Dan’s first trip on the Rubicon was in 1975 with the El Dorado Jeepherders. Dan Mainwaring got him involved with volunteering his services for Jeepers Jamboree in 1978 where he did everything they asked him to do and then some. He worked for the American Legion Cook Crew until ‘94 when he became a Rock Roller on the trail. He was voted on to the Board of Directors in ‘98 and was president from ‘08 to 2013.He’s now retired from that position and is back volunteering for the Legion crew for the Jeepers Jamboree and is in charge of the Jeep Jamboree cook crew. You will still find Dan helping the cook crew at the Jamboree. It’s easy to find him – he’s the guy with the biggest smile and a goblet of red wine.

When asked what he enjoyed most about the Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail he said the people. The participants and the crew he works with. They are truly good people who enjoyed helping others and preparing food that people enjoy eating. How they prepare one fabulous meal after another out in the middle of nowhere is a feat worthy of great admiration.

Dan stated the camaraderie and friendships you develop are what it’s all about, it’s what makes life good. I totally agree as that is what the Jeep Famboree is all about. The friends we make on the jamboree and the jeep family we become part of.

As Dan DeWolf said, “on the Jamboree if you are in any trouble, you simply call out for HELP!” And help will arrive, you will be taken care of by people who are likely to become your new best friends. Dan said just be nice, it’s that simple. You never know who you may need help from and who you may end up helping. We are Jeepers - we all help each other without asking for anything in return.

I asked Dan about the Logistics of getting the food into Rubicon Springs to feed as many as 500 people, three meals a day. The answer is volunteers. They use between 26 and 39 jeeps with trailers and haul the food in down Cadillac Hill. That’s got to be one tricky process with some very knowledgeable jeepers behind the steering wheels to accomplish that feat. It takes a small army to clean up and leave everything as it was, which is the motto of every off-road enthusiast and nature lover. Thirty (30) trailers of trash are removed after the main Jamboree.

The Jeepers Jamboree is constantly trying to improve the participants’ experience with different events during the Jamborees. One of those that Dan is very proud of is Camp Rubicon which was started by Jeepers Jamboree and Rubicon Trail Foundation. Children at the age of six years old (6) are welcome to participate on the Jeep Jamboree, which is the weekend after the Jeepers Jamboree.

The Jeepers Jamboree minimum age is sixteen (16). The Jeep Jamboree which includes Camp Rubicon has a variety of events for the kids to enjoy that include a nature hike, a radio class where the kids learn the proper use and control of the CB radios, an arrowhead hunt and freshwater crawdad hunt.

After knowing Dan DeWolf for twenty-three (23) years and enjoying his crews awesome spaghetti meatball dinner, incredible beer batter pancakes, delicious pork chops that are never over cooked, and Saturday nights steak dinner. I cannot say enough kind words about this man and his generosity to all.

Written by Eric Lichtbach

Edited by Judy Kinkade and Dan DeWolf