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Beaten By Cliffhanger

In Jeep, Travel by J Michel MetzLeave a Comment

It was the last trail of the week, and the most difficult. After the set of crises earlier in the week, I had been dreading this trail more than ever. Cliffhanger. I still hadn’t forgiven myself for the swaybar SNAFU, and was feeling particularly gun-shy about trying difficult and dangerous obstacles that this trail would provide. Dave had been talking …

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Damn Near Wrecked It

In Jeep, Travel by J Michel MetzLeave a Comment

(photo credit: Craig Carlson)I’d conquered worse. It really shouldn’t have been a big deal. And yet, here we were. On approach to the Waterfall obstacle (photo credit: Craig Carlson)It’s called “The Waterfall,” a multi-staged ascent on a trail called Gold Bar Rim, which is a part of the Golden Spike trail. It was a couple hours after the spacers broke …

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Disaster! Disaster!

In Jeep, Travel by J Michel MetzLeave a Comment

“Disaster! Disaster!” Unintentionally, my voice over the radio came across as snark, not panic. I’m not sure that was better, though. It was, after all, a disaster. Dave had already crested the next obstacle, and I could see him out of the passenger side of my Jeep, which had no doors. He was looking down at me from the ledge, …

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More Than Just A Jeep

In Jeep, Philosophy, Travel by J Michel Metz2 Comments

“That’s a boss rig, man.” I was coming out of the gas station, back towards my truck that was sitting at the refueling pumps, my trailer carefully parked so that others could get their own cars and trucks in between the pumps. My Jeep sat high on top of the trailer, immovable via 3” straps from the axles to giant …

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Willys Jeep: Operation Porkchop

In Jeep by J Michel Metz1 Comment

You ever see those makeover shows where a team of highly capable people come and work on a project that turn out to be real before-and-after showstoppers? Shows like Overhaulin’, and such. This past weekend, I had my own version of the “A-Team” show up and put Porkchop into working order. And it was jaw-dropping – not to mention humbling …