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10 March 2019: The final day of our Trail Leader training course with Barlow Adventures brought it all together as we focused on guiding vehicles over challenging obstacles. The group did a great job and learned a lot about analyzing terrain and managing drivers and vehicles of different capabilities with confidence…
9 March 2019: Today was all about Recovery as our Trail Leader training course with Barlow Adventures continued. We covered the most common trail “stucks” and worked as a group to get the vehicles “unstuck” with straps, the hilift jack and other tools, and went over the basics of winching operations — which we had a chance to practice during a real world recovery. The situation presented itself when an ATV slide off a trail and tumbled down into a ravine. The occupants were taken to hospital by Emergency Services, and their family asked if we could help recover their vehicle. Our class worked through the recovery under the supervision of International 4WD Trainers Association master trainer Nena Barlow …
8 March 2019: Began a three-day Trail Leader training weekend with Barlow Adventures at Table Mesa. The first day focused on a review of vehicle dynamics and driving skills, as the group looked at different line options and different vehicle configurations and how each one would react to a specific obstacle. Some fun time on the trail and a lot of knowledge …
7 March 2019: Hit a favorite Sedona trail this afternoon before heading south for the weekend. The sun was out and it was a perfect day for running Broken Arrow …
6 March 2019: Back in Sedona the weather is unsettled today with bits of rain and some occasional sun making it difficult to dress appropriately for outdoor activity, but at day’s end Mother Nature surprised us with some beautiful skies …
THIS MONTH:
Trail Leader training with Barlow Adventures at Table Mesa. This three day series is designed to strengthen skills for leading 4WD excursions, focusing on the many facets necessary to successfully lead a trip, with hands-on practice in group logistics and common challenges. The program starts with a refresher on driving techniques, reading trails and analyzing obstacles, and anticipating how a vehicle is going to react in different circumstances. Day Two is all about recovery, with practice in winching, hi-lift and straps in various scenarios. The final day brings it all together with expedition scenarios and techniques in detail…
COMING UP SOON:
Back to Paris to visit friends and familiar places…
Heading to Pennsylvania Coal Country for the Women’s Wheeling Day Trail Guide Training with theOffRoad Consulting group at Rausch Creek. The full-day training focuses on the most important aspects of trail guiding and covers what is expected of Guides both on and off the trails during the event …
Joining the ladies at Woman and Machine New England for a day of automotive learning fun focused on cars, engines, welding, and more. This automotive educational and networking event is designed for those who want to understand more about their vehicles and/or explore the skill sets that make up various realms within the automotive industry. The event is open to everyone from seasoned professionals to the wrench-curious ladies who are interested in learning more about cars from other women …
Back to Pennsylvania Coal Country to guide for the 2019 Women’s Wheeling Day at Rausch Creek Offroad Park hosted by Jeep Girls Rock. The day focuses on learning, enjoying the trails and meeting new friends, and is for all trail levels, from beginners to advanced. Female Guides will be assigned to each group and will encourage those who have never wheeled before as they build confidence out on the trails and learn what their vehicle is capable of (guys are welcomed to attend and ride along with women drivers at this family event) …
BROKEN ARROW JEEP TRAIL
The Broken Arrow Trail, easily reached just off Hwy 179 on the south side of Sedona, is a very popular jeep track an hiking trail, climbing gently up a wide valley, lined with amazing red rock formations that tower into the sky. It ends at Chicken point, a low pass which has good views south towards Oak Creek village, and north to Sedona and the high mountains beyond. Though heavily trafficked the trail offers a great introduction to Sedona’s famous red rock scenery, with a few optional fun obstacles along the way. The highlight of the drive is the “Staircase,” a steep and somewhat intimidating downhill drive over rock “steps” which is always exciting…
HIKING AROUND SEDONA
Sedona’s Red Rocks create a paradise for scenic hikes all around the area. With so many options it can be hard to choose a trail and many visitors default to the most popular onces, which can lead to crowded stretches and a decidedly “un-wilderness” experience. Here are a couple of links to some list of less-crowded, shorter hikes from different sources: 8 Beautiful Hikes without the Crowds, 6 Easy Sedona Hikes with Fabulous Views, Best easy hikes in Sedona…
SEDONA, ARIZONA
Number one on USA Weekend’s “Most Beautiful Places in America list,” Sedona, AZ is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land, with great jeep trails that wind in and out of a rugged landscape defined by pinnacles, spires, buttes and domes. …
Nesconset | Paris | Sedona | Cordes Lake | Phoenix
MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
15-28 February – San Antonio
1-14 February – Sedona and Glamis
January – Iran
December – Holiday Road Trip
16-30 November – Senegal
1-15 November – Paris
October – New York
September – Southwestern Deserts
22-31 August – New York
8-21 August – Serbia
1-7 August – Ladies Offroad Network
22-31 July – Moab
9-21 July – Woman and Machine
1-8 July – DC Dirt Camp
25-30 June – Orienteering
1-24 June – Paris
7-10 June – Bantam Jeep Festival
1-6 June – Roadtrip to Bantam JeepFest
May – Wheelers Overland
16-30 April – New York
4-15 April – Sudan
29 March – 3 April – Egypt
Archive
REFLECTIONS
A quick overview of impressions from a stop in Cairo during our recent scouting mission in Egypt and Sudan … [read]
SPECIAL REPORT
A look into south-eastern Algeria on the border with Libya and Niger: overlanding with the Tuareg in one of the most remote corners of the Sahara … [read]
