Tales From The Trails

Jamie here, coming at you from sunny Moab, Utah, to check in with everyone here at the Bronco Nation. We have finally pulled out of the cold weather where we were operating our winter weekends! For those of you who have not made it out to Moab in the winter, you are missing out!!! Our beautiful red rocks topped with a dusting of fluffy white snow make for a stunning landscape for wintertime adventures. The stunning La Sal Mountains make the most wonderful backdrop with their snow-capped peaks. 

The Bronco Off-Roadeo Experience 

During this wonderful time of year, we have the fortune of operating on the Wipe Out Hill trail in the Seven Mile Rim area. We use a specially curated route that highlights some of the best features and natural formations while delivering high-quality instruction. As with the rest of the year, we start you off by learning the basics of off-road driving techniques, line selection, and spotting. As you begin to build your confidence, we pepper in some more advanced techniques and include fun discussions about the fantastic technology your Bronco has to offer. By the end of the day, you will know what all off-road-related buttons and dials do. And most importantly, you will have the knowledge of when and how to use this technology by getting hands-on practice with it. 

Moab Off-Roading 

We are now back to our beloved Dome Plateau trail where you get to look down upon the Colorado River, out to the La Sal Mountains, and gaze upon the Book Cliffs. This transition back to “Dome” comes just in time for the largest non-competitive gathering of like-minded off-roaders known all around the world as Easter Jeep Safari (EJS). But don’t worry, they do not discriminate, and all off-road rigs are invited from old school 66 Broncos to fully built rock buggies. Not only do people come out from across the globe to participate in this event, but the club that also puts on EJS known as the Red Rock Four Wheelers (RR4W) helps to maintain our public trails all year round. The RR4W is our local off-road club that puts on trail rides and trail clean-up/repair projects. One of the greatest contributions they make is using the proceeds from their events to fund organizations like the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRR) which is the largest advocate for maintaining open access to public trails in the west.  

Iconic Landmarks in Moab 

The BRR does this through legal action and providing information to the masses about what changes to our lands might be happening under our noses so we can speak up before it is too late. I encourage everyone to come out to Moab to not just support some of our fantastic organizations but also see both the popular and less sought-after landscapes. Many associate Moab with Arches and Canyon Lands National Parks but be sure to check out Dead Horse Point State Park too with one of the best vistas in the area. A lot of those who come out look for the most technical trails in Moab, but one that many never see is the Onion Creek trail which is one of the most spectacular narrow canyons with a scenic off-road drive. 

Life of a Trail Guide  

Oh yea, who am I? I am Jamie Marshall, Lead Trail Guide here at Bronco Off-Roadeo in Moab. My family first moved to Moab over 20 years ago when my dad had the wild idea to move us from Southern California to the Desert of Moab, Utah to lead backcountry off-road tours in old German military trucks. My dad taught me to drive our tour trucks when I was seven years old, and this was only two years after I first learned to drive a manual transmission! And as they say, the rest is history. Now, we never set out to build the biggest, baddest, or most extreme vehicles or try to drive the most technical terrain out there. We would build our rigs to get us out into the backcountry, to see vistas very few others had, and camp in landscapes no one else could. It was all about the thrill of the adventure, finding cool new areas, appreciating Mother Nature, and most importantly, getting back home safely at the end of the scheduled trip.  

Bronco Off-Road Driving Instruction 

Of course, we all must find careers at some point, and along the way, I have raced once in the Baja 1000 and raced in the Baja 500 for the last three years. I have become a certified trainer through the International 4 Wheel Drive Trainers Association (I4WDTA). I have also had the opportunity to operate my own off-road driving instruction business. I have certainly oriented my career in the direction of off-road driving instruction and inspiring safe and proper driving techniques to aid new backcountry drivers in finding their slice of adventure. My goal has always been to help off-roaders understand the importance of protecting our public and private lands. I also seek to ensure individuals learn how to use their vehicles, so they always know how to return home safely.