MONTICELLO – 160 jeeps, their owners and passengers lined up on Friday morning at Rivas Farm in Monticello on September 15 to kick off the 26th Catskill Mountains Jeep Jamboree. This event sees Jeep owners from all over the country and up to 20 or more states, experience driving through the trails and rugged terrain of difficulties ranging in difficulty from three to nine. 

The Jeep owners are put into different groups based on experience and what trail best suits them and their vehicle. The groups range from easy to moderate to expert. There were 10 different trails for this year’s Jeep Jamboree in Sullivan County. 

Vehicle evaluation, registration and trail sign-ups took place at Rivas Farm on Thursday night before the early send-off on Friday morning. Following a breakfast from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m., a mandatory general attendance meeting occurred at Rivas Farm. At this meeting, the Jeep owners lined up, talked to other owners and made sure everything was in working order for the trails. 

Mike Taylor, owner of Combined Energy Services (CES) and new owner of Holiday Mtn., spoke to the crowd of over 300 people in front of their jeeps about the expectations for the event. Taylor and Adam Rivas are the event coordinators.

“Our jamboree is 100 percent on private property,” Taylor said. “We respect the landowners immensely and thank them. If you guys see any litter, even though you didn’t put it there, please help us and pick it up [so we can] make sure that we keep these trails open.” 

The Catskill Mountains Jeep Jamboree raises money locally for the Trevor Loughlin Foundation and last year they were able to donate over $5,000. The money from t-shirt sales and a raffle on Saturday night go towards the donations to the foundation. 70 percent of the money raised from the Jeep Jamborees in all areas go back into the local communities, as well. 

Taylor also said, “These [trails] are not open to the public, so please don’t come back with your friends next weekend. We’ve had problems in the past. We’ve lost land, even though it had nothing to do with us.”

Taylor also mentioned a couple of other pointers and rules to follow while out on the trails. He said for the drivers and passengers to keep their arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, to look straight, put their tires on top of the rocks and to keep an eye on their trail guides. 

“The trail guides can’t be everywhere at once,” he said. “So if you’re stuck or winching, please help each other.”