Barlow Adventures

01/23/2025

No more “saggy boob” nets, thanks to ! ❤️🙌💪

01/23/2025

Great day at work!

01/22/2025

The video I posted from Wild West Off-Road Recovery on January 11 showed the rigging line letting go. I promised to post pics of the piece that let go. Here it is!

This was a 20-foot section of 1/2" wire rope that I spliced about 6 inches deep. I intended it's sole purpose to be for a load of no more than 4000-5000 pounds during the super abrasion risk duty of turning a wrecked car over onto its wheels. That was it. Then, it should be replaced by stronger (synthetic) rope to do the uphill pulling. I have used this bit many times for just such duty. Our uphill pull, even with the car moving well on its wheels, was fraught with rocks and trees and I KNEW there would be significantly more load once we started moving it up that steep slope with all of that resistance in the way.
I forgot, plain and simple. We were rigging side pulls and analyzing hazards uphill and I was excited at how well the rig was moving in the first 50 feet. That is no excuse--the downhill crew MUST be aware at ALL times of what the rigging is doing. I was lucky that it just let go, and didn't roll the car down, or worse, catch a human with some recoil.

If I wanted this to be used for the arduous uphill pulling, I would have needed to splice it much deeper, and if you have ever spliced 1/2" wire rope, you know a dainty little thing like me just didn't have the hand and arm strength to do that at the time. 😎

Bottom line: we all make mistakes. There is no "safe" recovery, only choosing the safer options. I missed one detail that could have created bad things, especially IF we had more energy in the line, and if the downhill crew didn't know to stay WELL out of the way of the rigging.

01/20/2025

PRAIRIE CITY: 100 Explorers Course | Feb 9, 2025. Led by Nick Cimmarusti

https://www.barlows.us/book-now/p/barlow-class-gx4k7-nbces-j9mfe-5zf3g

Description: This comprehensive hands-on course includes essential preparation, 4wd driving techniques, trail etiquette, and basic recovery procedures in various terrain and obstacle types. Learn how to read trails and analyze obstacles. Learn how to anticipate how your vehicle will react in different circumstances. Perfect for the outdoor recreation-oriented driver who wants to use their vehicle to explore and enjoy the backcountry responsibly.

Vehicle requirements: AWD, 4x4 and 4x4 EVs are welcome. Working spare tire and recovery points required.

Course Requirements: Register in advance. Participants must be 18 or older.

Course length: 6-7 hours

Use your vehicle: $450 per vehicle

Additional passenger: $95

Cancellation Policy: 30 days notice 50% refund, Less than 15 days non-refundable

Call to for more info: 928-282-8700 (option 2) or email [email protected]

01/11/2025

Wild West Off-Road Recovery just released the video of the recovery of Penelope the 4Runner. https://youtu.be/cwPJC_dFtWw?si=JRFXztUyceu-9pBE
This is 17 minutes that I keep watching again and again, even though I was there.
It gives you a taste of the methodical patience, grueling work, mistakes and successes of a complex recovery. It’s also one of the most emotional recoveries I have been involved with, as the it was from the incident near Prescott AZ where Kristin Little lost her life. The family came out to be with us when we brought this up.
I don’t spend a lot of time on YouTube, but this is worth a watch—heck even if you just want to see one of my bone-headed F-ups.

01/10/2025

Arizona 4wd and recovery courses next month, with Nena Barlow:

• February 1-2, 2025
4wd 101 and 201: https://www.barlows.us/book-now/p/barlow-class-gx4k7-nbces-j9mfe-7jtkn-8a8zf-g49xc-5ryt2-rh3fe-r4d88

• February 8-9, 2025
Getting unstuck 4wd Recovery 102 and 202: https://www.barlows.us/book-now/p/barlow-class-gx4k7-nbces-j9mfe-7jtkn-8a8zf-g49xc-5ryt2-rh3fe

Details and registration at Barlows.US .

All breeds welcome! I love teaching these. That contact high when someone experiences a big hill for the first time! Or the look of confidence when people see how many options they have to get “un”-high-centered. Or that “Aha!” moment when they understand what that one button actually does. Due to the amount of time we spend on undisclosed training and events, I don’t get to do a lot of these public classes every year, but I get so excited when I see that slot on the calendar—a whole new opportunity to make new friends and bond over the confidence to get outside more. And even more gratifying is when I see strangers become friends in my classes and start hanging out together and doing their own trail rides. ❤️🤗

If we haven’t already, I hope to meet you soon!

Love,
Nena

01/08/2025

When you have a 7000 pound truck hanging off the trail at a 30º angle and no good anchor point, you have to get creative. Using the Factor 55 Load Plate, several hundred feet of rope, and MANY soft shackles, we rigged up three small anchor points to make it strong enough to keep this Tundra from tumbling down the hill. All three lines to the load plate needed to have equal tension so that one anchor point didn’t bear the brunt—that’s the reason for the extra soft shackles in the rigging, and a X-lock to get the theee line lengths just right. If that hadn’t worked, we had several ‘s at the ready. With the truck secured uphill with one winch line through the pulley block secured by the three lines, Carl could then pull the truck back towards a wide spot with his second winch line. It was several hours with multiple resets. Patience with constant and methodical resets and constant reanalysis is key.
Multiple were also used, and the hundreds of feet of rope was made for us by Rope.

01/07/2025

What I wore on “the red carpet.” Ounce for ounce, these soft shackles are worth more than gold out here on a complex recovery. 🙌💪😎

01/06/2025

Yes, a manual.
Yes, you can rent it for training with Barlows.US.
Yes, we have a winter special, private driving lessons IN A MANUAL! $795 on or off pavement including manual Jeep rental! 3-4 hours, Sedona only.

Call 928-282-8700 (opt 2) or email [email protected]

01/05/2025

It’s big hat season in the desert. Let’s see yours!
Would you mess with and ?
Challenge is on—I’m looking at you

01/03/2025

Did you know that, in addition to public group classes, you can book private training with master trainers Nena, Nick, Paul, John, or Nadi? Locations throughout the Western U.S.

01/02/2025

One of my favorite bed & breakfasts. 😎

01/01/2025

Please spread the word to anyone living in or visiting AZ with an OHV!

If you own a dirt bike, ATV or even a snowmobile, you might not know about a new state law that will soon take effect for owners of off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

Owners registering or renewing OHVs on or after Jan. 1, 2025, will be required to take a short safety course before completing the registration process.

The free course, created by the Arizona Game & Fish Department, will include content related to the safe operations of these vehicles. The educational course consists of a 10-minute instructional video followed by 20 multiple-choice questions. This course will be required one time for at least one of an OHV’s owners between Jan. 1, 2025, and June 1, 2027.

ADOT's MVD and Game and Fish are partnering to offer this safety course in a few convenient ways. Arizona residents will be able to complete the course through AZMVDNOW.gov, the online portal for motor vehicle services in Arizona, as well as MVD office locations across the state. Non-residents will be able to take the course online at AZGFD.gov.

MVD’s online portal is a natural fit to host the training for Arizona residents, as you will be able to take the course as well as complete the registration renewal process conveniently and securely in one online location. Over 2,250 people have already taken the online course and are ready to enjoy the beautiful Arizona outdoors in the new year.

Once the course is completed, and the 2025 decal is placed on the vehicle, it will indicate to law enforcement that you have successfully completed the course and the vehicle is legally registered.

For those businesses that have OHVs registered to it, a representative from the business will need to take the course on the business' AZ MVD Now account.

So, before you load up for the trails, sand dunes or snowy hills, make sure your OHV is properly registered by taking the free course.

For additional information about this new course, please visit azdot.gov/mvd/OHV.

01/01/2025

Here it is—the top 9 of 2024! Naturally, red Jeeps, red rocks, 4-wheeling, sand dunes, recoveries and Rebelle stuff. Thank you all for being a part of it!
Happy New Year!

12/29/2024

I’ll add that some people mistakenly think that it’s not illegal to drive under the influence on unmaintained roads and OHV areas. That is false. Laws apply on ALL public roads and land.

12/28/2024

Mechanics Level 1 class, January 18, 2025 at Georgetown CA. Led by the incomparable Nick Cimmarusti . high-level mechanical overview, pre-trip inspections, common issues in the 4WD world, how to identify parts and what they do, and how to identify problems before they become major.
https://www.barlows.us/book-now/p/barlow-class-gx4k7-nbces-8r2rc-s74z4

12/26/2024

This was how we wrapped up our dunes weekend—laying in the warm sand, listening to the stillness of the dunes, soaking up the sun and calm clear blue sky. Of course, interrupted only by giggling. Good times!
and I didn’t actually plan to match outfits. 🤣