JMojaveX
Member
- First Name
- J
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2025
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Phoenix Arizona
- Vehicle(s)
- 2005 Mojave X
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- #1
Jeep Adventure Academy Review - San Diego - March 2026
I signed my wife up for the “Jeep Adventure Academy – San Diego” thought I would share my thoughts for others.
The terrain: The perfect selection for the beginner Venue! Training exercise took place across from Ocotillo Wells on private land. Why do I go out on a limb and say “Perfect Venue”? From my perspective, the terrain there accomplished the goal of getting the driver out of a comfort zone and engaging them to push the vehicle in a way in which it cannot perform in 2wd.
Firstly: the beginner does not have to be concerned with beating the vehicle on rocks or ripping off fenders or scratching the paint on trees and shrubs around every turn. The trails were tight and the little canyons in the mud mounds were super cool. And, of course, if you didn’t drive carefully, you could lose a fender or worse. But good beginner stuff.
Secondly, the main obstacles were hill climbs, a good steep hill will always get your blood flowing. Nice hill climb challenges, and wife had to do a hill climb with a sharp turn at the top which puts the jeep into a pretty good tripod with a wheel substantially in the air. The driver needs to really watch the spotters on the tops of the hill climbs. So I feel the terrain choice puts the drive out of the comfort zone on driving abilities and not the discomfort of “I’m going to destroy my vehicle” only thing destroyed is ego if you bring one! Don’t get me wrong, you could destroy your vehicle. But you can do that crossing an intersection in traffic as well… so, all things equal! My wife let off the throttle on the big steep hill and had to back down! She did good. A+ on the terrain choice for beginner training.
What Driver(wife) learned: Let me first say that the wife listens(or acts like listening) to me blather about this and that when we offroad in our Gladiator. I know she had no idea what I was talking about. One of the main reasons for signing up for the training. Now she knows. At the beginning of the orientation Pearse lays it out plainly… you’re going to learn by doing and you’re going to get a little bit uncomfortable sometimes, but were here to teach you! Wife now knows how to get into 4low(after going from 4H to 4L several times putting it in neutral starts becoming second nature). She knows now what offroad plus and the lockers do. We exercised decent control on down hills… she really likes that feature. Jeep and driver are well exercised on all offroad functionality at a beginner level. It was a lot of fun watching the wife take on the challenges. A+ on the training that allowed for exercise of jeeps offroad features and teaching driving skills on offroad terrain!
The staff and organization: The venue had great energy. The leader Pearse Umlauf is a super friendly and engaging person; totally approachable and helpful, high energy and very positive. The staff are a reflection of the leadership. All the staff were very experienced off roaders and really have a passion for passing on their knowledge. Very patient and encouraging out on the trails.
The venue was well organized and the trail selection and obstacles were well thought out and fitting for beginners. Offering challenge but not so scary as to make the average person turn away in fear for safety or server vehicle damage.
You are fed snacks and coffee after check followed by an orientation of what will take place, basic jeep offroad features, and safety expectations of the driver. Then, lunch with some offroad safety and accessory advise and information followed by more off roading.
You receive a vehicle badge on completion. I give the venue organization an A+ The Staff A+++
Great time, lots of fun… I highly recommend.
Regards,
Jeff
I signed my wife up for the “Jeep Adventure Academy – San Diego” thought I would share my thoughts for others.
The terrain: The perfect selection for the beginner Venue! Training exercise took place across from Ocotillo Wells on private land. Why do I go out on a limb and say “Perfect Venue”? From my perspective, the terrain there accomplished the goal of getting the driver out of a comfort zone and engaging them to push the vehicle in a way in which it cannot perform in 2wd.
Firstly: the beginner does not have to be concerned with beating the vehicle on rocks or ripping off fenders or scratching the paint on trees and shrubs around every turn. The trails were tight and the little canyons in the mud mounds were super cool. And, of course, if you didn’t drive carefully, you could lose a fender or worse. But good beginner stuff.
Secondly, the main obstacles were hill climbs, a good steep hill will always get your blood flowing. Nice hill climb challenges, and wife had to do a hill climb with a sharp turn at the top which puts the jeep into a pretty good tripod with a wheel substantially in the air. The driver needs to really watch the spotters on the tops of the hill climbs. So I feel the terrain choice puts the drive out of the comfort zone on driving abilities and not the discomfort of “I’m going to destroy my vehicle” only thing destroyed is ego if you bring one! Don’t get me wrong, you could destroy your vehicle. But you can do that crossing an intersection in traffic as well… so, all things equal! My wife let off the throttle on the big steep hill and had to back down! She did good. A+ on the terrain choice for beginner training.
What Driver(wife) learned: Let me first say that the wife listens(or acts like listening) to me blather about this and that when we offroad in our Gladiator. I know she had no idea what I was talking about. One of the main reasons for signing up for the training. Now she knows. At the beginning of the orientation Pearse lays it out plainly… you’re going to learn by doing and you’re going to get a little bit uncomfortable sometimes, but were here to teach you! Wife now knows how to get into 4low(after going from 4H to 4L several times putting it in neutral starts becoming second nature). She knows now what offroad plus and the lockers do. We exercised decent control on down hills… she really likes that feature. Jeep and driver are well exercised on all offroad functionality at a beginner level. It was a lot of fun watching the wife take on the challenges. A+ on the training that allowed for exercise of jeeps offroad features and teaching driving skills on offroad terrain!
The staff and organization: The venue had great energy. The leader Pearse Umlauf is a super friendly and engaging person; totally approachable and helpful, high energy and very positive. The staff are a reflection of the leadership. All the staff were very experienced off roaders and really have a passion for passing on their knowledge. Very patient and encouraging out on the trails.
The venue was well organized and the trail selection and obstacles were well thought out and fitting for beginners. Offering challenge but not so scary as to make the average person turn away in fear for safety or server vehicle damage.
You are fed snacks and coffee after check followed by an orientation of what will take place, basic jeep offroad features, and safety expectations of the driver. Then, lunch with some offroad safety and accessory advise and information followed by more off roading.
You receive a vehicle badge on completion. I give the venue organization an A+ The Staff A+++
Great time, lots of fun… I highly recommend.
Regards,
Jeff
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