ROCKCRAWLER.com - Euro Camp Jeep 2003

Click on any photo
for a larger version

Following the success of the US-borne Camp Jeeps, Europe now has its own, called Euro Camp Jeep. This year’s third edition was held in La Thuile, Italy. JeepClub International helped host the event and each participating country was allowed a limited number of Jeeps to attend the event. Because of the smaller number of Jeeps, the Euro Camp Jeep can be organized somewhat differently than the US Camp Jeep.

We arrived Thursday evening after a long drive from Belgium to Italy. With roughly 350 Jeeps we were divided into five groups and each group was further divided into three different teams - somewhat grouped together per country. We were part of the Orange Team 2.

After the registration, we checked in to the hotel, parked our car at our designated parking space and had a good evening dinner.

Day one for Orange Team started with Jeep Obstacles. The team was divided into two groups and we had to do an obstacle course against time, while pulling a Wrangler over and through the obstacles with ropes.

Next was the Jeep Academy, where we got a crash course in off-road driving, winching and navigating. From there we had the chance do drive the first Euro Rubicons. We did a track, guided by an instructor, specially made to demonstrate the abilities of the Rubicon.

Afterward, the next activity was the Jeep Khana - a race with a new Cherokee (Liberty in the US) over different obstacles.

After the Khana finished we were ready for lunch, during which, we talked mostly about the new Rubicon we had driven. We were all glad that Europe finally got it’s own Rubi and we were the first to drive them.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, we were in our Jeep ready for the next activity. We had the choose between Jeep Adventure, Jeep Rafting and Jeep Cultural. Because I had never done any rafting, I chose it for my activity.

We drove our Jeeps out to the village of Morgex, where our instructor gave a brief introduction to the art of rafting. The most imported lesson learned was always listen to your guide.

Armed with a thermal suit, safety vest, helmet and a paddle, we set off to do some rafting on the Dora River. The water was quite cold because it comes directly from a glacier, but the thermal suit did an amazing job of protecting us against the cold.

After the first exciting day and dinner there we closed the day with the evening ceremony and a little party with an Italian cover group. We went to bed early (around 1am) and slept well.

CONTINUED --->>>