Willis Expedition Adventures

Willis Expedition Adventures WILLIS is an Arctic expedition built around preparation, durability, and accountability. No flash. No shortcuts.

Just careful planning, reliable equipment, and steady miles in demanding terrain.

Field Notes: Day 41Back in Oklahoma visiting my family for the weekend. After thousands of miles, countless gravel roads...
06/13/2026

Field Notes: Day 41

Back in Oklahoma visiting my family for the weekend. After thousands of miles, countless gravel roads, and a lot of windshield time, it feels strange to be sitting still for a couple of days.

The expedition isn’t quite over yet. One more leg remains before Willis and I make it back to Arizona.

Field Notes: Day 40Best thing today: Made good progress. Covered 844 miles from Minot, North Dakota to Dodge City, Kansa...
06/13/2026

Field Notes: Day 40

Best thing today: Made good progress. Covered 844 miles from Minot, North Dakota to Dodge City, Kansas and knocked a big chunk off the trip home.

Worst thing: Long day in the driver’s seat. Not much to it beyond putting miles behind me.

Most surprising thing: The prairie has a beauty all its own. Wide-open country, farm fields, lakes, and roads that seem to run straight to the horizon.

Willis had another solid day. No issues, no drama, just steady miles.

Tomorrow, further south.
















Field notes: Day 39Best thing today: An uneventful border crossing. After thousands of miles through some of the most re...
06/11/2026

Field notes: Day 39

Best thing today: An uneventful border crossing. After thousands of miles through some of the most remote parts of North America, it was nice to simply roll back into the U.S. without any drama.

Worst thing: Nothing significant today. The reality has set in that the Hi-Lo is officially done for this trip, so hotels are now part of the plan for the remainder of the journey.

Most surprising thing: Fuel economy continues to improve. As the terrain flattened out, Willis returned 14.3 mpg today, which is better than I expected at this point in the trip.

Tonight I’m in Minot, North Dakota. The Arctic portion of the expedition is behind me now, and the long road south continues. The scenery has changed, the terrain has changed, and the travel pace has changed, but the journey isn’t over yet. Minot sits about 50 miles south of the Canadian border, making it a natural first stop back in the States.

Today’s post is going to be a little different. No talk about gear, tires, roads, fuel, or any of the other things that ...
06/10/2026

Today’s post is going to be a little different. No talk about gear, tires, roads, fuel, or any of the other things that usually show up here.

Now that I’ve started the trip home, it occurred to me that I’ve overlooked one of the most important parts of this entire expedition: my wife, Beth.

Not only did she put up with a year of planning, buying gear, working on the truck, changing plans, and all the other craziness that comes with something like this, she’s also spent the last several weeks with me thousands of miles away from home and, more importantly, away from her.

The truth is that this trip would not have happened without her. After almost 40 years together, she has been by my side supporting just about every idea, adventure, and challenge I’ve ever wanted to take on. Sometimes that support came with encouragement and sometimes it came with a hammer, but it was always support.

I could not have asked for a better wife, life partner, or friend. She is truly an amazing woman, and I am incredibly fortunate to have her in my life.

I hope each of you has someone like that. Someone who believes in you, supports you, keeps you grounded when needed, and makes your life better simply by being part of it.

Beth, I love you. Thank you for understanding this crazy adventure and for putting up with all the planning and preparation that came with it. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I can’t wait to get home and see you.

I love you.

Field Notes: Day 37Best thing today: Lots of wildlife were out and about today. I saw a moose, a Sow bear and her cubs, ...
06/10/2026

Field Notes: Day 37

Best thing today: Lots of wildlife were out and about today. I saw a moose, a Sow bear and her cubs, sheep, and wood bison today.

Worst thing: it rained about half of the day. Also the gear from the hi-lo is now in the truck bed and adds weight to the rear axel. I need to re-sort some of it.

Most surprising thing: Muncho Lake is amazingly beautiful.

Tomorrow, continuing my slow journey South.

Field notes: Day 36The best thing today: The Hi-Lo issue is resolved The worst thing: The Hi-Lo is D.O.A. Some of the pa...
06/09/2026

Field notes: Day 36

The best thing today: The Hi-Lo issue is resolved

The worst thing: The Hi-Lo is D.O.A. Some of the parts needed to resolve the issues are not made anymore, even on a secondary market. There was no way to resolve the issues. So, after 26 years, and 1.5 with us, we say goodbye.

The most amazing thing: I feel strangely liberated. I will get better fuel economy, can drive faster than 50-55 mph, and can now fit into off-road places no Hi-Lo could get through or to.

So tomorrow- wheels turning again, with Muncho Lake as the target.

If you are ever in Watson Lake, YT I recommend breakfast at Andrea’s Restaurant. The food was great, the coffee was hot...
06/08/2026

If you are ever in Watson Lake, YT I recommend breakfast at Andrea’s Restaurant. The food was great, the coffee was hot and refilled constantly, and the server Hetvi was friendly and very attentive.

06/08/2026

Field Notes: Day 35

Today is a go/no go decision point for the Hi-Lo. Either the mechanic can fix it reasonably from a cost perspective or I cut bait and complete the run in the truck.

More to follow, the mechanic opens at 9.

Nothing more for today- I will be doing some small gear cleaning and laundry. Fun day :)

Field Notes: Day 34The Hi-Lo had issues today. I went to lower the top, and it would not release. Learning 22-year-old h...
06/08/2026

Field Notes: Day 34

The Hi-Lo had issues today. I went to lower the top, and it would not release. Learning 22-year-old hydraulic systems from Google and ChatGPT is not recommended.

Best thing: It is a big deal to tow a Hi-Lo with the top up. The lower sidewalls are not really designed to support that kind of weight while moving. It made it 197 miles today with me driving as slowly and carefully as possible to make it to a city that has a mechanic.

Worst thing: I may not be bringing the Hi-Lo on the rest of the trip. It may not be fixable, or it may not be worth fixing. I won’t know until tomorrow.

Most surprising thing: I am strangely ambivalent about the idea of losing the Hi-Lo. If it comes to that, I’ll figure out a way to keep the expedition going. Whether I keep the camper or not doesn’t really change the bigger picture.

Several have asked to know more about the church in Inuvik. Here you go:Our Lady of Victory Church, commonly known as th...
06/07/2026

Several have asked to know
more about the church in Inuvik. Here you go:

Our Lady of Victory Church, commonly known as the Igloo Church, is the gold/silver-domed church in Inuvik and the town’s most photographed landmark. It was built between 1958 and 1960 and designed by missionary carpenter Maurice Larocque to resemble a traditional Inuit igloo while also handling Arctic permafrost conditions.

Very brief history summary:

Built in 1960, the Igloo Church was designed by missionary carpenter Maurice Larocque to reflect northern culture and withstand Arctic permafrost. Its distinctive dome-shaped design made it one of Canada’s most recognizable northern landmarks and the symbol of Inuvik.

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1003 N Arrowhead Drive
Payson, AZ
85541

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+16022060343

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