“Ollie” shakedown run: Steens and Alvord

After several years of Burningman we decided to pass. Instead we made our own adventure in a similar landscape located in Eastern Oregon; the Alvord desert. Along the way we explored the Ochocos, John Day’s Painted Hills Unit, Crystal Crane Hot Springs, the Pete French Round Barn, Diamond Craters, Frenchglen, Fields, Alvord Hot Springs, Willow Creek Hot Springs and the 52 mile — 10,000 ft elevation, gravel road known as the Steens Mountain Loop.

One of the most exciting parts of the trip was the vechicle we took... Instead of our rugged Volvo C303 cruising 50mph, with a roof-top tent, we took our latest #adventuremobile “Ollie,” an Oliver travel trailer attached to the back of a 4x4 Mitsubishi Fuso FG.

The project is coming together beautifully with the very talented Mike Hogan of Districtfab. It’s currently about 70% complete, in the end the camper will be field deployable as a living unit freeing the Fuso to crusise about, with it’s 4 cylinder turbo diesel 14,000 GVW flatbed. Fiberglass and a wrap will help make it look less like a camper glued to a truck and more like an intentional union of two best-in-class products.

Ochoco Mountains. The Pro-tec boxes along the underside provide clean, secure storage and help keep weight low.

Dusk at ~8000' near Kiger Gorge. We used an aluminum pool ladder for this trip.

Afternoon in the Steens. The Oliver trailer is so incredibly well thought out and manufactured. Windows provide plenty of breeze and views on all sides from bed.

Alvord desert. We made a windbreak with our vehicles.

Milkyway view at the Alvord desert.