Exploration Quarterly Field Camp
April 5 – 8, 2025
Your hosts, Jonathan & Roseann Hanson
We are very excited you will be joining us for the first Exploration Quarterly Field Camp, four days of camaraderie, shared stories, vehicle tours, and one-on-one interactions with like-minded explorers.
We gather at the beautiful Aravaipa Canyon Ranch, a private property along Aravaipa Creek about 90 minutes north of Tucson, Arizona. Registration is limited to just 45 attendees plus staff and sponsors, who are SWAROVSKI OPTIK, SONORAN ROVERS, EXPLORO, and GOOSE GEAR, with special guest GRAHAM JACKSON’S OVERLAND PASSAGE.
Below is information for planning and preparation for the camp.
A Reminder of What’s included:
Camping or a bed in the ranch house (all accommodations have shared baths).
For those staying in the ranch house (think 1970s-comfortable but not high luxury) there are two fridges and a communal kitchen.
For those camping, there is room for up to 30 vehicles in a large, grassy meadow, with a burbling creek running alongside. There are several bathrooms for campers (one in a building near the meadow, and two downstairs in the main ranch house).
One group dinner on Sunday evening, a Sonoran-style taco spread (meat and vegetables, toppings, tortillas) and bacanora-tasting — all other meals are DIY. (For those staying in the ranch house, there are two fridges and a communal kitchen; we can help coordinate group meals but won’t be providing food.)
Sunday music by balladeer David Rychener (who is the owner of the ranch)
Skills clinics every day: overlanding, field arts, victualling, equipment setup and use—the topics are nearly endless. Let us know you might like!
View and test gear up-close with Sponsors
Quality time with other explorers
Roundtables with Exploration Quarterly writers and photographers and sponsors to ask questions about travel, gear, and more
Group campfire each night
Informal no-host cocktail hours
Scheduled cook-offs
Camp “home tours”
We’re working on a schedule now and will have it posted onsite, as well as emailed out to you.
Wildlife viewing
We’ll have Swarovski spotting scopes to look for bighorn sheep and their lambs, as well as many species of birds during spring migration)
We’ll have Swarovski CS binoculars for you to test out as well.
Wildlife tracking and impromptu wildlife viewing up-close (Jonathan is always on the lookout for interesting snakes and other reptiles)
Explore: Hiking, mountain biking, and / or 4WD / ADV-motorcycle on backroads trails up Brandenburg Canyon
Venue is private, with no access to other vehicles, campers, or hikers.
Four-wheel-drive is not needed to get into the site (the main road in is graded dirt), but there is a river crossing that is usually fine, but can have a steep exit bank. We can’t accommodate Class-A motorhomes, but possibly smaller Class-B (you must ask in advance), and definitely vans and trucks pulling small trailers. Please contact us first if you have a vehicle larger than these described
IMPORTANT RESOURCES:
MAPS— download as pdf >> HERE <<)
IMPORTANT FOR SMALLER VEHICLES OR THOSE WITH LARGE OVERHANGS / LOW UNDERCARRIAGE: You will be crossing a creek, which is usually passable to small SUVs with front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, but if rain creates a larger flow and undercuts at the far bank, you may need assistance.
The turn to the ranch is onto E. Aravaipa Road off Arizona Highway 77, between Winkelman and Mammoth. It is 10.5 miles from the turn off to the turn to the ranch. See below. The Google map location is https://www.google.com/maps/place/Aravaipa+Canyon+Ranch/@32.8787537,-110.5858201,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8729dbb9842138cb:0x23d1524a5e82b35f!8m2!3d32.8787537!4d-110.5836314!16s%2Fg%2F11h12myb6
IMPORTANT FOR SMALLER VEHICLES OR THOSE WITH LARGE OVERHANGS / LOW UNDERCARRIAGE: You will be crossing a creek, which is usually passable to small SUVs with front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, but if rain creates a larger flow and undercuts at the far bank, you may need assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the arrival / departure days?
Arrival day for getting to the ranch is Saturday, April 5 after 1 pm.
Departures are Tuesday, April 8 by 11 am
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel the the Field Camp up until midnight February 1, 2025 for a refund of your payment less a $45 fee. You may also roll over your payment to another event.
Why do you strongly recommend trip insurance for each participant?
This is to ensure you have medical evacuation coverage (nearly all the field camps will be in remote locations) and that your costs are covered if we have to cancel the field camp due to local emergencies or global health crises.
Can I camp?
Yes! There is a large grassy field where you can set up camp near the river. There is a bathroom building with toilet, sink, and shower nearby, and two bathrooms downstairs in the main house.
Do you allow pets?
Very quiet, well-behaved dogs are allowed. If your pet makes too much noise or shows any sign of aggression toward other animals or people, you will be asked to leave, no refund.
What is the weather?
Spring in Arizona is notoriously fickle, so plan layers: it could be very warm, very cool, windy, maybe even some showers. There’s a lovely creek so if you want to explore it, bring water sandals. Do be aware it will be full snake season, though, so don’t walk around camp in sandals.
Where do I fly in?
You can fly into Tucson, Arizona—a 90-minute drive from central Tucson.
You can also fly into Phoenix, Arizona—a 2 1/2-hour drive to the ranch.
How do we get from the airport to the venue?
You can rent a car; most of the way to the ranch is paved and there is a 6 mile graded dirt road. See notes above on clearance.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
They took out the land line at the ranch house and so the best way to communicate in an
emergency is to have your family call David Rychner, the owner, on his cell. He’s in
Tucson but comes out frequently and also can call the ranch main office which is about
1/4 mile away from us and they can come down to where we are. His mobile is (520)
990-9265. FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY.
Please read our Values statement here, including Right to Attend and Expectations.