Westbound and Down: The LGAA planning thread

I was just chatting with the boss (since the other office is in Highlands Ranch). Her husband just got a 3rd gen too. But she said there is still snow in the mountain passes. I forgot what was in the beginning of this thread and havent gone back yet, but I guess May is not a plan yet. Maybe June or July?

 

Yea I think there's still some snow in may, mid June-July would probably be ideal

 

My truck is still down & out. Until I get it running properly I'm not even going to speculate on when this trip might be possible for me

 

Rainy day dreaming...

Was recently talking to @ADV4R who got a good trip out west in already...but I'm still planning to do a big 2ish week adventure. Something the likes of what @Blackdawg does with their long trips mostly on dirt. CO/UT, see as much and wheel as much as possible.

The outlook dictates for itself when this will be possible, for me at least:
2018...probably out for me. My truck still having issues. And I've taken a bunch of vacation time already.
2019...also likely out for me. Honeymoon shenanigans will eat up most of my vacation time.
2020...no big plans yet...should have the truck ready by then...LET'S DO THIS!

Yes 2 years out is a long way to plan but being that it'll likely entail 2-3 days of driving each way and *hopefully* at least 7 days of real wheeling, I don't see it as being unquestionably optimistic and out of the realm of what would make for substantial time to plan and prep. It would also allow for more time to acquire gear and parts, outfit the truck a bit better, work out some kinks in its wheeling abilities, and get some more seat time under my/our belts in the woods and on the trails (hopefully together) before running a long trip like this.

I hate that this trip is unlikely to happen this/next year, but I refuse to let the dream die...

 

Alright reporting back. Did the western traveling honeymoon trip. It was fucking dope. Absolutely worth it. Skipped Moab as we have been before and had to cut 1 week off the trip due to an issue with the cat that delayed our departure. I'll save that for a future trip, didn't want to rush it out there.

General loop was: SW Colorado San Juan mountains, Capitol Reef NP , Bryce canyon NP , Zion NP , Salt lake City (national forest just to the east of the city for camping), Jackson WY/Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Black Hills, SD, back home. 3 weeks, 3 hotels total, never paid for camping and got to enjoy solitude in the National Forest. Didn't go after anything too crazy on the off roading end, truck was easily able to handle everything.

I'd be down to do it again in the future. As an east coaster, I'm super jealous of what is so readily available out there.

 

Well that looks like it was properly awesome

 

I definitely learned a lot out there and would say a proper camping setup is a must since there is the opportunity, with some area knowledge to camp the entire length of the trip with all dispersed (free) camping which would save a bundle over campgrounds and hotels.
During my trip, which was the first week of June, they had no passes in which I completed that had any snow remaining on the trail. However, this was apparently a super dry winter and now into summer season for them (reason they have crazy wildfires burning it up out there). So for our future planning would stick to at least mid June.
I would be interested in a UT trip as well. But even though I had been out there I still am down for a trip out there with all who participates. Although if we are definitely looking at 2020, my living location might change by then, but from where I am looking I should still be able to join in with you guys. I just might have to travel east to get to the trails rather than West

 

I'm adding Lake Powell and Alstrom Point to the mandatory to-see part of this list

 

Also wondering what the reality of making it a 10 day trip would be. Leave on a Friday and return the following Sunday, or leave on a Saturday and return the following Monday. Something like that.

 

Alstrom point is a must see. One of the coolest places in the country.

I did 10 days when I went to Moab. Drive Friday and Saturday, moab Sunday to Saturday, drive back Saturday and Sunday. I'm in Alabama so it's about 24 hours driving for me.

For Colorado I left Saturday afternoon, got to colorado springs Sunday afternoon to pick up a friend at the airport. Spent Sunday night through Saturday afternoon wheeling in Colorado and then booked it back home to make it to work on Monday.

I've got trip reports on both of these trips in the trip report forum here if you want to look through them, lots of pictures and decent descriptions of the trails. Last December I spent about 2 weeks in California, that trip report is in my build thread on T4R, but I haven't posted it here yet. Maybe I'll do that this week.

This May I spent about 3 weeks on the road, drove all the way to Washington state and back. Wheeling and checking out the national parks all along the way. I haven't got the trip report for this trip sorted yet, but I plan to get it posted soon.

You should definitely make a trip like this. It's awesome to travel the country by car, you see so much. It's amazing to see how many cool sites there are to take in in the US also, especially once you get to the western half of the country. Take as long as you can, and see as much as you can.

 

Haha, I read yours a while back and some of it has influenced what I want to see. Love that about this forum...really helping to steer me in the right direction in terms of what to see and do out west.

Seems like a lot of people have done the 10 day trip. Unfortunately Moab is a 33 hour drive for me (according to Google Maps and the current conditions, etc.) but it must be worth it.

 

Yeah trip reports are a great way to figure out what you want to see and learn from others, glad you got something out of them.

Moab is totally worth it. I'm hoping to make it back out there this spring.

 

If you're interested I can add you to the list of possible attendees for this trip, make for a nice TW easterners-head-west trip

 

From this last weekend in Moab. Oh, and good running into @Sub-Zero on the trails! Y'all coming or what???!

 

Hey go vote for me pleaee!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vote-now-tw-ride-of-the-month-april.606144/

 

Fine Mark! Haha. Voted

 

Where did this end up? my wife and I are planning honeymoon V2 as an out west road trip. We are in michigan, and our rough plan is Fort collins, SLC, Canyonlands, Moab, Alpine Loop, Pikes peak, and then home. I plan on doing mostly easy to medium scenic trails (no lockers). I would love to meet up with the OP or other guys from the areas we are visiting.

 

I think this is still in the "idea" phase. The most likely time this would occur is in the 2020 year. Probably late summer early fall. I've been to those locations except pikes peak, and you will not be disappointed. Especially the Moab area is unreal with endless opportunities to explore. Just make sure to respect the land.

 

Are you back from your trip? That looked awesome! I saw your IG or FB posts