It started like a normal meeting—invites to press events, progress reports, updated stories, abuse hurled at lightning speeds—but then it all ground to a halt when somebody suggested we do another torture test. The room hushed. We hadn't done one in several years, and a few people at the table had never before been to Death Valley. Still, where else would you take rough and tumble SUVs if you want to know whether they could survive some of the toughest terrain on the planet? The name says it all: Death Valley -- in the summertime.
After some discussion, we assembled a cast of test drivers and even had an easy time creating a short list of competitors (you've probably already been watching the videos, wallpapers and photo gallery of the test vehicles for a few days): Hummer, Jeep, Toyota, Nissan, and Land Rover. All have strong global 4x4 credentials, and they'd need them -- a week of testing on various types of off-pavement terrain.
Much of our route would be roughly following the same paths the early settlers and explorers took when coming out West hundreds of years ago. Many of them died on the trek out. With any luck, we'd all make it out alive with just a few blown tires. But we were headed to some of the most remote areas of the famous National Park, with one particular route of special interest. In fact, it's a route very few people who enter the park have been daring enough to attempt.
On my pre-run weeks earlier (stupidly alone), where I forgot to let anyone know exactly where I was headed, I did have a moment --right after my front right tire's sidewall opened up like a split pig -- where I started to think about being careful not to overexert myself or do anything stupid (all right, more stupid). Out here, even a small cut or broken toe can turn bad quickly. I was smart enough to have brought a gallon of water, which I sipped from every 10 minutes, thirsty or not. I hadn't seen anyone for hours, and even after I changed the tire (carefully, of course), I still saw no one for several more hours until I got back on pavement. You can bet I was careful setting the e-brake and chalking the wheels and watching to make sure nothing was about to slip off the jack and accidently lacerate my arm or crush an ankle. Cell-phones and Blackberrys weren't working, either.
Clearly, there were a few good lessons to be learned on that pre-run. Remote areas speak to you with their own language, and if you don't listen and learn the native tongue, you'll be roasted alive in no time. Thank God, I made it out without any more drama, and you can bet I babied that pickup back to civilization.
With the Death Valley SUV trip all scouted and prerun behind me, the only thing left was to bring the crew of test drivers out for a four-day torture test with five muscular 4x4 to conquer dizzying hillclimbs, razor-sharp rock gardens, mountainous sand dunes, blinding heat, dangerously beautiful remote switchbacks, and anything else Mother Nature could possibly throw in our face. Look for the full account of our walk through the Valley of Death very soon. The players are a Hummer H3 Alpha, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Nissan Xterra, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and a Land Rover LR2. More to come.