Taking Our Family Vacation on a Dusty Road Trip to Jeep Mecca
OK, I had heard that events like Jeep's annual Jamborees exist, but nothing I had previously conceptualized could have prepared me for the parking lot full of 4x4s outside of the Apex Mountain Lodge, just up the hill from summertime playground Penticton, B.C. CJs, YJs, TJs, Cherokees,
Grand Cherokees and even a lone mid-'80s Grand Wagoneer that had been de-woodgrained, painted white and modified with an early-'60s waterfall grille, were here to play in the mud and, choke, dust.
Yes, dust, dust everywhere. It was that fine, silty stuff that gets in behind and underneath everything, fully integrating with each crack, crease and crevice of the skin... it was going to be a long, long weekend. But Kaden, my 4.5 year old son and sidekick, Anika, my 1.5 year old daughter and tagalong, could hardly complain. After all, the night was young, cool monster trucks surrounded and fresh dirt lay awaiting, along with rocks, sticks and an oh so interesting drainage grate that was ideal for collecting all of the above.
Of course, by the looks of the folks attending this year's Jeep Jamboree, no-one was put out by my children's shenanigans. Actually, some of the
other kids were joining right in, with parents just seeming grateful that they could enjoy some adult conversation without incessant interruption.
And what to Jeep Jamboreers talk about? Lift kits, winches, snorkels, engine mods, tires and other off-road performance upgrades for their CJs, YJs, TJs, Unlimiteds, Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Scramblers, Comanches, Wagoneers, J-Series pickups, Willys, and even Libertys.
"What, you drivin' a lady's car tomorra'", said one lifer when I admitted I had requested the Liberty for my daylong journey into the wild unknown that would follow after the night's sleep.
"Yup, somethin' wrong with that?" I said in a voice that was two parts sheep, one part goat.
"No...," continued the tall, lanky dude that seemed more of a wranglin' ranch hand than an off-road aficionado. "Just, my mamma drives one 'a those...", to a chorus of laughter.
OK, I had heard that events like Jeep's annual Jamborees exist, but nothing I had previously conceptualized could have prepared me for the parking lot full of 4x4s outside of the Apex Mountain Lodge, just up the hill from summertime playground Penticton, B.C. CJs, YJs, TJs, Cherokees,
 |
| Nothing I had previously conceptualized could have prepared me for the parking lot full of 4x4s outside of the Apex Mountain Lodge. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Yes, dust, dust everywhere. It was that fine, silty stuff that gets in behind and underneath everything, fully integrating with each crack, crease and crevice of the skin... it was going to be a long, long weekend. But Kaden, my 4.5 year old son and sidekick, Anika, my 1.5 year old daughter and tagalong, could hardly complain. After all, the night was young, cool monster trucks surrounded and fresh dirt lay awaiting, along with rocks, sticks and an oh so interesting drainage grate that was ideal for collecting all of the above.
Of course, by the looks of the folks attending this year's Jeep Jamboree, no-one was put out by my children's shenanigans. Actually, some of the
 |
| By the looks of the folks attending this year's Jeep Jamboree, no-one was put out by my children's shenanigans. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
And what to Jeep Jamboreers talk about? Lift kits, winches, snorkels, engine mods, tires and other off-road performance upgrades for their CJs, YJs, TJs, Unlimiteds, Cherokees, Grand Cherokees, Scramblers, Comanches, Wagoneers, J-Series pickups, Willys, and even Libertys.
"What, you drivin' a lady's car tomorra'", said one lifer when I admitted I had requested the Liberty for my daylong journey into the wild unknown that would follow after the night's sleep.
"Yup, somethin' wrong with that?" I said in a voice that was two parts sheep, one part goat.
"No...," continued the tall, lanky dude that seemed more of a wranglin' ranch hand than an off-road aficionado. "Just, my mamma drives one 'a those...", to a chorus of laughter.