by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
The entire world is seemingly sleeping as I slip out the front door early Friday morning, bags in hand like some bogged-down stranger encroaching into an unforgiving darkness. In fact, the only light streams from the JL’s headlights sitting before me because the far away street light offers nothing more than a somewhat meek pinkish white haze that doesn’t come close to peeling back the night air.
It’s just after two-thirty a.m., and nothing moves out here except for those bags getting tossed into the JL’s back seat — the hum of its diesel engine providing a mellow cadence against the otherwise silent neighborhood. Fog drifts through the night, smelling slightly like cinnamon and providing an eerie backdrop against those headlights
As I climb into the driver’s seat, John Mellencamp warbles from the radio singing about being born in a small town. We move down the street and into the night together.
”Had myself a ball in a small town,” he sings.
And I agree.
For my small town destination today is Moab, Utah, a tiny speck of land in the vast southeastern Utah desert that may be small in size, but certainly not in heart. Or in what it has to offer the four-wheeling community.
The reason for this destination is the annual Easter Jeep Safari, which if you are unfamiliar with, is pretty much to the Jeep enthusiast what the Super Bowl is to football.
To use a bad cliché — it’s the big time.
After a pit stop to pick up Quadratec YouTube Personality Rob Jarrell, we meet up with our social media coordinator Brooke Smith at the Philadelphia International Airport for a two-legged airplane jaunt to Grand Junction, Colo., through Dallas and then a ground ride to Moab.
While the trip really began in those wee hours Friday morning, it didn’t really begin until landing at Grand Junction, where snow tipped mountains peer over the airport from the north, and I-70 stretches out west into Utah.
As we touched down in Grand Junction, and the road beckoned to Moab, it also marks the 10th year for Quadratec as an EJS sponsor and attendee. And this year, unlike just about any other, should be interesting as Easter Jeep Safari takes place over the next week-plus amid the shadow of COVID. Will the event be the same? How many people are making the trip? What will trail groups be like this year? How are those concepts going to look?
These are the questions running through our minds as the Grand Junction baggage claim springs to life and begins disgorging suitcases of various shapes and sizes.
The road to Moab, as many know, comes in many difference directions. You can approach from the South, out of Arizona and up US 191. Or you can pull off I-70, either from the east or west, and take US191 south.
Both have some pretty spectacular views as you approach Moab, and honestly it is tough not to find something picturesque no matter which way you turn. Following a long drive though, it may be tough to appreciate that scenery in lieu of almost reaching your target.
But, for us, the best way is to approach from the east, leaving I-70 at a small ‘town’ called Cisco, and then taking Route 128 for roughly 48 miles through red rock canyons stretching up hundreds of feet in nearly any direction.
This route also follows the quick-flowing Colorado River before giving way to Castle Valley. The surrounding views are stunning and, yes, you’d probably recognize that valley from any number of movies and television shows.
On the way, we pass by the century-old Dewey Bridge, the Top of the World trailhead, camp site after camp site, and numerous entrances and ramps for those looking to raft on the Colorado.
And then Moab stretches out before you.
Many think because the town’s footprint in overall real estate is small, that things will be sleepy here. Something akin to molasses. But they would be wrong. Especially during Easter Jeep Safari.
As we turn off Route 128 onto US 191 south, traffic stretches from the Colorado all the way into town — mostly Jeeps, but also tractor trailers headed from I-70 towards Arizona.
The road to Moab, while almost finished, isn't quite ready to let its grip on you go. That's because both lanes into Moab are congested with Jeeps of all types. Gladiators, JLs, TJs, YJs and more LJs than you’ve probably ever seen at one time. Call it eye candy for the enthusiast. Call it even more scenery.
Occasionally, you’ll see a CJ or two scoot past, and then a Willys, which is great to marvel because just about every one here is in pristine condition — seemingly untouched by rust or other issues. Others notice these 'mature' vehicles too, their heads swiveling like some famous movie star just caught their eye.
Like we said before, for many the trip to Moab is just that — a trip. Something to push past and through in order to attain the final prize.
Which is Moab itself. Its vehicles. And the Easter Jeep Safari.
But the road to Moab doesn’t have to be just pavement and an endless loop of passing cars.
You just need to choose the right path.
