Category Archives: Jeeping

How to Escape the Crowds at Yellowstone

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Emerald_pool_in_yellowstone_2As one of America’s most popular outdoor destinations, Yellowstone National Park attracts millions of visitors every year.  Despite the park’s beautiful setting, it can be hard to find solace and experience the peacefulness of nature. Here are just a few ways to get away from long lines, loud kids, and annoying tour busses:

Visit in the fall 

Summer vacations are over and the kids are back in school. Plan you trip around the first week in October to see the foliage explode with color. Lodging rates are lower at this time than during the summer months, wildlife is more prevalent, and trails are less crowded.

Take alternate driving routes 

Alternate routes, like the Grassy Lake Road, are often less congested with traffic. You should ensure that your vehicle is equipped to handle the terrain on these routes before starting your drive. You should also collect relevant maps or a GPS with good reception in case you lose your way off the beaten path.

Hike backcountry trails 

There’s no better way to experience the true spirit of Yellowstone than in the backcountry. Check out the Bechler River area and the Thorofare region for a truly wild outing.  The Bechler River runs along the southwest section of Yellowstone and is home to over half of the park’s waterfalls. You can hike for 30 miles in any direction without ever reaching a road in the Thorofare region.  Hikers should always check in with a nearby ranger station to obtain necessary permits, collect maps, and provide contact information in case of emergency.

Try Cross-country instead of downhill skiing

If you’re planning a trip during the winter months, you’ll probably want to try out some of the nearby skiing options. Jackson Hole and Grand Teton Resorts are consistently crowded and expensive at pretty much all times. For a more laid back skiing experience, give cross-country a try. Jackson Hole has become an increasingly popular center for cross-country skiing on a varied landscape. Nordic centers offer beginners with rental gear and trail recommendations. More advanced skiers won’t get bored with the incredible cross-country routes in the surrounding mountains.

 

Where To Go Off-Roading In Indiana

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After totaling my four-door sedan in a flood last year, I finally saved up to buy the vehicle I’d always wanted, a Jeep Wrangler. Although I live in Chicago, I didn’t want to be one of those Jeep owners driving only to work and back on paved highways. To become a true Jeep owner, I felt I needed to take my new set of wheels off the beaten path and give off-roading a try.

There are very few options for rugged terrain in the Midwest. But with a little online research, I discovered an off-road park called The Badlands in Attica, Indiana. The website boasted of 800 acres of off-roading, featuring everything from sand dunes to gravel hills to mud puts to wooded trails.

My boyfriend and I drove out to The Badlands recently to test exactly what my new Jeep could do. As we approached the Attica exit, the dark clouds were ominous and the scent of rain hung in the air. I couldn’t help feel like something foreboding was ahead of us.

Turning into The Badland’s entrance felt like entering an alternate universe. We waited in a long line of Jeeps, ATV’s, small monster trucks, and dirt bikes to check in with the registration office. The dusty air was filled with sounds of roaring engines and cheering crowds. We found a parking spot near the office and paid a $25.00 daily fee to enter the park.

I felt clueless as I drove my shiny new Jeep towards the trails. Dozens of hardcore vehicles that looked far better suited for this place whizzed past me, as my boyfriend gave me crash course on using four-wheel drive.

Halfway into one particularly steep route, I panicked when my Jeep became tilted almost completely sideways. After a good ten minutes of freaking out, the ever calm and collected he pushed me out of the driver’s seat and maneuvered the Jeep into a far more stable position.

Since the park closed at 5:00pm, we were only to get in a couple hours of off-roading. Honestly though, a couple hours for my first time was plenty. The constant jolts from driving over boulders and trees, as well as (what seemed to me as) death-defying cliffs were enough to send my blood pressure and nerves through the hard top.

I was glad to get out of the Jeep and check out the rest of the park. We walked over to a small concession stand under a sign simply marked “Food”. As we chowed down on some cheese fries, I couldn’t help but notice how he and I looked out of place among the crowd….me in a sundress and him in surfer shorts.

After our afternoon snack, we decided to check out one of the professional off-roading shows that were going on. On this particular weekend, The Badlands was hosting the Ultimate Motorsports Championship (UMC) Festival and the King of the Hammers (KOH) Qualifier Events.

The vehicles entered in the events included class A, B, and C trucks, stock and super modified UTV’s, and class and mini buggies.

We plopped ourselves atop of a dirt hill and watched one of the qualifier races for about an hour. As with most races, the most exciting part to watch were the accidents.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but a couple vehicles tipped and rolled over throughout the course of the race. The crowd watched intently as emergency service rushed in and created obstacles for the other competitors as they barreled by.

From the competitive events to the people watching, spending a Saturday afternoon at The Badlands was one of the most unique experiences I’ve had. I learned that I have a long way to go to become a professional off-roader.

For now, I’m just happy that my Jeep proved itself among the well-experienced vehicles and that I’m a step closer to becoming at true Jeep owner.