We’ve been tracing trail 16 through the ridges and hollows outside of Oliver Springs, Tennessee for the past five hours, inching along through rocker-deep mud, crawling over differential-busting rocks and clamoring up and down slopes made slick with two days’ worth of torrential rain. Our wanderings have led us here – facing down one of the steepest climbs of the day. Through the mud-speckled windshield, I can see the path make a quick right turn before bolting up the side of the ridge. Walls of red clay littered with jagged roots and jutting rocks tower to either side of the deeply-rutted path, waiting to open our sheetmetal like maniacal can openers. You’d be hard-pressed to walk the route we’re around to take, let alone drive it.

The two-way radio in the center console crackles to life.

“Trail’s clear up top. You’ve got it.”

I drop the five-speed automatic into Drive, kick the transfer case into Four High and turn the traction control off before taking a deep breath. Fortune may favor the brave, but so do body shops. My spotter in the passenger seat repeats the word of the day, “momentum,” and takes hold of the grab bar on the dash as I plant my foot on the accelerator.

We’re boldly going where no bone-stock 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport has gone before.