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JPFreek - Index

JPFreek - Spring 2008 - Index

Capturing the Splendor of
America’s Hidden
Text and photos by Ben Benedetti
The majesty and mystical qualities of the pristine
outdoors has always fascinated me. Off-highway
adventure in my Jeep is the perfect escape, allowing me
to find these places in general comfort and get away from
it all. I have always felt driven to explore-to escape my
day-to-day life and have an adventure. Many of the trails
and challenges I come across during these journeys can
be difficult. Getting past each obstacle makes reaching
the final destination that much more rewarding.
Working in the television business for the past 15
years, I always wanted to find a way to capture this
spirit of adventure for the small screen. With the recent
advent of cost-effective High-Definition technology
we are able to capture (at least the visual beauty)
with much better clarity than ever before possible.
One day after a particularly stunning trip to the High
Sierra, my life-long friend Jim Weary and I decided it was
past time to stop dreaming about this and just go out
there and do it! I had access to the necessary equipment
and knew the right people who shared the same passions
starting with my associate Anthony Davis. Anthony knows
most of the very best production crews working today.
He approached Andrew Robinson (one of the premier
off-road and automobile directors in the industry) to
direct the production. The rest is proverbial history
and so “America’s Hidden Treasures” was born.
The basic concept for the show is this: Few people
realize that some of the world’s most beautiful and
untouched wilderness lies virtually outside their front
door. Each week, in the unmatched brilliance of High
Definition, we will bring a viewer with us to some of
the most isolated areas in America. The participant
is the typical novice explorer. They are tourists who
have been camping and visited a few National Parks,
but are generally unaware of the beauty that can be
seen across America if one is just willing to step off
the path less traveled. These are all places that can’t
be reached through “normal” means of travel; but
with the proper planning, preparation, and a healthy
respect for the challenges of the journey, they can be
safely visited, creating memories to last a lifetime!
We will also showcase the equipment necessary for
a safe trip, incorporating the advice of our expert, Tom
Severin. Tom is the president and owner of Badlands
Off-Road Adventures (www.4x4training.com). He is
a certified professional 4-Wheel Drive Trainer by the