Where Have You Off-Roaded Today? 3rd Gen

I like them pretty well. They add a fair amount of light. They are spots, but with glare off the hood, they end up having more spread.

 

Sadly they closed it up long ago. At first with just a padlock, then welded the hatch shut, and ended with removing the boards from the last flight of stairs.

It’s right outside my hometown, so we used to always climb up it in high school to watch the sun set. It’s seen better days, but still makes for a cool photo!

 

Were you guys on the side of 78 last Friday afternoon?

 

Capital State Forest WA

 

Pilot Rock 1.29.22

 

@AustinMada that picture above the clouds is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

Fallon, Nevada. Spencers Shack

 

Did the Black Canyon City Overlook Trail this morning, about 45mi North of Phoenix. Pretty gnarly & tippy in some spots.

 

Love those guide books from Charles Wells! Looks like a fun trail.

 

Great books. I have AZ & CO on my devices.

If I’m honest about this trail, not enough payoff for the effort. Scenery is more or less the same the entire way. If I spend most of the day wheeling, I like to feel as if I’ve gone somewhere or get some great views at the zenith. This just felt like uneventful Point A with gnarly trail in between to uneventful Point B. I didn’t even take photos at the overlook because there just wasn’t much to look at, ha ha. Beautiful winter day in the desert though. Topped at about 70°.

 

I’ve definitely seen my share of trails like that. Some of the trails around here in Big Sur start at the coast and take you through the redwoods, down into canyons and back to the coast. Weather has been really nice here this entire month! Matter of fact last Sunday we went to Pismo Beach and it was 71°, not a cloud in sight and barely a breeze.

 

I’ll have to get up that way for some trails. All of my Big Sur travels have been on my motos or in my little tuned GTI. Obviously both great ways to experience the coast, but now need the Tacoma there too

 

@desertdweller … Hi… we’re heading to AZ next week pulling our TT. Do you have any fav easy trails you can recommend? We’ll be in north Phoenix, Deer Valley, for a while and then maybe heading north after.

We’re on a big road trip so can’t beat the truck up too much so the trails need to be easy for a stock DCLB…

Cheers

Photo of my truck back in HI up on Mauna Kea way above the clouds…

 

You bet! Crown King/Senator Highway/Prescott & Bloody Basin are both pretty good distance and are rated ‘easy’. Plenty of scenery on both trails.

Crown King is an old mining town w/ about 100 residents. Prescott is a small city in the mountains with plenty to see & do. You’ll see about 5000ft elevation.

Bloody Basin is mostly desert, but you’ll also see nearly 5000ft along the way. It ends at bridge w/ the Verde River. There are hot springs tucked in a few places along the way close to the river too.

New River is a ‘moderate’ trail with a pretty gnarly rocky section, but it’s doable stock. It ends not far from Bloody Basin’s end.

A bit further East is Four Peaks, which will take you up to about 7000ft and drop you off at Roosevelt Lake. It’s also rated ‘easy’.

The first three trails mentioned are quickly accessed from North Phoenix, all within about 25-45 miles or so on Interstate 17. Four Peaks is accessed from the Beeline Hwy 87. All are great trails. If I had to pick 2 of the 4, I’d pick Crown King & Four Peaks.

 

Great thanks, we are def up for putting some miles in, I’m just looking up those Charles Wells books, is that the kindle version you have for your phone?

We’re looking forward to exploring AZ as it could end up being a new home for us. Wife loves Scottsdale but I want to be up in the mountains, maybe between Prescott and Sedona. Time will tell.

We’re down in Escondido right now but just spent some time in Palm Springs, Salton Sea, Joshua Tree area and I have to say I’m kinda done with cactus

I’ll look into those trails, thanks again!

 

My trail books are from the Apple Bookstore.

If you like the mountains, Prescott & surrounding areas are pretty nice. Jerome is a cool little quirky ex mining town. Maynard, the singer for Tool, owns a winery & vineyard there, if you happen to be a fan.

Check out Flagstaff & Williams too if you haven’t already. Flag sits at about 7000ft & the mountains around it hit 12500+ ft. Williams is about 25 mi West of Flag.

I love all the spots in California that you mentioned, ha ha. Anza-Borrego too. I’m in Joshua Tree & Johnson Valley & Big Bear often, have several LA friends who have second homes in the area. Escondido is great. Lake Henshaw, Mt Palomar, etc. So many great roads. That’s the motorcyclist side of me speaking mostly though.

 

Thanks! Tool… can’t say I’m a fan

I have to say so far my fav place since leaving HI is Morro Bay… chill place/people, great weather, lots of activities and wildlife.

Looking forward to exploring all those places you mention. I Have been researching AZ a fair amount in the last 1.5 years and somewhere in that 3-5,000 ft elevation could be just about perfect…

A small lift, tires and sliders may be in order too

 

Another area you may want to look at is Payson, AZ. It's right smack dab in the middle of the state. Kind of a quiet community, but really cool area. It sits right at 5,000 feet, and it's kind of a transitional area between the desert and mountain climate. Warm enough in the winter, but cool enough in the summer. A buddy of mine just retired and bought a place there, and he loves it. It's a 2 hour drive to Flagstaff, 90 minutes to downtown Phoenix, 2 hours to Prescott, an hour and 45 mins to Sedona, and 2 and a half hours to Tucson. They don't have the night life or the hipster scene that you'll find in Prescott, but the cost of living is also lower. It's an area that I'm looking at for when I ultimately retire (which is still 20 plus years away, sadly).

 

Yeah Payson has been recommended to me before also, looking on street view it looks like a great place to retire bug I too sadly am a long way off for that. Will definitely check it out though!

Keeping with the post a pic theme… we did the Pinkham Canyon trail in JT park last week and the trail was pretty much 2wd the whole way down so the wife wanted to drive for a bit. We then of course we come up on the only technical bit so I get out and guide her, whilst I’m walking down to spot her she continues and hits a big rock

 

Just had lunch in Morro Bay about a week ago at Dorn’s Seafood after going to Pismo Beach. Love that place too! If you didn’t hit Pismo Beach while you were there be sure to check it out next time while you’re still allowed to drive on the beach! The weather was 71° and no clouds or breeze even Sunday before last. Sounds like you’re having a blast though.