Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JPFreek Summer 2009
JPFreek Summer 2009
News, Events, & Stuff............................................................................................ 8 Off The Beaten Path: Area BFE........................................... 132
Freek Show: Jeep JK Overland Edition.....................................64 Freek Technique: Eco-Friendly Adventures ....................... 150
Industry Interview: Jeep Chief Designer Mark Allen..........82 Land Use & Access: View From the Locked Gate............. 152
Expedition Discussions: Removing & Fitting a Tire ...... 108 7 Bar Grille & Reviews:
Orvis Interview & Epicurean Cutting Board .............................. 154
Product News ........................................................................................................... 112
features
Trippin’ Round the World – Part III
Mattias Jeschke and Extrem Events trudge across Russia, through Mongolia, and back into Russia.................. 16
Amazon Adventure
Kraig Becker takes us to the Amazon River in South America ............................................................................ 40
World of Wonder
A photo pictorial from the members of UKClimbing.com ................................................................................... 46
Amputee Adventures
Overcoming physical disabilities to explore the natural world............................................................................. 60
Patriotic Expressions
Celebrating the first generation of the Jeep Patriot ............................................................................................... 88
Crossroads of a Revolution
New Jersey is the setting for a Jeep Jamboree adventure .................................................................................. 136
www.earthroamer.com
Lifestyles off the beaten path
“We listened carefully to our customers and the market,” said Scott
Kunselman, Vice President – Jeep/Truck Product Team, Chrysler LLC.
“Our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee hits the sweet spot of premium
on-road performance and legendary class-leading Jeep capability.”
The all-new Quadra-Lift air suspension system delivers legendary Jeep off-road capability along with the
new Selec-Terrain system that allows the driver to choose the drive system that best matches on- or
off-road driving conditions. New front and rear independent suspension systems deliver premium on-road
handling and comfort.
The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is built on a proven rear-wheel-drive unibody platform sharing
the same underpinnings as the Mercedes-Benz ML.
“Jeep invented the SUV segment and our all-new Grand Cherokee is the next step in the evolution of the
SUV,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge Brands. “Jeep innovations including Quadra-
Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction control separate us from
the crowd.”
To read the full press release on the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, visit
the JPFreek News & Events blog at http://www.jpfreek.com/news_
events/?p=149
SUMMER 2009
NEWS
new rocky mountain edition models add
excitement and value to 2009 jeep® lineup
New 2009 Jeep® Patriot, Jeep “The new 2009 Jeep adventure—from the snow-
Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee covered mountain trails to sand
Patriot, Jeep Liberty
Rocky Mountain Edition models dunes at the beach—even more
expand the fun, freedom, utility and Jeep Grand fun.”
and available best-in-class 4x4 Cherokee Rocky The 2009 Jeep Rocky Mountain
capability that Jeep is known Mountain Editions Edition models are available for
for—now with even more
add more value and ordering now and will arrive at
customer features at a great value. Jeep dealerships in the United
The 2009 Rocky Mountain Edition features to our
States and Canada later this
models offer approximately iconic Jeep lineup,” month.
$1,000 off popular bundled
Standard Electronic Stability
customer features, including – Mike Accavitti,
Program (ESP) with Electronic Roll
innovative uConnect tunes, Director, Chrysler, Mitigation maintains vehicle
power sun roof and aluminum
Jeep and Dodge stability in a variety of road surface
wheels. In total, the 2009 Rocky
Brands, Chrysler LLC. and weather conditions. Hill
Mountain Edition package adds
Descent Control, Hill Start Assist
more than $2,300 in content for
SUMMER 2009
Go-Topless-Day-Tom-Markum Go-Topless-Day-Tom-Markum
The course included a water crossing of and San Antonio Texas, went for a topless trail ride
considerable size, a narrow ridge, a rock garden that and lined up to take some photos. The Swamp
grew longer and longer as the day went on, and a Things 4X4 Club from Palm Beach County, Florida
number of obstacles with ruts that were plenty held their very first annual club picnic to coincide
deep. Affectionate names popped up for the with Go Topless Day. Photo submissions have
SUMMER 2009
elements of the course – Snapper’s Pond (that turtle flooded in from as far as South Africa and the
was huge), The Great Wall of China, Stump Hill, and Netherlands for the online Go Topless Day Photo
Loom Mountain respectively. JonFund Inc. also Contest.
provided two 20-degree RTI ramps, and a daunting From the mud-covered, hard-core trail rigs to the
30-degree ramp that only a few brave souls shiny new stock babies, and even those who arrived
attempted. without the iconic seven-slot grille, all had a blast
The good times stretched worldwide with many taking part in the day that encompasses what Jeeps
clubs participating in their own Go Topless Day fun. are all about – fun without limits!
Jeep Nation, a club with chapters in Houston, Waco,
a
american expedition
vehicles announces
v
NEWS
availability of j8 milispec
a
vehicle to consumers
v
The J8 is one of the toughest vehicles in the world and, until now, it was only
sold to foreign militaries and governments. A very limited number of 2010 J8’s
will be made available to enthusiasts in the United States exclusively from
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) as the AEV J8 MILSPEC.
“Hardcore off-road enthusiasts have been asking Designed for military use, the J8 was designed to
for a vehicle like this for years, no frills and setup pass one of the world’s toughest durability cycles,
for a choice of diesel or V8 power and built with which is three times more severe than what civilian
extra heavy-duty components,” said Dave Harriton, applications must endure. The axles are both
CEO of American Expedition Vehicles. “It’s certainly beefed up to a heavy duty Dana 44 front and a
not for everyone, but that’s all part of the appeal. Dana 60 rear axle equipped with Dodge Ram
Being able to offer even limited quantities to the brakes. The frame is built for severe use and the
American public is really a dream come true for rear suspension uses leaf springs to facilitate more
AEV. First, it’s a perfect match with our niche than a 2,500 lb. payload capacity and a 3,500 lb.
manufacturing and distribution channels, and tow rating. The J8 MILSPEC will accept two
second, the J8 is a unique part of history that we’re powertrain options, either a VM 2.8-liter diesel
proud to be part of.” engine rated at 174 hp and 339 lb.-ft. of torque or a
5.7-liter V-8 HEMI rated at 330 hp
and 375 lb.-ft. of torque. Both
engine choices will use a 5 speed
automatic transmission. The
vehicles also have a number of
military-specific components,
including tow loops that are rated
The AEV J8 MILSPEC will be sold as a component for helicopter use, an air filter
rolling chassis. The vehicle is meant for off-road capable of running as long as five hours in zero
use, and as typical for component vehicles the visibility dust storms and remote-mounted
engine and transmission will be installed by the batteries. Don’t look for satellite navigation or
buyer or at the buyer’s direction by an leather seats; options are limited to paint color
independent contractor. Although AEV does not (Desert Sand or Military Green), a choice of a three
door or five door body styles and air conditioning.
SUMMER 2009
t Bradt’s
been released, but we are assured tha
feat was also caught on video.
ge
Ocean Rowers Take Center Sta
Outen,
dlines this spring, starting with Sarah
NEWS
Three long distance rowers made hea youngest
mpt to become the first woman and
who set off from Australia in an atte -ocean-sarahs-
an. (theadventureblog_rowing-indian
person to row across the Indian Oce g her way towards
off). She got off to a bit of a rou
gh start, but is now happily paddlin
Atlantic in
ley completed his solo row across the
Africa. Meanwhile, American Paul Rid -ridley-
e for cancer. (theadventureblog_paul
an attempt to raise funds to find a cur up his attempt to
completes-solo-atlantic-row) Fin
ally, U.K. adventurer Olly Hicks gave
slow progress
in a rowboat after making extremely
circumnavigate around Antarctica update-olly-
adventureblog_virgin-global-row-
in the first months of his journey. (the d ill equipped to deal
calls-it) Olly squarely placed
the blame on his boat, which seeme
strategy and
thern Ocean. He vows to rethink his
with the constant winds of the Sou
give it another go.
SUMMER 2009
PNY09 Leg-24
Altai-Wasserkraft-
Schule, Mongolia
SUMMER 2009
PNY09 Leg-25
G o b i- H u s t a i, M o n g o l ia
SUMMER 2009
SUMMER 2009
PNY09 Leg-26
Ulan Ude, Russia
SUMMER 2009
PNY09 Leg-27
Jakutsk, Russia
SUMMER 2009
P N Y 0 9 L e g - 2 8
n e r a , R u s S i a
Ust
Due to conditions requiring long-term repair to the team’s vehicles, Mattias Jeschke
SUMMER 2009
and his Extrem Events team unfortunately had to make the decision to suspend the
expedition. However, the expedition’s temporary holdbacks will not be permanent and
the team will recommence the expedition in late 2009. Visit the JPFreek Reader
Forum’s “JPFreek Adventure” section for updates on the Transcontinental expedition
at:
http://www.jpfreek.com/phpBB3/
or visit the official Extrem Events team website at:
http://www.pny2009.com
1 2
When I was approached about this event I was both curious and excited.
After all, for the past three years I have led the members of JeepExpeditions.
org on many overland trips here in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. An
Overland Expo right in my backyard…well, two hours from my backyard.
Overland travel is becoming more popular and is a different way of
exploring the many wonders of our world that most people only dream
about. It’s not just about the off-highway travel and camping out under the
stars. Overland travel with a group is a whole new way to experience our
public lands. Nothing beats getting away from the stress of the city, whether
it’s the traffic, the crowds, or even your job. A few days to be in touch with
the land, to see the beauty created by nature’s hand, and seeing more stars
than you ever thought existed. Add in the camaraderie of those who enjoy
their Jeeps and the outdoors as much as you do, and that’s about as near to
perfect as one might get.
5
SUMMER 2009
The promoters of Overland Expo ‘09 touted the event as “an all-new and
exclusive event for people who see their 4WD as a means to adventure and
exploration, and who see travel as a portal to learning about the world, as well
as a means to conserving its beauty and preserving its unique cultures. No other
event for 4WD combines intensive education modules, social opportunities to
visit with hundreds of other enthusiasts and to share information and
experiences, and a wide array of product and service vendors just for
overlanding-related activities, service and conservation organizations, land
agencies, and clubs/associations will also be on-hand”
6
4
1. Vanishing America Land Rover
powered by pure vegetable oil
2. Turtle Expeditions Ford based rig
3. Mario Donovan showing how to grease
bearings in Offroad Trailer Repair
4. Authors Mike Fissel’s girlfriend, Carol,
navigates the women’s course
5. Jeep Overland
6. Checking out the new Tear-Drop trailer
by Adventure Trailers
7. ARBs JK with their new Roof Top Tent
8. Nicely outfitted JK by Wheelers for the
Wounded project
7 8
1 2 3
4
1. One of the campfires in the dry
camping area
2. AT’s Tear-Drop trailer on trailer course
#2
3. This trailer from Outlander Trailers
even had heat and AC for the tent !
4. The happy hour gals
5. Some of the vendors had mini-parties 6
at night
6. rs Landrover RV
7. Spotting on the Women’s course
8. They’ve got a grip for everyone
Wow, sounded like a lot and as I looked at the schedule of events, seminars, sponsors
and activities, the Overland Expo sounded very cool to say the least! From novice to
advanced driving courses, even a driving course for women, wilderness first aid,
photography, tire repair, vehicle recovery, food selection/storage, and so much more.
This being the very first Overland Expo, I got the feeling that I was going to be part of
something big that would only get bigger and better as time goes on. Packing my rig
for the weekend started a month before the event!
SUMMER 2009
Carol and I left Phoenix in our TJ Wrangler with our custom off-road trailer in tow. Jim
Galbraith followed us, a charter member of Jeep Expeditions, in his Curry built
Helldorado TJ towing a custom built trailer. Jim was attending the event as an exhibitor
representing the Jeep Expeditions club.
While driving the 100-plus miles to the Expo, we noticed some “exotic” rigs, the kind
you see in magazines. Among them, a Unimog with German license plates, a nicely
decked out Land Rover, and a Sportsmobile 4x4 van. I wondered if they were heading
to the Expo too and we later saw them at the Expo, which answered our question. With
15 miles to go, we passed a Grand Cherokee and said he was probably on his way to
the Expo and as luck would have it, we later found out that he was. The funny thing is
we weren’t sure where we were going and the Grand Cherokee driver with Alaskan
plates told us later he followed us because we looked like we knew where we were
going.
The anticipation was getting to me as we made the turn into the fairgrounds and saw
the vast number of vehicles already in the campgrounds. We quickly found the
registration table where we got our ID badges and some very nice canvas portfolios
containing lots of information about the event. Roseann Hanson, the event coordinator,
welcomed us to the Expo and showed Jim where the Jeep Expeditions area was. Our
next stop was to get Jim all set up with the club’s display.
As we pulled into the exhibition area, I heard someone with a European accent yell
“Hey, why do you have a Dutch license plate on your Jeep?” I yelled back, “How do you
know it’s a Dutch license plate” and he replied “Because I am from Holland.” Looking at
his rig, I could tell that he was a serious world traveler who was standing next to a huge
DAF RV with, you guessed it, Dutch license plates. My good friend and avid Jeeper gave
the license plate to me from Holland, Chris Linford, and in exchange, I gave him an
Arizona license plate.
After our first international encounter, the next thing I thought was, “Wow, how cool is
5
all of this?” There were all types of vehicles and off-road trailers set up in the exhibition
area, many with out of state plates and some with plates from foreign countries. Some
of the rigs were typical of what my club uses for our overland trips, some were quite
exotic, and then there were those that fall in between. I said to Carol and Jim that this
was going to be a weekend to remember.
It was time to head to the camping area to set up my weekend camp. I had all
intentions of setting up my trailer with its roof-top-tent in “dry camping” but the area
that had been assigned to the club for its display was huge. Even after Jim parked his
Jeep, set up his trailer, and set up the 10x10 EZ, there was room for my trailer and more.
Since I would be camped right there with a number of other exhibitors and right in the
middle of all the “action,” my trailer ended up being part of the Jeep Expeditions display
which put me right in the middle of everything.
Today was the first day of registration for exhibitors and participants. Participants and
exhibitors alike kept arriving well into the evening. The next day would be the first day
of activities with Saturday and Sunday being open to the general public. The official
kick-off was 7:30am Friday and one could feel the excitement in the air and the
anticipation of a great weekend.
On Friday morning the grandstands began filling up for the official welcome and
opening of the first Overland Expo. At 7:30am Roseann Hanson gave us a friendly
welcome, a short itinerary of the day’s events and where they would take place, and
officially opened the Expo. With the first of many field events and seminars to begin at
8am, the crowd dispersed eager to get into the days activities.
SUMMER 2009
With pretty much the same courses being offered up on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
I won’t bother to give a day-by-day detail. Carol and I pretty much had our weekend
mapped out with the events and seminars we wanted to attend and when. The first
thing we did, spending the better part of half the day, was to work our way around
“Exhibitors Row” to see who and what was there.
The Exhibitors area took up the entire area in front of and behind the grandstand
building, and then continued onto the track area. One thing that seemed obvious is
that Overland travel seems to be dominated by Toyotas and Rovers. They were
everywhere in the Exhibitors area. The Jeep Expeditions display seemed to say to the
8
world that while the Jeeps might have spent a lot of
time in the rock crawling part of the off-road sport, they
are becoming a larger part of the overland community.
The display included a custom TJ Wrangler built by
Curry as part of its show tour in the early 2000’s, and
two custom M101 military trailers with all the
accessories including roof top tents. Next to Jeep
Expeditions was a display by the Disabled Explorers.
Disabled Explorers is a non-profit organization
1
dedicated to showing those with disabilities that our
public lands and overland/off-road travel is just as
available to them as it is any other person. Lance Blair,
the founder, was an inspiration to all at the Expo
showing that the key part of the word disabled is “able.”
His rig was a nicely equipped FJ Cruiser wrapped in
vinyl showing their 5000 mile Continental Divide
expedition and sporting their name, logo, and sponsors.
With a rooftop tent on top, Lance is set up to hit the trail
without looking back. The Disabled Explorers motto is
“Adapt, Overcome, & Explore” and Lance has over
30,000 miles off-road to show for his efforts. For more
information on Disabled Explorers, please visit their
website at www.disabledexplorers.com.
Moving right along with the Expedition theme we
next visited the Expeditioneers. They have traveled the
world, producing content for such household names as
2
the Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National
Geographic. Their display consisted of two FJ Cruisers
and a Dodge truck, all outfitted for the long haul.
Continuing down Exhibitors row were manufacturer
and dealer displays. Mombassa Outdoors, ARB, Eezi-
Awn, and Camping Lab all were showing off their latest
roof-top-tents. The owner of Mombassa told me that
they are coming out with their newest roof top tent this
summer, a 3 man model, and it will be a solid
competitor to the other larger units currently in the
market. In addition, there will be some new modular
SUMMER 2009
There were a number of other retailers at the event showing and selling everything from a
hand-cranked blender to high quality expedition clothing.
Jeep and AEV had displays next to each other trackside. Scott Brown, the Jeep Rep at the
Expo, brought the Jeep “Skunkworks” project called the Jeep Overland. Outfitted with many
parts that you can go out and buy retail, it featured an ARB rack and roof top tent on top with
some special reinforcements between the top and the sport bars inside. Add to that AEV
products such as the heat reduction hood, a rear bumper that stores five gallons of water, an
AEV front bumper, and a custom made floor inside the Jeep to carry lots of cargo on those
long trips. I heard lots of comments from people boasting a 2,000-mile range and 110 gallons of water
wanting to see something like this offered from the on-board. With a six-month supply of food, a serious
factory but hey, that takes all the fun out of building it first aid kit, clothing, toys and other gear, this vehicle is
yourself. ready to cross the world and could well be the ultimate
Jeep also had 2 and 4-door Rubicon’s which I had the rescue, escape, or survival vehicle. Now all of this comes
opportunity to take out on the off-road course. Having at a cost that I am told was in the mid six-figure range.
never driven a JK on dirt and over obstacles before, I Very similar to the UNICAT and just as impressive was
was impressed with the comfort, stability, and the the GXV Overland Safari Model that debuted at the
roominess of the newest Wrangler. Expo. The GXV uses the Mercedes Unimog U500 cab
and chassis as its starting point but can also be
configured onto basically any chassis in the world (i.e.
Western Star, Freightliner, International, Mitsubishi in a
4x4 or 6x6 set up). GXV claims that their unit is a million
mile unit unlike the majority of other RVs, and has 10
times the durability of the average 4x4 RV. Looking at
their vehicle, I can believe it. One thing is for sure, if and
when I ever hit the Powerball, I will be getting one of
these rigs.
Some of the other vehicles on display and represented
were Toyota trucks and FJ Cruisers by Toyota of Dallas,
Land Rover vehicles by a number of participants and
Land Rover of Las Vegas, the Earthroamer (http://www.
earthroamer.com) XV-JP driven by Expeditions West,
motorcycles, H3 Hummer, and a few others. The 1960s
Crowd at Jeep Expeditions display
Land Rover “fire truck” was the coolest LR there next to
the Defender 90 that was a vegetable oil, diesel-
The new J8 by AEV - www.aev-conversions.com - was powered rig. Sportsmobile (www.sportsmobile.com)
on display and due to its diesel power got lots of had a number of their 4x4 conversion vans on display
attention. The J8 is the Egyptian military version of the including the new Rescue model that was developed
4-door Wrangler. With structural reinforcements, a leaf for the Qatar National Search and Rescue Teams. The
spring rear suspension, 2.8 VM turbo diesel putting out Sportsmobiles are very capable and fully equipped
174hp and 339 lb/ft of torque all hooked up to an HD full-size rigs, and did well on the off road course.
D44 front and D60 rear, this Jeep meant business. Kent Of the hands on field events going on during the
Klein from AEV told me that the tow capacity on this Expo, the two that seemed the most popular amongst
model was over 7000 lbs, twice that of the factory JK, the guys was 4-Wheel Overland Driving and 4-Wheel
and that it got about 28 mpg on the highway. Is the Recovery, followed by Overland Trailer Driving, Tire
rocket launcher an option? Repair I for Punctures & Beads, Tire Repair II for Tears &
SUMMER 2009
As mentioned earlier, there were lots of unique and Sutures, and then Overland Trailer Repair. For the ladies,
exotic vehicles at the show. Two vehicles stood out in it was by far the Overland Driving for Women.
the crowd: The UNICAT (www.unicatamericas.com) and I have to say that I enjoyed all of the field events that I
Global Xpedition Vehicle or GXV (www.globalxvehicles. attended. While the Overland Driving was pretty much
com). These were huge and attracted lots of attention. beginner for someone like me who has been Jeeping
There were two UNICAT models on display, both of for many years, it was fun and something that a new
them huge and both of them with International Truck driver would really love and get benefit from. It started
cabs and chassis as their starting point. They claim to out with a nice dirt pile to go over (low clearance
be the premiere expedition vehicle in the world, vehicles need not apply) and then steeply into a ditch
about five feet deep and out again. Short wheelbase
vehicles had no problems though some long wheelbase
vehicles had more of a challenge. The course then went
into a series of holes designed to show articulation,
then into another bumpy area and into the ditch again
for some off-camber experience and then out. It was
fun enough that many people wanted to do it twice.
The 4-Wheel Recovery field class was informative and
interesting and always drew a crowd. It was more
classroom under the blue sky than anything and some ARBs JK with their new Roof Top Tent
winching and such would have made it really fun but
still a course that even the seasoned wheeler can learn
Tire Repair, both I & II, was popular. After all, who
a new trick or two.
hasn’t seen tire mishaps and carnage on the trail? The
bottom line of these courses is that most tire damage
can be repaired well enough to get you back to
civilization. Recommended for everyone who attends
next year and for those who can’t attend, check out the
spring issue of JPFreek and part two of the tire repair
series found in this issue.
Overland Trailer Repair dealt mainly with bearing
failure. Sponsored by Adventure Trailers, it focused on
replacing bearings and dealing with other failures such
as the braking system out in the field. Yearly
preventative maintenance was stressed as was carrying
a bearing set or two that take up little room in your
spare parts bag. Being one who has had a wheel come
off due to catastrophic bearing failure in the past, I
Connie Rodman of the food packing, could appreciate this class and the need for it.
safety seminar
Now for the ladies.
My fiancé and photographer Carol has never been
behind the wheel of a Jeep off-road. The Overland
Driving for Women course seemed to be a natural for
her to attend. The class Carol attended had about 15
women with huge Sportsmobile 4x4 conversion vans as
their rigs. Don’t get me wrong. These vans were nicely
SUMMER 2009
some that take you into the wilds for three days like signals that when followed, would help us be successful.
Becoming an Outdoors Woman or BOW. Kristina has been Kristina went with each woman to act as spotter and
overlanding for a number of years, and has been with mentor and gave the standard spotter hand signals to
Overland Training for two years. help get them through the course.
Now that you know who she is, let me tell you about the The first obstacle was a rather large dip and then a
course. Until now, all of my off-road experiences had been corresponding hill up. That obstacle presented a challenge
in the passenger seat, taking picture. Kristina started out for one lady in one of the large Sportsmobiles but after
by explaining things that the guys always seem to be several tries, she made it. The second obstacle was a small
talking about: articulation, lockers, 4-Low, off-camber. but long hole where she had explained that we would
Things that I never really thought much about but now need to approach it at an angle to make sure that we kept
realize the importance of them. She took the time to enough traction. The third was a series of holes that were
explain to us how to get in 4-Low and what the benefits spaced out so that one tire went in, then came out, then
are, using your gearing and engine for controlled braking the opposite tire would go in then out, then back to the
SUMMER 2009
downhill, negotiating off-camber areas, and how and other side again. It was an exercise to get used to the feel
when to use lockers to better control your traction. of the vehicle and to experience articulation. The last
After the “classroom” instruction, Kristina then walked us obstacle was one that I was excited to try. It was an
around the course and explained each obstacle, the best off-camber slope from 10-20%. Being pretty sure I could
way to approach them, and how to maneuver through take the higher 20% incline, I was more than eager to give
them successfully. When each woman approached for her it a try and I wanted to take the “hard line.” Each woman
turn at the course, Kristina asked if they were in 4-Low, did great, and there were only a few that didn’t have the
then explained to us each a set of hand signals she would ground clearance necessary to completely finish the
be using to guide us along the track. Very simple hand course.
Completing the course, I felt a sense of achievement and
was ready to hit the course again with my new “yes I can”
attitude. My guy had better watch out, because he may
find that I may be asking for my share of time in the
driver’s seat from now on!”
I mentioned classroom seminars earlier. A number of
interesting and off-road appropriate topics were offered
4 in a classroom setting, some complete with slideshow
presentations and all with visual aids. It’s a tough choice
deciding which class might have been the most
radio. The licensing requirements for Ham radio have There were many other training sessions I attended,
been relaxed and you no longer have to know Morse including one on photography. The instructor said that
Code to get the basic license. The test is fairly easy if some of his best pictures are taken with a simple and
you spend some time studying. In short, I recommend inexpensive point and shoot digital camera. While he
that all of you consider getting licensed for Ham. has a high mega pixel professional Canon camera, he
The SPOT device (www.findmespot.com) can do a still carries the camera like many of us have and uses it
number of things from sending out messages to loved too.
ones that simply state that you are OK, calling for help/ For those that craved to learn more about some of the
assistance, and allowing people to track you in real time long-term trips that many of the presenters have
completed, there was the Overland Theater that traversed the continent from the tip of South America
offered a number of slideshow, PowerPoint, and video to the U.S. with many points in between. A trip of a
documentations from Expeditions all over the world by lifetime for most of us and just another part of their
those who did them. These were very interesting and continuing journey. The Dekoe’s have documented
besides the audience being riveted to their seats during their travels via photo albums and blogs which you can
these presentations, there was a lot of interaction and visit and learn more about (http://home.hetnet.
Q&A going on. nl/~f2hjadekoe74/) and
Earlier I hinted at an international flavor to the event. (http://www.dekoe.waarbenjij.nu/).
Not only could one talk with veteran explorers who There was so much to do and see at the Expo that I
easily could be your neighbor, there was no shortage of could easily double the size of this story and still not
people from other countries at the expo. These citizens get everything in. There were several important lessons
of the world were not there to put on any seminars or that I learned and that most everyone can learn at
classes but were there as part of their journeys, future events. The most important lesson is that the
participants just like the rest of us in a first time event. I world is both a large and small playground separated
met people from Germany, Austria, England, the by oceans, lakes, mountains, and political borders.
Netherlands, Canada and elsewhere. Their stories were While the news media has portrayed the world to be a
fascinating and their rigs were anything from mild to dangerous place, the people I talked to who have
wild. It so happens that the first person I met, you traveled all over the world tell me that for the most
remember, the Dutchman who commented on my part, the world is a very safe place to travel if you are
Dutch license plate, has been traveling the world for well-prepared and use common sense. People all over
the last nine years. the world, from the poorest areas of Africa, Asia, Central
Johan and Diane Dekoe, along with their dog Boomer, and South America, are people like you and me. They
have been driving their 1981 DAF since they purchased are friendly, inquisitive, and love to meet strangers on
and outfitted the ex-Dutch army vehicle in 2004. The the journey of life. It reminded me of two parts of the
DAF 4x4 weighs in at just under 25,000 lbs loaded and Jaycee Creed that states “That the brotherhood of man
is outfitted with a 175hp diesel engine, 5-speed transcends the sovereignty of nations” and “That earth’s
transmission with high and low range, and a top speed great treasure lies in human personality.”
of 65mph. At 9mpg it needs the 159 gallons of fuel it Another lesson to be learned is no matter how much
can carry in two tanks. Johann told me it can easily you know or think you know, there is always something
travel through water to a depth of nearly 4 feet, has a new to learn, today, tomorrow and every day in the
wheelbase of 13 feet, and has a turning radius of 59 future if you take the time and opportunity. And lastly,
feet with power assist steering. The camper box is you don’t have to own a million dollar vehicle or
approximately 7x14 feet with a 6.4 feet interior height. something exotic to have fun Overlanding. You just
For long-range travel it can carry nearly 90 gallons of need a good running, high clearance 4x4 with some
fresh water plus 10 gallons just for the outside shower minimum equipment and the urge to get away from
unit. It has satellite reception, solar panels, 500-watt civilization to explore. Perhaps some of you will take
generator, transformers and converters for 12v, 24v, the time next year to visit Expo 2010 so that you, too,
SUMMER 2009
110v, and 220v, multiple batteries, and heat and A/C to can be ready for the adventure of a lifetime when it
mention just a few features. calls or just that simple weekend trip to the mountains.
While I was fascinated by their vehicle, I could never
get tired of listening to the tales of their first adventures
through North Africa to the Middle East, Turkey, and
back home through Eastern Europe. Then to their next
expedition which brought them here today. It started
four years ago in South America beginning with a long
voyage by ship from Europe. Since then they have
AvAilAble Now
SUMMER 2009
cker
Text and Photos by Kraig Be
By the time we reached camp, the rain was already beginning to fall but the thick jungle canopy prevented it from soaking
us on the jungle floor. We had dinner in a permanent structure built to be a mess hall and by the time darkness set in, a
full-blown thunderstorm was raging overhead. I crawled onto a cot that night with the sounds of the jungle, and that
thunderstorm, all around me. I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate I was to be in that place at that time.
My journey to the Amazon was far too brief and before I knew it, it was time to go. But I knew, even as I set out for home,
that I would carry those experiences with me for a lifetime. Without a doubt, the Amazon is an inspiration for adventure and
a destination that I would recommend adding to your “life list.” You won’t be disappointed, and you’re likely to come home
richer for the experience.
Are you tired of the same old music services that promise genre diversity
but wind up forcing you to listen to ad after ad after ad, only after listening
to a few songs that aren’t even specific to what you like to listen to? Those
days are now over!
JPFreek Adventure Magazine is proud to announce a new age in music
delivery with the creation of JPFreek Radio through Slacker.com, an
internet-based music service that is so unique that even PC Magazine calls it
“the most exciting thing in digital music to happen in a long time.”
Ullswater Dawn -
courtesy of Alex Messenger of UKClimbing.com
SUMMER 2009
SUMMER 2009
Special Thanks to UKClimbing.com and its members for sharing a selection of their top photos.
SUMMER 2009
www.gsioutdoors.com
SUMMER 2009
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SUMMER 2009
Jerry Dickson grins as he shows me the historical his faithful Jeep, and as we prepare for the trip, he
marker with the story of a tall tale spinning amputee comments by saying, “You BK’s can climb all over
who always came out of the mountains with a bit of everything,” referring to my below the knee prosthetic
SUMMER 2009
gold. “See, we aren’t the first Disabled Explorers to versus his almost at the hip. In the end it is our desire to
travel this desert” he says as we enjoy the moment. see the remote areas and enjoy the peace of wild places
Jerry has brought me out to see his favorite parts of that draw us together. Being handicapped is more
Anza Borrego State Park and spend a weekend of along the lines of being from the same hometown,
wheeling, camping, and comparing how each of us interesting but not the end of the story.
gets around as amputees. We are nearly the same age, As we were heading out of town and into the hills,
and we lost our legs around the same time and both Jerry and I enjoyed plenty of radio chatter about future
love to get out to the backside of beyond with our trips, different ways to setup rigs, and off-road trailers
four-wheel drive vehicles. I drive a Toyota and Jerry has versus bigger trucks and more. Nothing passes the time
like the beauty of southern California’s mountains and Jerry is an old hand at trekking around Anza Borrego
good friends to talk to. and he navigates his trusted 2007 Wrangler X on trails
One aspect that holds true regardless of disabled he knows well. This isn’t the first Jeep or the first time
showing off the area he loves. Jerry bought his first
SUMMER 2009
2009
Jeep Wrangler Overland from Mopar Underground
Built to demonstrate the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited outfitted for extended overland travel
Base vehicle:
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 3.8 L V6 205 HP
240 lb.-ft torque, 4 speed auto trans, front and rear lockers,
Dana 44 axles w/ 4.10 gears, disconnecting front stabilizer
bar, stone white w/ color matched flares and hardtop
Suspension:
2.5" Mopar lift kit, Full Traction rear sway bar,
Bilstein shocks, BF Goodrich 35" KM2 tires mounted
on Mopar 17" steel 'winter' wheels (color matched)
Mopar:
Front seat covers, slush mats, windshield mounted
off road lights, steel differential guards, cat-back exhaust
AEV:
Heat reduction hood, snorkel, front bumper, rear bumper
w/spare tire carrier and 5 gallon water storage
ARB:
SPRING 2009
Daystar:
Upper dash bin, off road lights, winch cable isolator
Warn:
9.5ti winch
elite
SUMMER 2009
jeep “lower forty”
The Jeep “Lower Forty” is equipped with
massive 40-inch x 13.5-inch 0R20LT tires
mounted on Mopar 20-inch forged aluminum
wheels, custom front and rear fender flares
1-inch wider and 4-inches higher compared
with a stock vehicle, an all-new roll cage
neatly integrated into the body tub and tied
directly into the frame rails, a new one-piece-
carbon-fiber hood with a Jeep CJ-like power
dome, and an all-new drop-down tailgate
stamped with the “Jeep” logo.
SUMMER 2009
SUMMER 2009
SUMMER 2009
74°W 72°W 70°W
50°S
50°S
AT L A N
PUERTO
NATALES
Argentina
52°S
TIC OC
Chile
52°S
PA C I F I
EAN
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PUNTA
TI
CE
ARENAS
ER
AN
RA
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54°S
L
FU
54°S
EG
O
0 25 50 75 100
Kilometers
74°W 72°W 70°W 68°W
SUMMER 2009
The anticipation of race day grew and grew as
Team Calleva made the long and eventful trip
to Torres del Paines. A flat tire added about an
hour to the drive, allowing team members Sara
and Mark a chance to reflect on the coming
challenges under a full-moon sky. After a feast
that included roasted pig with potatoes and
salad, the team managed to catch a few “Zs”
before their short trek the next morning to
Lago Grey for the race start.
SUMMER 2009
A challenging mountain pass posed an oncoming
challenge and with little daylight and Team Captain
Mark Lattanzi ailing from his cold, the team decided to
pitch camp below the first steep ascent. As luck would
have it, the team endured a downpour of rain that
lasted throughout the night and with water finding its
way into the team’s tent, their sleeping gear became
damp and stayed that way throughout the remainder of
the race.
By the time the sun had risen, there was a slight break
in the cloud coverage that allowed the team to find the
right crossing to get over and across another long river
valley. At day’s end the team had reached the third
checkpoint still in fourth place.
Stage Four saw the team back on their mountain bikes
for a 137km ride through mud bogs, a ride along the
coast, and a final 60km push that featured a “flat and
crazy head wind” that slowed the team to a near crawl.
Mark was still suffering from his cold and along the last
stretch to checkpoint four, a race photographer offered
him an Emergen-C that became the turning point for
Mark and his cold. Checkpoint four turned out to be the
The team awoke at 5am in preparation for a 90km
litmus test for the field of nine teams and as Stage Five
kayak stage that would begin with a shore crossing. By
kicked off, four of the nine teams had retired leaving
6:45am the team had launched off to begin the stage
only five teams, including Team Calleva, in the race.
and other than race officials and a few photographers,
the team wouldn’t see anybody again until the end of
the race. A fjord on the far side of the shore sent some
Patagonian wind as an obstacle but the team managed
without much problem.
Stage Six began with a planned 120km trek that would push the team to the end point in Cape Froward.
Shortly after their departure at noon, the team managed to cross two small mountain passes and reach the
base of a tall mountain ridge. Believing they had enough daylight to successfully cross the ridge, Team
Calleva made the determined decision to push forward. The team had managed to cross the ridge but with
the weather having gotten cloudy, the team accidentally summated a nearby mountain not planned for on
their route. Once they had cross the ridgeline, it was dark and they were on top of a glacier. As Mark would
later say, “Rather than risk a night-time descent on ice and snow across unfamiliar terrain, we found a small
ledge and pitched the tent. Silly camping near the mountain top but we didn’t want to risk falling into the
dark snowy abyss.”
In the morning there were a few inches of snow piled along the outer edge of the team’s tent and once the
team had picked up their camp, they navigated their way down the glacier but realized they hadn’t gone far
enough north and consequently chose to angle themselves back towards the Strait of Magellan rather than
cross the mountains into the desired river valley. The team realized their error and decided to follow the
coast up to the mouth of the Rio San Bernabe and hike up the river to the desired route. At this point the
team was nearly out of food and when they reached a mandatory waypoint crossing at the Rio del Oro, they
SUMMER 2009
made an unlucky decision to trek over a ridge and hike over the mountains to Cape Froward, a distance of
approximately 15km. The team didn’t realize though that this choice would force them to navigate through
canyons, cliffs, and ìimpenetrable” thickets.
The team managed to cross the mountain pass and was ready to descend towards the coast where they
could almost taste the finish; however, they wound up descending into a canyon with 70m cliffs on every
side. Armed with but only one spare headlamp and daylight soon becoming a commodity, the team
continued forward with the lighthouse at the finish line visible in the far distance.
A quick side note: Somewhere along the way Mark’s
camera came off its tether and consequently all his
photos for the race were lost.
As the team coasteered for approximately three hours,
they finally reached a beach and decided to get some
quick rest before continuing on. Ninety minutes later
the team packed up and headed towards the
lighthouse about 1km away. As it turned out though,
the lighthouse the team arrived at turned out to be the
wrong lighthouse. The true finish line was
approximately 5km away. To make matters worse, there
was a large cliff at this point and rather than trying to
swim around the cliff, the team opted to go over it and
approach the finish line from above. A series of
unfortunate decisions would result in Team Calleva
ascending and descending cliffs with no apparent end
in sight.
It was now noon on Friday and the race was officially
over. The team’s satellite phone had died and they
hadn’t eaten in several days. Mark and Val were
exhausted and borderline hypothermic so Druce and
Sara decided to try and navigate a trail through the
thick trees and underbrush with hopes of reaching the
finish line and retrieving help for their teammates. A
few hours later Mark and Val heard a helicopter and
later found out that Druce and Sara had found the
finish line but nobody was there. On a whim they
decided to reset their Spot Messenger®
www.findmespot.com - and managed to send out a
distress call with their location. Not much longer and
race officials found the two of them along the sea cross,
then found Mark and Val where they were flown back
to the Punta Arenas Hospital. Four hours later, Team
Calleva arrived at the awards ceremony where they
received their fourth place reward and a warm
welcome from their fellow competitors.
The 2009 Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race had
SUMMER 2009
camping lab
Gotta Jeep?
Get the Catalog.
®
Expert Advice SUMMER 2009
Summer 2009
er
’ s wint nsin
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Fore g roads lko’s
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are
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Summer 2009
Kraig Schlueter’s “Trail Rated” 2008 Patriot Limited FDII with CVT2L
navigates the Broken Arrow Trail near Sedona, Arizona. Other than a Yakima
Load Warrior roof rack, Kraig’s Patriot is completely stock but finds its
home all over the trails in northern Arizona and southern Utah.
Todd Gamiles’ red 2009
Patriot FDI takes a
break while in the
Colorado backcountry
with Bill Dawson’s 2007
Patriot with FDII.
Susan Rand’s
2008 Patriot
Sport 4x2 may not
be four-wheel
drive but that
hasn’t kept it
from backcountry
adventure. Shown
here is Susan’s
Patriot while
at Joshua Tree
National Park in
California.
Summer 2009
Trust us to have
the best customer
service and the
best prices to help
you get outfitted.
Summer 2009
Rompy trails to
you and yours!
-- Ken Damico
President
(888)221-6574 - www.rompalicious.com
EXPEDITION DISCUSSIONS
Removing &
Fitting a Tire
Text and photos by Martyn Davies
This is the “ultimate in tire repair with hand tools.” You’d have to
perform this task if your tire is completely shredded, or the repair
you have to perform is major and cannot be done by breaking
and removing one side of the tire from the rim. What I like about
this task is that once you’ve mastered it, everything else with
tires is easy sailing.
We’ll follow on from the last article on valve stem replacement
where we learned to use Tyrepliers to break the bead.
SAFETY:
• All of the field repairs are temporary and need to be looked
at by a tire shop on your return to civilization
• Use your spare tire as your initial replacement
• Major repairs should be made, when possible, to the now
damaged spare tire
• All repairs should be done after securing your vehicle and
in a safe environment
keep the tire pulled up over the rim, and then remove the Deluxe
Tire Iron. The Standard Tire Iron will remain in this position until the
front of the tire is off the rim.
Lubricate an area of the tire and rim about 6-8 inches to one side of
where the tire is riding on the lip of the rim. Repeat
the process of slipping the Deluxe Tire Iron between
the tire and rim, hooking the tire. Lever the next
portion of the tire up and over the rim.
Leaving the Deluxe Tire Iron hooked on the tire, hit
the iron with a mallet to try to work the iron along
the tire/rim interface, getting more tire to slip out
and over the rim. Use lots of lubrication for this,
either soapy water or Windex.
Keep the
portion of the
tire still inside
the rim tucked
up into the
“well” of the rim.
This gives you
SUMMER 2009
more tire to
work with.
When the mallet stops slipping around the rim, use
the iron to pry the rim upwards. Lubricate and try
moving the iron with the mallet again.
Once you have half the tire off the rim they part
company easily. For the last sections you will have to place your foot
on the rim to stabilize it as you use the iron to lever the
tire on. Keeping the tire in the well helps in the process.
FITTING THE FRONT OF THE TIRE OVER
THE FRONT OF THE RIM
Lubricate the edges of the tire and rim. Kneel on the tire and
work at least half of the front of the tire onto the rim and into the
well. Hold one side of the tire down into the rim with the
Standard Iron
h
hi-lift® jack adjustable
tube mounts
t
Hi-Lift’s Adjustable Tube Mounts make it possible to mount
your Hi-Lift® jack to round or square tube bumpers, bull bars,
roll cages, and roof racks from 1” up to 3” in diameter. The
adjustable tube mounts are made from 6061-T6 structural
aluminum, are easy to install and remove, and will fit most any
vehicle.
• For more information, visit the Hi-Lift website at www.
hi-lift.com
SUMMER 2009
omf performance
introduces new rock
starz for beadlocks
The minds over at OMF Performance Products, Inc.
have taken their extremely popular Rock Crawling
Domes to the next level through custom powder
coating and machining. This new version of the
Rock Crawling Domes are known as Rock Starz, and
are available in a number of different custom
powder coated colors to fit almost any theme. The Rock Starz are sold in a set of 12 (fits on every other bolt of a 24
bolt beadlock design) and can be purchased for $44.95 per set, including the custom powder coating. The Rock
Starz can also be purchased in a raw aluminum finish for $39.95 per set of 12, or the original Rock Crawling Domes
for $29.95 per set of 12.
For more information about OMF’s new Rock Starz or their Beadlock products, please visit www.
OMFperformance.com or call 951-354-8272.
Quadratec® ultimate
all-Weather cargo liners
Presenting the only Floor Liners good enough to put the Quad-
ratec name on! The best does not have to be expensive, and Quad-
ratec’s cleverly designed floor liners feature the only Limited Life-
time Warranty in the business. The Ultimate Floor Liners for
Wrangler (87-06 YJ/TJ & 07-09 JK) provide ultimate floor protection
for active lifestyles, and are engineered with the finest materials for
total protection against water, snow and mud. The Ultimate Floor
Liners follow the exact contours of the floor pan and fit like a glove. Extra
tall sides and 5/16” deep tire tread pattern contains water and debris -
keeping your footwear clean and dry.
Made from tough polyethylene that is
both chemical & stain resistant, the
Ultimate Floor Liners are 2 times the
thickness and weight of other liners on
the market today. These will not crack,
break, or loose their shape. Nibbed
bottom tread keeps the liners safely in
position and are EZ to remove for cleaning.
• For more information, visit the Quadratec
website at www.quadratec.com
deluxe hood-mounted
hi-lift jack mount for
cj, yj and tj
Text and photos by Mike Fissel
One thing you can always count on when you see a Some of our members have tried some of the other
line of Jeeps going down the road is the fact that nearly newer mounting systems that actually put the jack
every one of them will have a Hi-Lift jack and they are inside your Jeep. That works for TJs and JKs unless you
usually mounted everywhere and anywhere. have the 60” model. Hood-mounted systems have been
My Hi-Lift jack was mounted on my custom rear tire around for a while and that is another option to get
carrier…that’s until I got my new 60” Hi-Lift Extreme. your jack up higher and out of the mud and muck. They
After my purchase, I found that my new Hi-Lift would are not all created equal so it pays to shop.
no longer mount to my tire carrier unless I was to So shop we did and we found the Toadhop Metal
fabricate something to mount it vertically. If I did this Shop. We liked what we saw with their 1st generation
though, it would stick up about 8” higher than the roof hood mount for the Hi-Lift jack and I emailed the
and catch every tree limb and branch, potentially owner, Jim, for more information. Jim told me that he
causing something to break. was working on the 2nd generation model and would
have it done by the first of the year so I arranged to
have a YJ and a TJ model sent to us when they were
ready. Knowing what I know about Jeeps, the YJ model
should work with no problem on a CJ for owners of the
classic model that started it all.
In January, I received both of the new models at the
Jeep Expeditions headquarters in Arizona. I opened up
the boxes to inspect the new product and was very
pleased with the quality of the welds and construction
and the heavy-duty nature of the bracket. It just so
happens that they arrived prior to our annual
membership meeting so I brought them along for our
members to take a look. The opinion seemed to be the
same…very nice design and the quality of
workmanship was excellent. Moondust volunteered to
Lance’s Jack was mounted down low and was
SUMMER 2009
subject to mud, water, sand androad grime mount the CJ/YJ model on his rig and we planned for a
“wrenching party” to do the installations on my TJ and
his YJ.
Sometimes it isn’t how you mount your jack but So on installation day we lined up our Jeeps and
where you mount it. A friend of mine nicknamed prepped them for their new mounts. We set the mount
Moondust has his mounted on the front bumper of his aside and opened the bag with the instructions and
YJ. Sitting down low like that tends to pick up dust, hardware. The instructions are short, sweet, and to the
mud, water, and road grime, which is no friend to your point. We were ready for Jeep #1, the TJ.
Hi-Lift jack.
Here is what yoiu get ready for installation
Per the instructions, we took some thick cardboard Moondust removing the factory hinge bolts
and placed it under the rear of the hood to support
it when we removed the hinge bolts. With
cardboard in place, the hinge bolts were removed
and we moved along. The Toadhop kit includes a
set of cork gaskets that go between your factory
hinges and the mount bracket. I thought about it
for a while and realized that the cork does a couple
of things. It protects the top of your factory hinge
from the “metal to metal” contact of the hinge and
the mount, and it will probably prevent rust and act
as a sort of a cushion to also protect the hinges.
With the cork gaskets set on top of the hinges, we
placed the mount carefully on the hood by lining
up the boltholes. The Toadhop kit includes six new
bolts that must be used with the mount as your old
hood bolts will be too short. As the instructions
Bolts to secure jack
stated, we started the front bolts first and then the
rear bolts and when all were in place, we proceeded
to tighten them all up.
SUMMER 2009
The mount is placed on top of the hood and ready for bolts
The final step is to slide the supplied MasterLock on the locking pin and installation is complete.
We did the same for the YJ and ran into one problem. The supplied hood bolts were metric and the
threaded nuts on the YJ are 5/16’s SAE. Knowing Jeeps, I have to wonder if some YJs are metric and some
SUMMER 2009
not. The project YJ was a 1995 model. I spoke with Jim from Toadhop Metal Shop and future kits will be
shipped with both SAE and Metric bolts.
Was the installation easy? You bet it was, and time-wise took less than half an hour to do. Does it look
good? Absolutely! Gives you more of that “road warrior” look.
My next thought was how long will it take me to get used to looking at it on the hood. Would it be a
distraction and would my fiancée not like it on the hood. So we took it to dinner at the drive-in movies that
night. I got used to it being on the hood in front of me pretty quickly when driving. It was not a distraction
when driving or watching two movies through the windshield and my fiancée gave me her approval.
Mission accomplished!
The final results
In conclusion, the Toadhop Hi-Lift Jack mount is a heavy-duty unit that is a functional alternative for mounting
your Hi-Lift jack and workmanship and quality construction are evident. The integrated MasterLock locking pin,
which is similar to a hitch lock pin, was a great idea and will keep your expensive jack safe from thieves. It will
keep your jack up and out of the mud and water that will make it last longer and work when you need it.
You can buy cheaper mounts but you won’t buy a better-built one that will give you a lifetime of service.
Contact Jim at the Toadhop Metal Shop via email at Contact@Toadhopshop.com
or on their website at www.toadhopshop.com.
2nd Edition
This is THE BOOK that every buyer of a 4x4 should be given as soon as he
takes possession of his new wheels.
The book covers everything one could and should know, and is written so
that the average person can understand even the theory behind lockers
and different 4-wheel drive systems. But the book is so much more. Even
Now
veteran wheelers can appreciate much of the information that it has to Even
offer.
One of the sections that I found interesting was the one dealing with
Mappier!
nearly every 4x4 model sold in America from 1960 to 2008, rating them for
on and off-road performance, aftermarket support, and modification
potential. It made me feel proud to be a Jeep owner! From chapters titled
“Attitude and Emergencies: Zen and the Art of 4 Wheeling” to “Navigation
and Field Repairs: Bring ‘Em Back Alive”, this book has it all. Want to see
some recovery tricks, or are you considering a basic or advanced build-up?
They are covered here. Gears to lockers to transfer cases, transmissions and
tires. There isn’t much that you should know about 4-wheeling that isn’t
SUMMER 2009
After some amazing months spent hang gliding and then surfing for the
first two phases of the KAVU Elements Tour (which were covered in previ-
ous JPFreek issues), Seth Warren and his crew headed to the mountains for
phase three.
Begun in August 2008, the year-long Elements Tour is following the
complete life cycle of water while carrying a variety of athletes, activists,
and educators across Mexico, the US, and Canada. The mission of the tour
is to educate students and others about what they can do to satisfy their
energy needs by using renewable resources, as well as how to live more
sustainable lifestyles. Since August, the tour has put on more than 70
public events in 37 cities and given presentations to about 9,000 students.
This adventure keeps Seth on the road a lot and demands a one-of-a-kind
vehicle. His unique ride is a 1987 Toyota truck dubbed “Baby.” A former fire
SUMMER 2009
truck in Japan, Seth converted the truck’s diesel engine to run on any kind
of natural oil, from used restaurant grease to fish oil to commercial biodie-
sel. It also captures solar, wind, and kinetic energy that is stored in 14
on-board batteries for later use as electricity. It even has a stage and tents
that fold out to create an ideal platform for speaking and live music. It’s
basically a sustainability machine.
The Elements Tour is also about having fun in nature’s playground. Seth, a
former pro kayaker, demonstrates what the water cycle is by comparing it
to such nature-propelled outdoor sports as kayaking, surfing, skiing, and
hang gliding. This comparison really gets the kids’ attention and makes
sustainability understandable and relevant to them. Many are skiers and
surfers themselves, so they can relate to the lesson. It’s also fun for them to
realize that there are “grown ups” who are as enthusiastic about outdoor
sports as they are.
For the mountain phase of the tour, naturally the sport was skiing and the
crew was fortunate to experience a ton of good snow this year. After kicking
off the New Year at the Peruvian Lodge at Alta Ski Area in Utah, Seth began
assembling a phenomenal crew of pro skiers who would join him on the
tour. In addition to contributing to the school presentations, these athletes
also provided the action footage that Seth will use in his current film project,
Nature Propelled (due out in early 2010), the follow-up to his award-winning
documentary Oil + Water (www.oilandwaterproject.org).
From Utah, Seth and the crew rolled into a handful of ski
towns in Colorado including Durango, Silverton, Salida,
and Buena Vista, where they gave presentations at
elementary, middle, and high schools. At the high school
in Buena Vista, the physics class was building an electric
car as a project. Impressive!
The tour also hit the slopes in Taos Ski Valley, Utah; Jackson Hole,
Wyoming; and Sun Valley, Idaho. They also spent several days in Salt Lake
City at the huge Outdoor Retailer show. In nearby Park City, Utah where
Seth attended high school, he did a presentation at his alma mater and also
one at Park City Mountain Resort, where bands performed from the top of
“Baby” using electricity generated from the truck to power their equip-
ment. Along with the ski hills, they also had some unbelievable backcoun-
try adventures in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, Teton Pass in
Wyoming, and Powder Creek in British Columbia.
SUMMER 2009
Seth also toured San Juan BioEnergy in Colorado where Seth filled up
Baby with vegetable oil and took a tour of their gasifier, an engineering
marvel that can vaporize any kind of organic material into a gas that they
use to create electricity (San Juan BioEnergy mainly uses waste products
from the farming industry). This is revolutionary stuff and it also gave Seth
an idea. Why not build a vehicle that’s powered by gasification?
Since he’s always inspired by the enthusiasm and creativity of the kids,
Seth decided to get them in on this idea, too. So, in late April he created
the Biomass Gasification Vehicle Challenge. Here’s how it works: First,
students design and submit a drawing or
description of a sidekick vehicle that will
tour with Baby and that uses a biomass
gasification system as its power source.
The best design idea received will be used
in the construction of an actual vehicle
that will be Baby’s sidekick and road
partner. The winning kid(s) will get to join
the Elements Tour for a day and ride
around in Baby and the new biomass
vehicle. In future installments, we’ll report
on how this the contest is going.
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Guilin
Text & Photos by Marco Santarsiere
SUMMER 2009
After hiking Mt. Huashan, we (Jon, Becky, and I) took an early flight out of
Xi’an the next morning to Guilin. The flight was about two and a half hours.
As a snack, we were served a very dark egg at room temperature in a sealed
package. Jon told us it was a duck egg that I found to be not so yummy.
Becky and I had taken our second Malarone tablet that morning (we always
made sure to take it with a little food). The only reason we were taking the
anti-malarial medication was because of how much further south Guilin is
in regards to Beijing and Xi’an and the higher risk of catching Malaria.
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We arrived in Guilin and thought it was odd that we needed to show our
ticket stubs from our flight to get our checked luggage. We paid 25rmb and
boarded a bus that was going to take us to Guilin from the airport. The bus
dropped us off virtually in the middle of a busy street with taxicab vendors
all over the place. One in particular was able to shuffle us towards his car
amidst all the chaos. It seemed like everyone who got off the bus was
trying to get their bags from the holding containers at once, and there was
an inkling of fear that the bus would just leave without warning.
We had booked a room at the Li Jiang Waterfall hotel The Chinese used quite a bit of artificial light with a
and once again we used Jon’s work laptop to book a variety of colors on the differing limestone stalactites
great rate at a decent hotel. We got into our cab and and stalagmites. Add in the pools with the rock
Jon told the taxi driver to take us to the Waterfall Hotel formations and the lights, and it makes for a dramatic
so we could check in. The cabbie went on to tell Jon result. The tour was going to take 45 minutes and was
that the Waterfall Hotel was all booked, but he could in Chinese. You could purchase a tour in English for
take us somewhere else that had room available for 10rmb. We walked through on our own and finished in
sure. Jon was not buying it and started to motion for us 30 minutes.
to get out of the cab but the driver saw what was going After the caves, we went and had dinner at an
on and did not want to lose everything, so he relented American restaurant called Rosemary Café that was
and said he would take us to the hotel that we had quite good and a nice change from our usual diet (Jon
booked. had his first burrito in 6 months!). We discussed the
We got there and noticed the rack rates were agenda for the next day over dinner and decided we
alarming. If you take one thing from this article series, wanted to take a two-hour bus ride to the backpacker
book your hotel rooms 1-3 days ahead of time in China mecca of Yangshuo for the day. A good friend of mine,
to save a lot of money. Jon sorted out our reservation Dan, who had traveled to China extensively, said going
and we were given a room with a nice view. Since we to Yangshuo was a must.
had arrived in the early afternoon, we decided to take a
cab over to the Reed Flute Caves. The caves were
awesome!
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We woke up and were out the door by 7am to catch sit back there. We were not sure if it was a cultural
our bus. Since we were headed out into the thing, a safety thing, or what but it was an odd
countryside, we put on mosquito repellant. experience.
We got to the bus station and paid 45rmb a piece for a We arrived in Xingping after a confusing 30-minute
round-trip bus ticket to Yangshuo. The bus ride there bus ride. As the bus pulled up, there were about 20-30
was very scenic with pillar after pillar of limestone young girls running after the bus. Maybe they were
jutting abruptly from the ground. Guilin and its happy to see us? Anyway, we were directed to a man
surrounding areas have dramatic scenery. It is surreal. who was operating what looked like a motorcycle with
We reached Yangshuo and from the bus station started a small truck bed behind it with two small bench seats.
walking through town. We did not know we would be taking this vehicle to the
We came upon a backpacker’s hostel and we went river so it was a bit surprising at first.
inside to see if we could get help on something to do We arrived at a dock along the river and there were
with the rest of our day. The owner of the hostel was many small bamboo boats with two to three benches
quite nice and spoke some English. However, Jon and on them with a canopy. There were also larger boats as
the owner talked at length in Chinese about our well, like ferries. We got on the boat and we were
options such as the time it would take, the price, etc. underway. This was a great way to see the beautiful
After some debate and interpretation, we chose the Li limestone pinnacles from the water. Even better was
River Boat Cruise. It would take three to four hours and that we had our small boat all to ourselves.
offered a great way to view the scenery from the river, None of us really said much over the roar of the boat
all for 90rmb each for the cruise. He gave us some ticket motor, but we really didn’t need to, the scenery was out
stubs to show our boat guide and bus driver(s). As we of this world. There were vendors selling food on some
left, the owner told us where to go catch our next bus, beaches, and cattle bathing close to shore. Looking at
which was going to Xingping. He also told Jon that a these pinnacles I could not stop thinking about all of
family member of his owned a restaurant down the the awesome climbing routes that were hidden in this
street, and when we were done that we should go sea of limestone.
there and have the famous Beerfish lunch of Yangshuo.
The boat went about five to seven miles downstream
So we walked about a half a mile to the bus stop we and then we turned around and came back the way we
were instructed to go to. We hopped on what seemed came. When we were back at the dock, a local helped
like a type of mini-bus that was crowded with the only us take the picture that is on the 20rmb bill. We held
seats that were open at the back of the bus. They were the 20rmb bill up to its real corresponding background.
not seats per se, but we sat there anyway. We sat at the This had to be one of the coolest shots of the trip.
back for about 10 minutes or so and the lady checking
tickets started talking to Jon, Becky, and I. She seemed
irritated and eventually made us get up while the bus
was moving, and had us sit down in some seats that
had just opened up (some passengers got off at a
stop). We thought this was odd but complied. Jon said
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pretty exhausted. We spent the next day walking
around Guilin and shopping, and we also walked to a
place called Elephant Trunk Hill. In the part of the hill
that is in the water, there is a huge circular tunnel right
through. Since we went there at night, the entire park
was not open so we could not climb up he hill;
however, we were able to get some great photos of
“The owl” which is essentially the reflection of the
tunnel in the still water (The Chinese had put up large
After lunch, we walked around Yangshuo a bit and I lights to add to this effect). It really looks like an owl!
tried to buy a Rolex knock-off for my friend but the lady This was right up there with the money shot from the Li
was asking too much for it. Jon said we could get a River Boat Cruise.
better price in Beijing and he was right in the end. We The next day we headed back to Beijing for our flight
made our way back to the main bus station of home. We were able to go to the 798 Art District before
Yangshuo and the snake wine began to hit me pretty we left and were happy we did so. The country is
hard. I felt weird and kept on sweating while we waited blossoming in the realm of artistic expression. We were
SUMMER 2009
for the bus and this continued while on the bus ride very impressed and happy that the Chinese people
home. Both Jon and Becky fell asleep right away when were able to display such wonderful works of art.
the bus started heading back to Guilin. I stayed up and Overall, if you have the opportunity to go to China I
watched the scenery with my headphones on and the would highly recommend it. I mentally prepared myself
snake wine in my belly. It was a cool ride back. a few weeks prior to our trip and it helped immensely
One thing about bus rides in China is that you should in dealing with the cultural differences. I plan on going
always make sure you do not have to go to the back this fall and meeting up with Jon to go to Tibet,
bathroom after boarding. All three of us were dying to Chengdu, etc. and I look forward to sharing my
get off this bus!! We made it back to our hotel and were adventures with you in future issues of JPFreek.
Our mission is to empower generations to enjoy the outdoors
SUMMER 2009
Area BFE…sounds
like something out
of a sci-fi movie
with flashbacks of
Roswell, New Mexico
and it’s “alien”
reputation. Not
even remotely close
to Roswell, this
320-acre privately
owned area is just
south of Jeeping
Mecca…Moab, Utah.
While the land
may be “private,”
it is open for
public access for
anyone who wants
to enjoy one of its
many off-highway
trails or multitude
of space for
exploration. Area
BFE’s diverse
terrain and
remoteness make
it an excellent
and overlooked
playground for
climbers, bikers,
hikers, and
campers. This area
is also home to
entrances of some
of Moab’s most
popular off-highway
trails including
Strike Ravine and
Minor Threat, as
well as the more
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infamously known
hardcore trails
such as Helldorado,
Black Flag, and
Green Day.
SUMMER 2009
eaten Path
Most anytime of year is an excellent time to visit Area BFE. During Easter Jeep Safari week the park can get
crowded but is open to the public except for a few exclusive events, usually listed well in advance on the BFE
calendar. A multitude of trails and trail levels are accessible with a non-motorized area as well:
Black Flag: Expert only, no exceptions: Do not attempt without a day to spend
and at least three vehicles. To Date: None have completed this trail! Lockers,
Winch, spare parts, SPOTTERS and 3 Vehicles - Do not attempt alone!
Strike Ravine: Beginner to intermediate level trail, this is a fun loop that
moves you through the park it is said to be very scenic.
do, however, accept donations to assist with the overall upkeep. Also,
from time to time gatherings and events are held to raise money for the park as
well as other charitable organizations.
Crossroa
ads of a Revolution
pine barrens jamboree
Text & Photos by Will Morgan
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Over two hundred years ago a small area of the pinelands in
New Jersey, referred to as the Pine Barrens, bustled with activity
such as sawmills, glass-making factories, and your typical gener-
al stores of the era.
The Pine Barrens hold a preserved center known as Batsto
whose historical significance played an important role during
the American Revolution. The Batsto Village was a bog iron and
glass-making industrial center from 1766-1867. Founded in
1766, Batsto would become one of the most important suppli-
ers to the Continental Army during the American Revolution,
supplying wartime products such as camp kettles, munitions
(cannon balls), wagons, ships, iron fastenings, and fittings for
artillery caissons. Many of the old buildings that housed busi-
nesses are still standing today, including the old saw mill, the
general store, and the post office as well as many of the homes
and living quarters for many of the residents of the period. It is
truly amazing to walk around the village and know that in its
heyday, it was a thriving community during the most important
part of our country’s history.
For the past sixteen years, Jeepers have gathered in New
Jersey for a weekend of wheeling in the Pine Barrens with Jeep
Jamboree U.S.A. Wheelers are able to enjoy winding trails, thick
forests, and scenic settings, such as the Cranberry bogs, for
photo opportunities and lunch stops out on the trail.
The majority of obstacles each year at the Pine Barrens Jeep
Jamboree are the water holes. This year some of the holes were
three to four feet deep with a majority of the trail system
covered with one to two feet of water. As you can imagine, there
were plenty of water-filled tubs during the event.
The wheeling at Pine Barrens, as indicated, is much different
than most Jamboree events since the mud holes have sandy
bottom pits that can prove to be a very challenging obstacle for
even the most experienced of wheelers. These are not the type
of mud holes that you get past with excessive throttle and
muscling your way through. To get through these kinds of holes,
it is much better to have a little momentum and a good line
versus trying to spin your way through. Once you drop into a
SUMMER 2009
jeep jamboree
photo album
Photo of the Month WINNER (APRIL)
by Jason & Laura ODell - RUBICON TRAIL
SUMMER 2009
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Repairing Synthetic Winch Line
Text & Photos by Wil Kuhns
Anyone who has used a winch has seen, or will eventually see,
a winch cable break or snap at some point. This dangerous
condition has lead many Jeep and four-wheel drive owners to
switch to synthetics for safety and weight savings. However,
many people aren’t prepared to repair their winch line should it
finally give-way.
Repairing synthetic winch line is pretty easy if equipped with
the right gear. Viking Offroad’s Winch Line Splicing Tool Kit
includes everything you’ll need to get you back in the game.
The kit consists of a 5/16” fid, a 3/8” fid, scissors, electrical tape,
stitching needle, stitching twine, splicing instructions, and a
storage bag. There are two major splices that could be encoun-
tered while on the trails: an end-to-end splice and an eye splice,
both of which are covered in the instructions in the kit.
End to End splices are commonly used to repair winch line that has been sheared in the middle. To begin
this splice you must first measure and prepare to use 7 fid lengths of additional rope to complete the splice safely.
SUMMER 2009
Step 1: Both ends of the winch line Step 2: Lay both ropes along each Step 3: From POINT 1, measure two
should be taped. This prevents it side of each other, and then fids from POINT 1 and mark on both
from fraying. measure one fid length from the lines. This will be POINT 2.
taped end and mark on both lines. (NOTE: A common mistake here is
This will be POINT 1. If a marker is to mark one fid length from POINT 1;
not available, the tape can be used however, it should be two fid
to mark this position. lengths.)
Step 4: From POINT 2, measure Step 5: To make the splice, the ends Step 6: Cut each marked strand and
3-1/2 fids from POINT 2 and mark on need to be tapered. Begin at POINT remove from the line. This will cause
both lines. This will be POINT 3. 1 and on the side towards the taped the line to taper to a point typically
end, mark every other left and right leaving six strands remaining.
strand for three strands. During this, the taped end may
cause resistance to removing the cut
strands and may have to be
removed to pull out the cut strands.
Step 7: Reposition the two portions of the winch line so that the cut ends are opposite of each other and both
POINT 1 markings line up with each other.
Step 8: Attach the fid to the taped Step 9: Insert the fid and the rope
end of one of the ropes. into the other portion of the rope at
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Step 12: Cut tails on an angle (give Step 13: From the crossover point
them a point) and give the rope a (POINT2), count eight picks and
final smoothing by stroking the rope begin the lock stitch by inserting the
firmly, burying both of the cuts stitching twine.
inside the rope.
Now that you are done, this splice can retain 90% to 100% of the rope strength.
The eye splice is used to place a permanent loop at the end of the winch line most commonly used to
replace the hook or anchoring point. In this example, we will be replacing the hook on the KJ with a Safety Thimble.
Much of the procedures are the same as the end-to-end splicing procedure.
Step 8: If installing a hook, eye, or Step 10: Remove fid and begin Step 12: Both POINT 2 and POINT
thimble, feed rope through or leave burrying rope by pulling on the 3 should be at the same point in the
desired eye opening and install fid tapered end with one hand while eye loop. This will be where the lock
at the tapered end of the line. smoothing bunched line with the stitching begins by passing the
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Step 9: Feed the fid and tapered other hand until POINT 2 and POINT stitching through this point. Do not
end through POINT 3, exiting 3 meet. tie a knot in the stitching and leave
POINT 4. Use caution to not let the Step 11: Cut the tapered end at an half of the stitching so it remains
winch line twist during this process. angle and begin smoothing the from the first insertion point.
covering line from the eye loop
towards POINT 4. Use both hands
and body weight to burry the cut
end into the rope.
Step 13: Continue lock stitching until at least three Step 14: Using a square knot to tie off the remain-
complete stitches have been inserted to the rope. ing stitching and burry the knot into the braid.
After three complete stitches, the rope should be
rotated 90° and the remaining half of the stitching
should be stitched in with the last stitch exiting the
same spot as the prior.
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Resources:
www.sierraexpeditions.com
www.winchline.com
www.samsonrope.com
SUMMER 2009
-F rie nd ly
Eco
s
Freek Techniques
Adv en tu re
Text and Photos by Mark Filonowich
N 47° 28.320’ W 092° 27.070’
“It’s not easy being green,” sang Kermit the Frog. He Another no-brainer we stress in the Iron Range Offroad
probably wasn’t thinking about Jeeping at the time, but he adventure classes includes staying on the trail. While still in
sure could have been. Critics of the sport have plenty of the parking lot (before even airing down tires), we talk about
ammunition, from tire tracks left in sensitive wetlands to driving over (and not around) obstacles on the trail. We are
Youtube videos proving that some folks have a better grasp here to learn and practice our off-highway driving
of modern video technology than old-fashioned common techniques, so we make it a point to aim for the rocks and
sense. stumps we encounter. Driving around not only defeats the
As members of the wheeling community at large, we have purpose of developing the techniques, but also actually
the opportunity to make things much better for ourselves, or widens the trail, causing unnecessary erosion. We also
much worse. Some of the simplest things include packing out straddle ruts, or drive the center of gullies and washouts.
whatever we pack in. Carrying a garbage bag (bungeed to Careful use of the throttle (as slow as possible, as fast as
the spare tire) makes it easy to pick up and pack out not only necessary) keeps us from digging up more dirt as we climb
your own trash, but also other people’s litter you find on the up or down the path.
trail. I find that by setting a good example for others, I rarely There are a few water crossings in northern Minnesota, and I
even have to say anything. People naturally start opening share with students some valuable advice given to me many
their eyes and picking up a candy wrapper or pop bottle that years ago. Cross water only at designated fording points, or
got loose on the trail. Having the garbage bag easy to access where the road crosses the stream. If you see tire tracks going
but still outside the vehicle makes it a no-brainer. in, but not coming out the other side, there is probably a
good reason why. Find another spot and make sure you
know the depth before dropping in. If finding another spot
means backing up, keep backing up until you find a safe
place to turn around. Turning around on a narrow trail just
means you will be digging up the ground unnecessarily.
Some of the trails we use in the Iron Range Off Highway
Vehicle park are considered “shared use.” As such, we
encounter ATVs and dirt bikes on these core roads. When we
encounter other vehicles (or horses or pedestrians), I am
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Iron Range Offroad offers a comprehensive training course geared toward entry level Jeepers that stresses
safety and environmental responsibility. The classroom setting is the spectacular Iron Range OHV park, 3 hours
north of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Trail riding is integrated with class modules covering trip preparation, vehicle
maintenance and repair, driving skills for different terrain, extraction techniques, vehicle upgrades, and much
more. Learn more about offroad driving classes at:
d G a t e
m t h e c c e ss Locke lesson
r o a
View f rcasm aboutna
sa
n
Land Use & Access
A b i t o f e R ib b on Coa
lit io
t, Blu
Albrigh
Stacie
&
By Del
The gal in uniform with the big gun on her hip smiled Our view now is tainted, to say the least. Padlocks, iron
and waved as she installed the recessed pad lock on the pipe, closed signs, reinforced hinges, and small-print
gate. I guess she thought we were happy about the road letting us know under no uncertain circumstances that
being closed. Her rugged 4x4 government-bought the land beyond the gate is CLOSED to access – unless of
pickup truck that was parked in our view had all sorts of course you want to haul your buns in there via boot
signs and decals declaring she was a public servant. We rubber.
figured it must be true. Now, as I stand here watching that same gal in uniform
She had sent us an official-looking letter awhile back jump back into her four-wheel drive (that I paid for) and
asking for comments, but the fish were a bitin’ so we drive on down my old favorite trail, I get a lump in my
missed out on the letter-writin’. We figured someone else throat and I get a little teary eyed just thinking about the
would write those darn letters. We figured wrong on all view our kids are going to have from this same locked
accounts. gate that’s in my backyard. I don’t think I’m figuring
It was a heck of a view we had – trees, rocks, trails, wrong anymore.
roads, wildlife, mountains, creeks, and vast open areas Back to the future: In reality, there are things we can all
beckoning to the adventurer in all of us. It’s easy to recall do to prevent this scenario from happening. You’ve read
my dad, Elmer, telling stories of roaming this kind of tons of articles about getting involved and joining
backcountry area forty years ago with the freedom of a groups like BlueRibbon Coalition, and ensuring your
jackrabbit in the Mojave Desert. He always told us to get family and friends have a place to ride. Just do it. Visit
outdoors and have fun while taking care of the land. He www.delalbright.com and www.sharetrails.org for more
figured we would all have the same freedom. He figured things you can do right now. Make a difference and help
wrong. prevent closures from blocking our “view” any more. Join
The ability, and most importantly the opportunity that up, donate and get in the game before we have nothing
my dad had to take his kids out and teach us how to fish, left to figure on.
hunt, hike, play, and breathe in the fresh air is all but The BlueRibbon Coalition is a National recreation group
gone now. My mind wanders off and I think of what can that champions responsible use of public lands and
happen if we continue down this dangerous path of waters, and encourages individual environmental
management by closure. Soon it will be just a happy stewardship. BlueRibbon represents over 10,000
memory for our nine year old when she was able to see individual members and 1,200 organization and business
nature, hike, take pictures, and jump in and out of our members for a combined total of over 600,000
SUMMER 2009
four-wheel drive while we were on the hunt for a new recreationists nationwide. Call 1-800-258-3742 or visit
camp spot. Soon she will not have the opportunity to http://www.sharetrails.org for more information on
teach them the same lessons and family traditions that joining.
came naturally and innocently in her youth to her tots.
152
industry insider
interview – stann grater
of the orvis company:
them to review. If you are packing the food in you need to pack
out the leftovers and wastes as well. Planning is everything. I
write out a detailed menu for each day and each meal for the
entire trip. After that I determine the portions for each item to
the ounce, then total the ounces served to each guest for that
meal. Too much food is just as bad as not enough. I don’t like to
serve too large a lunch. In the past I have served too much and
my guests went into a digestive coma and didn’t want to have to
get out of the boat to help carry it around the rapids. It makes for
a lot more work for me.
Chef D: What is your favorite adventure
comfort beverage?
SG - I like to serve great coffee to my guests in the morning. I
take the time and effort to pack a French press and coffee maker,
fresh ground Sumatra coffee, half and half, and turbinado sugar
for those that imbibe. The real key is to use your meat
thermometer to get the water to exactly 190 degrees (no hotter)
before you pour it into the coffee maker. I know it is a lot of fuss
when your own eyes are blurry from story telling the night
before, but it’s worth it!
time to tie on what I thought to be the appropriate fly for the situation ahead of
us. The guest in the front of the boat made a great cast and just missed a hook up.
“My guy” in the back was not quite close enough to make a proper presentation. I
said, “Wait a minute before you cast so I can lift the anchor and move the boat
downstream to get you in a better position to cast.” I no more than uttered that
statement when I felt the boat rock gently from one side to the other. Mind you
that I could not see my guest in the back of the boat as he was behind me.
As I reached between my feet for the anchor rope I heard a SPLASH and YELP
from the left side of the drift boat. “WHAT THE…?” I yelled as the boat was listing
HARD to the port side nearly taking in the
Find it
On the Blog
current of the river. I looked over my left
shoulder to find ”My Guy” had decided to do a
Half Gainer with a Full Twist out the side of the
boat and was clinging on to the side of the Recipes
boat for dear life. His glasses were splayed
diagonally across his face and his eyes were as • Roasted Green Chile Pepper Sausage, Cheese
big as saucers. and Egg Burritos
He said, “I fell out of the boat!”
• Pinwheels of Hot Smoked Salmon Tortilla Wrap
“Well no kidding,” I said with calm with Las Cruces Green Chile Challenge Sour
amazement. Without taking a breath I asked, Cream and Spring Onions
“Are you hurt? Did you hit your head, break
your arm?” • Seared Pork Cutlets with Creamy, Porcini Laced
“No to all,” he said. Cabbage and Potato Stew
“Well hell, just stand up. You • Torpedo Farms Roasted Pepper Sausage Frittata
are only in two feet of water!”
“I can’t! My feet are too far • Alaskan Cod a la Moab
down stream and my waders
are full of water.” • Many more recipes from the 7 Bar Grille staff!
Now, you have to www.7bargrille.wordpress.com
understand that all of this
Find it in
took place in less than 60
seconds, and “My Guy” is
about 5’6” tall and wide, a
7BG Kitchen
man of dimension.
I calmly told his buddy - in the front of the
boat - to get to the other side of the boat so we
wouldn’t capsize. I jerked on the anchor rope
to move the boat and my new portside cargo
upstream about 20 feet to release the anchor
so I could row all of us safely to shore. Yes, we
did make it to shore without any further
incident. “My Guy” thought he was headed for
the Pearly Gates that day and I caught a
glimpse of them myself.
So the moral of the story is make sure you
and your boat guests wear Personal Flotation
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Value of product in relation to
competitors’ product:
The only competition I can remotely even think
of or find is those little plastic roll up ones…and
by far they don’t come close on several levels.
The value of this product is definitely well worth
every penny. I am going to additionally look into
purchasing some of the larger sized ones for
Durability of the item in the field: camping as well one or two potentially for the
house from several of their other series of
cutting boards.
The cutting board held up to multiple
applications of typical Chef abuse such as the Quality of product:
slicing, dicing, and chopping of a wide variety of
produce and proteins. One of the better features At first I must candidly admit my initial thought
in particular in this unit was the strainer aspect. was “recycled cardboard fiber…how will this
Make sure to properly wash and sanitize in hold up to knife banging even more so hot
between cutting produce and meats and pasta water from straining a pot”! After putting
strainer use. I would recommend cutting all the board the rigors of my trail testing my
produce, especially ready to eat raw vegetables doubts were proved wrong. That’s not to say I
that might not get cooked such as salads and wouldn’t recommend soaking the board in
vegetable snacks prior to using anything else. A water for any extended periods of time.
quick wash in hot soapy water, rinse and wipe
Ease of use:
down with moist bleach towelette proved to do
the job. It proved itself over again and again by Place the board on a table, place the product
handling the production of enough food for on the board and cut away, it really doesn’t get
three dinners for at least 15 people. If that isn’t a any easier. The only slight imperfection and this
testament to a product I don’t know what is. I is by far only a picky little chef thing, was that it
will be sure to continue using it as part of my wasn’t non-slip. I only say this as I like to have
camp kitchen for sure. It proved to meet every either a small rubber mat or moist towel under
claim that the company makes (see next page). my cutting board where it contacts the table so
it doesn’t slide around when slicing at super
chef speeds. My simple fix was to do what I
normally do with any cutting board…place a
moist towel or small rubber mat under it. Great
product and overall easy to use for sure!
SUMMER 2009
Specifications of product per the manufacturer:
Epicurean Cutting Surfaces® are commercial grade
cutting surfaces for the outdoor gourmet. Made from chef mark denittis
recycled cardboard fiber that will last for years of use,
Host & Director of The 7 Bar Grille,
these premium surfaces are exceedingly durable, easy
JPFreek’s Camp Cooking Video Series
to handle and store, and won’t dull expensive knives.
And unlike wood cutting boards, these nonporous Chef Mark M. DeNittis, President of Rocky
surfaces will not harbor bacteria and can be safely Mountain Trade Enterprise, oversees
cleaned in the dishwasher. multiple businesses and has been a
longstanding Chef Instructor at Johnson &
THIN & LIGHTWEIGHT
Wales University, Denver. His accolades
All Epicurean® Camp Series are light and slim enough and recognitions in both the Culinary and
to handle comfortably, clean, and store efficiently. Off-highway world have created the
HEAT RESISTANT framework to bring Jeep vehicles and
Epicurean® cutting surfaces are heat resistant up to cuisine to new heights. Chef D joins forces
350˚F/176˚C. You can use them as a trivet and not with the JPFreek family to further the
leave a blemish. grand vision of the Jeep lifestyle and
“wicked killah” food.
RECYCLED CARDBOARD
Epicurean® cutting surfaces are made using recycled
cardboard fiber. Special thanks to Epicurean for
participating in this issue’s “The Heat”
MADE IN USA
kitchen review.
Epicurean® cutting surfaces are exclusively designed
and manufactured in the United States of America.
DISHWASHER SAFE
Unlike wood and bamboo cutting boards, Epicurean®
food preparation surfaces are dishwasher safe.
SUMMER 2009
Coming Soon:
• Recipes using the Epicurean 12x9 All Terrain Camp
Cutting board as tested at the 2009 Moab Easter
Jeep Safari.
• A contest to win your own brand new 12x9 All
Terrain Camp Cutting Board-Strainer.
Base Camp with Style
Snow Peak has been the innovator of getting your whole family
Roughing it just got a lot more comfortable. outdoors for 50 years. Set up a base camp for all your needs.