Back to My Roots

 

Maneuvering off pavement, I surveyed the daunting obstacles ahead. The flooded fields on either side of my path were a good indication that the predominantly clay soils were holding water along much of the route. Although few had been this way before me - and tire tracks were a good indication that many more had deemed the way impassable and turned around - deep ruts were already forming in the areas not inundated by the overflowing river. A slow but steady pace and picking the appropriate lines were going to be key to successfully navigating this terrain without the need for recovery. Steeled for the familiar yet ever-changing trek, I would eventually make my way home.

When I embarked on my greatest adventure – married life – I had no concept of mountain passes or famous four-wheel drive trails. I was young, green, and still driving the car my dad got me when I turned sixteen. But building a new life together on the small ranching operation my husband was already invested in meant fundamental changes. Between our house and the stretch of historic Route 66 that led into town was a notoriously wild Deep Fork River that often escaped its banks. If that wasn’t enough, it was coupled with a minimum of three miles of red dirt road in perpetual states of disrepair due to frequent flooding and poor drainage mechanisms. Crossing that swollen river was nearly impossible, particularly for a passenger car. The all too frequent solution for getting home safely during times like this was driving several miles out of the way to avoid the river and come in from the other direction. That first car was no match for this journey, and it wasn’t long before my husband brought up the need for something that was better equipped. As the word ‘Jeep’ rolled off his tongue, he unknowingly sparked a paradigm shift that would completely change my life. Borne of practical necessity, a better way of getting around gradually morphed into a passion for Jeeps, offroading and an adventurous lifestyle.

 

My first Jeep was a 1994 four-door Jeep XJ which proved to be a substantial upgrade in reliability and capability with solid axles, significantly increased ground clearance, beefier tires, and a suspension that could handle the deep ruts that my passenger car could not. Living in what was known as the ‘most eroded county in the country’, that first Jeep gave me the means to master what might be considered moderate 4x4 trails anywhere else. It quickly became my constant companion, enabling me to go wherever I needed to and demonstrating its use as the veritable Swiss army knife it was famous for.  

Sadly, there are only a few poorly developed photos of the early Jeeps. That was back before most folks took pictures of much more than birthday parties and Christmas, when you actually had to develop film into hard copy pictures and you had no idea how they'd turn out. Circa 1998.

Anyone who’s had any kind of experience in farming or ranching knows the days are long, the work is hard, and the proper tools and equipment make all the difference. I soon came to rely on that Jeep to take me out into the rough terrain of a plowed field, over dirt clods and crop residue, and through creek crossings into hayfields and pastures.  Around that same time, we started a small business specializing in conservation work. Much like our farming operation, this required navigating equally demanding terrain to access remote jobsite locations while running parts and supplies for my husband. Not long after, in what would prove to be the best job I ever had, I began working in conservation as well. Office work went hand in hand with field work that included conservation education activities in remote, flood-prone wetland areas, and periodic assessments of watershed dams on both public and private lands. Time spent outdoors working with our God-given natural resources was an adventure I didn’t know I needed.

The unsung hero in all this? My trusty Jeep. Steeped in the outdoors and a rural way of life, I relished the feeling of invincibility and oneness with nature that this seemingly inanimate object afforded. This mindset was becoming customary to me and has remained a constant thread in the fabric of my persona. Some would contend that modern convenience has tarnished the Jeep brand, and I wouldn’t necessarily argue with that. But through the years, the brand’s foundational components forged from its rich history gave us something to rely on, offering peace of mind for me (and my husband) knowing that I was in good hands no matter where I roamed.

I’d go on to have many Jeeps after that first one, numbers nine and ten are currently in my garage. Some were more ‘family friendly’ models and some were just pure fun, but all served their purpose well. It only takes a glimpse into my roots to understand why I approach it the way I do. For many years Jeeps were a means to an end, utilitarian in nature and while any time in the Jeep was enjoyable, that was always the purpose. Those early years taught me that even the seemingly mundane could become adventurous with the right mindset.

It would be over a decade later before my eyes were opened to an entirely different way of viewing my time behind the wheel. Learning there was not only a vast network of four-wheel drive trails across this country that people embarked upon to challenge both vehicle and self, but also that many of those trails featured magnificent and diverse landscapes the likes of which I’d never experienced before, had me downright giddy. I had to see this for myself.

As I ventured further and further outside the familiar realm of Oklahoma backroads and pastures, this newfound perspective ignited a passion for adventure travel and exploring America’s many natural wonders. The Jeeps I would have after this turning point were naturally geared toward these new challenges, but never at the expense of using them as I had from the beginning. I could envision no scenario where my Jeep didn’t continue serving my practical needs while also acting as capable trail rig for more elaborate adventures. Having neither the money nor the desire to drive anything else, these same vehicles that had already proven invaluable for the rigors of my everyday life would remain so. Business and career are still centered around the rural outdoor lifestyle and impending plans are in the works for a venture even more conducive to those pursuits. Much like a photographer, this lifestyle that I've been living for decades has required a few different lenses to satisfy my objectives. But there’s been continuity in a passion for being off the beaten path, immersed in the beauty of the outdoors, and able to tackle whatever challenges are thrown my way.