By Christian Sturtz, [email protected]
Photos by Zoey Sturtz
I often show family and friends photos of my wheeling trips, and they always say, “I would love to do that!” followed by a litany of excuses; stop me if you’ve heard these before…
- I don’t have a rig
- My rig is broken
- My vehicle can’t be driven on the road that far
- I don’t have any way to tow my rig
- Etcetera, ad nauseam
The list of excuses could go on forever.
This year, I had some family interested in going with me, my wife, my daughter, and Tate, our dog, on our annual trip to Colorado. We typically set up a base camp in the Ouray/Silverton area to wheel the San Juan mountains, and I would not take any excuses for why they couldn’t go. Wheeling and exploring the San Juans is a “must-do” in your lifetime. With none of us getting any younger, there was no time like the present. (Figure 1)
I contacted Switzerland of America 4×4 Tours, and Jeep Rentals in Ouray, Colorado, and Julie set us up with a new 4-door Jeep JL in High-Velocity Yellow. With my wife, daughter, and dog in our LJ and the JL rental, this was just the ticket to stop the excuses and get all of my family out on the trails.
Switzerland of America is a family-owned and operated business. Owners Michael and Suzanne Fiorito are involved in the day-to-day operations, including renting Jeeps and guided tours. This is a complete family operation; their 13-year-old son, Everett, is in charge of the back shop. His duties include keeping the vehicles clean and operational, tire changes, and even vehicle service. Switzerland of America is a top-notch operation; with its knowledgeable and helpful staff and recently remodeled facility, you will surely have a pleasant experience with lifelong memories. (Figure 2)
In this endeavor, I aimed to capture the experience of first-time Jeep renters and off-roaders. I sat back as Julie walked around and explained the JL’s functions and operations to my uncle Todd, including the GPS with pre-set trail guides. Uncle Todd would drive the JL all week with my aunt Melody and mother-in-law, Debbie, as passengers. (Figure 3)
We would start slow. Todd was a bit apprehensive about some of the shelf roads, but over the week, he became more confident and surer of his abilities. (Figure 4) Everyone had a great time, and we made lifelong memories – from the cool mountain air to the breathtaking scenery. We also squeezed in a couple of stops in Telluride and Silverton. The experience with Switzerland of America was outstanding. Stop making excuses, and get out there! There are so many experiences in America with top-notch scenery. No wheels is no excuse. (Figure 5)
Sources:
Switzerland of America, Inc.
226 7th Ave.
Ouray, Colorado 81427
970.325.4484
www.soajeep.com
