Jeeping

October 15, 2012

Have you ever read the book, Sheep in a Jeep? I remember reading it to my children when they were young. It's about 5 sheep who go riding in a jeep and don't have the best of luck going off-roading. I got to be a "sheep" this summer. I met up with some friends in Colorado, and we took their jeep over some mountain passes that climbs to over 13,000 feet. We crept along rocky trails with sheer drop-offs and tackled some switchbacks that required a 3 point turn (sometimes more like a 5 point turn) to get around.

I have been expanding my horizons, trying to do things that get me outside of my comfort zone. I learned that there is a whole community of folks who take rugged 4wd vehicles over impossible terrain just to see if it will make it. I'm a very conservative person. I like to follow rules and make sure things go smoothly. Why on earth, then, would I want to climb into a vehicle and take it over terrain that could potentially tear it to pieces (not to mention what could happen to the occupants of the vehicle if something went wrong). Thankfully, our adventure turned out a little better than the Sheep in a Jeep. We didn't end up in a heap (although the Jeep did take a bit of a beating) and got to see some beautiful sights along the way. We saw places that can only be accessed with a 4WD.

Jeeping, it turns out, is a lot of fun. Something I would recommend if you are looking for a bit of adventure. Colorado has several companies that rent off-road Jeeps if you don't have your own. Colorado Above Treeline: Scenic Drives, 4WD Adventures, and Classic Hikes is a great book to use to plan a trip.

Tracy W.
Smithville Branch