The days were sunny. No, wait, make that rainy and overcast. Did we say rain? Make that chillingly cold with hail and snow flurries. But wait, the sun emerges. Oh, rain...does it ever end? Not in Moab, apparently. Mother Nature ran the gamut of weather Easter week, leaving thousands of happy Jeepers either basking in the sun or scrambling to put their tops back on. But, despite the relentless variations offered by the Utah skies, the 35th Easter Jeep Safari went off without a hitch.
We arrived early in the week, ready to hit some of our favorite trailruns from years past. Little did we know, however, that this year's Safari would offer everything different from what we'd previously experienced in Moab. The weather got us first. Just when we'd think the day had turned, with hail storming upon us, the sky would break and the sun would bear down for a few more hours of uninterrupted sunshine. We'd give it some time before doffing our jackets and switching back to the flip-flops, but as if our footwear was the determining factor in the equation, darkness would soon loom above us and snow flurries would bring an end to the delightfully sunny day. We trudged on, though, as did each and every one of the 4x4 enthusiasts who had descended upon Moab for some of the best 'wheeling in the world.
With the weather in flux, we decided it was high time to implement a few changes ourselves by ditching our scheduled trail ride and photo opportunities along such famed trails and obstacles as Moab Rim and Potato Salad Hill, hooking up with a few strangers for something new. We found the strangers almost by accident and immediately realized that we were in for something good. The vehicles were all well-built Jeeps out of Logan, Utah, and the people gave new meaning to the phrase "Happy Jeepers." They were an enthusiastic bunch, more than ready to guide us through a new trail and show off the capabilities of their rigs. Since it was a bit late in the day when we finally set out, we opted for a milder run through Steel Bender, which, despite its name, offered no damage to any sheetmetal. The views were spectacular, and the weather even gave us a break with nonstop sunshine the whole day through. To say the least, it was a good day. The kind of day you tell people about when you're trying to explain what Moab means to you. The kind of day that makes you go back every year no matter what the weather, your job, the crowds, or the expense. It was 'wheeling at its best, you might say. It certainly was for us.
The thrill of our second day in paradise carried us through the week. We continued to hit the trails, meet and greet the readers, and dine with the advertising folks who we spend more time talking to on the phone than ever actually meeting. And as the week closed in on Big Saturday, we were nearly spent. Some of us were heading home afterward, and some of us were hopping a plane to the other side of the U.S. for the next event on our calendar. Thanks to the weather, we'd done Moab like never before. An experience we hoped would set precedent for next year's event and beyond. And knowing Mother Nature (and ourselves), we were fairly certain that it would.