JPFreek Adventure Magazine - Jeep and Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Magazine » Jeep Adventure

Badlands of the Heartland

Will Morgan — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:56:15 +0000

With more of our public lands being shut down and the continuing threat of additional closures, the popularity of ORV parks is growing and the number of them continues to increase as well. Indiana is home to several of these parks including The Badlands and Redbird. These ORV parks are two of the best known and most popular in the state. Having spent time at both and many other parks around the country, I am truly impressed with what Indiana has to offer the off-road community in the form of “The Badlands.” Read more ...

A Tale of Two Jeepers – Willys Road Trip

Frank Ledwell — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:47:12 +0000

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the stage had been set for what would later become the deadliest conflict in human history. Over 60 million people lost their lives during the Second World War, including nearly 40 million civilians, and while the forces of ‘good’ prevailed in an Allied victory, the world would never be the same. Read more ...

All Roads Lead to Serbia

Hendrik de Backer — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:35:37 +0000

The aftermath of an Easter holiday to Romania brought us a pleasant surprise: an inviting e-mail from Jeep Club Serbia asking us if we would be interested to visit Serbia and if so, an open invitation to meet and share experiences. Read more ...

A Journey Through Corral Canyon

Diane Zalman — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:05:27 +0000

About 50 miles inland from San Diego lays Corral Canyon OHV. I’d come across videos of 4-wheelers there that made it seem challenging and scenic, attributes I look for while planning trips for OffroadPassport.com. The more research I did the more the area presented a fun weekend get-away and great practice for the Rubicon trip this year. Read more ...

It’s a Jeep Thing – Cape York in a WWII Jeep

JPFreek — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 01:17:01 +0000

I’ve just driven a World War II Jeep for the first time and I’m hooked! Our original plan was to borrow a mate’s Jeep to shoot a TV commercial at Chili Beach on Cape York but a last minute hiccup meant the loan Jeep was no longer available. Several frantic phone calls and a few hours scouring the web turned up a ‘42 Jeep for sale in Rockhampton. The call was made and the deal was struck with the plan of picking it up en route to Cairns (from Brisbane). A quick test drive around the block and up a rocky hill on a nearby new estate and the nimble little Jeep had won our hearts. Read more ...

Jeep Compass Road Test – Part I

Richard Tinnell — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:47:21 +0000

JPFreek Adventure Magazine’s creative director, Richard Tinnell, was recently handed the keys to a 70th Anniversary edition of the all-new Jeep Compass. Read more ...

Jeep Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail

JPFreek — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:33:25 +0000

Originally a Native American footpath, the Rubicon Trail was used by explorers in search of a clear path across the Sierra Nevadas. Today, Jeep® owners travel from all over to test their prowess on the most grueling 22 miles of off-road driving in America. Read more ...

Catsailing with ‘Ol Rubi

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:47:40 +0000

One summer day in 2002, a friend invited my wife and me to go sailing on her little Sunfish. The power of the wind and water was exhilarating, and we were hooked. Pitting our skills against nature and the technical aspects of a sailboat drew us into catamarans which are the ultimate adventure in small boat sailing. Read more ...

It’s the Journey, Not the Destination

Diane Zalman — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:28:52 +0000

It turns out the Mud Springs Trail in Arizona has confounded many of us Phoenician four-wheelers over the years. Back in the day before our first Jeep, George and I attempted Mud Springs in our ’99 Dodge Ram 1500 4×4, and on another outing we borrowed our neighbor’s ATV. On both occasions we missed reaching the Holy Grail at the end of the trail: an alleged “Miner’s Shack.” We tried it again when we were newbie’s in Number 7, and again we only got to Mud Springs Hill. In fact, the first time we actually made it to the Miner’s Shack was on foot and had hiked in from a different trailhead. Read more ...

Dirt Roads & a Hole in the Rock

Diane Zalman — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:53:49 +0000

Last summer, I bought a large-print road atlas online that was $10 down the drain! I thought it would be easier to read but it lacked detail. Since I prefer by-ways to interstates, it’s useless, I thought. But it happened to be in the Jeep during a long road-trip, and on some lonely stretch of blacktop, reading it out of pure boredom, I saw Hole-in-the-Rock Road on the Utah map. Then I noticed the ‘Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’ (GSENM), and the crummy book began to redeem itself. Read more ...

Maine Mountain Adventure

JPFreek — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:12:53 +0000

Less than a four-hour drive north of Boston, Bethel, Maine teems with history. Tucked into the western side of Maine, not many miles from New Hampshire and the White Mountains, Bethel was first settled in 1774 although it didn’t acquire its current name until 1796. In the early 19^th century, Bethel had become one of the most productive farming towns in the state. In the winter, logging and sawmills kept the wheels of commerce turning. The arrival in 1851 of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence railroad opened up the town to tourists and several hotels were built, some on today’s Common, and Bethel became a popular and fashionable summer resort. Read more ...

Big Bear Jeep Jamboree

Nena Barlow — Thu, 26 May 2011 01:29:05 +0000

I look back now at the discussion we had in the Barlow’s office before our respective May trips. As we determined who was taking which Jeep where, I smugly stated “I’m going to Big Bear where they don’t have any big rocks–I’ll take Alex.” I would come to regret those words. Alex is currently a stock tan 2011 JK Rubicon who would earn the name “Cream Puff” by the end of the Jamboree. Read more ...

Pyramid Lake Adventure

JPFreek — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:33:28 +0000

Pyramid Lake is one of the world’s most beautiful desert lakes. Our base camp was located next to the 400 foot rock pyramid that rises out of the lake, along a sweeping sandy beach where beautiful Tufa rock formations add shape and texture to the landscape. It’s a challenge to find an ideal spot that will accommodate 70 – 100 people but we found it on this Paiute Reservation, located 40 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada. Read more ...

24 Hours of Exhaustion

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:53:01 +0000

For twenty years the Camel Trophy was the ultimate display of what 4-wheel drive vehicles could accomplish. From 1980 to 2000, Land Rovers and Range Rovers, in every conceivable spec, traversed some of the most daunting and challenging areas on earth for weeks at a time. Another hallmark of the events was the emphasis on teamwork and mental challenges, in addition to the seemingly impossible terrain. It was an incredible test of man and machine, with teams from all over the world vying for the trophy. Read more ...

Tales of a Texas-Sized Jamboree

Greg Machado — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:04:47 +0000

I’m often asked, “Why would you pay $265.00 per person, NOT PER JEEP, Per PERSON, to attend a Jeep Jamboree USA® event when you can wheel at thousands of other venues and events around the country for less money?” Thankfully, there are a few hundred thousand people, with combined memories from a number of successful Jeep Jamboree events going back 50 years, feel the same way that I do. Read more ...

Ouachita Jeep Jamboree

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:57:28 +0000

With the camper loaded and our Wrangler (Rubi) in tow, Alan, Scout (our Labrador retriever), and I headed for Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Ouachita Jeep Jamboree. A short seven hours later, we pulled into the Superlift ORV Park in Hot Springs. Read more ...

Jeepin’ in Paradise

JPFreek — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:59:14 +0000

My wife and I were recently married and as newlyweds, we decided to honeymoon on the glorious islands of Hawaii. We visited three of the islands in the chain: Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. Each island offered us new and exciting experiences and plenty of picturesque scenery; however we still reminisce more about our stay on the island of Kauai. Read more ...

A Trip to the Maze

Diane Zalman — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:05:42 +0000

“We’ve been planning this for a year, why cancel just because it ‘might’ rain?” That’s what we were thinking as cold, wet weather forecast approached in advance of Offroad Passport’s recent trip to the Maze at Canyonlands National Park. Besides, we had permits to camp at The Dollhouse and special guests who’d flown to Arizona just for this trip. Read more ...

Capturing the Splendor of America’s Hidden Treasures – Part II

JPFreek — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:52:51 +0000

Some of the world’s most beautiful and untouched wilderness lies virtually outside your front door. In the unmatched brilliance of High Definition, we bring fellow explorers to these places. They are off road enthusiast like you and me. We all have our favorite hidden treasures – places that are not over-run by tourists – that can’t be reached through “normal” means of travel. Read more ...

Capturing the Splendor of America’s Hidden Treasures – Part I

JPFreek — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:01:45 +0000

The majesty and mystical qualities of the pristine outdoors has always fascinated me. Off-highway adventure in my Jeep is the perfect escape, allowing me to find these places in general comfort and get away from it all. I have always felt driven to explore-to escape my day-to-day life and have an adventure. Read more ...

The First Overland

JPFreek — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:51:05 +0000

What about overland?’ I quipped, chewing on a wad of salted fish, running the spoon around my mess tin, chasing the last few grains of rice. The minute Noel looked up, I knew he was hooked on the idea of driving home. ‘ Read more ...

Hypothermia Run

admin — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:05:28 +0000

Driving for hours up a mountain in the snow, with the express purpose of sleeping outdoors in freezing temperatures, sounds like lunacy to most people. Nearly everybody I mentioned it to, in fact. Looking for someone to go with, I floated the idea to a couple of local Jeep clubs that I belong to. After all, misery loves company but in the end there were only two people crazy enough to do it with me. Read more ...

From Plains to Vistas – Palo Duro Adventure

Andrea Ledwell — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:27:04 +0000

While on the way to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, a sense of excitement and curiosity overcame me. This would be my very first Jeep Jamboree event, and I didn’t know what to expect. It was also the 20th anniversary for Jeep Jamboree, founded by Mark A. Smith, which made the event even more exciting. Read more ...

Crossroads of a Revolution

Will Morgan — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:49:57 +0000

Over two hundred years ago a small area of the pinelands in New Jersey, referred to as the Pine Barrens, bustled with activity such as sawmills, glass-making factories, and your typical general stores of the era. Read more ...

Jeep EcoSpedition in Libya

Hendrik de Backer — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:09:34 +0000

In the Spring we decided to organize an expedition in true “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” Jeep-style, intending to demonstrate how this adagio still holds in our modern society and to show that there are still places on this earth where you need a true 4×4 to get to. Special care is taken to do this with a lot of respect for nature and local people, and the Ecospedition reflected this. Read more ...

Dunes & Deserts

Mike Schwartz — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:36:44 +0000

Have you ever had one of those ideas that started simply enough, only to have it turn into something much bigger but so much better than you anticipated? That is how our first trip to Death Valley started. Read more ...

Lost in the Maze

Ben Nance — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:49:00 +0000

As I stare up at the night sky a myriad of stars seem to look right back at me, only to be interrupted by the shadows of swooping bats.The forty foot stone pillars that loom overhead trap and echo the clicks and squeaks from the tiny rodents as they chase down their nightly meals. Read more ...

Destination North: A Sub-Zero Adventure

Hendrik de Backer — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:47:32 +0000

Spur of the moment! Back in October, a trip to Morocco we had been planning for a few months turned out to be difficult and impossible to accomplish. We needed a new destination to test out our 2007 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, and It didn’t take long to decide that turning the map upside down would offer a nice alternative: going north, up to the Arctic Circle in Finland. Read more ...

The “Built For Off-Road” Adventure – Part II

JPFreek — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 01:42:30 +0000

Part I of the “Built for Off-Road” Adventure featured a tale about Mike Lawson and his travels with an Adventure Trailer in Colorado. The following is part two of his story: Read more ...

The “Built For Off-Road” Adventure – Part I

JPFreek — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:04:03 +0000

At the end of the summer, my family and I headed into the mountains for a long weekend of camping and trail running, along with my heavily modified 2006 LJ Rubicon. In preparation for this trip, I spent hours loading and unloading my Jeep with every camping item we might need along with tools and pertinent spare parts for taking the Rubi on the rocks. Read more ...

An Old Dog Learns New Tricks

JPFreek — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:42:39 +0000

What in the heck would make a seventy year old great grandfather give up the comfort and amenities of his thirty eight foot luxury motor home so he would end up sleeping on a $12 air mattress in a $24 tent, held down by big rocks on a field composed of crushed basalt and sticker burr weeds? Read more ...

Granite Domes & Jeep Adventure

Frank Ledwell — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:08:41 +0000

When folks think of Texas, they usually think of longhorns, cowboys, and land as far as the eye can see. While Texas has its fair share of all of the above, it is a haven for outdoor adventure and host to one of the most enjoyable Jeep Jamborees in the United States: the Texas Spur Jamboree. Read more ...

Good Friends, Bad Roads

Mark Stephens — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 04:24:45 +0000

The icing on the cake for this fun trip was this: The boys brought their guitars – KP and Brian “Scorpion Sting”. They started with their favorites, like Mellencamp, Petty, and Joel. Halfway through the seventh song, Buffet’s Why Don’t We Get Drunk, Brian stopped playing, then said, “To hell with it. Sorry for taking the train down a dirt road, guys. What do you want to hear?” Read more ...

Amputee Adventures

Lance Blair — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:28:52 +0000

Jerry Dickson grins as he shows me the historical marker with the story of a tall tale spinning amputee who always came out of the mountains with a bit of gold. “See, we aren’t the first Disabled Explorers to travel this desert” he says as we enjoy the moment. Read more ...

Killington’s 4th Annual Jeep Jamboree

Adam Rosenfeld — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:04:22 +0000

Access the Inaccessible. That’s what it says on the home page of Jeep Jamboree’s website. As the largest ski resort in the Northeast, Killington has access to views of five states, as well as Canada, from atop its 3,967-foot summit at Pico. But thanks to the efforts of many, we can now access many of these wonderful views… in our Jeeps! Read more ...

Trails of Geronimo – A Jeep Expedition

Mike Fissel — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:30:43 +0000

When you hear the word “Geronimo,” what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For some it might be the memory of childhood fun with running and jumping into the pool in the classic “cannonball” position and yelling “Geronimo.” But, if you are a history buff and a fan of classic westerns then no doubt your first thought will be of the Apache War Chief, Geronimo. Read more ...

Road to Near Heaven

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:17:44 +0000

The road to the top of Mt. Antero in Colorado, which reaches a height of 14,276’, offers an amazing opportunity for any stock 4×4 Jeep vehicle. The road is rough and long (7.5 miles to the top), but the reward of views and scenery are well worth the effort. Read more ...

Moab: To Hell Dorado and Back

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:30:05 +0000

If any place in the world could be considered Mecca for Jeep enthusiasts, Moab, Utah would certainly be a contender. Read more ...

Slipping Away Into the San Juans

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:48:24 +0000

The mighty San Juan mountain range sits in the southwest corner of Colorado. If you’re looking for entertainment of the outdoor variety, this is the place to go. Read more ...

Trail of the Summer

JPFreek — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:17:20 +0000

Is a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon truly broken in without returning to the dirt, boulders and climbs from which it was sired? Read more ...

Road Trip Colorado

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:57:06 +0000

You would think with gas prices being what they are that road trips would become a thing of the past. Not so! Remember, you may not regret the trip you took, but you’re sure to regret the trip you didn’t take. Read more ...

Jeep Adventures with the Whole Gang

Jeff Haley — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:33:17 +0000

When most people think of four-wheeling, it is often thought of more as hard-core excitement for the individual rather than an adventure suitable for the entire family. Read more ...

Back Roads & Arching Vistas

Alan & Jackie Ellis — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:51:27 +0000

Southeastern Utah is a gift for us all. The area has every thing an adventurer could ask for: Hiking, climbing, canyoneering, kayaking, mountain biking, and Jeep roads. The varied terrain includes snow-capped mountains, deep canyons, cedar forests, arid deserts, and miles of bedrock. Read more ...

Circle the Wagons!

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:39:42 +0000

Theodore Winthrop, a world traveler who descended from some of the earliest American families, visited the Puget Sound area in 1853. Read more ...

KJ Trekkin’ in Kentucky

JPFreek — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:24:57 +0000

The Daniel Boone National Forest has plenty of Forest Service roads that certainly aren’t catered towards the ‘minivan’ crowd. Read more ...

The Trip That Changed My Life: Easter Jeep Safari

Michael Tinnell — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:51:26 +0000

Have you ever heard of Moab, Utah? Until just a few months ago, I didn’t know the difference between Moab and the Mojave. Fortunately for me, a friend recently introduced me to Moab, and I haven’t been the same since. Read more ...

Throwing Mud: Jeep Jamboree at Penn Woods

JPFreek — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:58:24 +0000

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

Jan Liska — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:04:35 +0000

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 subsequently become a haven for off-highway enthusiasts on two or four wheels. Read more ...

Transylvania – The Land Beyond the Forest

Hendrik de Backer — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:28:17 +0000

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 wonderful piece of land in the heart of Europe. Read more ...

Red Rock Challenge, KJ Style!

Dion Kedian — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:31:08 +0000

5:00 in the morning. Dion Kedian and Derek Greber embarked on a trip they would never forget. A trip that took over six solid months of careful calculating and planning; a trip that was changed over and over again until it had been perfected. Read more ...

Rough and Ready for a Dangerous Job

Mark Stephens — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:50:37 +0000

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 cool fringe benefits. That’s a day at the office for a Border Patrol agent . . .sort of.

By the way, the United States Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection are hiring. Read more ...

King of the Mountain

Frank Ledwell — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:46:55 +0000

“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

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:51:49 +0000

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 ...

American Expedition Vehicles Iceland Expedition

Frank Ledwell — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:45:24 +0000

Expedition Mission & Background Read more ...

A Whirlwind of Adventure

Will Morgan — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:21:28 +0000

Have you ever flipped through old wheeling magazines, day dreaming and thinking of how cool it would be to have the opportunity to just hit the open road for a couple months? I know I have so when the opportunity came along for me to do just that, as a Jeep Jamboree U.S.A. sponsored event, I relished the opportunity to do so. Read more ...

Overland Adventure to the Scottish Highlands

Hendrik de Backer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:46:22 +0000

Earlier this year we decided to load up our Wrangler and organize a trip to Scotland, a land of beautiful nature, a lot of culture and history, and of whiskey and haggis. Read more ...