Having done all of my Jeeping and romping west of the Mississippi, I didn't know what to expect at the 13th annual Penn Woods Jeep Jamboree (in Bradford, Pennsylvania). This event had great people, good organization, lots of rocks, and a giant bucket full of mud. … [Read more...]
Overlanding the French Alps
The border area between northern Italy and France was hard-fought from the 18th century until World War II – in this time a lot of fortifications were built on and into the mountains to control the valleys. While there are still a lot of unpaved roads left over and unmaintained, this area has seen a growing number of ski resorts and has … [Read more...]
Transylvania – The Land Beyond the Forest
Transylvania, a region in rural Romania in Central Europe, is for many people linked to and associated with the fictional Dracula figure out of the 19th century book by Bram Stoker. However, the meaning of the name, derived from the Latin “ultra silvam” or “exceedingly forested,” is much more representative for the true content and richness of this … [Read more...]
Red Rock Challenge, KJ Style!
Climbing the Chimney in Colorado's San Juans
In the northwest San Juan Mountains, near the little town of Ridgeway, Colorado, resides a lonely tower. Chimney Rock (also sometimes called Chimney Peak) sits among great peaks and formations such as Courthouse Mountain, Precipice Peak, and the spires of Cimarron Ridge. … [Read more...]
Rough and Ready for a Dangerous Job
Think driving a Jeep for a living sounds like fun? Harvey MacKay says, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Just between you and me, I think driving a Jeep on dirt roads sounds like a great job description. Toss in some exercise – such as hiking, or a little running maybe - and we’re on the way to really … [Read more...]
King of the Mountain
"Unbelievable, tremendous, phenomenal...the Wranglers are unbeatable!" The raw emotion of Matthias Jeschke's excitement was felt throughout the Jeep world on March 13, 2007 when his Extreme Events expedition team set a new Guinness World Record by climbing 21,804 feet to the rim of the world's highest volcano, Ojos del Salado, in Chile. … [Read more...]
Winter Wheelin' With NAXJA
Jeeping. It’s a love hate relationship. It consumes money and time with the ferocity of a Kansas tornado. It leaves you up to your chin in cold water, buried in mud, replacing broken parts in sub-zero temps, baking on sandstone, and presents a myriad of other unforeseeable perils. … [Read more...]
Discovery on the Rim
When my wife and I were in Kauai for our Honeymoon last year, we hiked Waimea Canyon and commented on how it compared in size to the Grand Canyon. … [Read more...]