Over gravel roads, the first leg of what became an eight-hour off-road escapade, the Liberty is thoroughly at home. It soaks up

Rather than allowing us to ease into our Jamboree experience, our team of experts needed to coax a few more reverentially awed participants from trembling in their boots to tackling the mountain. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

potholes and un-gradable rocks without the punishment solid axle vehicles dole out, making Kaden wonder aloud what all the talk about off-road adventure was all about.

"Don't you worry son, you'll see some more action soon enough." I consoled him.

Soon enough was right. The lead guide informs all via our in-vehicle CB radios that the dirt road is coming to an end, a message that gets passed down the convoyfrom front to mid-pack guides, and on through to the chaser who remains in back to assist hangers on. Rather than allowing us to ease into our

Having had a fair bit of off-road experience in my past, I heeded the promptings of my guides and allowed let my Liberty find its own way down what had now become a more deeply rutted, mud strewn, rock upturned goat trail. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Jamboree experience, our team of experts needed to coax a few more reverentially awed participants from trembling in their boots to tackling the mountain. I stood "downstream" from the first batch of TJs and Grand Cherokees, slip sliding their way down the hillside, rocks tumbling, tires skidding, with only a few remembering to let go of the brake pedal and allow low gear to engage, which would effectively walk them down the hill at a comfortable crawl. Having had a fair bit of off-road experience in my past, thanks to a Dad who adored the wide-open outdoors as only a city boy from downtown Vienna could, and my job as an automotive journalist, I heeded the promptings of my guides and allowed let my Liberty find its own way down what had now become a more deeply rutted, mud strewn, rock upturned goat trail.