?
In Europe there are trails, gravel and dirt roads just as we have in the U.S. You eventually hit pavement, roll into a town where you might stay at a hostel or hotel. You may stay there for days before you continue on. Some nights you might sleep in your vehicle.
You can easily spend months on and off the road traveling while stopping for hours or days before you continue your journey. That can be done here in the U.S. as well.
Traveling in New England you'll be hard pressed traveling and staying out in the wild, besides public lands, every inch is private property. So, why are we excluding improved, built up areas from the overlanding experience?
Why does there seem to be a requirement to "camp" as if seeking shelter in a structure at any time reclassifies your journey? Pick any "trail" in the country, travel for 5 days as you suggest. but on the third night stay at a friend's hunting cabin, enjoy the air conditioning. By that definition, it seems, you cease "overlanding" starting the clock again when you leave that shelter.
Every overlanding episode involves driving on pavement, if your journey begins with the first step you probably hit pavement going out of your driveway. Who sets the per centage of pavement to dirt in the qualification of overlanding? What or where is that justification?
Let me attempt to answer my own questions. Overlanding is the perception we have of using vehicles, some highly modified, some not, for a self-sufficient, self-sustaining journey over various types of road conditions, including, but not limited to, trails in remote areas as well as built up areas concluding at a preplanned destination.
I don't see a requirement for any period of time, nor distance, nor any requirement for any per centage of the journey being under any specific condition or environment. It's the overall journey that matters, I could travel on pavement, hit dirt trails, go rock crawling, cross a stream, hit dirt then pavement and continue to a destination. Why is that not "overlanding"? It's irrelevant if that journey took all day or two months, in my opinion.
We seem to justify our definitions according to our perception of and the use of the vehicle and equipment we use. You have a 4wd jeep, therefore it must be used, it travels unimproved trails, that becomes part of your definition or you're off roading. You have a tent or a camper, therefore you must camp staying away from any Motel 6. You perceive a survival aspect of being self reliant; therefore you must remain out for a certain period of time.
Let's drop in on the bicycle forums and see what their definition of "overlanding" might be. I'm sure it will be defined according to the equipment they use to accomplish the journey.
I accept the definition of an "expedition" as being overlanding or traveling with a scientific or educational purpose. I could drive to Northwestern University in Chicago, give a lecture and classify my journey as an expedition. Lewis and Clark didn't drive anywhere, but they had an expedition to learn what was to the west.
I've used the word perceived a couple times, it's all about our perception. It could be the level of testosterone seeking adventure, going out to explore, to challenge nature and the terrain or we need a change of scenery.
The status of overlanding is purely commercialized. You shouldn't go out in the wild without your safari hat, Merrell hiking boots, a quality knife and clothing fit for the Great White Hunter of Botswana, Mr. Hemmingway himself. I already mentioned vehicle bling as a right of passage in overlanding society. I even have to laugh at myself, boys and their toys!
Rallies are a sport, overlanding is a past time and expedition travel is a venture. The bottom line doesn't change, it's all about the money for promoters and it is heavily promoted.
