One RAM on the Rocks: My Power Wagon Adventure

Seguro Files 003

The very first named trail that Seguro and I conquered was Broken Arrow Trail, a scenic and challenging off-road route known for its stunning red rock formations. I had been here previously in my Rebel. After experiencing the breathtaking views that this trail provided, I wanted to bring my mother and father out. This is such a unique experience, and one that few people get to enjoy!

I never thought I could afford a heavy-duty truck like the Power Wagon. This was a celebration run. All the hard work—the time spent deployed in Iraq, training for certifications, and constantly studying in my ever-changing career field—had culminated in this purchase!

Broken Arrow Trail, Sedona Arizona

My parents have never had an easy road. I tell my friends that our parents are the last generation to work the fields in relation to our lives. Our generation and our children's generation will never have to work the fields. My parents, uncles, and grandparents can tell you stories of picking watermelons, cantaloupe, and whatever crops were in season. This is a low-income lifestyle.

My sister was a healthy baby until the age of four. A visit to the dentist changed her life. Previously, mercury was used in dental fillings. Since the early 90s, dentists have moved away from using mercury in fillings due to adverse effects. My sister began to have over 100 seizures a day, and 37 years later, there has not really been a solution. I was two years old during this period and cannot tell you what was attempted legally or not. I do know that my parents were low income, my father dropped out of grade school, and my mother had my oldest sister at 16. I say this respectfully, but my parents were not the most educated. My parents are my parents, and I would not be who I am today without their teachings and lessons taught throughout my life.

However, I know from my experience that there is a whole lot of information in this world, and we will always find ourselves outside of our element on subjects. Without the proper education, we cannot make well-thought-out decisions. That is just life and this beautiful journey that we are all on, together.

I say all this because I took my parents out so they could see what I am experiencing. So they could enjoy the beauty of Sedona, sit back, and relax as I share a piece of my life with them.

My Mother, Father and Niece

I find this timeframe funny. I kept hearing that the Rebel was too big to attempt Broken Arrow. We conquered Broken Arrow in the factory Rebel, and here I was with a much larger platform! I'm talking less than one thousand miles on the odometer. I will admit that it is a narrow trail in a few spots!

This trail is well-maintained by Pink Jeep. Pink Jeep has an agreement with Sedona to be the only off-road outfitter service to operate on Broken Arrow. This means you are less likely to get Arizona pinstriping—scratches on your vehicle from desert overgrowth. While branches will occasionally graze your vehicle, it's not as frequent as on other named trails.

Chicken Point on Broken Arrow Trail

After completing Broken Arrow Trail, we went into Sedona and grabbed some lunch. Afterward, I decided we would tackle another popular trail called Schnebly Hill Road. This road connects Sedona to I-17 and makes for a fun adventure if you drive down from I-17 into Sedona for a day's ride. Schnebly Hill Road is not difficult but is extremely bumpy! I mean ridiculously bumpy! It is long and slow-going. At that time of year, the road was closed halfway up due to snowfall and driving conditions.

By the time we reached the closed-off section, we were all exhausted! A day on the trail is more tiring than you might think! Tackling two trails in one day is a bit much! We drove back down Schnebly Hill Road and began our trek home. It was a great day; my parents had a blast. My sister, who you cannot see in the pictures, was riding in the passenger seat and enjoyed the trail as well. These trails feature many bumps and climbs. We did discover that the seat belts cause chafing on her shoulder. She has not returned to a trail since. Maybe that is an upgrade for future Seguro?

Shnebly Hill Road, Sedona Arizona