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Anni Eventus: A Jeepin’ Birthday Party
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
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D. A. R. McInnis
D. A. R. McInnis - Westman Jeep Assn.
Set amidst the ancient Turtle Mountain in SW Manitoba, Anni Eventus (AE) is the annual birthday event of the Westman Jeep Association (WJA). This event is a 3 night/day campout filled with Jeeps, trails, forest, and prairie based at one of the many lakes that dot this rise of land, in use by man for the last 25000 years. Initiated in 2006 on the Labour Day weekend to celebrate the first year as a formal Jeep club, AE is looked forward to each year by WJA Members for its camaraderie, variety of trails, and peaceful solitude of man and Jeep in their natural environment.
Typically AE begins on a Friday evening when the crew begins to file in from their scattered home bases. Brandon Manitoba is the hub of the organization but the WJA is primarily a regional club that claims its members from surrounding regions and small towns. One by one the Jeeps arrive for a weekend of trails and touring. The tents go up while the fire is tended and the spirits begin to flow. By midnight most have arrived and the tall tales and stories of past events flow like the creeks in spring. Morning is a few hours off yet and this is the night to live it up before the main event begins to ring in a new Jeeping year.
AE has changed and adapted over the years for many reasons but one of the most traditional aspects that has always remained the same is the running of the original trail that started it all. This takes place on the Saturday after breakfast and is typically a day long run with to test for potential issues that may crop up. Nothing is straightforward on the Turtle and the past 2 years have not allowed us to travel this trail without a few detours. This is the trail that the Founders first ran as a formal club in its infancy in August 2005. It is a 10 mile forest trail comprised of twisty woodlands, assorted hills, low swampy marshlands, various creeks and beaver cuts and quite a few mud holes that crop up under the right conditions. This trail has also been run in the opposite direction at night to increase the fun factor. Since not being fully accessible in the past couple years, the night run has been discontinued in favour of campfire time, which extends into the wee hours of the morning. Other trails in the area, both on public and private land, provide for an endless supply of places to enjoy over the remaining days of the weekend and are all within 10-20 minutes of camp, keeping travel times to a minimum and the Jeeping factor to the maximum. The variety of terrain runs the full gamut, though rocks are not part of the local terrain in sufficient size for crawling. In general, the entire area is more than perfect for all levels of experience and builds of Jeep, being very stock and newbie friendly often providing alternate routes. However, the phrase “Hang on, I want to try something” is a wide open door for those with the sudden impulse to challenge themselves and their rigs.
Each of the 3 days is filled with Jeep action while each of the nights is filled with social and family time. The WJA looks at its Members as one big Jeep family which becomes quite apparent during AE when all come together to enjoy our passion for our Jeeps and the trails. If you live in Westman and would like to become part of the WJA Jeep Life, contact us on Facebook at Westman Jeep Association MB CA – Public Access.