New Hampshire’s Bronco Off-Road Rodeo

On this episode of The 603 Podcast, host Dan Egan heads to Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford to experience Bronco Off-Roadeo, Ford's off-road training and adventure program built in the heart of New Hampshire's Belknap Mountains. Joining Dan is site producer Steve Golden, who explains why the Granite State has become one of the premier destinations in the country for learning how to drive off-road. Bronco Off-Roadeo is more than a test drive—it's a hands-on owner experience that combines professional instruction, technical trail driving, and outdoor adventure on a private off-road course designed to build confidence and capability behind the wheel.

Dan and Steve discuss what surprises most first-time participants, from the importance of spotting and communication to recovery techniques, trail etiquette, and the mindset required to tackle challenging terrain safely and responsibly. They also break down the technology that helps modern Broncos navigate granite ledges, steep climbs, mud, and tight forest trails, including GOAT (Go Over Any Terrain) modes, locking differentials, Trail Turn Assist, and hill descent control. But as Steve explains, the real focus isn't on pushing limits—it's on developing skills, understanding vehicle capability, and becoming a more capable driver both on and off the pavement.

The conversation also explores the broader impact of outdoor recreation and adventure tourism in New Hampshire. From Tread Lightly principles and land stewardship to the economic benefits of attracting visitors from across the country, Steve shares how Bronco Off-Roadeo fits into the state's larger outdoor culture. Whether you're an off-road enthusiast, a Bronco owner, or simply someone who loves exploring New Hampshire's mountains and trails, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the state's most unique outdoor experiences.

Subscribe to The 603 Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves New Hampshire, outdoor adventure, and discovering what makes the Granite State such a special place to explore.

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Transcript

Season Three Kickoff And Sponsors

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi everyone, I'm Extreme Sports Pioneer Dan Egan. And I'm excited to welcome you to our third season of the 603 podcast. This season, we'll continue exploring the personalities, communities, outdoor adventures, local legends, hidden gems, and authentic experiences that define life here in the 603. Of course, a big shout out to our sponsors, Mat River Coffeehouse, right off of Exit 28 in Campton, New Hampshire. Alpine Adventures in Lincoln, New England's premier adventure destination. And Whalesdale Water Park, New England's favorite water park, where this summer admission is just $29 after 2 p.m. Hey, be sure to follow us on Instagram at the 603Podcast and online at 603podcast.com. Now let's get into season three of the 603. And we're

What Bronco Off-Rodeo Is

SPEAKER_00 1:03

back here on the 603. Excited about this one, it's New Hampshire's rodeo. That's right. New Hampshire's rodeo. But it's a Bronco. It's a Bronco and it's a wild ride right at Gunstock, Guildford, New Hampshire. I'm joined right now by Steve Golden, the site producer of uh the Bronco Experience at Gunstock. Steve, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 1:27

I'm doing great today. Thanks, Dan.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Great to see you, man. Uh, you had me out there and you strapped me in. I had no idea what was going to happen, and wow, what a great experience it was driving a Bronco through the woods, up and down the mountains there in the bell knaps. It was very cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

We were really happy to host you at Bronco Off Rodeo. It's a really special experience, and we hope to see you there again.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Absolutely. So, just for you know, those of me included that didn't know what the Bronco Off-Road Rodeo was, tell us what it is.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Well, Bronco Off Rodeo is an off-road experience with the Bronco. It's sponsored by Ford Motor Company, and Bronco Off Rodeo is an owner experience to begin with. So if, Dan, you buy a Bronco, then you receive an eight-hour experience with Bronco Off Rodeo. So that includes professional guided instruction on a closed course. It also includes lunch and dinner, and you can bring your guests and make a weekend out of it. And it's been very successful. We opened up in 2021.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Now, you know, you hear that this thing is happening uh over the years. I've heard the bits and pieces of this that was happening at Gunstock. But it's not just Gunstock. This thing's happening nationally, and Gunstock's one of the one of the locations nationally that that does this experience. Where are the other experiences?

SPEAKER_01 2:55

That's correct. We have five different schools around the country. We have New Hampshire, we have Texas, we have Nevada, we have Utah, and we have Moab Utah sorry, Moab, Utah.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

That's amazing. So, you know, that's what a great list for New Hampshire to be on, right there. I just love this that New Hampshire is included.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Oh, in Tennessee.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Tennessee. Tennessee. Is Tennessee the newest one?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Yes, Tennessee is the newest one.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Tennessee is the newest one. Don't want to miss that. And when you when you look at that lineup, leading the way is Moab for off-road, of course, anywhere in the U.S. is that slick rock out there, amazing driving, a lot of opportunities. And we know that, yeah, New Hampshire's got some off-road, but this changed my whole perception of what that means by driving around these, you know, effectively logging roads and work roads right there at Gunstock. Uh, describe what sort of terrain uh we're accessing with the Bronco.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

Well, the

Gunstock’s Granite Terrain And Trails

SPEAKER_01 3:52

terrain at Gunstock is really interesting because we are the granite state. There's a great deal of rock and stone and slab and ledge that we climb up and through. And it's incredibly exciting. We climb some incredibly trials-based trails in the sense that it's incredibly rocky and cobbly and steep and slabby. It's very unique, even compared to the other schools.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Absolutely. And it's it's expansive in a way, too. And, you know, I think sometimes, you know, the proud New Hampshire, uh, you know, New Hampshire is like, oh, you know, how hard can it be? And it's a Bronco on a back road, what's it, a gravel road? That's not what this is.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

No, this is not. Um, this experience is meant to showcase the capability of the Bronco. This is an incredibly intentionally built off-road vehicle. And the whole idea is to open up that to the owners and now to folks who don't own it, because we have a half-day experience for people who don't own a Bronco. The whole idea is that we want to show them the capability of the vehicle. And, you know, honestly, it's it's a celebration of the designers at Ford because this is one of the most impressive vehicles I've ever come across.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

I mean, for sure, it's pretty fun to be driving over a boulder field effectively. Um, you know, it's really super cool to be going up some of these steep granite pitches, but then all of a sudden it becomes a boulder field and you're making your way over it through trees all around you.

Getting Unstuck Without Wrecking Trucks

SPEAKER_00 5:28

And all I could think about the whole time is I'm driving this brand new car, and uh what about the scratches and the dents and all that sort of thing? Have you had accidents and things like that?

SPEAKER_01 5:38

People getting stuck, and you know, people get stuck. You know, that's part of it. If you go on any adventure, you're gonna get stuck along the way. So, how as a team do you learn to get unstuck? So, part of the training is you learn how to use the different materials so that you can get unstuck, winches and straps, and shackles, and spotting. And that's part of the professional guides being on course teaching throughout the day. Um, these instructors are incredibly well-versed and they're working with all the clients and the owners during the day so they can learn how to safely drive those vehicles off-road. The reality is that yes, you do have some trees that brush up against you, but honestly, we're out day after day after day after day driving these vehicles, and we don't have any problems with the vehicles. But that's also because people are being taught how to use the vehicles correctly, being mechanically sympathetic. So you're not smashing into stuff, you're not over-reving the vehicle. You know, you're moving through with style and grace through the mountains. It's a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

That that's one thing that really surprised me, Steve, was uh the spotting and uh how the guide handled five cars through the woods himself and then educated our guests on how to spot. That's right. And

Spotting And Team Communication

SPEAKER_00 6:51

then they spotted. Um, I had never thought too much about that aspect of driving off roads, how the person outside the vehicle is really orchestrating the entire route. Talk us through some of that.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Well, this is a team event. So the spotter is going to be outside the vehicle watching the line. He or she is gonna be spotting where the rocks are, where the water is, where the mud is, because the idea is to continuously move through the environment without getting stuck, being mechanically sympathetic to that vehicle so you're not destroying it, so you can keep going. You know, if you know, for the older folks in the audience, if you think back to the camel trophy that happened during the 70s, 80s, and 90s, you know, that expeditionary travel had to keep going, right? If all you did was went out and destroyed your truck or your vehicle or your motorcycle or whatever it may be, then you're not gonna have it for the next day. So this is based upon mechanical being mechanically sympathetic, learning how to use the vehicle and all its capabilities, and then going to work the next day in the very vehicle you were exploring with.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

And I just want to say, you know, we are not sponsored by Ford or Bronco. Nobody gave me a truck, which is disappointing to me. But uh, but really just me being overwhelmed with all the things this vehicle did because I was not aware of being able to push the buttons. And I was pretty excited to push some of these buttons that that that either locked in the front drive train or the back drive train, or did a number of other things. Just talk

Bronco Controls That Change Everything

SPEAKER_00 8:26

us through you know what this vehicle does to help with clearance and to help with power.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

So the Bronco is designed not only to have ground clearance from stock from the factory, it's on 35-inch tires. The entire system is designed so that you can activate whatever portion of the vehicle you need to keep going. So that might be locking the front differentials, that might be locking the rear differentials, that's so the front tires spin at the same time or the rear tires spin at the same time. There's also a stay bar release, which is releasing the front end so it can flex and articulate through so that you're not getting stuck. So the idea being that whatever you need for the vehicle is right at hand, activated on your dashboard in real time right away, so you can keep moving.

SPEAKER_00 9:15

You know, it reminded me that uh, of course, in sailing and climbing and ice climbing, winter climb, they're always say, you know, three points of contact, right? Three points of contact. Um, and you're a guide, you've guided all over throughout New England and the world, so you're familiar with teaching that and guiding that. But here we had three points of contact with the car, with the vehicle. And I was we're gonna share some video of me with three points of contact. That blew me away that that you would get the fourth wheel, you know, or back end or the front end off the ground to clear something as long as you had three points of contact.

SPEAKER_01 9:53

That's right. So, you know, any vehicle, no matter what it is, only has so much ground clearance. So you can use the terrain to activate more ground clearance as you move through things, but that takes a good team. You have to have a spotter outside the vehicle, you have to have a driver who will listen to that spotter, that's very important, and a way to communicate. So this is very much a team activity, so there's a lot to it so that you can not only be mechanically sympathetic to the vehicle, but also sympathetic to the natural environment because it's not just about smashing and bashing our way through things, it's about moving through with style.

SPEAKER_00 10:26

As you know, some of my background, Steve. Um kind of a move forward uh approach to life. And and the guy, Jason, was very politely saying the entire time, easy, Dan, slow it down, Dan. I'm like, God, this is slow. You mean this is slow for me. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

But slow is better. Slow is better. And the type of off-roading that we are instructing and fostering and gun stock is very low-speed driving. It's about the articulation of the vehicle, it's about moving through the environment in such a way that you're not damaging the vehicle, you're not damaging the person inside the vehicle, and you're not damaging the environment. Tread Lightly is a big backer for our organization, and we believe its principles.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Yeah, no, that's great. Uh, you know, that was really driven home during the experience. Uh, this idea of tread lightly, that's a national program, tread lightly. Tell me about it.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

Well, Tread Lightly works with off-road organizations, both motorcycle and vehicles of all types, from side by sides to trucks to cars, to make sure that people understand how to drive in that environment so that it doesn't damage the environment.

Tread Lightly And Sharing The Mountain

SPEAKER_01 11:37

You know, if we damage the environment when we go out, you know, those places can become closed. You know, that can upset private landowners or public landowners. You know, everywhere we go, someone owns that land. So the more respectful we are moving through it, and the more we take care of it, the more we'll have access to it.

unknown 11:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

So tread lightly is uh is an off-road awareness program, right? And it's it aims to educate uh on responsible motorization recreation out in the backcountry. And tread stands for travel, respect, educate, avoid, uh, and do your part. So I love that whole thing that was educated during that because, you know, this idea of awareness and trail erosion and in these days of activism, you know, what I instantly struck me was we're at Gunstock, which isn't known for necessarily pushing the limits, so to speak. Uh, it's a family recreational center. Uh, and I I I at first I just thought, wow, this is a little aggressive for little old Gunstock, but actually it's quite a great fit.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

It really is. It's important that we highlight the collaboration with Gunstock at this point. Um, they've been incredible partners with us. Um, they've allowed us to build this private course that only gun only Bronco Af Radio has access to with the guys that you know, we are doing that. We are maintaining the trails, we are being careful, we are teaching people the proper ways so that it is embodying the tread lightly principles.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

And you know, which often, you know, you're you're right here at the foot of uh beautiful Lake Winnipesaki. You know, you're right there, basically just up the road from FaZe Marina and uh Alakoya National Alcoya State Park, really beautiful. Uh people are mountain biking, people are hiking, people walking their dogs, there's zip lining, there's mountain coasters, and there's a fleet of Broncos driving through the trees. How do you interact with all this? There's a campground for crying out loud.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

There certainly is, and we share those trails with other people. And the re the way that we do that is communicating with gunstock for one, and communicating with people on the trails. So we share those trails with equestrians, with hikers, with dog walkers, with mountain bikers. And the way we do that is we're not driving fast, we're not being ridiculous on the trail. You know, we're moving through as a convoy, and this is a teaching and learning experience. So we have been embraced by Gunstock and the supporters of that mountain, and we really appreciate their collaboration.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

So, you know, it's one thing that you know, all of the branding of cars recently is like uh, oh, it's gonna take you somewhere. Oh, you're gonna take you somewhere cool, right? You're gonna go surf somewhere where nobody's surfing, you're gonna go have a barbecue where nobody's having a barbecue. And I look at these things and I go, from a marketer, you know, you're not telling me anything about the car. You're just showing me these dream locations that I may or may not do. But this experience is immersive. And they taught me, and I consider myself a good driver. I I'm in the car all the time. I drive all over the world in a lot of different situations. But they taught me a lot about the modes of the car and the things that this car could do that I had never really thought about. And one was this goat mode that the car goes into a goat mode. Just walk me through that. That was fascinating because you know, here we have automatic cars gone to the staves of the stick, but this moves it into manual mode, so to speak, but it's automated.

GOAT Modes Turn Assist Hill Descent

SPEAKER_01 15:06

It is. So let's reverse a little bit. So goat stands for go over any terrain. That was the name of the original project for Bronco in 1966. So when Bronco was launched, Lee Yakoka, as some of you might remember, was the founder of this and part of the design team, and he was the administrator. Go over any terrain is sort of the mantra for the modern Bronco, the sixth generation Bronco. And this the goat mode is a is a dial in the center of the console of the vehicle. And essentially, you can pick the different types of terrain that you're driving on, and you can turn that dial, and the Bronco will automatically go to whatever that particular terrain is. So whether it's mud and ruts, or it's sand, or it's slippery, or it's snow, and it will configure the vehicle to work the best it can in that terrain. Now, you also have the ability to manually override those things so that you can add to or take away. Because maybe you might need both back wheels to spin, you lock that rear differential. You may not want that because when both back wheels are locked or both front wheels are locked, you can't turn very well. So typically, off-road vehicles have open differentials, and that's because when you go around a turn, the outside wheel spins more, the inside wheel spins less. But if you lock those, that's great for going straight or pushing up and over or through something, but you only want to have those locked all the time. So you have the ability to manually design what you need, as well as this overview of the GOAT modes, which allows you to turn it automatically into those.

SPEAKER_00 16:40

I mean, that was fascinating because it was seemed like the combination of things was endless. It was. And there was one at one point where we did exactly that. We went around like a real hairpin turn. Like I'm not talking like a hairprint turn you found on the Cancamangas Highway. Like this thing was like a hairprint turn, opposite direction with trees. And they had me do something like that you're describing, and and the car did it. What was correct?

SPEAKER_01 17:06

So there's a mode where it it doesn't entirely lock up that inside tire, but almost entirely locks it up so that you can pivot around the tire. Okay. So if you think about how a tank track works, so a tank track will stop and the outside tank track will spin. That allows the vehicle to have almost uh almost be able to turn around in the very same spot it's in. So that turn assist is a very cool feature that only Bronco has.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Yeah, no, just just fascinating learning what the what the car would do and what the car wouldn't do. Um, and of course, there was one point where the car effectively drove itself. I mean, I steered it, but the car drove itself downhill. We preset the speed, it went over obstacles and and things, slowing down and speeding up to maintain that speed. But I didn't know what was happening.

SPEAKER_01 18:01

Yeah, what was going on there? That's an amazing piece of engineering. So, Dan, if you're driving down a really steep hill, say 35 degrees, say 30, 30 degrees, and you want to make sure to maintain the exact amount of braking, both of the brakes and from the transmission. The vehicle will do that for you. That way you can steer and watch what's coming, and the vehicle will slowly lower you down until you don't need any more, and then you can disengage it and keep moving. You know, in the old days, you would have done a mixture of peppering the brake and riding the clutch, and you would be skidding and you would not be in the same kind of control. This maximizes your control, and it's pretty amazing. And it's pretty wild to take your feet completely off and allow the car to do what it's designed to do. It's it's something.

SPEAKER_00 18:51

So is that a step away or part of the future for driverless cars? Is that where that's heading? Or is that this is an off-road feature?

SPEAKER_01 18:59

That's an off-road feature. Um, I I can't speak to what they're going to do with driverless cars in the future, but I can say that this is this is purely from the off-road point.

SPEAKER_00 19:08

Uh, one of the locations of the five locations around the country is a gun stock right here in central New Hampshire. Uh, of course, the ski area and the lakes and so much to do. And one thing that really blew me away, Steve, was that people came from all over the

Travelers Tourism And Season Schedule

SPEAKER_00 19:23

country, literally all over the country for this experience on the day I was there. We had Californians, we had New Yorkers, they came from up and down the East Coast. They were from everywhere. And these some people owned Broncos, some didn't. Um, some had heard about it. Uh there were couples where one had done it and the other had done it, but they came to New Hampshire for this dude. I mean, that's outrageous.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

That's right. We have people come from all 50 states and from around the world for this driving experience. It's in it's so unique that we are being supported to do this kind of program and to be able to teach people in the mountains and in the forest of New Hampshire and all over the country. Um, yeah, we get a lot of people coming through. You know, for most folks that come and visit, you know, this is a weekend trip. This is staying in our local hotels, this is going out to eat, this is traveling through our state. A lot of them have never been here before and they've chosen this site because they want to explore New England. You know, we're right on the cusp of the leaves changing and they are changing at the moment. And you know, it's we're very busy during September and October, up until our closing date in November 1st, because New England is amazing in the fall. And you open up when?

SPEAKER_00 20:35

When do when does this whole thing kick off in the spring?

SPEAKER_01 20:37

Typically about the first week of May.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

So the we have to wait for the snow to melt. Yeah, we all gotta get all the all the major water off the off the mountain. Uh, and then you're you're running seven days a week, three days a week. What's the deal here? We run Thursday through Saturday. Thursday through Saturday. Yep. That's great, right at Gunstock. It's it's uh amazing. And you know, really it changed the way I I see the vehicle. Now, of course, I grew up when Broncos were all around, right? And uh my friends had broncos. We would take them out on the beach down the Cape and lower the air out of the tires and all this sort of thing. I was used to lowering the air out of the tires for beach travel um and going out to Well Fleet and or out on Martha's, those sort of things. But here there was something else happening. So though clearly there was less air in the tires, but the tires were being used for grip and sliding off of things and climbing up on things. I thought that was fascinating. Where to move around an obstacle that would actually slide me off an obstacle. Talked me through the tires and the and the and the guiding aspect from that point of view, because you

Tire Pressure Grip And Intentional Sliding

SPEAKER_00 21:53

know, we think about driving up over around things, but the fact that the tire could almost grip the side of a Or slide purposely slide down for a reason. That was that was so cool.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

Okay. So first of all, when you were driving on the beach with a lower tire pressure, that's because you want to be able to increase the surface area of the tire. So you have better grip and better float on the sand. The same is true when you're driving on rocks and mud and other obstacles in the forest. By having that wider footprint, you get better traction. Okay. It also creates a softer drive through the forest. So you have more shock absorption in the system. But it allows you to, similar to a climbing shoe, the rubber is softer, right? So it spreads across the rock, giving you more grip. It allows you to move with the undulation or the change in that particular terrain. So instead of having you think about like, you know, a piece of, you know, a square piece of steel and you set it on a rock, you know, there's not going to be a lot of surface area touching that. But you know, you take a piece of rubber that's soft or a piece of play-doh, and you can mold it over that. Now you have a great deal more grip and a great deal more control. To your point of why you would slide down something. Well, that's pretty close to the same thing you're doing as you're hiking and walking or riding a mountain bike. When you're hiking and walking, your shoe is flexing and bending over the rocks, and you're often moving in such a way that you do actively slide similar to skiing. You're you're using movement both laterally and back and forth to your advantage. And the same is true with the Bronco. It's an incredibly three-dimensional environment when you're driving off-road. And that is what impacts people a lot because they typically drive in an area where you see a crack on the road or a pothole, you know, you go around it. Where off-road driving, you activate that, you get into that, and you learn how to move through that.

SPEAKER_00 23:48

Now, of course, you know, I love marketing, you know, uh, and and I know you do, and I know you've been all throughout the industry in different roles, and and I really am attuned to building brand loyalty, building community. You

Bronco Culture And Owner Community

SPEAKER_00 24:03

know, uh, you know, we had uh we had Mad River Coffee Roasters, Dave was on the other day, and you know, up here in central New Hampshire, right off exit 28, there's a community that gathers there. Sure. Here I'm like, I was struck by the community of Bronco owners. I was struck by the branding and the opportunities for them to hang out. I I didn't I've never bought a car to hang out with other people that have a car like mine.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Right.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

But this is a thing. Oh, yeah. And it's very much a thing. And some of these people that had come to Gunstock had gone to Moab, had gone to Tennessee, were going to somewhere else. Talk about the community, the Bronco, uh, and and how tight that is.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

Oh, that's the stuff. That's what we're really working with here. This is all about culture building. So not only are you the owner learning how to use your own vehicle, but like you said, you're meeting all these other people who love these vehicles and have a lifetime of experience with them. Many of our owners, it changed their lives. You know, it opened up their world to the outdoor adventure. Um, yeah, there's a huge, there's a huge group of Bronco enthusiasts all over the country. Um, and they come to see us and they come to learn how to use their vehicles. And they also get together off-site. There's an entire, you know, there's Bronco Nation, which is a giant group of people enthusiasts all over the country and all over the world that get together. And yes, it's like in the skiing world, you know, the activity brings you together, and the activity has brand loyalty. So yeah, there's a there's a lot of fun going on, and it's bringing in people. One of the things that we're doing is we launched a new program this summer called Half Day Adventure. So let's say, Dan, you don't own a Bronco, but you want to come and learn how to use it, and you want to see the capabilities of that vehicle. The Half Day Adventure is for that person, so they can bring themselves and three other people, and they can go on in a four-hour adventure on a private course with a private guide and get to experience these vehicles in real time.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

Yeah, very cool. And and and we know this from the outdoor recreational world that you know we all want to belong to something. We all want to, and in that belonging, there's a becoming. Yes, right? Whether whatever your sport is mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, climbing, there's a belonging. You dress a certain way, you identify, you your friend network is in that. And you said something to me really interesting that day about the belonging of motorsports and the access is providing for people for a whole variety of reasons that can't do that other stuff. But it puts them in the environment, anyways. You want to touch on that?

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Recently, I had an experience working with Bronco off rodeo in Colorado where we got to take people up and over Aspen Mountain, and this was at the Aspen Ideas Festival, and we were able to take people from all over the world on this off-road journey that was 90 minutes long to you know 90 to 120 minutes long. And the people that we were able to connect with and have that experience, by and large, said the same thing. I never would have been able to get here

Outdoor Access For More People

SPEAKER_01 27:19

on my own, whether that was because of a mobility issue or that was because they just didn't live in that kind of environment where they could access that. Um, they might have had uh some kind of physical challenge. Um, they were thankful to be able to move through the mountains, through the forest, and do so in a way that you know was accessible to them, you know. And that's an important part of all of this because not everyone can be an elite endurance athlete. Not everybody can climb the mountain, not everybody can, you know, ski to the top or run across or paddle through. You know, there's lots of different ways to experience the outdoor world. So, from my point of view, it's a wonderful vehicle for access.

SPEAKER_00 28:01

Yeah, that that's that's really amazing. And you're touching on a on a lot of things there. You know, I we take so much for granted here in New Hampshire. Just driving up 93 or 89 is a beautiful experience.

SPEAKER_01 28:13

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 28:14

It's an outrageous experience. Driving over the Kangamangas is an outrageous experience, particularly any time of year. It's unbelievable. Um but for people that live in the city to come up here, that that that's why we see the traffic every weekend. That's why we see people coming up. They're coming up to get away, to belong to something else, to witness something else. But off-roading in New Hampshire takes that to a whole nother level. So talk to me about the types of roads we're accessing here, who's allowed on that roads, and how do we find out more information specifically about where to take the vehicles we're bought to go to these locations?

SPEAKER_01 28:53

Well, in New Hampshire, in Maine, and in Vermont and in northern New York, there's a great deal of forest service roads that are accessible when the snow, it's not for snowmobiling, when it melts out. And there's a great deal of places to explore that take you to lakes and mountains and meadows and backcountry areas that are completely accessible to the public. And it's an amazing part of our state. It takes you through the historical logging areas of northern New Hampshire and Maine and Vermont. It connects you to the smaller villages and towns that feed those

Forest Roads And Off-Road Tourism

SPEAKER_01 29:26

areas. Um, and that stretches up into Canada. That goes all the way across the country. You know, these places are really important. And, you know, this type of vehicle with this type of capability gives you access to those.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, we see that in a lot of different ways now, whether it's the gravel bike movement, right? Uh motocross, which I know you're into, four-wheeling. We see the movements up in up in up in Berlin and up that way with the four-wheelers. There's a lot of activity around motorsports and off-road.

SPEAKER_01 30:00

There is a great deal. You know, off-roading of all sorts, you know, whether that's on with Bronco or with a four-wheeler or a side-by-side or with a motorcycle, you know, this is an economic engine that brings people into our state and it creates a great deal of revenue in a variety of different places, whether it's gas stations or restaurants or hotels, you know, this is creating tourism. And if the tourism is done right and, you know, people are taking care of these lands and they're fostering these lands, you know, this is a great activity for people. You know, this is getting people families together. This is creating memories. I mean, this is the stuff that, you know, when children grow up, they remember doing these things with their families. It's true with skiing, it's true with boating, you know. You know, these vehicles take us to amazing places and create these amazing memories.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Yeah, I agree with that. I mean, there's a lot to be said for all of that. Um, and and so often in New Hampshire, you know, we we're on the national stage on so many things. I I think we don't always think about that. Of course, politics are always on the national stage. Uh, this program in particular is putting us on the national stage in a very unique way, which is really why I was struck by it. Uh, our skiing puts us on the national discussion every year. Our our snowmobiling is outrageous, and you can go so many places. Uh, our summer activities and our lakes. But sometimes you just, you know, you live here and you just go, oh, it's New Hampshire. Like, we're just a little old New Hampshire. Well, we but no, we're on the national stage in so many areas, and I'm still fascinated with the fact that Gunstock somehow landed this program, like right there in Guilford.

SPEAKER_01 31:47

Gunstock was very forward-thinking when they came about this in 2021, and they were looking to create an opportunity in a collaboration with Bronco Off Rodeo, and they did it. Um, this program, because it was owner-based in the beginning, um, you know, a lot of people didn't know we were doing it. You know, this was we weren't marketing it as, you know, for the regular public until, you know, the last couple of years where we've offered the half-day adventures. Um, but because the marketing has changed, it's become more, you know, it's become more apparent. And you know, we partner

Why Gunstock Works As A Partner

SPEAKER_01 32:20

with lots of different hotels and restaurants and cafes and different things in the area for our clients who are coming through. And it's been fantastic. I I tip my hat to Gunstock. Um, they're very they're an incredible little mountain, you know, that works very hard for their community. And it's a community-based mountain, it's a it's a county-based mountain. And I'm really proud of the collaboration and partnership with them.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

Absolutely. I mean, it it's not easy on any level for any of these ski areas that have an a legit four season business. Gunstock has one. I mean, quite honestly, probably one of the biggest in the state when you look at four seasons next to Loon. Um and that says a lot. And it's very diverse. Uh, it's some of it's event driven, but most of it's actually recreation driven every day. Every day. Every day. And it must be amazing to be part of that community and interact. We found nobody on the trails was disappointed to see a car coming by. We saw mountain bikers, we saw joggers, we taught dog dog walkers. Everybody was very friendly. And I asked the guide up there, what's been the pushback? And he said, really, because of the efforts of tread at Lightly and other things, it's been pretty smooth.

SPEAKER_01 33:35

It has been really smooth. You know, to speak to your point, Gunstock has a mountain coaster. Gunstock has a zip, one of the longest zip lines in the Northeast. It has an outdoor adventure park, it has festivals that it hosts. Um, there's a lot going on. They're hosting weddings. There's always something going on. And we're also going on, you know, the entire summer, spring, summer, fall season. And we move seamlessly in and out of that environment. We communicate with the mountain and everything works great. And I think we've been a really nice adjunct to gun stock. And I look forward to the years coming.

SPEAKER_00 34:08

Has there been some Bronco Rodeo wedding gun stock experiences?

SPEAKER_01 34:13

Not yet, but that could be that let's go, people. Let's get on it. We did participate this year in Guilford Old Home Day. So we were part of that parade. Oh, nice. Um, that was really fun. Uh, the Sasquatch, Bigfoot, is one of the, you know, one of the logos for Bronco. Um, it's one of the editions, the Sasquatch edition. Um, so we had a Sasquatch and a Bronco in Guilford Old Home Day. And for those of you in the audience, if you've never been in a parade, you really should get in a parade someday. There's nothing like soaking up all that positive energy from the kids in the parade.

SPEAKER_00 34:45

Yeah, there's some great parades always around the 4th of July. Oh, yeah. Amazing parades all throughout New Hampshire. And of course, uh, Guilford Old Home Days is right up there with it. Um, you know, Steve, you you know, fascinating to me, you know, your background because you know, you're highly skilled uh in the outdoors, highly skilled with people, guiding, teaching, your whole career basically been focused on helping others get experiences. Um, and that you you you really have these roots too uh in Teton National Park and Jackson Hall and Driggs and out there. How's a guy like that find home here in New Hampshire and why? Oh, that's an interesting question.

Steve Golden’s New England Story

SPEAKER_01 35:28

I ended up here um from Wyoming to go to school. So I went to Plymouth State University where I graduated with my bachelor's. I got my master's degree from Plymouth State as well in adventure education. And then I went on to teach with Plymouth State for almost 20 years in the adventure education program that I got to help found. Um I found my way to New England because everywhere I journeyed and adventured around the globe, I ran into hardy New Englanders who suggested New Hampshire being one of the best places to not only live and to work and succeed, but it has an incredible group of people who have always helped foster me along my path. Um New Hampshire is a special place. New England is a special place, it's subtle, you know, the beauty, the shadows, the mountains. It's not as obvious as out west and some other places, but the hardest core people I've ever met have come from New England, whether it's in the climbing world or the ultrarunning world or the boating world, or now as I joined the motor world, there's some real pioneers here, and it's been a pleasure to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_00 36:37

Yeah, I I find that true. You know, of course, here at the 603, we get to interview uh lots of amazing uh personalities and people throughout the whole state, and and I've always felt this, and one of the reasons why I've stayed is you never know who you're gonna where you're gonna bump into, whether somebody summited Everest, uh spent multiple winters on on Mount Washington, hold the record for riding across America on a bike. Like somebody New Hampshire is just full of people that have done amazing things. And unlike our brethren in the West, we don't hang around bragging about it. And that that's a real New Hampshire thing, I think. And it's uniquely New Hampshire, I would say, throughout New England, is that you you we have world-class athletes. I remember, you know, uh riding bikes on a Tuesday night, it was a great group of people, and the the diversity of people on those bikes and what they had accomplished blew me away. Oh, yeah, you know, week in and week out. Uh, and it's in a way, New Hampshire's a little bit like an island. I always describe it as an island. We're we're tucked away in these woods where we live, and there's people that have accomplished amazing things and done wild things. And you're you're one of those people. This is one of those activities now that you're growing in New Hampshire with which is adding to that.

SPEAKER_01 38:00

My journey has been diverse and interesting. Um, so I'm in my 50s now, so I have shifted into a different type of adventure. Um, and just uh I would say it's because I was ready for something new. Uh, I started motorcycling with my son, which led to he and I exploring all over New England and into eastern Canada as far north as into Labrador. And that has been very exciting. This um offshoot into Bronco has been fantastic. Um, it's it's just a new thing to learn. It's a new avenue to be a part of. And it's really exciting. And it's really exciting to see an intense group of people who are incredibly intentional with the design of a program, who are really smart, who want to put together something that's going to be beneficial for not only New Hampshire, but for Tennessee, for Texas, for Moab and Utah, for all these different sites. You know, it's exciting to see people do things well. And it's exciting to see people do things successfully. So it's been a real honor to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_00 39:06

And of course, we can't overlook uh the amazing instructors. I mean, these guys that are that are guiding these experiences are world-class, and they all come from some sort of motorsports background, professional, ex-professional drivers. Tell us more about them and all the things they've done.

SPEAKER_01 39:23

Oh, we have a really interesting group of folks that are guides. We have folks who were ex-racers, they were off-road racers, they were on-road racers. We have people who were ex-military, ex you know, ex-police. Um, we have folks who were

Instructor Backgrounds And How To Book

SPEAKER_01 39:39

teach we have folks now who are teachers. We have a teacher that was a middle school shop teacher right now in Manchester who's a fantastic off-roader and a fantastic teacher. All of our guides are committed to the Tread Lightly program. All of our guides are super skilled. They go through a great deal of training before they go out with our clients. Um, and it's really exciting to see all the different and diverse backgrounds. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

It's a Bronco off rodeo. Yep, that's great. And and how do we find it?

SPEAKER_01 40:09

Well, you find Bronco Off Rodeo online. You can just look up bronco offrodeo.com and you will find it. You'll see all the different experiences and all the different schools, and all you gotta do is pick one and go.

SPEAKER_00 40:19

Yeah, pick one and go. I mean, really, that that's all you gotta do. It's it's a great experience for all of us in New England. We're drivers. Uh, we go up and down the highways and the byways and the back roads and the main roads. I gotta tell you, what a great experience. Good job, Steve. Thanks so much, mate.

SPEAKER_01 40:36

Thanks, Dan. Appreciate it.