Behind the Scenes at Oregon’s DuneFest Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler One of the ways cities attract tourism is by organizing special events. New Orleans is synonymous with Mardi Gras. The motorcycle rally in Sturgis South Dakota is another good example. Often an event is centered on a particular characteristic that is unique to the…
A Man with a Motto: Don’t Talk. Walk. Words: Betsy Fessler Photos: Provided by Mickey Schechter Barry Friedman of Barry’s UTV Adventures is a living encyclopedia on the deserts of the southwestern United States, organizes rides in that area, and happens to be an acquaintance of mine. Anyway, Barry contacted me recently, eager to share…
Colorado River Indian Tribe Reservation Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler Parker, Arizona is known as home to the grueling Parker 425 off-road race. Less well-known is that Parker is also home to the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) and much of the town of Parker is within the reservation’s boundaries. Consisting of four different tribes,…
In Search of the Quartz Crystals Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler Located off of Highway 95 between Quartzsite and Yuma Arizona, the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was dedicated in 1939 as an effort to preserve desert bighorn sheep. Its name is taken from the acronym of the historic King of Arizona mine located within the…
Costumes, Fun and Games at Frank Raines OHV Park Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler Halloween is the official kick-off for our riding season. Forget jack-o-lanterns—the end of October has evolved into a large celebration in the off-road community. Every year, ever-increasing crowds gather at places like Dumont Dunes, Glamis, and San Mountain to celebrate. People…
A Woman With Her Wheels Pointed Firmly at Adventure Story and Photos: Betsy Fessler I grew up in an off-road family. My Dad raced off-road in the 1980’s with an organization called VORRA. He ran a two-seat unlimited buggy on a shoestring budget. VORRA’s rules stated that navigators had to be 15 years old to…
Following The Pack Around A ‘Destination’ Depot Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler Recently, I attended the Modesto Ridge Runners 46th Annual Hawthorne Rally held in Nevada. Forty-six years is a long time to be holding rallies, but the Ridge Runners are experts at it. More surprising, their club has been around for even longer… The…
The Ghost Town With Genuine Hospitality Story and Photos by Betsy Fessler Gold Point is a living ghost town literally located in the middle of nowhere. All kidding aside, Gold Point lies roughly between Goldfield and Beatty, Nevada. State Route 774 comes to a dead end right into it. Gold Point’s history dates back as…
How one trip to a familiar destination changed my views of Dove Springs Story & Photos Provided By: Betsy Fessler We received an impromptu invitation from friends to meet and ride at Dove Springs. Truthfully, I felt lukewarm about going. We have visited that area many times before and are familiar with the trails, so…
Cold Springs, NV Opens Up An Experience Like No Other Words and Photos: Betsy Fessler Many are probably aware of where Sand Mountain is in Nevada. But I bet that most are not aware of the vast miles of terrain to explore outside of Sand Mountain… Early in my off-road days, I spent a lot…