10 Duties of a 4WD Tail End

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The following article comes from TAP friend, I4WDTA trainer, and owner of Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Tom Severin. Check out what he’s got to say about being an effective “tail gunner” on a run or expedition, then get out there and indulge in some vehicle supported adventure safely.

A great Trail Leader is invaluable for any four wheeling experience. We reviewed that position in “10 Qualities of a Great Trail Leader” . Though he could be anywhere in the group, the Trail Leader is often in the first vehicle.
The vehicle at the end of the line is also very important. This position is sometimes called, “Tail End Charlie”, “Tail Gunner”, “The Sweep”, “Drag”, or “Caboose” (although I don’t normally use any of those terms). The “Tail End” is an integral part of every 4WD trip. “Tail End Charlie” is slang from World War II for the rear gunner in a bomber. Many of the expressions we use come from the military, both for their ability to convey a thought concisely and for their colorful expressions. A trail helper in the middle of the group is called a “Mid-Gunner”. I will be referring to the vehicle at the end of the line as the “Tail End”.

Qualifications needed when selecting your Tail End

When selecting a Tail End, I start with someone well qualified in four wheeling. This person has driven with me before, knows the trail and routine well and has great people skills. In a nutshell, he or she is someone I can trust. The Tail End might be called upon to fill in for me at some point.

Ideally, the Tail End complements the Trail Leader by bringing skills in which the Leader is less knowledgable. These can include expert mechanical skills, knowledge of rocks and minerals, an ability to ID plants, flowers, and points of interest.

It’s helpful if the person is a ham radio operator. FRS and CB radios are fine for communicating between vehicles. Because the vehicles can get strung out during a trip, it’s nice to be in ham radio contact with the Tail End. Plus, we can use that radio for private conversations. For example, the Tail End may wonder why we aren’t taking a particular route. Or, perhaps I forget a step. In either case, I don’t mind if my Tail End chimes in. He should use our private frequency so as not to confuse everyone else.

10 duties of the Tail End

1. Informs the guide when the group has cleared key turns. Sometimes a driver misses a turn and strays off-course. The Trail Leader can only see a vehicle or two behind, whereas the Tail End has a much better perspective.

2. Accounts for all the vehicles when starting up again. This is after breaking camp or making any sort of pit stop (10-100, taking pictures, and such). Because he’s in the back, he can count everyone. Since we usually do a radio check only at the start of the trip (or day) to make sure all are working, the count process works well. Once in a while, we pick up a few strays!

3. As the last one out of camp, he can spot any major item overlooked like stuff left behind, a camp fire not satisfactorily extinguished, or some remaining trash.

4. Advises Trail Leader on issues the Leader isn’t aware of. Being at the rear, the Tail End has a better view of the entire group. (Although heavy dust cuts visibility at times.) The Tail End can advise of a need to stop or slow down due to large gaps in the group, cargo dropping off, mechanical problems or a manifold burrito in the middle of the road.

5. Helps with spotting. Being at the back of the line, the Tail End can quickly provide spotting to the vehicles in the rear. When everyone needs to be spotted, the Tail End can relieve the Trail Leader, so the Leader can pull his vehicle further up the trail to make room for the group. And heaven forbid, when the Trail Leader needs a qualified spotter, the Tail End can walk all the way up to the front and make sure the Trail Leader gets through without embarrassing himself.

6. Assists with vehicle issues. Perhaps some gear needs to be strapped down. Or a vehicle suffers a minor breakdown. If the damage is too severe (but the vehicle is drivable), the Tail End can escort that driver back to the road. If the Trail Leader elects to do that, the Tail End is often tapped to take over as Leader to complete the course.

7. Informs the group about vehicles overtaking them. Very valuable, because everyone else is focused on the trail ahead. If appropriate, the Tail End suggests how and where to pull over.

8. Thanks oncoming vehicles that stopped to let the group go by and let them know he is the last one. It’s a simple gesture, but means a lot to the other group. And the Tail End continues the longstanding tradition of respectful behavior that is such an important part of four wheeling.

Speaking of saying “thanks,” remember to offer your gratitude to any landowners whose property you drive on. And, of course, take good care of their property.

9. Waits for late guests. Having a Tail End who knows the trail and the plan comes in handy when a guest is late. The Tail End can wait at the meeting point for the late guest. They will likely catch up at the air down spot. We discourage splitting up the group, unless absolutely necessary. The most common case is either a machine problem or the need for some vehicles to take a detour. In those cases, the Tail End provides guidance to one or the other group.

10. The End (just being).

Benefits of Being Tail End

-You get to go on a trip!
-Work does not involve sitting in a cubicle.
-People think of you as a hero when you plug their tire.
-You can take a 10-100 anytime you want and you don’t have to walk too far.
-You can blame the Trail Leader if the group is lost.
-No one see you if you mess up.
-You have a front row seat to everything that happens.
-On the job training to become a Trail Leader.
-You get to eat dust for the whole trip. Which means the Tequila will taste even better when the day’s driving is done.
Even though the Tail End is the last vehicle in the group, it’s an extremely important position. This driver is often as skilled as the Trail Leader, and has the added responsibilities inherent in being placed last in line. But it’s a good role to aspire to. As you develop your 4WD skills and experience, plan for the day when you will step up and volunteer to be a Tail End.

A note about the author:
Tom Severin is an International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers Association© certified professional 4WD Trainer and a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). He is an instructor for the United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and the California Association of 4WD Clubs. Tom is the owner of Badlands off-Road Adventures. Badlands Off-Road Adventures offers 4WD training and 4WD guided tours specializing in Four Wheel Drive vehicles. The company has trained hundreds of students, including the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, the Gas Company, the National Park Service, and the US Marine Corps. For information about his training and trips go to: 4x4training.com

Photos: The Adventure Portal

Anza Borrego- Smokin’ Hot Week-End Adventure

By

Lori Palmer

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Beautiful backcountry along Mortero Wash Trail

So, maybe we are crazy…..we had a couple of days open and knew there were a few trails that we really wanted to drive in Anza Borrego State Park: Mortero Wash, Canyon Sin Nombre, Arroyo Seco Del Diablo and Diablo Drop off and finally we wanted to exit the park via the Grapevine Canyon Trail. We were leaving coastal southern CA temperatures of 68-74 degrees and heading into the blazing desert swelter, of 98-111 degrees. We couldn’t have been more grateful for the air conditioning systems in our rigs!

Entering the Mortero wash anza borrego state park — Entering the Mortero wash

We began our adventure with Mortero Wash, to check out the historic railroad station and water tower. The trail is rated easy with a slight moderate sections that we knew would keep the driving interesting. The trail starts out in a remote area beautifully lined with ocotillos, then passes into sandy, rocky backcountry roads that have areas that are rutted, have deep sandy washes and one area with a small rock ledge. We aired down before driving the trail to make things a little less bumpy and in case we encountered deep sand. You should too. Check out our trail write up Anza Borrego-Mortero Wash for GPS coordinates, directions, more pics etc.

Grapevine Canyon-View down from trail Anza Borrego State Park — Rocky section of Mortero Trail

Water Tower and old rail road tracks at Mortero Wash

Next we wanted to check out Canyon Sin Nombre, which we had heard was amazing with it’s millions of year old granite and folded sedimentary sandstone walls and slot canyons. It did not disappoint! See the trail write-up for Canyon Sin Nombre for directions, details and more pictures. We hit a few spots of moderate rocky or sandy wash spots through Arroyo Seco Del Diablo which is a side wash of Vallecito Canyon and primarily winds through the sandstone canyon and sandy washes. At last, we turned off at the famed Diablo Dropoff, which, according to the ranger, was pretty washed out at the bottom (the most challenging area anyway) and passing could be difficult. We had to go. We had heard a few things about the drop off: A. once you go down you’re committed…do not try to go back up. b. The sandy drop itself is not difficult for a stock 4×4 with high ground clearance. c. The wash and the ledge at the bottom are challenging. We were there June 13th, 2015 and the lack of rains seemed to have smoothed and padded the ledge and challenging areas of the wash. So, it was fun but not intimidating and we would rate it as moderate for a 4×4 with high clearance and note that tire placement is a critical component on this portion of the drive.

Towering Canyon Sin Nombre Anza Borrego State Park The Adventure Portal — Towering Sandstone Walls in Canyon Sin Nombre

We’re not posting the picture of Diablo here. You will need to check it out in the Arroyo Seco del Diablo Trail write up. The next day we headed out of the Park via the Grapevine Canyon trail. You head into an area that is lush from Stuart Spring and Angelina Spring. We got out to look for water…no dice…this is A DROUGHT. Still, the vegetation was lush, so the water is somewhere. Then we headed up a fairly narrow, rocky, winding part of the trail that came to a beautiful overview of the canyon. For a more detailed trail write up and photos see our Grapevine Canyon Trail write up. From there we drove through what looked like a private road…apparently the road is still open but there are numerous “no trespassing/private property” signs and farms or ranches on either side of the road. We popped out onto Montezuma Valley Road (S22) and headed back to San Diego. All and all a smokin’ hot summer, desert adventure! TAP note: Although we made this journey, we do not recommend desert excursions between May and September and certainly not with one vehicle. We drove by an S.A.R (search and rescue) team in Canyon Sin Nombre, getting a hiker who was in really bad shape in one of the slot canyon hiking areas off Sin Nombre. This type of heat is literally lethal. We brought and drank more gatorade mixed with water than we thought we needed. When airing up our tires at the end of the run, it felt like the heat was slamming into us. We do not recommend this journey during this time without a solidly running, air-conditioned vehicle and at least several gallons of water with some electrolyte solution mixed in for good measure…sunscreen and a hat of course. Hiking in this type of heat is foolhardy!

TAP into Adventure!

Rocky section on the Grapevine Canyon Trail at Anza Borrego State Park

Grapevine Canyon-View down from trail THe Adventure Portal — Grapevine Canyon-View down from trail

Cerro Gordo Ghost Town: The Hard Way!

By

Lori Palmer

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**Please note: As of 5/1/17 the following protocol should be followed before planning a trip to Cerro Gordo Mine.
From-Sean Patterson of Cerro Gordo Mines.
“We encourage all of our guests to contact us via email before heading up, cerrogordomines@gmail.com. We are not accommodating overnight lodging at this time. Tours are $10 for adults, and kids 5-12 are free. All proceeds go to the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation 501(c)3, founded to preserve and improve the town site of Cerro Gordo. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in California. When you have a chance, go check out our new website cerrogordomines.com. On the website, you will find our WAIVER. All of our guests must complete a SIGNED WAIVER upon arrival. Thank you for your help! Take care. Sean M. Patterson Cerro Gordo Mines Phone: 760.689.2443 Email: cerrogordomines@gmail.com Website: cerrogordomines.com”

We’d spent the last 3 days camping primitively in Death Valley National Park and had quite a few fairly rugged miles under our rigs and trailers, so were feeling pretty confident. We’d tackled Lippincott Road with ease, endured the washboards around The Racetrack and found our way to some very cool old mines like Lost Burro. Today our 4th day, we’d leave Saline Valley and head for Cerro Gordo Ghost Town. I’d contacted the owner via email a few weeks ago about a tour and had received a curt “The town is closed” response, but had also heard via forums that Robert the caretaker is super friendly and always happy to show you around if you just turn up unannounced. It was Thanksgiving Day, so I admit I was a little concerned about interrupting him and his wife.

We broke camp early at around 8am and were heading south along Saline Valley Road by 9am. It’s an easy road that has some washboarding but nothing like The Racetrack. The road climbs gradually up from the valley floor though Grapevine Canyon with the Nelson Range to our west. The canyon obviously has good ground water as there were Willow and Cottonwood trees growing that looked stunning with their yellow fall leaves. Almost at the top of the canyon, the road passes Hidden Valley Road, another easy trail that eventually takes you to Tea Kettle Junction at the NE end of The Racetrack.

It was already 10am by the time we reached the start of Cerro Gordo Road at Lee Flat. We’d only traveled approximately 15 miles as it was slow going hauling loaded trailers up the canyon. As the name implies, Lee Flat’s is a flat high desert area with an impressive Joshua Tree forest. Continuing through the forest we eventually reached San Lucas Canyon and headed NW between the Nelson Range and Santa Rosa Hills. After another 5 or so miles we turned west and started climbing up the Inyo Mountains. At this point there were no markers, so we were relying solely on GPS. The trail immediately became rougher and “less trail like”. At this point I started questioning the trail rating of 2 or indeed were we even on the correct trail? The GPS assured us we were. Without trailers, taking the wrong trail is rarely a problem…..with trailers, things can get interesting fast! As we continued up the “trail” I started really questioning the GPS, continually stopping and checking. At this point, Lori shouts out…”let’s stop worrying about this and go for it”…..yes, my partner in crime is way more “adventurous” than I…

Death Valley Cerro Gordo Road Ascending east side — Death Valley Cerro Gordo Road ascending east side

Another 2 miles of slow crawling through rough terrain and through washes, we commit the ultimate mistake. Hey, why go left along the trail, when you can go right along a wash with a downed tree across it? Luckily, I realize this mistake about 100 yards in before it became too crazy! It did however mean a double 100 yard trailer reverse through a rock garden! 40 minutes later and a lot of sweat and swearing, we’re back on track…….they say it’s not a real adventure until something goes wrong.

Another few miles and an hour later we eventually break out of the rough stuff and reach the summit at 8100 ft. We’ve obviously taken the correct direction and the GPS wasn’t telling lies, but the guide books estimation of the trail rating is way off. It had been the roughest trail we’d ever taken the trailers on, but we managed it and felt great! This was why we do this stuff and will definitely give us a lot of confidence tackling more rugged trails in the future.

Over the summit we drop down into Cerro Gordo Ghost Town and we’re greeted cheerfully by Robert, the caretaker. He looks at us and says..”Did you come up from Lee Flats with trailers??”. With a quiet sense of accomplishment we acknowledge we had.

After an hour with Robert and an amazingly interesting tour (don’t forget to give Robert a little gratuity for his time and efforts in keeping this ghost town going), we start heading down the western side of the mountain towards Owen’s Valley. We’ve driven approximately 40 miles off-road over 5 hours and we’re getting tired. It had been an adventurous day where we were stretched, nervous and excited all at once….a perfect overlanding adventure. Oh, did I mention my Tacoma’s brakes over heated and failed on the way down….but that’s another story…!

Overland Gear from the CBDR Trail

By

Lori Palmer

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overland gear, off-road, off-road gear, off-roading, vehicle supported adventure,

Overland Gear: This product review contains items that I took on my 10 day journey through Colorado on the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route (ridebdr.com). This is not intended to be a sales pitch, simply a review. Read on and TAP into Adventure!

The Magellan eXplorist TRX7

TAP has spent 6 months testing out the Magellan eXplorist TRX7. Although we did not find this device to be particularly intuitive, we do appreciate all the data and functions it offers. Here are some highlights of how we have used the Magellan TRX7 and how it has worked for us.

The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 allows you to record trails for trips you have taken, save them in a database, for repeat journeys and publish them for others to use. It contains over 40,000 trails that have been uploaded by Magellan as well as by other Magellan users. This function is a great way to access local trails, some of which we had not seen listed by other sources.

The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 allows you to drop waypoints and get a readings on the GPS coordinates and altitude. You can take photos and upload them for future reference and access photos taken by other users of your area of interest. Once you have completed a trail, you can pull up “Attributes”, to make notes on its conditions, terrain, pitch etc. If you are going on one that is stored in the database, you can access this information before heading out.

The Attributes function allows you to record aspects of the trail.

Here we mapped out our route to San Felipe BC.

When logging in to my account on trxtrailhead.com (more details about this is on their website), and going to profile/awards, I can see what states I have driven in, which state parks and national forests I have been to, how many trails I’ve contributed to the community library of trails and see the mile badges I’ve earned. The kid in me thoroughly enjoys this.

For the trip along the CBDR, I uploaded all the GPS coordinates to the TRX7. From the dashboard, I went to my journal then my log, used the touch screen to go to the CBDR Tracks, downloaded originally from the ridebdr.com website. All routes and alternates were listed.

I found the map and tracking to be very comprehensive and precise.

When in a town, it will give you detailed directions to your destination and will also pull up the closest gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, hotels etc.

The Magellan allows you to pull up local amenities.

The Magellan eXplorist TRX7 is a competent GPS system and so much more. To read more about it or check out the full line of Magellan products go to www.magellangps.com.

SteerSmarts has quite a history. One that needs to be shared: While being relatively new to the aftermarket components industry, it has over 100 years of experience, starting back in 1909 when the Detroit Socket Company manufactured, forged and welded buggy and wagon top products. Over the years, the Detroit Socket Company morphed into the Letts Drop Forge Industries. Later, it merged with the Powers family, who had been approached by Ford and were making pitmann arms for the model A. When Powers and Sons was sold to Letts Drop Forge, the new organization, Powers and Sons LLC, focused primarily on supplying solid forgings to the aftermarket industry. By 2002, Powers and Sons LLC was a multinational, full service OE supplier. In 2015, Powers and Sons LLC launched SteerSmarts, incorporating over 100 years of lessons learned along the way about creating high quality products. Today, they produce highly engineered steering components for the Jeep Wrangler.

YETI DRAG LINK and TIE ROD

Before going on a 10 day backcountry overlanding trip, you have to get your rig checked out and primed for the journey. I have a Jeep Wizard who I will shamelessly call out by name; Chris Johnson, owner of Rock-Tech Off road in La Habra CA. My Jeep has over 65,000 miles on it and required a new drag link and tie rod. Chris recommended YETI by SteerSmarts, and I went with it. Here is some information that you should know about this little known industry secret.

THE YETI DRAG LINK

If you have a 3.5 or more lift on your Jeep, a top mounted drag link is an important part of your modification. The YETI drag link features the first patented “no-drill” Reverse Taper top mount, making installation easier and more precise. Precise installation is critical when realigning the steering geometry on your JK in order to prevent sloppy or loose steering.

Here are some specs on the Yeti Drag Link:

It is made from cold headed medium carbon alloy steel ball studs, no-flop “reverse pin” ball joint technology and 30mm ball joints with steel bearings. The ball studs are induction heat-treated and the ball joints are greaseable. The forgings are constructed from 1541 heat-treated steel and they are made with chromoly tubing.
The Yeti drag link’s 3 configurations are:
-“No drill” top mount
-Top mount for reid knuckles or drilled out stock knuckles
-Standard bottom mount

The YETI TIE ROD

SteerSmarts YETI tie rod features SteerSmart’s unique “No Rock” induction hardened ball studs with greasable steel on steel bearings for extra strength and longevity (see video below)

Additional Specs:
The YETI tie rod features a no-flop “reverse pin” ball joint technology, 30mm greasable ball joints with steel bearings, high quality key-life seals and rolled threads. Forgings are constructed from 1541 heat-treated steel and they are made with chromoly tubing. The tie rod comes with custom clamps for better locking and it is e-coated and epoxy powder coated.

SteerSmarts makes all of their parts in the USA. steersmarts.com

Kargo Master Safari Hinge Steps:

These little beauties make roof rack access that much easier. The Hinge Step Kit is coated with a marine-grade black powder coat finish which makes them highly resistant against corrosion and abrasion. I can’t tell you how many times I have almost stood on my (plastic) fenders to get to the roof of my JK. Check them out at Kmsafaristore.com.

Snomaster Traveller Series Fridge/Freezer

My “comrades in adventure” had not heard of the Snomaster fridge/freezer. It’s fairly new in the US, in from South Africa. It was easy to install (120v plug installed behind the back seat) and I kept it running for 10 days, day and night with no problem. A feature that I really like is the battery monitor. This can be set via the control panel or the remote control in three stages between 10.0, 10.7 or 11.8 volts. When falling below the voltage, the unit turns off, avoiding damage to the battery by deep discharge.

The freezer portion is separated by being elevated from the fridge portion, which intensifies the temperature in that area and allowed me to keep my meals frozen and drinks cold. A note: I needed to find the “sweet spot” temperature-wise in order to prevent my drinks from icing over. For more details on their products, check out snomasterusa.com

This is a company that makes some very cool products. We have written up the XP-10 and here are a few more reviews on the products that I took with me along the CBDR.

The Antigravity Batteries Multi-Function Lantern is a 4-in-1 Camp Lantern, wireless bluetooth music/audio player, speakerphone and a flashlight. It’s a great lamp for inside a tent, flashlight when looking for lost keys (don’t ask) and around the fire, when some tunes are welcome, it puts out good quality sound. I did not use the speakerphone function, so can’t comment. It is a compact, multifunctional and very functional item, especially when space is limited. It’s also a good quality toy for camping adults.

Steve almost stole it from me. This is a picture of him “modeling”/getting ready to bolt.

The THUMP-BOX is an extremely compact (2″ x 2″ x 3″) bluetooth speaker system. Sound transmits into any surface the THUMP-BOX is placed on and the surface becomes the speaker system. It also works as a speakerphone. I did not bring this product on the CBDR because it had been taken by my 17 year old…no. I don’t need this product while camping, but at work and home, it comes in handy and produces great sound.

The SPORT comes in a compact, case with a variety of connectors.

On this trip I had many devices that needed charging, so having a compact energy source came in handy. Antigravity Batteries describes the Micro-Start SPORT as one of the smallest lithium-ion Jump-Starter/Personal Power Supply (PPS) that provides 150 amps/300A. I used this continually throughout the 10 days. Every two days, I recharged it while driving.

The NEW UltraLight X is a flashlight, bluetooth music player, speakerphone, and Power Bank. Sounds super cool…will be taking it on the Mojave Road in November, so the review is coming….

You can check out their products at shop.antigravitybatteries.com

1967 CLOTHING COMPANY INSPIRATION “When we got to the top of Half Dome, a tourist took our camera and agreed to take a photo of us as we stood there. When we looked at that picture, we said, maybe we’d better get in the clothing business.”- Liz Robbins 1968

A bit of history about ths company that was founded by Liz and Royal Robbins: Both Liz and Royal were avid climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. Liz Robbins was the first woman to ascend the face of Half Dome, and the first woman to ascend a grade 6 climb anywhere in the world. Royal was an internationally acclaimed climber and kayaker. In 1968 they created and began selling outdoor clothing. Their brand was called Mountain Paraphernalia. In 1980, it became Royal Robbins, an active lifestyle apparel company for rock climbers, adventurers and travelers. TAP respects and lives by Royal’s view that life is meant to be lived as an adventure. That is what gives it value. Speaking of value…I took some clothing items made by Royal Robbins on my 10 day journey across Colorado on the CBDR. I have traditionally been a “cotton clothing” kind of an overlander/primitive camper/hiker. But, I kept hearing about the value of wearing good technical clothing while out adventuring in various altitudes, temperatures, and terrains. On the CBDR we had temperatures that ranged from the low 40’s to over 100 degrees. We were in high altitudes where the sun was searing. We also had rain and hail. I wore their shirts and am a convert. The shirt dried quickly when wet, protected me from the sun with SPF 50 fabric, and kept me cooler than my cotton tees when the weather was hot. That made me a happy camper.

You can check out their full line of men and women’s clothing at royalrobbins.com

So, there you have it. These are some of the items that I took on my journey through Colorado that made the trip a bit easier, safer and more enjoyable. It’s important to get your rig trail-ready, have a solid GPS device, good lighting, power to charge tablets, phones, and your rig. Quality clothing to help protect you from the elements and keep you more comfortable. A good quality fridge/freezer to keep you from eating freeze-dried teriyaki beef or whatever. Then there is what I will call the “frosting” element. My light streams music! I have steps on the sides of my Jeep that fold in and out so I can get at the Maxtrax that are tied down on my roof rack!

This is by no means intended as a sales pitch. These are items TAP was introduced to, used, and we want to pass the info on to you. Get out there. Get your camp and rig essentials dialed in for safety, and have fun. There are so many great places to go out and explore.

Author: Lori Palmer, TAP Co-Founder and Editor, avid outdoor fan and adrenaline junkie.

Photos: TAP

The Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route

By

Lori Palmer

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Colorado BDR, Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route, BDR's, overland expeditions, vehicle supported adventure, expedition, off-road adventure, overland adventures, bar adventure, bar expeditions, overland, over land, overlanding, off-road, off-roading, off-road adventure,

It was an epic journey. Full stop. One I will not forget. I had the opportunity of going on a ten-day, off-road trip through Colorado along the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route. From July 10-July 19th, a group of us travelled from the Four Corners Monument, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado converge, up to the Wyoming border. Chris Wood, Director of Sales for American Expedition Vehicles, has driven two other BDR’s and this year had chosen to drive Colorado. He invited me the Editor of TAP, Ken Beahm, a SAR volunteer and contributing TAP author, Steve Drewniany, Firefighter/Paramedic and Jackson Ellis of Glendale Dodge, Chrysler Jeep, an authorized AEV dealer. All of us have known each other and Chris for a few years and have, co-hosted, attended or assisted on the AEV in-field trainings and runs (including the AEV/TAP women’s runs). Our rigs are all fully capable, AEV built, Jeeps. None the less, everyone had them checked out before taking off. On an extended, off-road, camping-in-all-kinds-of-weather kind of a trip, a good, compatible team, and mechanically solid rigs really matter.

Route planning began months earlier via e-mail and phone. The team is spread out and lives from up in Washington state to close to Tijuana BC, so face to face conversation was out of the question. Chris scoped out the route using the Butler Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route map, Google Earth and ridebdr.com. If you go on a BDR road trip, these are excellent resources to use. Chris broke the days up according to mileage, points/passes of interest and the availability of what appeared to be good primitive camp sites by searching via Google Earth. Because we were to travel at high altitudes, we needed to check which passes were still closed due to the amount of remaining snow cover (CO had 150% of its average snowfall this season), and what alternate routes could be taken. (These were listed on ridebdr.com.) Steve also checked the status of fires to see if any were burning along the route. There were a few active fires, none close to the CBDR.

There was a lot of planning around the type of gear to carry: tools, spare parts, rig fluids, extra water and fuel storage. We discussed how to cope with the possibility of altitude sickness as all of us come from close to sea level altitudes and this trip would take us up to 12,600 ft. Chris took this into consideration when planning the first few days of our trip and the goal was to ease into altitude gain. Each one of us have experienced altitude sickness and welcomed this strategy. We discussed the importance of hydration (electrolytes), frequent high calorie snacking to keep our concentration levels high, and the necessity of calling for breaks when needed. We also talked about the fact that the weather would range from 95 degrees and sunny, to frequent thunder and lightning storms, rain, hail and temps in the low 40’s. This meant packing efficiently and including multiple layers. When packing for a long journey in a Jeep, economy of size is critical.

The route had us to stopping in towns to refuel and buy any essentials almost every day. Because of this, we got to visit Cortez, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, Lake City, Salida, and a few ghost towns. We also spent three days exploring the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains, which was outstanding. It was great getting away from everyone and everything, enjoying the backcountry then cruising into Ouray for ice cream at 10:30 in the morning. What’s a vacation (work trip) without ice cream? Seriously, most of our time was spent in the pristine backcountry of Colorado. The wildflowers were out in full bloom, there were snow-capped mountains in the distance (or snowbanks on either side of us), a vast array of trails to drive…but nothing too technical. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken!

Before the trip, Ken told me to be prepared for a mental endurance test. He said that ten days of driving, setting up and breaking down camp in all kinds of weather, would get to me at some point. I thought he was dead wrong. I love driving, I love camping, I am super human. Nope. Day seven body slammed me… for no particular reason. I had slept fine. The lightning and thunder had travelled onward and left us alone. My body had enough calories and hydration, but it happened anyway. I bonked, but kept on driving, came alive again and all was well. So, not so super human after all.

My advice to anyone who can get enough time off of work and who is vaguely interested in backcountry exploration is…GO. Make it happen. Do it with a group of friends. Do it safely and hang on for the ride of your life. What follows is a daily photo journal. I have provided GPS coordinates for our campsites…except for a secret one which I risk losing my life if I tell…so I won’t. As you will see, we took our time. We took lots of photos, we chilled, we enjoyed the trails, the sights and the company. I will do my best in describing where each of the photos were taken, but can’t promise perfection there. If you like, follow along on Google Earth. As I mentioned, that’s how Chris found our campsites. He calculated how far he wanted us to go in a given day then swooped down using Google Earth to check for areas to primitive camp. We had AMAZING camps….every night. Enough said: Read on and TAP into Adventure!

Day 1 July 10, 2017- drove 75 miles: The first day, we lined up at Four Corners Monument then headed out, passing through Cortez toward the town of Dolores. We had a relatively short day in order to allow for altitude acclimation. We camped in a beautiful flat field that apparently belonged to a herd of cows who made their presence known to use just after we had finished setting up camp.

Three out of five of us had James Baroud roof top tents and I’m not going to lie, I was a little jealous. Their set up and breakdown was fast and easy. No wet ground to deal with, and all sleeping items were stored in the tents, freeing up room in their Jeeps. Our campsite was near Lake Dolores. Camp coordinates: 37.6608 N, -108.4342 W, elevation: 7,825 ft

Day 2, July 11 -drove 108 miles: We drove by Lake Dolores, then headed up Groundhog Mountain and out toward the San Juan Mountains. We had lunch by the river in the picturesque town of Telluride (elevation 8,750) then drove over Ophir Pass…..stunning. That evening we camped at a secret spot by Mineral creek. Camp elevation: 10,755 ft

Day 3, July 12-Drove 40 miles: Today we entered the Alpine Loop area. We went to the town of Silverton for fuel and checked out Animas Forks ghost town. After that, we headed up to the Alpine Loop area and drove California Gulch and Corkscrew Pass. That night we camped in Poughkeepsie Gulch near Ouray. Camp coordinates: 37.9663N, -107.6269, elevation: 10,492 ft

Day 4, July 13-Drove 61 miles : We went to check out the beautiful little town of Ouray, fondly referred to as the Switzerland of the United States. We got fuel and ice cream (yes!) then headed out to Cinnamon Pass. That night we camped near Cottonwood Creek Camp coordinates: 37.9000 N, -107.4414 W, elevation: 10,348 ft

Day 5, July 14-drove 86 miles: Today we drove through Lake City, past Lake San Cristobal and camped near Razor Creek Dome. Camp coordinates: 38.3476 N, -106.7429 W, elevation: 9,137 ft

Day 6, July 15-drove 80 miles: We drove over Old Monarch Pass and the Continental Divide (11,375 ft). Stopped in Salida for lunch and fuel then passed through Gunnison National Forest and San Isabelle National Forest. We camped on a bluff overlooking Nathrop CO and watched large, dark storm clouds form on both sides of us. We were pretty sure that the two storm systems would meet overhead and drench us. We ended up getting only a few minutes of hail, rain, thunder and lightning that evening. Nothing too bad. In the end, the storms stayed on either side of us. Camp coordinates: 38.7038 N, -105.9758 W, elevation: 10,144 ft

Day 7, July 16-drove 74miles: We drove through Pike and San Isabelle National Forests, through the town of Buena Vista, then past Turquois Lake. Some Super fun driving, some “meh” silty road driving and some slushy hail. We camped at Weston Pass. Camp coordinates: 39.1020 N, -106.1572 W, elevation: 10,846

Day 8, July 17-drove 103 miles: Went over Hagerman Pass, on to Crooked Creek, then past Mt. Massive Lakes. There was quite a bit of ( I’m changing my air filters as soon as I get home) silty road driving again today, but once again, the views were stunning. We camped near Green Horn Mt. in the Gypsum hills. The terrain here turned to chaparral and it was 98 degrees when we hit the town of Gypsum. Camp coordinates: 39.6963 N, -106.9435 W, elevation: 7,638

Day 9, July 18-drove 116 miles: We left Gypsum, driving through Medicine and Bow-Routt National Forests, past Crooked creek pass. The terrain reminded me of Sedona with it’s red rocks and scrub brush. That night, we stayed in a hotel in Steamboat Springs. elevation: 7,638.

Day 10, July 19-drove 88 miles: Steamboat to Baggs WY. The last leg of the journey was mainly through farmlands and ranches. Beautiful country.

Colorado is a unique and beautiful place. The CBDR gave us an opportunity to travel through the state, off the beaten path, to see some of the natural beauty that this part of the country has to offer. As I stated earlier, if you have even the remotest possibility of going, do it. Prepare for sure, be safe and enjoy the ride. I can’t wait to get back out again.

Author: Lori Palmer, TAP Editor and Co-Founder.

TAP would like to extend a big thanks to the following companies who supported TAP’s trip along the CBDR.

Our next article will contain a product reviews. Do not miss it!

CHECK OUT the Utah BDR Trip HERE

The Ladies Off Road Challenge

By

Lori Palmer

-

Charlene Bower, owner of Bower Media and Ladies Off-road Network, recently put on a 4 day co-driver challenge. The 10 women who attended were the finalists chosen out of 41 candidates to compete for co-driver or media position alongside Charlene for three events: the 15th Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience, the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich Tires and 1st Fury Rode.

The four-day challenge was made up of a variety of activities to test the women’s skills in the areas of teamwork, media ready performance, initiative, wheeling, recovery techniques, shooting, endurance and stamina. There was not one evening that allowed for more than four hours of sleep. Activities were planned one after another, keeping the women out of their comfort zones as much as possible. This 4-day event was designed to be an intense training and test of endurance. Despite, or because of this, they had a blast. I was asked to come along and record the event via photos. Here is a photo journal and brief description of this four-day event. Enjoy and watch how these women TAP into Adventure!

Day 1: Teamwork: The women arrived on Thursday afternoon, set up their sleeping areas, then went on a trip to the science museum where the women had to replicate a recovery using the items provided. Their “vehicle” needed to move 6 inches without them touching it.

Day 2: Shop Tours: Jagged X Racing, UTV Inc., Geiser Brothers, and SDGQ. The women gained knowledge of and spoke first hand with shop owners, racers and the technicians and engineers. They checked out the rigs, ATV’s, etc. and learned about how certain modifications benefit a vehicle’s performance. After the shop tours, each woman gave a live media presentation related to the visit.

Day 2: Recovery Training/Exercises: Charlene is one of only two women who are International Four Wheel Drive Trainer Association trainers. On the evening of day 2, she put on question and answer training demonstrations then had the women rotate through different stations: winching, Hi-Lift Jacks, plugging tires and flipping tires onto beadlocks….well into the night.

Day 3: Wheeling. We departed early from Phoenix to Sedona AZ where we picked up Jeeps from Barlow Adventures Jeep Rentals for a day of wheeling and navigating. This was a practice in teamwork, picking the correct line and doing some navigation 101.

Day 3: Tagging. How could I forget. We gassed up in Phoenix before heading out to Sedona and while at the station, the women were instructed to turn the van into a marketing tool. Again, strategy and teamwork came into play. Here is what they created:

Day 3: Shooting.Target Practice at Shooters World for some training and target practice. (Shooting is part of the Fury Rode event.) Here, the women were taught safe handling and shooting techniques.

Day 4: Kayaking. This was the final big push of the weekend – a 14 mile kayak ride down the Salt River. Mimicking events the women will be participating in, this last leg proved to be a challenge. Here the women had to balance stamina and teamwork.

Day 4: PARTY! At the end of the final day, there was a relaxing pool party with friends of the Ladies Offroad Network. These women had participated in the co-driver challenge last year and came to offer their congratulations and support to this years finalists.

The next stop for three of these women will be to pair up with Charlene Bower on one of the three upcoming events: 15th Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience, the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich Tires and 1st Fury Rode. Based on my experience with these women, the choice will not be an easy one.

On a final note: Not only was I the photojournalist for this event, I also got to interact with and see some very talented women. I saw them pushed to their max; laughing, crying and putting themselves into some very uncomfortable situations. Why did they do it? Because they are the kind of people who look for challenges.They want to team up with the creator of this challenge/training week-end, Charlene Bower, on three extreme offroad events and live life just a little bit out of the box….where the fun is.

For more information about The Ladies Offroad Network go to: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesOffroadNetwork

About Charlene Bower: Charlene worked upper retail management at multi-line Powersports dealerships for 11 years and in magazine media for 4 years before founding Bower Motorsports Media in 2009. She has built brands that include the online talk show Bower Power Hour, Race Team Store online marketplace, I’m Not Just A Girl clothing and jewelry line, Ladies Offroad Network website and events devoted to women offroaders, and Racer Marketing School for online education. Charlene is a dirt bike rider, hard core wheeler, and the only female member of the Arizona Undertakers 4×4 club. In 2014, she earned the title of “Fastest Girl Up Backdoor” at the King of the Hammers Backdoor Shootout. With different contest winners in her co-driver seat in 2015, her team took 2nd in RallyVenture and in 2016, they placed 1st in the Rebelle Rally and 2nd in the Pro Class at 36 Hours of Uwharrie. Charlene has been recognized by BFGoodrich Tires as one of their Performance Team Members, and was recently voted by peers as an Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Industry Rising Star. In 2017, Charlene obtained her training certification from the International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers’ Association.

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TAP would like to extend a big thanks to the following companies who supported TAP’s trip along the CBDR.

Our next article will contain a product reviews. Do not miss it!

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