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2K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  4Jeepn 
#1 ·
How rustic are the Jamborees? I would REALLY love if my wife could come and enjoy one. I have been talking this Forum up to her this month, but the prices are high. I am thinking on going next spring to Palo Duro (She's never seen it). But need to spend a little money to get ready. At this time, She's game,
but I'd hate to drive 5 or 6 hours, spend the money for the entry, and her be miserable. For this kind of cash, we could spend a week at a resort in the Carribean! But I can't take my Jeep!
 
#5 ·
Palo Duro is remote. You will have dry tent camping close by and RV camping a few miles away. It is a ways to any motels and nothing with room service. The Food they cater is aways talked about and sounds like it may be the best of any of the Jamborees.

If she does not roughing it for the weekend, its well worth the trip!
 
#7 ·
I'll add a little more to my post. I didn't have time a minute ago.

How rustic is it? Well that all depends on your definition of rustic. You basically have two choices in Palo Duro; camp at the rim of the canyon in a tent or an RV or camp at the bottom of the canyon. At the rim of the canyon you basically camp in a cow pasture that has been leveled so that you can pitch a tent or park your RV. There are no restrooms at the top of the canyon that I remeber seeing last year. However, at the bottom of the canyon there were some portable toilets. There are no showers or public restrooms to speak of. When we went we took an RV and parked at the rim of the canyon. Keep in mind - I'm a VERY white collar camper. I like having a clean toilet nearby, a shower and a shelter. This place is a little rustic but it really isn't all that bad.

Here's the basic gist of the Jamboree:

Thursday night you meet in Amarillo at the Ritz Airport Plaza Hotel (FYI - This hotel is far from being a Ritz!) to register for your groups. The group you sign up for designates the level of difficulty for the trails you'll be doing. Most people stay here at the motel and enjoy a night in Amarillo.

Friday morning everyone gathers up and heads from the motel to a designated meeting point half way between the motel and the canyon. From there you head straight to the canyon. The whole trip from motel to the canyon takes about 30 - 45 minutes. Once you arrive at the canyon the staff will have breakfast ready for you. After you eat breakfast they have a quick drivers meeting and go over what going to happen that day along with a quick safety briefing. Then they hand you a box lunch and you depart for the bottom of the canyon. Once everyone has reached the bottom everyone gathers up again in their assigned groups then you get to hit the trails. I think it was actually around 10 am before we actually got on the trails. You ride until around 5 to 6 o'clock then you're done for the day. The usually serve dinner around 6 to 6:30 if I remember correctly.

Saturday you get started a little earlier. I think we departed for the bottom of the canyon around 8 am and then we finished around 5:30. Saturday night they give away door prizes and feed you the best steak dinner you've ever had in your life!

Sunday there is no wheelin'. You just pack up and head home!

Just so you know, this trip was a blast! The weather was the worst weather they've ever had in their 20+ years of having this Jamboree. It never got above 45 degrees, it rained the whole time we were there, it hailed on us 3 or 4 times and the entire place was muddy. Even with the terrible weather we still had a great time, met some really great people and have a lot of stories to tell.

If you want to go to a nice event where the food is good, the people are great and the testosterone levels are kept in check then I'd highly recommend you and your wife doing this Jamboree. Also keep in mind that a lot of the Jamboree's are on private land. You only get to wheel here when there's a Jamboree.

Oh, and just so you know. I'm signed up for the Texas Spur Jamboree in Llano that's coming up in March. I passed up a FREE trip to Cabo to do this Jamboree. The dates conflicted and I can always go to Cabo later. The Jamborees are that much fun.
 
#11 ·
I guide for the one's in TN and NC. We stay in hotels.. so not too rustic. As stated you will usually have a pick of the types of trails you can go on, easy to hard. Your stock jeep will do great. Make sure you have the basic's. Front and rear tow points, tow strap. Full size spare tire. Also you will want to disconnect your front sway bar off road as it will allow more flex of the suspension and allow the jeep to go over the trail much easier. As I recall you need a 3/4 box end wrench and I think t-55ish torq's socket?

As far as how much your wife will like it, hard to say, I took mine once and now she does all driving on the trail, while I help out the other jeeps. I would say at some point she needs to at least try driving the jeep as that is part of the fun.
 
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