I have submitted the enquiry form, what will you need to know?

An HTE instructor will call or email you within a day or two. In addition to answering any questions you have it will be helpful if you can provide such information as this:

• Would you be alone or in party, group or family
• Experience levels of driving and camping
• What kind of off road vehicle and equipment you have – or would you need to rent
• Travel options for you to arrive at the expedition starting point
• Any potential medical issues

Is it safe?

Our guides are certified as Wilderness Emergency Medical Technicians and have many years of experience. They are also licensed guides with the Federal Bureau of Land Management. All trips are selected for the safety of the participants, trail conditions and respect for the environment.

Where will we go?

All of the backcountry areas in Colorado and Utah are truly spectacular. We will choose trails and conditions that will provide the skills training and challenges you want to concentrate on. The area around Moab, Utah provides an amazing array of terrain, vistas and challenges and is one of our favorite areas.

How are meals handled?

If the training event involves wilderness camping, we ask everyone to bring their own food. Managing food is one of the most essential backcountry skills, so we’ll teach you how to properly cook and handle your food in a wilderness environment. When camping is not part of the expedition, we normally have breakfast and dinner in the location where we are staying with lunch on the trail.

Will there be time to stop and take photographs?

Absolutely. Although our main objective is to help you develop the backcountry and off-road driving skills you are interested in, we will also work with you to make sure you get the photographs you’ve always wanted. While we plan for photos at the most spectacular points of the drive, let us know if you are looking for something specific and we will do whatever we can to make it happen.

Where does the expedition begin and how do I get there?

Each expedition will have a starting-point at an easy-to-find central location. Often it will be a hotel where the group can gather, hold a planning and safety meeting, check vehicles and equipment, and then move out to the trailhead. Typically the expedition will return to this starting-point at the end of the adventure.

Will my vehicle get damaged?

There is always a risk of vehicle damage when driving off-road. To reduce this risk as much as possible, we provide safety training at the beginning of every trip. Our instructors will also coach you through every obstacle that we may come encounter on the trip. Since our main objective is to help you develop off-road driving skills, we will be focusing on driving with minimum impact on our vehicles and the environment.

What kind of vehicle do I need?

Here’s a list of what your vehicle will need:

• Four-wheel drive with a low range transfer case is essential. All-wheel drive (AWD) is designed for use on highways and will not safely overcome off-road obstacles.
• Recovery hooks mounted front and rear on the frame of the vehicle.
• Winch – useful, but not required.
• Off-road, or M&S tires with deep block treads – will minimize the risk of tire puncture and improve traction.

Our instructors will go over your vehicle with you before scheduling the trip to ensure that you are properly equipped.

What gear do I need to bring?

You’ll need to bring all of your own gear for the trip. Well before the trip, we’ll go through the gear list with you so you’ll know exactly what you need.

I’ve never done this before – is this trip for me?

We personalize our trips to match the desires and skill level of our clients. No need to have any prior experience, we will ensure that you have a great adventure and come away with a new set of skills and confidence to explore the backcontry.

Why do we go to Moab?

Not only do we want to build your leadership and teamwork skills, we want to make sure that you’ll continue to benefit from these lessons for as long as possible. This is why we teach our course in an environment that is completely different from the business environment. Unique environments dramatically increase retention and ensure that you will make the most of our course for years to come.

Is it safe?

We provide you with a training course during day one, which will give you the skills you will need to safely operate your Jeep. Our instructors accompany each group and provide coaching throughout the entire day on the trail. Our commitment to safety is something that makes us unique. We will always be carrying some of the latest technology to reach help if needed.

How are meals handled?

Moab has a variety of local restaurants. Breakfast and dinner will be in Moab each day as a group. As part of the training process, the group will be responsible to make provisions for lunch on the trail.

What gear do I need to bring?

Prior to the trip we’ll supply a detailed gear list for both required and “good to have” items.

Is there any classroom instruction?

The outdoors is our classroom! All skills are developed in the field to accelerate awareness and increase retention.

Government Training

What types of skills training are available?

HTE/PPSI can provide training in two specific areas. The first area covers off-road driving skills including vehicle recovery, spotting, terrain profiling, and the use of specialized recovery tools and equipment. The second area involves both high and low angle rope skills as well as climbing skills. Instruction includes raising and lowering systems, rappelling, medical evacuation, SKED operations (vertical and horizontal), and belay systems.

We can design scenario-based training depending on the mission objectives and skills that your unit is interested in, including night operations.