In straight-from-factory 2015 Cherokee’s, Jeep sent us off-roading on Hell’s Revenge, one of North America’s most difficult off-roading trails.
As far as press trips go, this one was very laid back. Which was why it felt fine to commandeer the hotel golf cart, and drive it into the presentation.
Off into Utah, which is very red and alien-ish.
The trail is 10.5 km and okay woah, I totally get Jeep now, it just climbs up walls?! Throttle, little more now and whoooosh up I go.
I was literally hanging weightless from my seatbelt, my new favourite thing.
Got to drive with Lorraine Sommerfeld and there were lots of laughs, “it’s happening.”
A veteran auto journalist, like, my 2.7 column years to her 13, and 2 weekly columns at that. Plus she’s 2014’s ‘Canadian Journalist of the Year’. Read her stuff here, she’s snort-out-loud-clever.
(Above and below photos: Costa Mouzouris)
Jeep goes up, Jeep goes down.
The Cherokee’s Trailhawk trim is how it can do this (the base model won’t.)
Trailhawk means it’s been modified at the factory for this terrain – skid pads, tuned suspension, front tow hooks, and a more angled fascia for a 30º approach.
It’s also equipped with Selec-Terrain Mode (choose sand, snow, more) but the key is Active Drive Lock, available only on this trim. It locks the rear differential in 4WD so you can zoom straight up.
All my best photos are over at the paper, since I was there for them.
I camped! Okay the tent was already set up and had a cot, but still.
Sleeping in a tent is like a sensory deprivation chamber eh; had to be woken up.
Woke up like this #NoFilter
Wheels up!
Utah is pretty – all you do is wave your phone around, and amazing photos come out.
My story published yesterday morning, read it on Autonet here.
