by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
While the alarm clock may not have read 6 a.m., and “I Got You Babe” probably wasn't playing on the radio, those with plans to attend this year’s Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, no doubt felt like Bill Murray living in the Groundhog Day movie over the past few days. One moment the event was off, then on. Then maybe.
Until the last act of this version finally emerged and the whole thing comes to a sad conclusion.
Red Rock 4 Wheelers, organizers of EJS, Wednesday officially announced the event's cancellation—marking the second-straight year EJS has been wiped out because of the continuing pandemic. Prior to last year, EJS had been a 53-year staple during Moab’s early spring.
”The Red Rock 4 Wheelers have announced the cancellation of the traditional Easter Jeep Safari for 2021. This includes all of the trail rides and other related activities associated with the Safari,” the organization said in a statement. “This action has been taken as a result of the State of Utah’s Health order in relation to Covid-19, which at the present time does not allow any group assembly in excess of 250 people. Under the Grand County special event permit requirements; the state limits have to be followed.”
The decision was reached following extensive discussion between RR4W and Grand County commissioners about those permit requirements, which led to nearly a day’s worth of back-and-forth messaging Tuesday — where at different times it appeared the event would move forward, be canceled, or put on hold.
Commissioners voted on Nov. 17 to put limitations on special event permits in the county, with participation caps that are tied to the state COVID-19 Transmission Index. Grand County staff had publicly expressed concern that large special events were getting beyond the scope of their ability to enforce health mandates.
Grand County, along with 26 of Utah’s 29 counties, is currently in the “High Transmission” risk level for COVID-19, according to the state’s Transmission Index, which is determined using three metrics tracking the positivity rates of COVID-19 tests, case rates, and statewide hospital ICU capacities.
Under the new limitation guidelines, when the county is in the High risk level, indoor events must be canceled and outdoor events are capped at 250 participants.
”In a meeting with the Grand County administrator and Grand County Attorney to review the ordinance, it was determined that there was no wiggle room to the limits,” RR4W said in its statement. “Because of the uncertainty of the risk level at Safari time it was determined that the prudent course of action was to cancel the event.”
EJS is annually the top fundraiser for RR4W, which uses proceeds to maintain trails throughout the surrounding Moab area. Additionally, Quadratec annually sponsors a Tuesday night BBQ for RR4W members and registered event participants on the Grand County High School football field, while also hosting trail rides during EJS week.
While the “traditional” EJS event was canceled this year, the town itself still remain open, as does the extensive trail system around Moab. So those who made plans to attend EJS, or who wish to visit at other times during the year, can still go and enjoy some adventure in the southeastern Utah high desert.
EJS is a series of day-long trail rides across scores of trail systems in the Moab area that begins the week before Easter. The safari normally lasts nine days, and participants provide their own four-wheel vehicles, food, and fuel.
It began in 1967 when the Moab Chamber of Commerce decided the Jeep community would be welcomed to rally on the Behind the Rocks Trail. The following year, Moab Rim trail was added and participants were mostly Chamber members. However, over the years EJS has grown into one of the country’s largest off-road events.
RR4W took over the event in 1983.
