Two Birds, One Campsite

Our photo library was starting to look a little tired. So were we. So we loaded up the truck, pointed it at Oregon and set out to fix both on the same trip.

We found a quiet clearing ringed by tall firs and backed in. A little lumpy, but with the R1T's self-leveling function, not a problem. Our new Mars Horizon rooftop tent rode up top, and the bikes swung away from the tailgate so we could reach some refreshments from the Rigel 25 Dual Zone eCooler. Then the light started to turn. Golden hour doesn't wait for anyone, so we scrambled to make the most of it.

The Overland Camp Kitchen slid out the side: bamboo counters, room to prep and an induction cooktop. The cast iron and the kettle were on before anyone had unfolded a chair.

Matthew climbed onto the roof of the truck and leaned out over the side to get the kitchen straight down. Dedication to the shot, it turns out, looks a lot like a man hanging off a truck.

Nothing in that overhead frame was staged. That's the knife we used, the skillet we cooked dinner in and a towel that had already earned its keep. That's how all our photos get made: in the wild, with real light, real dirt and gear doing its job. Every hinge and latch got a proper workout along the way.

You'll see these shots on our website and social channels in the coming weeks. Once Matthew was off the roof, the workday was over. Ribeye and green beans in the cast iron, and Oregon handled the rest.