Tales From The Trails II

By Evan Liotta

In my time as a Trail Guide, I have experienced working in all types of weather conditions throughout my travels, Hurricanes, Heatwaves, Blizzards, Haboobs (it’s a real thing, look it up). But in the summer of 2023, New Hampshire was unlike anything I had experienced in my 30+ years living in the northeast. When people imagine New England, they typically conjure up a quaint colonial village with a white church steeple poking out of a mountainous forest comprised of evergreen pines and a vibrant bouquet of Fall foliage. Or, a winter wonderland, with a blanket of crisp white snow contrasting the black silhouettes of barren trees, ski slopes carved into the mountain sides, and chimneys wafting the warm smokey scent of a fire into the brisk evening air. However, neither one accurately depicts the likeness of New England in 2023, which was more akin to a RAINFOREST!

Tropical Rainforest Vs. Temperate Rainforest

Rainforest suggests hot humid jungles with dense vegetation and exotic animals, which is a Tropical Rainforest. A Temperate Rainforest though, is defined as having high precipitation, mild average temperature, abundance of flora and fauna, and located between the tropic and polar regions. Comparatively, New Hampshire’s 2023 biome could be categorized as a Temperate Rainforest. 

New Hampshire's Wettest Summer Yet

Summer was especially rainforest-esque, acknowledged by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the wettest on record in New Hampshire. The Granite State totaled over 21 inches of rain throughout June, July and August. Mount Washington Observatory reported precipitation on 24 of 30 days in June, and 22 of 31 days in July. A major disaster declaration was even authorized for the state due to the flash flooding. Yet, despite the biblical proportioned weather events, Bronco Off-Roadeo never had to cancel a single day. 

Bronco Off-Roadeo Experience

Canceling due to weather requires a few considerations; Vehicle Capabilities, Trail Conditions, Trail Guide Safety, and the Guest Experience. The spirited performance of the Bronco and Bronco Sport was relatively unphased by the wet conditions. Trails, while more susceptible to damage in wet conditions, were maintained frequently to mitigate negative impacts. That left Trail Guides and Guests as outstanding variables. So, would people mind the rain… 

Rainy Bronco Rides

From the Trail Guide perspective, things can get repetitive in this job, so it was refreshing to have variability and unknown in our days. Plus, we learned long ago to embrace the inevitable of becoming a soggy sasquatch by the end of rainy days. As far as the guest experience, the first impression of their mood often matched the weather, gloomy and damp. However, everything changed once we hit the trails because guests experienced what everyone hopes for in a Bronco, adventure! 

Movielike Weather on the Trails

We experienced an adventure only imagined possible in Hollywood movies. Rainfall so substantial that torrents of water seemingly formed trunk-like columns stretching up to a canopy of clouds looming above. Jurassic-sized ferns that grew as high as the Bronco’s beltline, suggested the presence of dinosaurs nearby. The unrelenting turbulence of Twister strength winds uprooted centuries-old trees, snapping off limbs and scattering them across the trails like toothpicks. Dew-covered plant life fortunate enough to catch a beam of sunlight through a break in the clouds glowed a vibrant green hue as if emitting a ghostly ectoplasm. Glacial Boulders that hadn’t seen the light of day since the American Revolution unearthed by rushing waters. The deluge even transformed the forest moon appearance of our newest trail “Endor” into the swamps of Dagobah, with soupy mud deep enough to swallow an X-Wing, not to mention a Bronco. These extraordinary happenings only exist during inclement weather, but usually go unnoticed because most people aren’t inspired to venture out in inclement weather to witness them, a bit of a catch-22. 

Opportunity for Bronco Adventures

Genuine adventures are not planned but spontaneously discovered. Increasing the likelihood of encountering one means, escaping our daily habits, embracing discomforts outside the norm, and finding opportunity in the nuances of life. Weather can often make or break a trip, but don’t let less-than-ideal conditions deter you from exploring. The Bronco makes for an excellent storm chaser! Obviously, be cautious around extreme weather events and be prepared to get stuck. When things get wet it’s not a matter of if, but when. Adventure is still out there; you just need to know where to look, and there is no better place to find it than at Bronco Off-Roadeo, rain or shine. 

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