TREAD

Adventuring in the 49th State Without a Rig

BY JOHN PANGILINAN PHOTOS BY DAVID SCHELESKE

Alarge puddle at the bottom of the hill had pooled up on the ground from the rainy skies. I looked over at one of the guides as he gave me a slight nod and said, “Send it,” to which I immediately obliged. Pedal to the floor and no care in the world, I drove the vehicle into the foot-deep water. A large wave engulfed the UTV as it splashed through to the other side. Grinning ear to ear, my inner child satisfied, I couldn’t wait to see what else Alaska had in store.

Many overlanders, by nature, are nomads ready and willing to explore along the way to their destination. For those that simply don’t have the proper vehicle, the time, or the know-how to travel to the 49th state, it can be a daunting task that requires an endless amount of preparation and planning. Thankfully, there are options when it comes to adventure travel that don’t require a fully built-out overland rig. I traveled with Yamaha with only my bags at my side—and had the time of my life.

Only a day earlier, I boarded my delayed flight from Santa Ana, California, airport to Seattle, Washington, to catch a connecting flight to Anchorage, Alaska. I had traded the warm California temperatures during a mini heatwave for the cloudy and slightly chilly Alaskan climate. I collected my belongings at the baggage check and hopped on a quick shuttle ride to the RV rental company located a mere 5 minutes away from the airport.