I've flown over this part of the state several times and have been curious about all of those trails that seem to be in the middle of nowhere everytime. So I finally booked a tour with Desert Wolf.
Booking experience: went to their website directly. Easy peasy. Very helpful information, including what to bring, length of tour, size of TomCars, etc.
Meeting place: fun. Easy to find. Conveniently located off the I-17 frontage road. The saloon had a live band when we arrived. Large space. Meeting place is actually the side patio on the east side of the saloon under the large tree (I didn't consider it the 'back' patio; the TomCars are parked in back).
Briefing: clear and helpful. Good to know: TomCars are available first come, first serve. Choosing a TomCar closer to the guide's car *may* help reduce dust on the tour....but know you will be dusty no matter what (it's the desert; TomCars are open).
Guide: Rob totally rocks. Knowledgeable, friendly, considerate. Must have taken a long time to know those trails so well. He's also their mechanic, so extra bonus on the tour should something happen to the vehicle. One TomCar carried a cooler packed with ice and bottled water--very much appreciated.
Route: about 2 hours active driving on the trails separated by three stops: all about the plant life, all about the animal life next to an ancient but still functioning well and windmill, and all about making it up that 45-degree rock climb to spectacular views. Each segment was about 20 minutes except for the last one back to the saloon, which was about twice as long. Each segment gets progressively more interesting and challenging (but still very doable); the 4th seemed a bit smoother than the 3rd. Many scenic and unspoiled views.
Driving that TomCar: yes, keep your thumbs on the outside of the wheel. You need some strength to drive the vehicle (does not have power steering). You need some strength to shift the differential. Your arms will get tired if you are the sole driver. After a short period of time, I started to really appreciate what that TomCar was capable of, which increased my confidence. It is a jostly ride for the entire trip (it is off-road driving).
Comfort: well, they are TomCars. I definitely appreciate power steering, power brakes, power shifting, paved/maintained roads and modern car interiors much more after this tour. Next time, I would take ear plugs--our TomCar was understandably squeaky the entire trip. We didn't experience any soreness the next day. Maybe because we took turns driving?
What to wear: anything goes. Do wear closed-toed shoes as advised/required on their website. We saw business-casual skirts and shorts (had a dinner rez afterwards) to long pants and long-sleeve shirts. Wear what you don't care gets really dusty. The dust that came out of my jeans when I patted them at the end of the tour was almost comical. Wear the provided and free dust-gaiter. Sunglasses helped keep dust out of my eyes; bring your own googles if you want more protection.
Speed of the tour: slowest one dictates the speed. Experienced with off-roading? Book a private tour.
Value: well worth it.
Odpowiedź od gospodarza
Nov 2021
Thank you for an outstanding, detailed 5 star review, we greatly appreciate it! Our goal is to provide an experience that is unforgettable and exhilarating and it sounds like we exceeded your expectations. We are overjoyed to know that our guide Rob made your experience go smoothly and ensured that you guys were comfortable and safe. Our Tomcars are very unique and definitely not something everybody gets the opportunity to experience and It is a very rugged trail but our cars are built for it and make the ride so much fun. Our tours are an experience of a lifetime and we are thrilled that you had such a memorable day with us. We truly hope to see you again and thanks so much for choosing Desert Wolf Tours!!