Wrong on a couple of levels

[grahamfitter]

This morning I saw an equally pink 4x4 Ford E series van with "Lipstick Bail Bonds" painted all over it.

I've been told by our 16 year old learner driver that she's going to paint my Jeep bright pink when (when) it becomes her Jeep.

Maybe they know something we don't?

Cheers,
Graham

 

[jcbrandon]

I like Pink Jeep Tours

I'll swim against the tide here.

I like Pink Jeep Tours.

I believe they have that name because in the early days of the company all the drivers were female. So the Jeeps were painted pink to emphasize that. A simple marketing decision that contributed to their success. I wish I had thought of that. They have achieved huge name recognition in their industry.

Full disclosure: I have worked as a backcountry tour guide and operations manager for a business very similar to Pink Jeep Tours. I really enjoyed it. I got to spend 200 days a year out on the trails in beautiful country. And I got to share that experience with a few thousand people. The vast majority of those folks were pleasant companions, and exquisitely curious about the outdoors that I got to call my office.

These were city folks. For most of them, two hours as a passenger in my Jeep or Hummer, or a half day riding an ATV or snowmobile at my direction is probably the most adventurous thing they had ever done in their lives. And every single one of them thanked me. Many of them said those few hours outdoors were the highlight of their vacation.

While I was guiding my guests in the backcountry, I told them stories of the history of the land and the people who had lived, and died, there. Of the struggles of natives, explorers, and emigrants.

And I talked about public land-use policy in the US. I explained that they own the land that I worked on every day. I also mentioned the conflicts and differences of opinion about land use among various user groups: ranchers, miners, loggers, hikers, birders, skiers, and motorized recreationists. I explained how these conflicts can lead to restrictions that might make the trip they were enjoying impossible. And I asked them to remember this when they got back to the city.

I asked them if they owned a four-wheel-drive vehicle and explained that they might want to try exploring some of the public lands near their homes. And if they liked it, then they might want to consider getting informed and involved in public land use issues.

While I was talking with them I also took every opportunity to wave and say hello to the hikers, bicyclists, and skiers we saw on the trails. I asked them if they had enough water. I tried to demonstrate to my guests that conflict in the backcountry is not necessary. That people who love the outdoors are really all on the same team. That we all want the same things. That there is plenty of backcountry to accomodate all of our varied interests and that we really all ought to work together to protect it.

I'm pretty sure the people at most reputable backcountry tour outfits do pretty much the same things.

So that's why I like Pink Jeep Tours. Because they help support my access to public lands.

Now tell me why you don't like them.

 

[madizell]

Not so many years back you could drive up Schnebly Hill in Sedona, a very rustic and scenic drive up a winding rock canyon trail, and not see another soul, bottom to top. Last time I was there, a few months back, I spent most of my time crowded to the verge by uphill and downhill traffic, never out of sight of at least one, and sometimes four to eight tour Jeeps, mostly pink but not all, all driving as if they were on a tight schedule. At no time did the dust settle going up or coming down, and out of all the traffic we saw, only two or three other vehicles were privately owned. In the space of an hour, we saw 50 or 60 tour Jeeps on a stretch of primitive road hardly more than 8 miles long. Personally I find that this detracts from the experience and the scenery.

I can't speak for all city folk, but this guy from Detroit didn't find the Jeep Tour thing all that informative, even back years ago when there were only one or two vehicles on a trail at one time. The parade I saw this summer is little more than commerce in action, most of the drivers were male wearing cowboy hats, and IMHO the segment of the industry that I have seen has nothing to do with adventure.

 

[Hilldweller]

Now tell me why you don't like them.

...Pink Jeeps... :hehe:


You know that we don't dislike the company --- just the assault upon our retinas, cones, & rods. And that comfortable feeling of rightness in the universe where Jeeps are an obscure shade of green...