Don't worry if you missed the 6th Annual Texas Spur Jeep Jamboree, which was held in March on the rocks of Texas Hill Country. This 4WD event has become so popular that it will now be held twice a year, so saddle up yer Jeep and register for the upcoming fall Jamboree, which will be held in the same location.
Organized by Tony and Nancy Winkler of San Antonio and their team of 23 expert trail guides, this year's spring event drew close to 100 vehicles and 200 participants for two days of challenging wheelin'-with views that stretched as far as the Texas wild blue yonder. If you think the Longhorn State is as flat as a roadmap, you haven't been to the off-road Mecca that is the private Inks Ranch in Llano. There are granite domes, rockclimbs, and sandy draws on a serpentine trail system that winds around Watch Mountain, a 300-foot wall of granite. If you're lucky, you may even spot some wildlife, such as aoudad, axis deer, blackbuck, and bald eagles, on this historic property that is also a game ranch.
The 4th Annual Texas Spur Fall Jeep Jamboree will be held September 16-18, 2010. Trails are rated 6-9, and tow hooks are mandatory. (About the tow hooks: We know you don't need to be yanked out, but you can always help a fellow four wheeler!)
New this year is a trails-only plan, which allows participants to attend the two off-road driving trail days, but excludes the traditional meal plan. For more information, contact Jeep Jamboree USA at 530.333.4777 or go to www.jeepjamboreeusa.com.
In Case You Don't Know
Jeep Jamborees are 4WD adventure weekends that bring together folks who love to wheel, their Jeep 4x4s, and some good trails. There are 28 such events this year around the country and across the Rubicon. These treks have a long tradition dating back to 1953 when 4x4 pioneer Mark A. Smith organized the first trek, across the Sierra Nevada Mountains by way of the old Rubicon Trail. In 1954, Willys Motors, then the manufacturer of Jeep vehicles, became involved. Jeep Jamborees have been a draw for thousands every year since.