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Mike Wencel photos
The Jeep Family
Group of Jeeps waiting for the final rock climb for the day.
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Mike Wencel photos
The Jeep Family
Ron and Joanne Fechner flexing out their Jeep on a nice boulder.
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Mike Wencel photos
The Jeep Family
Chris Miles taking things to the extreme on an off-camber descent.
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Mike Wencel photos
The Jeep Family
Shannon putting a TJ Rubicon to the test on the first rock climb of the day.
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Mike Wencel photos
The Jeep Family
Chris Miles guiding Peter up a rock face.
Story & photos by Mike Wencel
When you think of thanksgiving, you endure of the thoughts of sitting around a table with friends and family feasting on a nice warm meal. When you own a Jeep, another family is created while climbing rocks, slugging through mud, and driving through rainstorms - family that gets every person along the trail safely while enjoying some good laughs.
Welcome to the Jeep family. A family, no matter how big of a lift or what colour your Jeep, we are all one. By simply putting a post on a social media board, the family reunites, some new and some old. A convoy is created and an empowering feeling takes over, in other words, you feel safe.
A recent mission was run up the Minden Hydro Line with five Jeeps. Drastically changing weather conditions couldn’t somber an array of smiles that were created once the airing down process began. The “guide” for this run would be Chris Miles, OF4WD volunteer, experienced Camp NL guide and a person any wheeler can trust. From a teaching standpoint or behind the drivers seat, Chris’s enthusiasm does not change. “I love the driving aspect of it, especially the technical challenges while enjoying it with the right group of friends,” said Chris.
“Guiding has a lot of rewards as well, especially watching a new wheeler accomplish a task they thought was not possible. Seeing the smiles, and the look of satisfaction. By the time the day has ended, you know you have them hooked.”
The hydro lines offer a wide variety of obstacles and challenges for any type of Jeep, whether you’re lifted with extreme modifications or a newcomer to the 4WD lifestyle. For the inexperienced, every obstacle that we approached had a bypass that could be used to reconnect to the original trail.
Early in the run we encountered some water crossings, technical rock climbs, and scenery that had everyone in awe. The fall colours were tremendous as the tress were at their most vibrant in readiness for the winter season. If you like being off-camber there are some really enjoyable lines you can approach to really test your Jeeps flexibility here.
If you’re reading this article and this seems like a challenge for you and your rig to try, all it takes is a Jeep club to get you going. Just ask Ron and Joanne Fechner, a couple well known in the Jeep community who drive a beautiful orange MOAB Edition Jeep.
“We honestly got into the ‘Jeep thing’ by accident. All we did was show up at a BAJA (local Brampton Jeep Club) with our new Jeep to see what was going on and from then on discovered Ontario Four Wheel Drive Association (OF4WD) as well as the London Area Jeep Owners Club (LAJOC).”
As the day went on, things became even more challenging, as the weather turned for the worst and we ended up with some rain showers, which made things slippery. A little extra guiding and precautions were necessary to take care of everyone and their rigs. It helped that we were familiar with the obstacles, as we were now doubling back, so we could do the trail in reverse.
As the clouds started to break, the sun started shining once again, so we decided to take a lunch break. A ritual some may call it. A time to refresh, enjoy natures surroundings and of course share our stories with one another.
All of a sudden in the distance, we could hear engines revving and spotters getting out of their vehicles. Jeeps on a descent looking like bobble-head dolls after you give them a good flick. Many in our group of wheelers felt a sense of accomplishment as we had completed that task earlier in the day. The closer they approached, the larger the smiles grew from both sides of the group. We welcomed the BAJA crew, as any family would. They stopped and we chatted, some old friends reminisced and new friends were made, and we now had 25 Jeeps parked on a rock hill overlooking the picturesque Ontario landscape.
“This is what it is all about.” said Ron. “This is why we do this, the friends we have made, no one compares ages, and everyone looks out for one another.”
After a few more obstacles, we made our way to the entrance, or in our case the exit.
Not only did we pick up another Jeeper and friend on the way back, he joined us just to do the rest of the trail, share some great times, and tackle some hill climbs.
The trail has ended, but a trip cannot end without a fine dinner with the “family”. To gain access to trails in Ontario become a member of the OF4WD, you can join online at www.of4wd.com