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Show 1 ' V - ' ' . " . - t5 wj. - " ' " "' , - . . - Tf ... . : CifTUl 0TAH i---- '' " f 'j - N -! i . 'i ..... . - ; r. I " . ," : ' - r t i v P A. n f : w r ,r- i Four-wheel drive vehicles line up on Moab's Main Street before em- vehicles, and an estimated 600 visitors enjoyed the sight-seeing barking on the first Chamber of Commerce Jeep Safari. Over 150 tour of the spectacular Behind the Rocks area. Moab's First Jeep Safari Rated Huge Success A new tradition was established es-tablished in Moab last week end when some 500 persons from the Four Corners states stat-es congregated for the first Chamber of Commerce sponsored spon-sored Jeep Safari to officially offic-ially open the tourist season. sea-son. Some 400 participants accepted ac-cepted a Chuck Wagon Breakfast invitation from the City Council and County Coun-ty Commission to begin the Safari day, then lined up two deep for several blocks along Main street awaiting the "go" signal. The 150 vehicle Safari toured the seldom seen "Behind "Be-hind the Rocks" country located lo-cated directly south of Moab valley, leisurely photographing photogra-phing such sights as Totem Pole, Broken Arch, unnamed unnam-ed arches, and stopped to hike to the 150-foot span of rock known as Prichett .Arch. The convoy stretohed out along the jeep road, but at one point, 79 vehicles paused paus-ed in a grassy nook for a sack-lunch hour. The weather man cooperated, cooper-ated, scattering just enough billowy clouds in the sky to dramatize color pictures. The route chosen by pre-scouting pre-scouting expeditions was rough enough to please veteran vet-eran jeep herders, yet safe enough for family groups. More challenging bypasses pleased the more adventuresome adven-turesome minded Safari guests. The over 500 persons on the tour represented jeep clubs and possees from all over Utah, New Mexico, Arizona Ar-izona and Colorado, as well as others who welcomed the opportunity for a guided tour into the Canyon country. coun-try. One member of the "Rump Busters Jeep Club" of Ontario, Calif, attended as a scout for his organization) organiza-tion) ,and took home an enthusiastic en-thusiastic report of the Moab area to his fellow members. No mishaps occurred on the trek; only three vehicles1 vehic-les1 were forced to retreat because of motor troubles. Many of the visitors remained re-mained overnight in Moab to attend the Easter Sunrise Sun-rise Services at Arches National Na-tional Monument; some remained re-mained throughout the entire en-tire weekend. Motels were filled with the visitors, and the camping facilities at the Lions Club River Park were pushed to capacity. Moab Chamber of Commerce Com-merce secretary, Betty Jacobs, Jac-obs, said Monday there was no doubt the Safari could be labeled a complete success, suc-cess, and plans would be laid for a repeat tourist season opener each spring. It is anticipated the number num-ber of visitors will double in another year, and it is possible the Safari will eventually ev-entually be divided into groups with a choice of routes. Safari Chairman, Izzy Nelson expressed appreciation apprecia-tion to the many local workers wor-kers who made the tour such a success. There were simply no adverse comments, com-ments, he noted, and response re-sponse to the scenic tour was typical of the Safari guest who looked at the bordering Standing Rock Country and exclaimed, "I didn't know there was .this much rock in the world." |