Adventure Magazine LIFESTYLES OFF THE BEATEN PATH Adventure Magazine October / November 2007 • Issue 5 • Volume 2 Tales of a texas-size Jamboree 2008 Jeep liberty kk review • AdventurA in costA ricA • red rock chAllenge kJ-style old dog, new tricks • Camp Jeep 2007 • proJect tJ • buckskin gulch climbing the tooth • trAil of the summer • 24 hours of exhAustion Departments Lifestyles off the beaten path The environment, and all of the gifts that we have on this Freek Speak (From the Editor) ................................... 2 great planet, has become an increasingly important subject that has caused passionate response from all sides of the Crew & Contributors News, Events, & Stuff ............................................3 spectrum. Concern about decreasing carbon emissions EditorialLifestyles off the beaten path and moving forward with alternative sources of energy has Freek Show ........................... ....................... 35 dominated the political landscape. Within this discussion the Editor-in-Chief use of public and private lands for off-highway vehicle use Frank Ledwell Freek Review ......................................................... 36 has become an increasingly volatile subject that continues to Hiking Correspondent provoke legislation limiting this type of recreation. Ray Schindler Freek Techniques ................................................. 43 Expedition Correspondent Several weeks ago, I took a trip to the pine-ensconced terrain Mark D. Stephens of east Texas to enjoy some time with my TJ Rubicon on the trails. The importance of this issue became solidified in my 4x4 Correspondent Freek Speak Matt Adair mind. I began to truly recognize why there has been such a Features large lobby requesting limited use of public and private lands Climbing Correspondent Jeff Haley 24 Hours of Exhaustion for OHV use. As an avid adventurer, I care greatly about the Team PNWJeep / JPFreek take on the Team Trophy Challenge ....... right of fellow adventurers to enjoy our natural surroundings; Contributing Writers 8 however, I am also a passionate “environmentalist” who Jeff Baird Alan Ellis 2008 Jeep® Liberty KK Review believes that responsible use of the natural world is vital in Mark Filonowich Trail Testing by Will Morgan of JeepBrokers.com providing our children and grandchildren the wherewithal Michael Pavelin .................. 11 to enjoy the future. While I was in east Texas, I witnessed a number of OHV enthusiasts who seemed to care very little Photography & Design Tales of a TEXAS-SIZE Jamboree for the principles of responsible land use, and it became my 2007 Fall Texas Spur Jamboree ..............................................13 duty to articulate to them that through their actions (or lack Art Director Richard Tinnell thereof), they were providing fodder for those who want to Pura Vida and Adventura in Costa Rica limit OHV use altogether. Marketing & Financial Adventure & Relaxation in Central America ...................................17 It is vital that we, as off-highway enthusiasts and adventurers, use our resources in a responsible manner as Business Development Red Rock Challenge, KJ-Style Frank Ledwell we only have one planet to enjoy and share. Fun can be had International cross-country road trip. Destination: Moab, Utah......21 by leaving the places you visit the same way you found them. As long as small groups of enthusiasts show a lack of regard Story and photograph submissions should be sent via email to our editor at fledwell@ An Old Dog Learns Some New Tricks for responsible recreational use, the off-highway industry as a jpfreek.com, or by mail to our corporate Seasoned Adventurer + New Jeep = New Beginnings ................. whole will continue to be “black marked” by those who want office. Submission of photographs, articles 26 to limit this type of recreation. or other materials is done at the risk of the sender, and JPFreek cannot accept Camp Jeep 2007 .............................................................29 I encourage each of you to liability for loss or damage. No unsolicited submission will be answered or returned consider how you can better without SASE if sent by mail. Accepted Project TJ enjoy our great planet with material is subject to such revision as to Mark Stephens sets up his rig with a new roof-rack & tent ........... as minimal impact on our meet the requirements of this publication. 32 Submission implies that the material is OCT resources as possible. As original and in no way infringes upon the Buckskin Gulch Gandhi once said, “You must rights of others. O Adventure in the World’s Largest Slot Canyon ............................. / N BER be the change you wish to see JPFreek is not affiliated with 34 in the world.” That change must DaimlerChrysler and no such association is expressed or implied. Jeep®, its model Photo by Richard Tinnell Photo by Richard A Grand Perspective start now before it’s too late. O VEMBER 2007 VEMBER nameplates, and its corporate logos and VEMBER 2007 VEMBER O emblems are registered trademarks of Photo Essay of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee .................................38 DaimlerChrysler. Frank Ledwell Climbing to the Top of the Tooth BER / N BER Copyright 2006-2007 O Editor-in-Chief JPFreek Adventure Publications, LLC A Weekend on El Diente Peak, Colorado .....................................40 All Rights reserved. Published in U.S.A. OCT Trail of the Summer : A trip to the famed Rubicon Trail ................................................44 October 27: ‘10th Annual Jeeptoberfest’ at Ocala November 9-10: ‘Warren Miller’s “Playground”’ at the Speedway in Ocala, Florida. Sponsored by the Ocala Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Jeep Club of Florida, this one day festival is the Presented by Jeep ®, Warren Miller’s “Playground” is largest Jeep-only show in the southeast. For more the largest action sports film on the planet. For more information, please visit: information, please visit: http://www.ocalajeepclub.com/ http://www.berklee.edu/events/detail/516 News & Events November 3-4: ‘Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance Annual November 16-18: ‘North American Grand Cherokee Toys for Tots Charity Run’ with location to be Association Grand Slam Northwest 2007’ in Liberty, announced. Join the BMJA for a fun weekend of Jeep Washington. A weekend of wheeling with NAGCA in ® wheelin with all proceeds to benefit Toys for Tots. the Pacific Northwest. For more information, please For more information, please visit: visit: http://www.bmja.org/ http://www.nagca.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31361 Photo used with permission from Chrysler Media Services October and November: ‘2007 Outdoor and Digital October 13-14: ’24 Hours of Moab’ in Moab, Utah. A American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to Pick Up Significant Amount of Seminars’ sponsored by Outdoor Photographer. Hone 24-hour mountain bike race at the Mecca of mountain your photographic skills at one of several two-day biking and off-highway adventure. For more Product Line from Recently Closed Nth Degree Mobility events in San Jose, California; Denver, Colorado; and information, please visit: Chicago, Illinois. For more information, please visit: Missoula-based American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), long a favorite supplier of aftermarket parts to the Jeep off- http://www.imba.com/news/news_ road community, will soon be adding the highly-regarded Nth Degree Mobility suspension lift kits to its expanding http://www.opseminar.com/ releases/06_07/06_26_team_imba.html product line. News & Events October 2-7: ‘North American XJ Association Fall Fling October 13-15: ‘Mojave Road 3-Day Adventure’ 2007’ in Moab, Utah. An annual gathering of NAXJA Needles, California. A 3-day excursion along the Off-road enthusiasts have bemoaned the recent closing of Nevada-based Nth Degree Mobility, provider of innovative members at the Mecca for Jeep ® vehicles. For more Mojave Road Wagon Trail. A fun weekend for the and expertly engineered long-arm and short-arm suspension lift kits, among other products. Now AEV announces it information, please visit: entire family. For more information, please visit: will pick up a “significant” portion of Nth Degree’s inventory and product line, with plans to continue manufacturing http://www.naxja.org http://www.4x4training.com/tours/mojaveroad.html and distributing those products “in the near future.” October 6-7: ‘8th Annual Off-Road Expo’ in Pomona, October 13 & 14: ‘Lance Armstrong Foundation AEV asks for patience as it moves over inventory and equipment, but promises the same commitment to quality and California. Advanstar’s flagship exposition for all- Livestrong Challenge’ in Austin, Texas. The LAF’s innovation that Nicole and Jim Frens provided Nth Degree Mobility customers for years. things Jeep and off-highway. For more information, signature event that features a 5k run/walk, as well as please visit: cycling options of 10, 40, 60, & 90 miles with all “It’s really unfortunate that Nth Degree had to close its doors. Nth Degree has been a major innovator in the suspension industry and has developed a near cult following with good reason,” said Dave Harriton, President of AEV. “Because http://ca.offroadexpo.com/orepomona/v42/index.cvn proceeds benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. For more information, please visit: this has happened so quickly, we are still trying to determine how long it will take for us to incorporate their products October 7: ‘Warrior Challenge Adventure Race’ in http://austin07.livestrong.org/faf/home/default. into our system. It is our