Thanks to this forum, during my wife and I's 2nd trip to AZ, we "accidentally" detoured to Moab in 2011. As you can expect, we are heading back to the area in 2013, I am trying to finish my XJ with that goal in mind. If its not ready, we are driving out anyway in the wife's 2003 Explorer, and renting once in Moab.

I am letting her pick the route, I had no idea she would be so interested in the "adventure/whats at the end of this road" wheeling you guys are so lucky to have so much of in the region. One of the rental jeeps from Sedona had decals from Black Bear and Engineer, and as we were looking through our pics, thinking about the 2013 trip, she saw the decals in the pics we took of the rental JK, and looked it up on the net.

She wants to take a detour to the Telluride area, if possible. When are best times of the year to visit? Are there trails/roads that could be attempted with a stock SUV and a decent driver? I was amazed where a rental Grand Cherokee could go in Moab before needing a JK compared to the slick conditions we have in the southest.

Besides the obvious wet,muddy granite and clay we have in the southeast, I have wheeled in Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff and Moab now, and I know the weather and temp changes can be vicious.

Thanks for any advice and tips.