So You Wanna Host And Guide Your Own SxS Trail Ride Event………
It may not seem like rocket science, but leading your own adventure ride requires a specific set of skills and interests. Chief among these is a love of trail riding and the great outdoors, as well as a deep enthusiasm for sharing that experience with others.
Creating exceptional and unforgettable SxS trail riding experiences is surprisingly straightforward. You are showing them something you have already experienced, you have experienced something truly remarkable that you feel like you want to share with others. However, the real challenge lies in figuring out how to effectively share this experience with others in a way that does it justice and makes it memorable for them. The real question is, how to do it?
I have planned, hosted and guided many, many trips, my primary objective has always been to help you explore nature’s beauty on a trail that I have had the pleasure of experiencing myself. I prioritize safety above all else, ensuring that every necessary precaution is taken to make your journey enjoyable and secure. I believe that informed riders are happy riders, so I take the time to address any questions or concerns you may have before embarking on our adventure. By actively engaging with you before, during and after the trip and seeking your feedback, I can tailor the experience to meet your needs and preferences. My ultimate goal is to create lasting memories for every rider, making each trail ride a true delight.
The trails I guide groups on sell themselves, as the natural beauty and charm of the landscape speaks for itself. I’m not selling you anything, but rather guiding you on a SxS trail ride that will leave you in awe. My role is to lead and ensure your safety while you enjoy the ride. Before we even meet in person, you will already have access to all the necessary information about the ride, including pictures, videos, trail mapping, and more, so you can feel fully prepared and excited for your adventure.
After deciding what trail I’m doing,
I spend some time pre-running the trail. Getting a feel for the trail and any obstacles, taking note of milages, interesting features, awesome scenery and looking for wildlife.
I also take note of of places to stop for privacy( potty breaks ).
GPS map following the entire pre-run. I drive every off shoot trail to see where it goes and make special notes about each.
Drop pins everywhere and make notes about each pin, to include lat/long cordinates at each pin.
I meticulously go over the map and look for escape routes throughout the trail run. I do this in case there is an emergency and we need to evacuate quickly.
One of the most important things I do after pre-run is find out who the managing agency is for that area…..BLM, National Forest, State Forest…..???….etc. once I find out the agency…. I call them and find out how we reach them in case there’s an emergency…phone number, radio frequency….etc.
Once all that’s done… I use those pins to find out weather forecasts for those areas. I also make note if I have cell service at each pin.
I then take all the information from above….craft a information sheet and print it out. I now have a very important trip cheat- sheet, which actually is super helpful as a guide.
After completing the technical aspects, I then focus on collecting additional information that I refer to as ‘the tourist information pac.’ This includes valuable knowledge about the area where we will be riding, such as the location of local lodging like campgrounds, hotels, motels, Airbnb’s, and other accommodations. I also provide a list of nearby gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and anywhere else where riders can purchase food. In case of any medical emergencies, I also gather information on nearby hospitals or emergency clinics. Additionally, I compile a list of nearby tire shops and auto parts stores, as well as SxS dealerships and powersports shops. Lastly, I provide riders with a list of local restaurants and shops to explore during their free time. I send all of this information to the attendees well before the trip date so they can make reservations and become familiar with the local area before our adventure begins.
I provide phone numbers, addresses. All this information is sent to those who are attending for the purpose of reservations and to familiarize riders with what the local area has to offer.
Next comes the arduous task of creating a trip itinerary, which is often the most time-consuming aspect of logistics for me. It usually takes around a week, with 2-3 hours spent each night researching and planning. The first step in this process is to answer a series of questions, such as how long the trip will be, how many Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles will be needed, and how many people will be attending. Additionally, I consider whether to hold a pre-ride meet and greet the night before to give attendees a chance to get to know each other and me, as well as to cover important details about the trip. Once the trip begins, daily drivers meetings and safety briefings are crucial to ensure everyone is on the same page and aware of any potential hazards or special instructions for the trail that day. Understanding the weather conditions and being prepared for any situation is also top of mind. Ultimately, my goal as a host and trail guide is to be as prepared as possible, providing attendees with all the information they need and more, just as I would want if I were in their shoes.
Below is a Trip Intinarary For The St Patty’s Day Weekend Trail Ride for The Trail Geezers SxS Group in Moab that I hosted and Guided this year.
Trip Intinerary
St. Patty’s Day Weekend Ride
Moab, Utah
Moab Trip Itinerary
Thursday 3/14/24 (Day 1)
(We) Arrive Moab between 12pm and 1pm, complete early hotel
check-in. Unload the “Side Chick”….thats my RzR….. RzR will be our primary source of transportation for the weekend. Gear up for a afternoon ride, Not sure where yet but maybe something super easy ?
Thursday evening….( 5:30 pm)…. Meet and Greet
Dinner and Cocktails (on your dime) at Moab Brewery Restaurant, Trail Geezers has a reservation:
Moab Brewery
686 S Main St, Moab, UT
Friday 3/15/24 (Day 2)
Friday Morning…. drivers meeting at 8:30 am in hotel hotel parking lot(Scenic View Inn). Departing for the days ride at 9:00 am sharp. Please bring a trail lunch.
The trails for today will be:
Morning Ride …..
(Fins And Things) Rated a 5 on a scale of 1-10.
The Fins and Things 4×4 Trail offers spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains across the sandstone domes of Sand Flats Recreation Area. Drivers should allow roughly 4 hours to complete the 10 miles of steep climbs and even steeper descents. Portions of the trail are limited to daytime only. Please ….. if you have not been to Moab before …. Google this trail and watch some videos so you know what to expect.
Stopping for trailside lunch, at the Hells Revenge Trail Head.
Afternoon Ride
(Hells Revenge) Rated 6+ on a scale of 1-10.
We will be doing the “Tip-Toe Through Hell.” part….It follows most of the Hell’s Revenge trail route but skips the difficult obstacles and is rated a 3.5. The scenery and many of the thrills of driving long stretches of slickrock remain, but the emphasis is on scenery and enjoying the ride instead of blowing up your adrenaline and your SxS on obstacles. However….still allowing people to try obstacles along the way…kinda fits the bag of best of both kind of drivers and trail experiences.
Friday Dinner
(On your dime)
I have reservations at the Blu Pig. This is a great restaurant and one of our favorites.
Blu Pig
811 S Main St, Moab, UT
Saturday 3/16/24 (Day 3)
Saturday Morning….drivers meeting at 8:30 am in hotel hotel parking lot(Scenic View Inn). Departing for the days ride at 9:00 am sharp. Please bring a trail lunch.
Riders Choice Trail Ride….we can all decide where we want to ride. I vote for Chicken Corners….. but we can discuss Friday at dinner. It was decided to ride Chicken Corners and Harah Pass.
Note* I didn’t have time to get pertinent information for this trail ride printed out but we discussed in great length and maps were sown at the drivers meeting.
Lunch on the trail.
Be back to hotel by 3:30-4:00 pm.
Saturday evening at the hotel common area…. Cocktails with your host/guide.
Sunday 3/17/24 (Day 4)
After having a quick breakfast…load up and depart for home.
☆☆☆☆This itinerary is subject to change by the group attending.
Depending on weather (we will always go no matter the weather but we understand if some don’t. )☆☆☆☆
Some Notes:
#1) This is just what we are doing, you don’t have to do any of this …. you can do some or all…you can make your own ride….there are 100’s of trails.
#2) Utah requirements: A & B
(A.) You must complete the safety course and have proof, here is the Link:
https://recreation.utah.gov/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-education-course/
(B.) You must purchase a non-resident off highway vehicle permit on line …. below is the link.
https://recreation.utah.gov/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-registration-and-permits/utah-non-resident-ohv-permits/
They cost is $30 and is good for 1 year. I didn’t know you couldn’t buy them at the gas stations anymore? They changed this in 2023.
#3) Please come prepared… prepare (as most of us already do) for some adventurous riding.
Weather may or may not effect things. One of the best things about Moab is….if you forget something we are so close to Town that you can purchase what you forgot or need?
If you’ve never been: prepare yourself for some truly jaw-dropping, magical, scenic ridding. After you have completed our first trail you will understand why I always say ” SxS’s were made for these trails”.
The videos on YouTube don’t do it justice …. I promise you!
Contact me if you have any questions.
The above intinarary did not go exactly as planned but as a Host/Guide I was able to be fluid and change things on the fly. The weather didn’t side with us at all.
Rainy and cold conditions prevented us from leaving at designated time of 9:00 am. The departure time was postponed until 10:30 am. Yes this ride was wet and cold but despite the weather…..our ride continued and it was a blast.
I’ve never had to watch my weather radar as much as I did that Saturday morning.
Ok….so there you have it. This is how I host and guide my trail trips. Not everyone does it this way ….. but its how I do it. Keeping your guests involved and informed about every part of the adventure is key. Most want to be safe and they rely on you to do that. They also want that once in a lifetime experience…..just like I had the first time I took my SxS to Moab….I was blown away….now, I love sharing that experience with others.
If you have any questions…hit me, I’m happy to help.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone