Today at 3:45 am
I got a chance to participate in the Ford Hidden Wonders Challenge in my 2021 Bronco Badlands. I don't have any friends, so I decided to go it alone, but met up with lots of great people on the trails!
The first one was on Dome Plateau, I'd originally planned to go in on Owl Draw Road, but I got to Dewey Bridge, OnX was misbehaving, and I figured, I've been in this way before, so I'm going. Wound up meeting some really nice folks from Minnesota. I told them what I was up to up there and they said, "Can we tag along?" So, we went as a group. By the time I got to the Arch, I'd collected two Jeeps following me! Here's a photo of the Arch and one of my two Jeep friends:
I met a couple of the groups from the Off Roadeo out on the trail. They had no idea what I was talking about when I explained what I was doing up there. One of the cadre said, "I have to go look into this!"
That was Saturday, I spent the night at the Red Cliffs Lodge, had breakfast with some of the folks who were there for the Off Roadeo, and headed out for Seven Mile Rim, along with a new batch of OnX problems. Who knew if I planned a route while sitting at the breakfast table, it would want me to start at the Red Cliffs Lodge and OnX has no way to tell it I don't want to go back, so let's go to the next spot. Then, spend time looking for cell service because OnX can't do a route without a cell signal. Talked to some folks who were having the same issue with AllTrails, so I guess it's just a thing.
Seven Mile Rim was a little more challenging and fun than Dome Plateau, I think, but that might just be me. Some of the parts on it were more technical and I got to about 27 degrees off camber at one point, but the Bronco handled it just fine and no body damage occurred, neither to the Bronco or me and my copilot. Again, I met a bunch of really great people along the way. I pulled up next to some guys from Iowa and they said, "Where are you going?" "Monument Valley is my next stop." "Where's that?" "It's that-a-way!" "Which way is the rest of Seven Mile Rim?" "It's that-a-way!" "Mind if we follow you a bit?" By this point, I was starting to feel like a trail guide!
I did one technical descent a bit after and I used some of the techniques I'd learned from the Off Roadeo folks. I got down and two mountain bikers cheered me and said I did great, so that felt pretty good!
Outside of OnX issues, this was a really great time. I had fun, the copilot had fun, and we met a lot of really nice people while enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery on earth and challenging ourselves at the same time! If you have a chance to do the challenge, I say take it. Seriously.
Some photos from Seven Mile Rim, including the copilot looking off a cliff:
And as always, all good things come to an end:
The first one was on Dome Plateau, I'd originally planned to go in on Owl Draw Road, but I got to Dewey Bridge, OnX was misbehaving, and I figured, I've been in this way before, so I'm going. Wound up meeting some really nice folks from Minnesota. I told them what I was up to up there and they said, "Can we tag along?" So, we went as a group. By the time I got to the Arch, I'd collected two Jeeps following me! Here's a photo of the Arch and one of my two Jeep friends:
I met a couple of the groups from the Off Roadeo out on the trail. They had no idea what I was talking about when I explained what I was doing up there. One of the cadre said, "I have to go look into this!"
That was Saturday, I spent the night at the Red Cliffs Lodge, had breakfast with some of the folks who were there for the Off Roadeo, and headed out for Seven Mile Rim, along with a new batch of OnX problems. Who knew if I planned a route while sitting at the breakfast table, it would want me to start at the Red Cliffs Lodge and OnX has no way to tell it I don't want to go back, so let's go to the next spot. Then, spend time looking for cell service because OnX can't do a route without a cell signal. Talked to some folks who were having the same issue with AllTrails, so I guess it's just a thing.
Seven Mile Rim was a little more challenging and fun than Dome Plateau, I think, but that might just be me. Some of the parts on it were more technical and I got to about 27 degrees off camber at one point, but the Bronco handled it just fine and no body damage occurred, neither to the Bronco or me and my copilot. Again, I met a bunch of really great people along the way. I pulled up next to some guys from Iowa and they said, "Where are you going?" "Monument Valley is my next stop." "Where's that?" "It's that-a-way!" "Which way is the rest of Seven Mile Rim?" "It's that-a-way!" "Mind if we follow you a bit?" By this point, I was starting to feel like a trail guide!
I did one technical descent a bit after and I used some of the techniques I'd learned from the Off Roadeo folks. I got down and two mountain bikers cheered me and said I did great, so that felt pretty good!
Outside of OnX issues, this was a really great time. I had fun, the copilot had fun, and we met a lot of really nice people while enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery on earth and challenging ourselves at the same time! If you have a chance to do the challenge, I say take it. Seriously.
Some photos from Seven Mile Rim, including the copilot looking off a cliff:
And as always, all good things come to an end:
Best Slope Bronco, TK1215