Baja Relief Trip

November 2014
Baja California Sur, Mexico
Hurricane Odile Relief Trip
by Nena Barlow

My trip to Baja was my small way to contribute to the efforts of rebuilding from the damages of Hurricane Odile. We launched the Friends of Harald group to raise funds to go directly and entirely to help those who need a boost to recover in Harald’s neighborhood, like Pedro, who lost his entire house. I chose to contribute by using my resources of time and money to actually deliver some goods and be there to assist physically and with whatever reassurances I could offer. I took my 17-year-old son, PJ, with me for experience for him and just some extra muscle for the rebuild projects. We both saw a lot, learned a lot, and it was a gratifying trip.

We left from Arizona with our 4x4 pickup truck and drove Mexico 5 through San Felipe and Coco’s Corner on our way to Highway 1, the famous Transpeninsular Highway, to Guererro Negro at the border of Baja California Sur. Then we drove the 1, all the way to La Paz. Everyone will tell you to be careful driving in Mexico. But after driving in Phoenix and Los Angeles, I find that driving the Transpeninsular Highway is a refreshingly friendly experience. Yes, the lanes are very narrow much of the way, but the pavement (even after the Hurricane) is much smoother than, say, Sacramento or Santa Monica. The traffic is light, polite and very cooperative about passing and making way for oncoming traffic.

As we passed through coastal areas of Baja California, you see some roofs missing, sand piled against some structures, and a few downed trees, but you are not sure if this is just neglect or hurricane damage. But once you reach Baja California Sur, as you drive through San Ignacio, then Santa Rosalia and Loreto and Mulege, you suddenly realize how violent and recent this all actually was. Water lines on trees and walls above the roofs of homes, trucks and cars half-buried in sand alongside a recently rebuild bridge, wind-whipped trees leaning with just a few scraggly leaves clinging to the branches, and tarps where roofs of homes and businesses used to be.

I have to admire the people’s response to the hurricane. Instead of sitting down in the middle of the devastation, lamenting their losses, and waiting for someone to come help, they take the attitude of “well, that sucked—let’s start sweeping up and do what we need to do to get working again.” The Transpeninsular Highway, the main artery of all of Baja, washed out in many places. Bridges or low water crossings were just gone, and in many places where the highway had been built up to be level, the fill was washed or blown away and the road edges were collapsed. By the first day the water had stopped flowing, locals were clearing go-arounds and bypasses so the trucks could get through. The federal government sent over ferries full of CFE (the power company) trucks to reestablish electricity as soon as possible. Within a week or two after the hurricane knocked down nearly every power pole in the La Paz area, CFE workers had them upright and functioning again. And on an individual level, I like to point to Pedro and his family-- Pedro’s entire house collapsed. They salvaged what they could and put up a tarp for some shelter. He showed up to work the following Monday. Life goes on.

So, our trip was not to bring immediate relief of emergency supplies, but rather to help with the ongoing rebuild of secondary needs (if you consider things like a house secondary, after water, food and electricity are restored…) La Paz has a population of almost one-hundred thousand people.  Like many American cities of that size, has a Home Depot and a Walmart, which seems so odd after driving the last 1000 miles through rural Mexican countryside. Having those stores meant that there were many supplies we needed for our projects that did not have to be carried by us from the states. Our load of supplies consisted of odd things that cannot be found in La Paz stores: a cement vibrator, synthetic motor oil, solar panels, and Viva paper towels.  Any of you who have traveled with Harald understand the significance of Viva paper towels.

This also made for interesting conversations at the military checkpoints. The primary goal of the military checkpoints is to stop guns and drugs, but they found my camping air mattresses, Viva paper towels, and my ARB weather-proof duffels to be the items of most interest. When one thorough soldier insisted on me showing the contents of my duffel, I pulled out the pair of pink panties on top and waved them at him. He quickly decided that we could move on. I might not recommend that as a technique for everyone.

We spent five whirlwind days at Hacienda Las Puertas (Harald’s house), righting leaning trees, cutting up trees that couldn’t be saved, rebuilding hurricane-ravaged roofs, and working on wall and house designs that would be better this time around. We did take evenings off to enjoy local cuisine, cruise El Malecon (the Esplanade), or hang out at the beach. I lived on seafood and tortillas—yum! We held a small party on Saturday afternoon for the Friends of Harald, and presented Pedro with a gift certificate for a house.  He was surprised and very happy!  On Monday, Harald, Karl, PJ and I visited Pedro’s family. Pedro showed us his property, and gave us radishes from his garden. His mother and father, who also live on the property, showed me where their kitchen had collapsed. Karl came up with a plan to improve the electrical wiring for the whole property as well as hook up the rebuilt house to the sewer for the first time.

We talked a lot about what to do next with Friends of Harald, now that the plan for Pedro’s house is set and work is starting. The challenge is that there are so many that still need basic things, like a roof over their head, that it is hard to choose who gets what little help we can offer. We made some wonderful friends and saw some amazing things.  I hope that we made some difference, and through Friends of Harald, can continue to do so. We go on, and we do what we can with what we have.  Hasta mañana!

Respect

By Nena Barlow

Easter Jeep Safari 2014 in Moab was bigger than ever. The weather was beautiful and many of the official trail runs were full to maximum capacity, making all the trails busy with both official and unofficial runs. Considering just how busy the trails were, I was impressed by how well most people cooperated and showed respect for both the trails and other users. MOST people.

There was one particular incident which set a poor example of respectful trail use. This incident involved a group of 4-wheelers whose leader insisted that they had the right to run any trail whenever and however they wished.  They were attempting to enter a trail from the backside which was not only closed to the public for the day, but also a one-way only trail all week, regardless of Safari runs. There are eight trails that are closed on days during Safari that there is an official Safari run—ONLY eight, out of the 38 listed official Safari trails.  When they were informed by the trail official that they would have to run a different trail that day, they waved him off and said “We’ll just follow behind you.”  When the official again informed them that this would be illegal during Safari, they told him “We’re locals” (they’re not), as if that made it okay to be rude, disrespectful, and disobey the law. It actually took a phone call to the Sheriff to convince these guys to go elsewhere.

There can be long lines on trails, even (or especially) on days when Safari is not using a specific trail. Stay on the routes--don't widen the trail by passing or turning around on virgin soil. 

Contrary to the beliefs of some, the laws and etiquette of the trails are not imposed to inconvenience people, but rather to protect the trails so they do not degrade beyond all continued enjoyment. The eight trails closed during Safari run days are closed because they are one way in and one way out, or far too difficult to have groups safely pass each other without widening the trail. Most people would find trails far less enjoyable if they became giant dust bowls because the soil crust is crushed beyond all ability to support trees and shrubs and hold down the sand from billowing away. And we have all been on trails where there are far too many Jeeps and we spend much of our time parked, waiting to move through an obstacle. The rules are pretty simple to follow, and the Red Rock 4-Wheelers clearly post the information on their website and in the paper available for free all over town. In my opinion, if you are too lazy to research what trails are available, OR you just don't care enough about the trails or other users to follow basic etiquette or law, you are not a responsible trail user and you just shouldn't go.

Here’s the part that really bugs me—the offending party in question was a representative of a well-known 4x4 parts manufacturers. These are people whose livelihood depends on the existence of public trails. These are people who should be setting a glowing example of how to properly use a trail, respecting the laws and ethics, and all other users of the trails. There were MANY aftermarket parts companies in town, and I know that the vast majority of them take the time to acquire any required permits, check Safari schedules to plan their routes, and go out of their way to respect the environment and other users on the land. Fortunately, the incident in question seems to be a somewhat isolated occurrence these days.

Promote and support companies who respect the trails and all other users of the trails. Those are the companies who understand that, in order for our recreation AND their business to continue, we must care for what we have. If a company exhibits shameful conduct on the trails, I will choose to not promote or do business with them. I make a point of promoting the businesses which DO practice good trail ethics and etiquette.  I encourage all of you to do the same.             

AEV is one of the companies that applies for the necessary permits and is conscientious about working around Safari's scheduled runs, as well as excellent trail ethics, such as planning lunch stops at established areas and staying on marked trails. 

Happy trails!

Woodchute Trail: Secret Gem!

With temperatures doing what they do in June in AZ, many people are seeking out cooler temps at higher elevations. Many people know about the stunning views and fascinating history of Mingus Mountain and Schnebly Hill Road, but a little-known secret gem of a trail is the Woodchute Jeep Trail just above Jerome AZ.

The Woodchute Jeep Trail starts at FR 503A just at the bend at mile marker 339 on Hwy 89A. High clearance 4x4 required, and if you have an aversion to brush scratches, this may not be the trail for you, as its status as being "little-known" also means lower traffic and more overgrowth after the wet season.

The trail is short--only about 5 miles and 1-1.5 hours off-pavement, with stops. It loops back down to Hwy 89A and you come out on the highway only 2 miles uphill from Jerome. For a gorgeous full-day of Jeeping, start with the Mingus Mountain trail, which takes off at the bottom of the mountain near the Cottonwood Airport, then loop back through Woodchute for those spectacular afternoon views.

Check it out for yourself!

More maps and info at JeepTrailInfo.com and Funtreks.com

Speaking Up on the Trail

A few years ago, I wrote an article about the social dynamics of groups on the trail--how sometimes in a sticky situation there are too many people shouting opposing opinions at the same time, and how at other times no one speaks up when they should. Recent mishaps with weather calls and recovery snafus have brought this topic back to mind.

HERE is the link to the whole article I wrote for JPFreek Magazine.

Remember that, in most cases, it pays to take an extra few seconds to think things through, discuss circumstances calmly, clearly, and thoroughly. Unless, for example, someone's rig is on fire, or sliding out of control towards a cliff, there is usually no need for urgent action. Step back and explore all the options.

In a spotting situation, there shouldn't be a bunch of people yelling out all at once. Observers should communicate their concerns through the designated spotter.

Finally, and very importantly, a good trail leader should not be offended by someone in the group asking for clarification on a judgement call or recovery staging, BUT it's better to risk offending that person rather than risk personal safety or vehicle damage. As a professional instructor, I expect to be explaining what I see and the judgements I make all day long as a way to help others develop their own on-trail decision-making skills. Ultimately, you, the driver, are responsible for the "go" or "no-go" call for yourself, so, in my book, it is ALWAYS okay to ask for more information.

Happy trails!

Recommended 4-wheeling Equipment

By popular request...from our Jeep School workbook--the Equipment list for 4-wheeling! It is in written form, below the photos, so you can cut and paste, but for a better format, see the attached photo.

Recommended Equipment for Four Wheeling

Basic Outdoor Preparedness Gear (stuff for your own self-preservation):

Water & food

Extra Clothing (know the weather forecast)

First Aid Kit

Matches, Lighter, Candles, FIRE

Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Trash Bags, wet wipes, hand sanitizer

Detailed Road Maps, Topo Maps, Compass, Watch

Knife

Tarp, rain gear

Cell phone, CB, HAMM radio, or Personal GPS Locator Beacon

Flares, signal mirror, police whistle

Flashlight (windable, or with extra batteries)

These are the most used recovery items. Invest in quality items.

1. TIRE CARE: Jack, spare tire, repair kit, tire pressure guage, air compressor                      Keep your spare tire inflated and in good condition. Make sure you have the correct lug wrench for your wheels.

2. VEHICLE PULLING: Tow Strap                                                                                                       A tow strap should be at approximately 10-15 feet long and rated for at least twice your vehicle’s gross weight.  Buy good quality strap with loops on the ends, not hooks.

3. DIGGING OUT: Compact folding shovel/axe/saw                                                                            A Forester tool, Handle-All, or plain old shovel is an invaluable all-purpose tool for getting yourself unstuck in a variety of circumstances, and are also useful for general survival.

These items are an important part of your regular excursion kit:

Heavy duty work gloves

Jumper Cables

Fire Extinguisher

Recovery Strap (20' to 50', with loops, rated at 3-4 times the vehicle weight)

Baling wire, Duct tape, Zip ties, Ratchet Straps, bungee cords, equipment tie-downs

Stop Leak radiator repair, Motor Oil, Transmission Fluid, extra water

Replacement fuses and electrical tape

Basic tools: wrenches, pliers, mallet, ratchet, spark plug socket, vehicle-specific tools

Variety of hoses, clamps, nuts, bolts, washers, parts specific to your vehicle

Additional equipment to consider for more extensive excursions:

Extreme caution is urged for the use of these items. Make sure you are thoroughly familiar with their function and operation.  Read owner’s manuals thoroughly and follow all safety precautions:

Hi-Lift Jack

Full-size Shovel (especially for sand, mud, or snow areas)

Full-size Axe, Bow Saw, Chain Saw (in heavily-forested areas)

Winch with accessories: tree strap, clevis, snatch block, chain

Extra gas 

Job Description

Barlow's Seeking Talented Guest Services People

Barlow's is hiring crew members! Email inquiries or resumes to nena@barlowjeeprentals.com


Short description: 
Exceptional customer service, communication and multi-tasking skills to handle contracts, reservations, phones, and Jeep washing & prep. Very active indoor/outdoor on-your-feet job. Strong guest services background and love of outdoors required. 4-day work week, with holidays and weekends required. Get dirty and have fun. Email inquiries or resumes to nena@barlowjeeprentals.com or drop application in person to 3009 W Hwy 89A, Sedona.

PLEASE note: this is NOT a mechanical position—this is a front office guest services position which does NOT require mechanical skills!

Long description:

To many people, working at Barlow’s might seem like a dream job: work with Jeeps, in a fun and casual atmosphere, in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet. Yes, it is all that, but first and foremost, it is actually WORK. In a nutshell, the job requires exceptional customer service skills combined with unflagging physical and mental energy.

The main facets of the job are handling rental contracts, instructing guests in trail driving and Jeep operation, managing reservations, and prepping Jeeps for rental. New hires start in the following order, and progress as skill mastery allows: first, Jeep washing; second, phones and reservations; third, rental contracts; fourth, preparing guests for trail and Jeep usage. We will train the right candidate for all of that—you don’t have to come in knowing all about the Axle Lock button, or how to strip the frame off a Jeep soft top, or even how to get to Soldier Pass—what you DO need is to be: highly self-motivated, but with a strong teamwork ethic; smart, without being arrogant; humble without being sheepish; both mentally and physically energetic and capable; all this with the amazing ability to mother the timid customers, tame the rowdy ones, and have them all eating out of your hand.

In the past, we have screened a lot of applicants who had a misconception of what the job is really like. It’s not glamorous most of the time. Let’s expose the “dirt” about working at Barlow’s…

First, we wash Jeeps. We wash Jeeps A LOT. And we wash Jeeps day in and day out in all kinds of weather. It’s like the Karate Kid workout: Your shoulders will be sore from the constant circular motion of washing and drying Jeeps, and your back will be sore from leaning over vacuuming interiors, and wiping out various unidentified sticky things that you really don’t want to know what they are. Your hair will get messed up and your coworkers will spray you with the pressure washer, usually by accident. Your legs will be covered in red dirt, and most likely you will develop calluses on your knees from kneeling down to spray mud out or inspecting the undercarriage. Your feet will get soaked—great when it’s 106 degrees out, but miserable when it’s 41 degrees. Bring a change of shoes and socks.  And, sometimes, we even clean Jeeps with toothbrushes. I’m not kidding.

You will be on your feet most of the day. You will be standing, walking and running while answering phones, washing Jeeps, taking reservations, filling out contracts, talking guests through maps, demonstrating the features of the Jeeps, washing Jeeps, directing people to the bathroom, loading a cooler with ice into the Jeep, removing t-tops or soft tops from Jeeps, scraping up your fingers zipping windows into Jeeps, smiling while answering the phone while you are sucking on your sore finger, washing Jeeps, inspecting Jeeps, parking Jeeps, and washing more Jeeps.

You will be talking a lot, and you have to be charming the whole time you are doing it.  You have to make people feel loved and warm and fuzzy from the moment they drive onto the property or the moment you answer the phone, even if your cat puked in your shoes and you bent your rear axle (again). You will answer tons of questions about Jeep rentals:  what trails can we use, what time can we pick up the Jeep, how much does it cost, why is it so much more than Avis, how many people can we fit in a Jeep, do I have to make a reservation, do you have automatic Jeeps, do I have to be 25, do I have to have insurance, can I use someone else’s credit card, can I take your Jeep to Timbuktu, where are we located because the GPS sent us to the wrong county…You will also be answering tons of questions about Sedona in general: where to stay, where to eat, why aren’t the Hertz guys there, what are vortexes, where to shop, where to park an RV, what the weather will be like in 38 days, where is the nearest major airport, and how do I get to Sedona from there. After a busy day, you are tired of the sound of your own voice.

Then there are the times when we are not busy. That’s when we wash Jeeps—REALLY wash Jeeps—scrub upholstery, wax and polish paint, clean engine compartments, scrub tires and soft tops, and spray mud out of places you never knew Jeeps had. And when that’s done, we clean the shop. There is always dirt. ALWAYS. Shelves, carpet, countertops, bathroom, and all over the garage. There are usually dirty, broken and/or greasy Jeep parts laying around, too.

Some days the time just flies by, and you go home dirty and smelly and collapse on the couch. Other days drag by and you have to take a deep breath, look around and see what needs doing, even though playing Farmville sounds much better.

There are always list of projects that need doing. You will most often be working with one or two other crewmembers, but sometimes it’s just you, so you must be highly self-motivated. Your coworkers are highly self-motivated and expect the same of you. Anyone who is perceived to be slacking or not holding up their end is not tolerated for long. If there are dirty Jeeps sitting outside, a pile of dirty dishes, and dirty towels and coolers spread all over the shop, and you are sitting on the couch reading a magazine, expect some rather direct remarks.

Still reading? Okay, then here’s the good stuff…

Our Jeeps are awesome and you will get to know each one by name and personality. They also want to go out and play with you from time to time. Your coworkers are enthusiastic Jeepers and outdoors-people. They are smart, compassionate, supportive, and watch your back. Even though most of our crew members are college-educated, with business management backgrounds, and could run any of a number of different businesses, they have chosen, as you have, to take a job that allows one to go to work in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops (or jeans and hiking boots, depending on the weather). While washing Jeeps or doing Jeep demos, you are outside, soaking up the gorgeous Sedona climate, which is great 99% of the year. You get to meet people from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds, and all looking to you to help them have fun. Just in the course of the job, you will learn more about 4-wheeling and Jeeps than most people can imagine. There is the opportunity to travel to different 4-wheeling destinations and events and meet and work with people throughout the industry. You get to live in the Sedona area, and Jeep, hike, bike, and/or ride whatever to your heart’s content. There are very few days a year that are unpleasant enough to keep you indoors all day, and you are within 1-hour of high-country pines for cooler weather, or 1.5-hours of the lower desert for warmer weather.

Most importantly, you have to be comfortable in your own skin AND have an innate love of people to be able to deal with all of the different personalities that you will encounter at the counter. You must have the attitude that there is always more to learn, you must have the inner strength to wash that one last Jeep at the end of a long day, and you must possess the self-confidence to know when to say “It’s okay—I got this!”

Happy trails!

Life of a Sedona Jeep Tour Guide...

I've been getting a lot of requests for this one lately--an article I wrote over 10 years ago that was meant to screen potential guides for my then position as a tour company manager. I resisted the urge to edit and update it. The content really applies to almost any position in the 4-wheeling/outdoor industry. Enjoy!

Life of a Sedona Jeep Tour Guide
by Nena Barlow

Arguably, Sedona, Arizona is the Jeep tour capital of the world. With the great weather, gorgeous scenery, and easy access to a myriad of trails, no wonder there are so many tour companies. Many people think that being a Sedona Jeep tour guide would be their dream job. If you are one of those, read this first!

Do you think you want to be a Jeep tour guide? Many people think it sounds like fun, and it is, for a while. But, for most people, the romance wears off quickly. The average career lifespan of Jeep tour guide in Sedona is less than two years, but there are those who have been guiding for five, ten, even twenty years.

I have been in the Jeep tour business since 1996, which makes me about ninety-six in Jeep years. I have eaten enough red dust to be convicted of smuggling federal property. I have ushered thousands of visitors into the backcountry. I have grown tired of the sound of my own voice. I have watched Jeeps go from the showroom floor to tour status to beyond reasonable maintenance, relegated to the Jeep retirement lot, with 150,000 trail miles on them. I have hosed off various types of excrement from Jeeps. And I have seen guides train, passed by them on the trail for a while, then saw them eventually move on to a "real" job. Let me give you insight to the whole world of professional Jeep tour guiding, from start to finish.

It takes a certain type of person to really be a guide as an ongoing career. Most "career" guides are very serious nature and history lovers. They drive Jeeps all week, then spend their days off hiking, biking, or even Jeeping. They love to read. They have heated debates with their associates about the current scientific name of the javelina, the best way to eat agave, or the latest tour joke. They are clever, independent, resourceful, animated, and loud. They are very much people-people. They love to entertain and be the center of attention. And they can deal with a great deal of ups and downs, not just on the trail, but also in their schedules and bank accounts.

The first thing that hopefuls need to know is that fewer than fifty-percent of applicants will even get an interview, due to the sheer volume of applications. When I was a Jeep tour trail boss, my interview technique consisted primarily of trying to talk the applicant out of the job. I would tell them all of the disadvantages of the job, like bouncing around all day long, eating dust in the heat, or getting drenched in the freezing rain, all the while being charming and entertaining, and answering the same questions you have heard a thousand times. Some applicants are dismayed by the fact that there are no fixed paid hours. Guides are paid by the hour only for driving tours, on a rotating schedule, at the whim of the weather and tourism flow. Some applicants are even distressed to learn that they have to wash their own Jeeps. If none of that seems to phase them, we move on with the interview.

Jeep tour companies are looking for personality first. They want someone who is responsible, yet entertaining; informative, yet interesting; and safety-conscious, but fun. Many of these traits may seem contradictory, but it is exactly what makes a good guide. And, contradictory to popular belief, guides are not hired for their four-wheeling prowess, in fact, personality, not off-road experience, is the single most important factor in guide selection. There are some really great four-wheelers who will never make the cut as a guide. Likewise, there are many great guides who were hired without any previous four-wheeling experience. The priorities of most tour companies fall in this order: first, safety; second, entertainment; third, education.

What happens to the applicants who do make the cut? Training, training, training, which may take anywhere from two to twelve weeks, depending on the traineeís previous experience. Trainees must learn about local history, geology, ecology, environmental etiquette, company policies and procedures, and, yes, how to drive a Jeep. No matter how many years of 4x4 experience a trainee has, there are many things that must be learned to manage the responsibility of driving a heavy Jeep with paying guests as a full time job. Most companies don't pay for training time, either. That alone tests the resolve of the trainee.

Training involves lots of studying. Jeep tour companies each compile their own guide training manuals, which include company policies and area information. A trainee should also spend a lot of time at the library, the historical society, and area parks. Most companies will expect you to know more about the area than you will ever be able to share in one two-hour tour, but you need that depth of knowledge from which to draw. Veteran guides have forgotten more than most people will ever know about Sedona, and rookies will still be expected to be able to discuss at length the virtues of the agave, or the patterns of geological erosion, or the effect of the World Series on the socio-economic structure of Sedona.

The key to ongoing success as a tour guide is to read a lot. Not only does it freshen your material for both you and your guests, but also it keeps your information congruent with current events and ongoing changes. Scientific names of animal species change, working geological theories evolve, and new archaeological discoveries emerge. Nothing is static - keep reading and exploring! The biggest mistake guides make is thinking that once they have been cleared to do tours, they know everything they need to know and are done training. 

My favorite step in Jeep tour guide training involves the infamous "ride-along's", where the trainee rides with veteran guides to observe their touring technique, presentations, and interaction between guide and guests. It is my favorite, because, invariably, a guide trainee will come to me and say "Joe said this about this, but Jane said that about this." Presentation details vary from guide to guide, and it is important to do your own reading. Presentation, interpretation, and perception vary widely, so always check your facts. Otherwise, it can become like the telephone game: by the time a story filters through a handful of guides, it doesn't even remotely resemble actual fact!

Interwoven with these ride-alongs will be hands-on four-wheel-drive training in a tour Jeep with the trainees and a trainer. Tour Jeeps handle much differently than a stock Jeep, and it takes some adjustment to become proficient at driving them, even if the trainee has Jeeping experience. As a trainee, remember that you are there to absorb as much as possible from the trainer, who is usually a very tour-experienced person. Set your ego aside, please. Have the self-confidence to ask questions. Don't act like the driving is part of the interview. You have already been hired, now the company wants to train you to a certain point in your ability to manage a tour Jeep. The only people who are dismissed during driver training, are the ones who do not listen to the instructor. A tour company is putting a lot on the line by letting you drive one of their pieces of equipment on the company insurance policy with paying guests.

Each company has their own method of clearing a new guide for tours. Some companies have you do a tour with managers and senior guides on board (the worst possible passengers you could ever have), or some slowly wean you by having a veteran ride along with you for your first few tours. But, basically, you will be cleared to do tours when your driving and navigating is transparent, you project confidence and clarity in your information presentation, and you exhibit an easy going control of your tour. 

Getting cleared to do tours does not mean that initiation is over. There is some hazing involved. In a small town, all the other Jeep tour guides know who the new guy is immediately, and the posturing can be downright juvenile. At times, I have compared the Jeep tour guide crowd to a pack of wolves - they establish a pecking order, and they can smell fear. But, for the most part, the tour guides from all of the companies are fun to work with, behave professionally on the trail, and are just good working people. One of the fun games guides play is coming up with new and clever banter to exchange when passing another tour Jeep on the trail.

What can tour guides expect to make once they are trained? Most companies are paying anywhere from $11 per hour for rookies, up to $20 per hour for veterans. But a really good guide will nearly match his or her hourly wages in tips. The downside is that guides only get paid for hours driving, and those hours can vary seasonally. This is not a job for people who need a steady income. The tour business has its peaks and valleys, which directly correlate to the weather and seasons. It takes self-discipline to save and adequately manage your finances. Among veteran guides, the saying "Winter is coming" has a special meaning and foreboding.

Most new guides begin in the spring, the busiest season of the year, where you spend as much as ten hours a day in the Jeep, you barely get a chance to scarf down cold pizza or a power bar for lunch in between tours, then drive until dark, go home, fall asleep on the couch, then get up in the morning and do it all again, for about ten days straight, before you finally take a day off, then ten more days straight, all until May, when we get a little breather. Summer days are really long and boring. You get one or two tours in the morning, then lay around for hours in the heat of the day, then everyone goes out for sunset tours, so you are driving until eight o'clock at night, then you come home, fall asleep on the couch, and do it all again tomorrow.

We endure the grueling days, because winter is always ahead. I advise new guys to sock away twenty dollars a day during the spring and summer, in order to build enough of a winter supplement to survive. Most guides get through winter on peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles. Over the course of a year, a full time guide averages twenty-five to thirty hours per week, with the spring and summer kicking at forty hours per week, and winter piddling in at as little as ten hours per week, depending on weather.

In spite of the eratic hours and unstable finances, there are some amazing benefits, which cannot be measured by your bank account.

You get to spend most of your days outside. When you are on the trail, you are captain of the ship. You work with an amazingly sharp and entertaining group of people, upon which I am a sure a sitcom will be based someday! You meet people from all over the world and from all walks of life. I have toured people from Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Ecuador, and New Jersey. I have toured with blind people, so we spent the tour talking about the sounds and smells of the forest. I have toured with deaf people, so I scribbled out rock formations, history, and jokes on a note pad for them. I toured with a family from Turkey who sent me a beautiful leather wallet as a thank you for the toy cap gun key chain I gave to their son, as a memento of the "wild" west. I toured with a family from Manhattan whose 12-year-old little girl had never picked up a rock before. I have toured with numerous people who burst into tears at the sheer beauty of the scenery. I have watched elk spar, coyotes hunt, mountain lions stalk, hawks mate, bears scratch, and tour guides eat. I have answered questions like "why do they allow the animals to just run loose out here?" (The questions themselves are worthy of an entire book--coming soon!) If you love the outdoors, nothing can compare.

So what happens to most Jeep tour guides? For some, it is something they are proud to say they have done, but are glad to have moved on to more sane and steady work. For others, it becomes a way of life. "The worst day Jeep tour guiding is better than the best day in an office!"

Happy trails!