In 1988, a vibrant young man who loved the outdoors had his life changed forever when a truck blew through a red light. Lance Blair was only 18 years old when he lost his left leg in this tragic accident. The doctors weren’t sure if Lance would make it through the weekend, much less ever walk again.

Lance and his FJ Cruiser

22 years later, not only does Lance walk, he drives one of the most amazing off road machines I’ve seen. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

In 2000 Lance decided to give up his thriving tobacco shops in order to pursue a different goal. He wanted to help people in the same way so many special people helped him after his accident. Lance decided to become a nurse. And that decision was just the beginning of Lance’s service to others. His next big leap came in 2006 when Toyota began selling their iconic FJ Cruiser.

Lance was immediately sold on FJs. He loved the look, the capability, and the possibilities. I first met Lance (virtually) on an online forum dedicated to FJ Cruisers. It was there that I learned about his passion for off-road driving, adventure, and expeditions. When I started FJC Magazine, I asked Lance if he’d be interested in a recurring feature called “Expedition Wheeling” to cover thoughts and ideas related to long-range overland driving. He was more than happy to help out and I’m glad to say he’s still writing for us today. Not long after Lance had his FJ (mostly) setup for vehicle dependent expeditions, he decided that he wanted to share

The W.A.V.E. being put to good use

his knowledge and love of the outdoors with other disabled persons. Disabled Explorers was born.

The first major trip Lance put together for Disabled Explorers was one for the record books: three FJ Cruisers, over 5,000 miles, and 24 days, all to explore the continental divide from Canada to Mexico. The kicker: trying to stay off road (off pavement) for as much of the trip as possible. That trip was a huge success and served to motivate Lance to expand Disabled Explorers even more.

The FJ Cruisers worked well for the continental divide trip, but there was one major drawback to the fun little trucks: wheelchair access. In order for Lance to truly serve all disabled persons, he would need something a little larger, but still as capable. At the Overland Expo a couple of years ago, Lance found his answer: the Sportsmobile camper van. Of course, Disabled Explorers wouldn’t build just any old conversion van; this vehicle had to be able to go where few could — it had to be stout, tough, equipped, and capable of handling nearly any situation. Enter the W.A.V.E. (Wheelchair Accessible Van for Expeditions).

The W.A.V.E. is a very well equipped Sportsmobile conversion van (based on a Ford full size van) with nearly every bell and whistle you can imagine. The Sportsmobile comes ‘standard’ with upgrades like a Dynatrac Pro Rock 60 axle, ARB Air Locker, heavy duty shocks and Dakar springs, a high capacity fuel tank, and dozens of other enhancements. The real interesting bits of the W.A.V.E. though are the unique features for the disabled. The wheelchair lift; the hand controls; the automatic step; and all the other mobility enhancements make this the ideal vehicle for disabled exploring.

Lance’s goal is to allow disabled persons to truly explore the outdoors like never before. We’re not talking about a guided tour where the participants sit in the back & enjoy the view (although they’re welcome to do so). Lance gives everyone the opportunity to drive the W.A.V.E. off road. It’s one thing to see the great outdoors, it’s another to experience it.

Lance with his pet project, the W.A.V.E.

Disabled Explorers is not some vast organization with plenty of resources and a waiting list of participants. Although, not surprisingly,  there is a waiting list. The fact is Disabled Explorers is supported almost entirely by its founder, Lance Blair. He works extra shifts at the hospital to fund weekend trips into the great outdoors. These trips range from simple day trips, which allow a participant to get used to the W.A.V.E., to full multi-day expeditions. Participation is completely free of charge. Lance is adamant that Disabled Explorers and its supporters foot the bill for everything. And, although the W.A.V.E. does feature some equipment and gear that’s been donated, the operation, maintenance, repair, and refitting bills fall straight into Lance’s lap, not to mention the monthly payment for the $75,000 van. Of course, he’s more than happy to give to the project he started. For him, it’s all about helping others.

There are plenty of future plans for Disabled Explorers. There are at least two other chapters expected to open in the very near future (San Diego, CA and Pueblo, CO). Depending on donations, sponsorships, and grants, they’ll feature their own versions of the W.A.V.E. and of course they will have the same mission: To expose as many disabled persons as possible to the great outdoors. Lance won’t be able to do it alone though, he needs our help. If you’re interested in helping Lance continue and expand the Disabled Explorers mission, he’s setup a Paypal account to accept donations, you can access the DE Donation Page here. Another great way to help the cause is by spreading the word. If you’re on Facebook you can ‘Like’ the Disabled Explorers Page (http://www.facebook.com/disabledexplorers) and tell your friends and family about this great program.

Thanks, Lance. And, keep exploring!

Shane will be covering some of Disabled Explorers’ adventures in upcoming issues of Adventure Insider, so stay tuned for many amazing stories!

Toyota trucks climbing some fins

For those interested in off road and 4-wheel driving, the ‘must see’ destination is Moab, UT. Moab is known around the world as the center of the 4×4 universe, mainly due to it’s fair weather and ‘slickrock’ trails. For our first ever trip to Moab, we made the 7 hour journey from Colorado for the annual Cruise Moab event.

Cruise Moab is a Toyota-only event sponsored by the Rising Sun 4 Wheel Drive club out of Denver, CO. They’re part of the Toyota-Land Cruiser Association (TLCA), a nationwide Toyota 4×4 club. This years’ event featured over 100 Toyota 4×4 trucks, nearly 400 people, and plenty of vendors selling everything from roof racks to suspension lifts.

We managed to run two trails with the Cruise Moab group, and then set out for one on our own the last day. While there are dozens of off road trails in the Moab area, we opted to go with two of the most scenic trails for our group runs.

Narrow & steep on Elephant Hill

About 90 minutes south of Moab is Canyonlands National Park, and Elephant Hill trail. If you’re looking for a moderate trail with amazing views – this is the one to try. It will take a slightly modified vehicle (a lift and larger tires are helpful) in some sections, and a fair bit of driver skill is necessary. If you’re not new to off road driving, you should have no problem navigating the obstacles on this 17 mile trail. There is one section that requires you to back down (and then back up on the way out), so make sure you have a good spotter and take your time. Toward the end of the loop you’ll have an opportunity to hike out to an area that overlooks the Colorado River. You’ll want to plan to be on the trail for the entire day, so bring plenty of food and extra water. One other important note: while pets are allowed in the park, due to the sensitive soil they are not permitted on back country and 4×4 roads, so leave them at home for this trip.

Perhaps the most famous trail in Moab is Fins N’ Things. This easy to moderate trail gets its name due to the large rock fins that you spend most of your time driving on. This is the classic ‘slickrock’ that Moab is famous for, and Fins N’ Things has plenty of it. There are two different legs of the trail, totaling about 10 miles of trail driving. While this trail is fairly easy for experienced off road drivers, you’ll still want to make sure you have a good spotter for some of the sections. A rear differential locker is needed for some of the obstacles, but there is usually a bypass.

When you’re not on a trail in Moab, there’s still plenty to do. There are several micro-breweries in town, and many of the restaurants are top-notch. We really enjoyed the burgers and brew at the Moab Brewery, on South Main St. They feature eight types of beer, so you’re sure to find one that suits you.
For breakfast, our favorite place was the Jailhouse Café. It’s so named because it’s actually housed in the original Moab jail house. The food is excellent, but the prices are a little on the steep side.

La Sal Mountains

There are literally dozens of places to stay in Moab. If you’re ready for a regular room after a day on the trail, you have a choice of nearly every hotel chain somewhere along main street. For campers, there are a couple of really great campgrounds to choose from. The main Cruise Moab event was held at the Slickrock Campground, which is very large has plenty of trees. We opted to stay at the Moab Rim Campark, just south of downtown Moab. We were able to get a cabin that included 1 queen bed, 2 bunkbeds, a kitchenette, and a small bathroom. The best part was that Moab Rim allows pets, so our two medium sized dogs felt right at home.

If you’re in to off road driving and haven’t been, you’ll want to make plans to get out to Moab. The trails and scenery are world class, and there are plenty of fun activities to keep the entire family entertained. If you like the group feel, check out Cruise Moab, Easter Jeep Safari, or any of the other events held annually. Of course you can always just gather your friends for a self-guided tour of slickrock country. Either way, you’re sure to have an amazing time in Moab.

Alpine views - Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge, Colorado is famous for being one of the best skiing/snowboarding destinations in North America. The mountains surrounding Breckenridge offer some of the best snow in the state, and the scenery is second to none. This popular winter destination is well served by the many summer activities available in Breckenridge.

From alpine slides to real Colorado mountain biking, Breckenridge has something to offer everyone.

One of my passions is scenic off roading, so last September, we decided to head to
Breckenridge and find a few off road trails. We went with 2 FJ Cruiser’s, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Chevy Avalanche for the run. We started off simple and decided to get Boreas Pass & Georgia Pass out of the way.

View from Bross - Breckenridge, Colorado

Boreas Pass is a very easy dirt road, any car will be just fine on this pass during good weather. The south side of Georgia Pass is about the same, but once we arrived at the top we found a very challenging trail. After a quick jaunt up Glacier Ridge, we headed down the north side of Georgia Pass (Rd 355). It became exciting right away, with a rather large rock blocking the trail. The Jeep decided to take the more difficult line, but the rest of us took the easier route around the rock. We crawled our way down the mountain, trying to say on the right trail.

View from Georgia Pass - Breckenridge, Colorado

We eventually made it down to Swan River just in time for the rain to begin. We headed back to our little campsite (well off the beaten path, GPS 39.5354, -105.9006), packed up, and headed for home.

Although we didn’t get to hit all the trails in the area, it was a wonderful trip!

If you’re interested in experiencing the Breckenridge area by 4×4, I’ve put together a Google Earth layer of the major off-road trails.

Outfitters

There’s only one Jeep Rental place in the Breckenridge area: Mountain High Jeep Rentals. If you’re visiting from elsewhere in Colorado, there are many other Jeep Rental services.

Where to Stay

Breckenridge & the surrounding area is a popular tourist area, so you’ll have no problems finding a place to stay. There are dozens of great hotels, condos, and house rentals available. Make your reservations as far in advance as possible to get the best rate and
the best room.

Food in Breckenridge

Off road - Breckenridge, Colorado

While we brought most of our food to the campsite with us on this trip, Breckenridge has plenty of great places to eat. There’s a little known pizza place on the north side of town, in the City Market plaza called Windy City Pizza. If you’re on the main drag, we’ve had really good luck with the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Downstairs At Erics. Don’t forget the infamous Breckenridge Brewery if you’re a microbrew fan.

First annual FJ summit

Wow pretty much sums it up. The First Annual FJ Summit was held in Ouray, CO last July. It all started when several people from a FJ Cruiser Forums website started brainstorming about a meeting of FJ Cruiser owners nationwide. It wasn’t too long before everyone voted on the location for this first event, and Ouray was chosen.

Why Ouray? Well, if you haven’t been there you don’t know what you’re missing. The ‘Switzerland of America‘ is a beautiful small town in southwestern Colorado surrounded by the San Juan mountains. What makes Ouray so special to the off road community is the trails. Hundreds of miles of the most scenic, breathtaking, and awe inspiring off road trails in the country. This is not just a visitor guide bullet, the beauty can’t be described with just words.

Getting There

My wife, Angie & I met Kent & John (from London, Ontario, Canada), and our friend Stan & family (from Highlands Ranch, CO) for the drive up.
This is my Quick Info Box Content
Welcome!
We took the scenic route through the mountains from Colorado Springs. We first headed out US-24, over Wilkerson Pass and down to beautiful Buena Vista & the Collegiate Peaks area. From there, we proceeded over Monarch Pass, past Gunnison and the Blue Mesa reservoir (the largest body of water in Colorado). Finally, we headed south from near Cimmaron, and over Owl Creek Pass. Once we reached US-550, we turned south and headed into Ouray.

The Alpine Loop

First annual FJ summit

For the first day of the trip, we decided to do Alpine Loop, which is rated a 3-4 (out of 10) in difficulty, and is quite long. There were a total of 8 rigs in our group and we were the last group to leave that morning.

The Alpine Loop (which consists of Engineer & Cinnamon Passes) is truly amazing. The first few miles of the Engineer Pass trail are the most difficult and give this trail it’s rating of a 4, so this area can be challenging for those new to off roading. After cresting Engineer Pass, the trail is easier and the pace picked up some. Near the top of the pass there is a great pull off that’s an overlook of the entire range. At over 13,000 feet, this spot is one of the most amazing views you’ll find in the Rocky Mountains. Be careful though: the altitude can really start to have negative effects for those not used to it.

Cinnamon Pass is a much easier ride than Engineer; we saw quite a few passenger cars & mini-vans on this leg. The summit is over 12,000 feet and nearly as impressive as Engineer. Although the Alpine Loop is extremely long, it’s well worth the time you’ll spend.

Imogene Pass

On Saturday morning, we headed out at about 9am with a group of 8. Destination: Imogene Pass.

After the quick drive up toward Yankee Boy Basin, we made the left onto the Imogene Pass trail. We were immediately greeted with an optional water crossing. We plowed through 24″ of water without skipping a beat. The first half of Imogene was a BLAST! There were plenty of decent rocks, water crossings, and puddles to keep us entertained. The views were magnificent as well, this area of Colorado almost cannot be described.

Due to Kent’s unfortunate issues with altitude, I was asked to drive his truck down to Telluride so we could get him to medical attention. We moved down the mountain pretty quickly, so we didn’t get many photos of our descent. We arrived in Telluride a little after 3pm where Kent got treatment for his altitude problems. He was feeling much better by the next day.

Last Day In Ouray

At about 9am, we arrived at the parking lot where a group photo was planned. We ended up in the 3rd to last row, so our FJ didn’t stand out much in the crowd. Still it was a very cool experience. Almost 200 FJ Cruiser’s in one photo – very neat. The photo came out pretty good I think.

We invited Stan & Mike to run with us up to Yankee Boy Basin, since we didn’t make it up the day before. It turned out to be not that exciting, mostly because of the crowd of people all around. There were rental Jeeps, Subarus, and other all wheel drive vehicles everywhere. Everyone was busy snapping as many tourist photos as they could. That kind of crowd can make the scenery not so scenic.

First annual FJ summit

So, since we didn’t spend any time at Yankee Boy, we decided to hit the first half of Imogene again. With the water crossings, water falls, and fun rocks, we wanted to make sure Stan & Mike got the chance to check it out. We made it up to the cabin area of Imogene pretty quickly, got a group photo, and headed back down to Ouray.

It was lunch time, so we strolled down main street in Ouray & ended up at the Gold Belt Bar & Grill for a quick bite. We all ordered & decided to eat outside since it was such a wonderful day. The food was decent, and a reasonable price. Not fine dining, but a good quick lunch. After lunch we aired up & headed north out of town.

A Great Time

The First Annual FJ Summit was a HUGE success. Everyone had a great time and our outstanding Toyota FJ Cruisers got a good workout.

Ouray, Colorado is one of the most scenic and adventure-filled towns in the Western U.S. If you’ve been there: GO BACK, if you haven’t: MAKE PLANS. Keep in mind that the summer is a very busy time of year, so make your travel plans far in advance. Also remember that in addition to the FJ Summit, there are Jeep Jamborees and several other large events held in Ouray every year. You’ll want to know what’s happening in Ouray during your visit. Check the Ouray Event Calendar to find out more.

While our trip focused on off-roading, there are plenty of other activities including Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Mine Tours. In the winter months, you can observe or try out the world famous Ouray Ice Climbing Park, or head up into the mountains on cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Where to stay?

When we’re in Ouray, we always stay at the Box Canyon Lodge. They have fair rates, clean rooms, and excellent service. We also really enjoy their 2-4 person authentic wood barrel hot springs. If rooms are not available at the Box Canyon, there are plenty of other hotels available.

Outfitters

If you don’t own a 4wd vehicle, you can still experience the off road trails in the Ouray area. There are several Jeep Rental services. We recommend Switzerland of America Jeep Rentals. They have excellent service, very good vehicles, and reasonable rates. If you’re not inclined to drive a 4×4, consider taking an off-road tour.