Where Have You Off-Roaded Today? 3rd Gen

1N09 Old City Creek Road, in the San Bernardino mountains. We did a night run, totaling 97 rigs.. It was epic!

 

Explored the Francis E. Walter dam on Saturday at the poconos. First time taking my TRD/OR down some trails. Stock suspension with 265/75r16 Nitto Ridge Grapplers.

 

I've done Engineer in a stock Jeep Rubicon and a Lexus LX 450 with 2" lift and 33 BFG KO's but did not encounter anything that I would hesitate driving my bone stock '22 Tacoma SR5 Trail edition. As someone that now lives on the western slope and has driven a majority of the trails in the Durango, Silverton, Telluride, and Ouray area I can say what seems like a moderate trail to some is someone else technical trail everyone's experiences and expectations are different. I've seen guys airing down in a totally kitted-out overland rig to do a trail that bones stock Subaru Foresters are rolling down with five people and two dogs in. Nevertheless, that being said I also am wise/old enough not to let ego interfere with common sense offroading.

Drove up La Plata Canyon to do some hiking 2550 feet of climbing (woof) this Saturday and enjoy the views from 12,300 feet

 

Little lake off the beaten track in BC

 

Some of the switchbacks were fairly rough, was much more than I expected but obviously still doable. What I noticed was a ton of side by sides just RIPPING through the whole trail, between them and the rental jeeps the pass has gotten beat up. Not complaining, just stating my observation

 

I empathize with and completely understand how the trails are all torn up as my daytime gig is a 4x4 tour guide in Silverton and Durango it's not bad rolling around in Rubicons and Mojave jeeps daily (I actually prefer my Tacoma tho'). Yes, the side-by-sides and rental jeeps are chock full of lookie-loo and Dad with egos showing off for the kiddos tearing up the trail kicking up rocks and totally disregarding anyone else on the trail = clueless on trail manners or etiquette. Porphyry Gulch switchbacks are totally chewed up from the folks that believe more throttle is the answer going up and more brakes are the solution going down...why not it's just a 6-hour rental!

There has already been one death near Animas Forks and Engineer Pass this summer at too much speed and rolled off the mountain in a side-by-side rental. Kennebec Pass has also had a rollover and just yesterday a flatbed tow truck heading back to Durango had a Rubicon on it (with Texas plates) that had the roof caved in and windshield and side windows blown out as another obvious rollover. It was just a few years back that folks in a jeep drove off a corner 450 feet going down Imogene Pass into Telluride.

Yeah I know I know they are Jeeps but my daily job does have its perks.

 

Great to hear your perspective on this - I live near Durango and totally enjoy all of the access this city (and surrounding areas) has to the outdoors, but I do think it's wild that the rentals just let these people rip and run like that. Is there any amount of training that you're aware of?

 

What can outfitters do exactly? We have an extensive rental agreement and do and don't checklist and go over basic 4x4 vehicle operations other than that they are on super-secret scouts' honor that they are gonna treat the rental with some common sense. Let's face it for the vast majority of folks that visit the area this will be their one and only time here and the one and only time to dive in a 4x4 vehicle they are not thinking about the impact they are having on the trails. I can't tell you how many times I've stopped on my tours and picked up trash on the trail and empty white claw cans as common sense and leave no trace would interfere with their outdoor experience.

That being said it is a very small minority that ruins sh*t for the rest of us. I'm almost certain that we all have seen or come across some selfish clueless idiot doing something on the trail that makes us shake our heads. With me being a 4x4 guide I seem to see them quite often. Now back on subject my old FJ80 on Smelter Mtn looking into Durango a few years ago.

 

Big Bear, CA. My 2022 TRD Off-Road and a buddy's 1990 Ranger

 

Love that old Ranger. Man I yearn for those old trucks still. Hate those huge full sized trucks now, way too big. A current F150 dwarfs a 1990 F250. For what reason?

My 1986 F150 was my best truck, beats my 2016 TRD Off Road for reliability.

Had it 13 years, about 300 off road trips. 300 CI, straight 6 cyl, 4 spd manual. A real workhorse.

Never a breakdown or recall or service bulletin in my case.

Replaced one clutch, a radiator, a couple u-joints, and brakes in 13 years. Simplicity at its best, so little that could go wrong.

No electronics, no AC, no power windows, no carpeting (steel floors, rubber mats), and of course a bench seat that came in handy.

Granny gears, put it in 4-lo 1st gear, let out the clutch and get out and walk beside the truck whether uphill or down. Even in 2 wheel drive, 1st gear was too low for starts, had to use 2nd gear at all lights and stops.

I miss those gears, the Taco in 4-lo 1st gear I am having to use the brakes too much down steep grades, and that should not be necessary for an off road vehicle.

Here it is on one trip. Only way to this lake was an abandoned mining road. Thats over a 1000ft drop straight down on the left side, a hairy road and all that shale to drive on. Made it to the lake late at night, and then it snowed. Too late to drive back down so I slept in the front seat, and fished the next day. One measly trout.

End of rantin’ and reminiscin’…

 

Two weeks ago on a previous fishing trip, found a great lake but too windy to fish the first day. The next day found another great small lake, but it poured rain non stop for 18 hours. Fished 2 hours in the pissing rain.

A couple days ago and I am out again. Made it as far as the highway, then waited over an hour due to an accident.

Turned around, and drove up 4,000 ft to an area with many mountain lakes.

Went to a remote lake, and 4 trucks parked in a spot that fits 2, and not even room to put my cartop boat into the lake.

So, searched for access to a new to me lake on some bad trails, and drove 1 hour with no luck finding a way in.

So, headed east on the mountain highway to a lake I have never fished. A catch and release fly fish only lake. Got my boat in the water at 1:30pm after leaving home at 600am that morning. No one at the lake, just me.

6.5 hours driving for just a day trip and that just to get to the lake.

Fished a couple hours in the too hot sun. Not a bite, and not a single jumper on the lake, and a family of loons tailing my fly line all the way.

Scratched the shit out of the passenger side of my truck on the trail down to where I launched my boat. Too far to walk the boat down, and too lazy to get the chainsaw out.

That, was a different kind of fishing day. Oh well, still beats being stuck in the office at my old job.

 

You're my inspiration for retirement, ppat4. How large is that boat? Looks like an 8 footer and light enough to put on a cap with the racks. Pretty easy to get up on those racks?

 

Its a 10 foot Lund. Only weighs 85 pounds. So simple to get on and off with the wheels, 1 man job and little effort. Pull a cotter pin, and the wheels can be flipped around the other way to roll it in and out of the lake. Wheels have to be up for fishing, otherwise too much drag in the water.

I have an electric motor but never use it, going to sell it. Waste of money, I prefer to row. Even with a majorly screwed up back and neck, rowing is fine. Bend over to tie up my shoelaces, and my back goes out. Go figure.

That boat is so beat up and scratched and dented, but no holes. Always dragging it across rocks and boulders at the shoreline.

My national anthem below, Elvin Bishop “Fishin”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhCTz8Tq9c

 

My national anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNS65db6jDg Trace Adkins - Mind on Fishin

 

Genoa peak today with Lake Tahoe in the background.

 

Which way did you go? From the Southern Kingsbury Side or From the North near the 50/28 split?

 

From the Southern Kingsbury side to the peak and back. First time off road up here in the Tahoe area.

 

Cool, the road from the south is a little bit more challenging than the north half. Next time I’m up in the south lake area I want to run Ellis Peak off the east entrance of the Rubicon.

 

Somewhere in the Sonoran Desert.

 

Duschene Ridge, Utah