Where Have You Off-Roaded Today? 3rd Gen

You sunk that 16D nail with one blow like Big John Henry!!!

It must be as before being turned around by the locked gate just past the country store, we came across groups of hikers taking refuge under trees at the South Fork Kern River. There was also an airstream with a sign that read Two Foot Adventures parked at the country store parking lot. All hikers looked tapped out!!!!!!!

 

I am told there is (I am sure it does exist, I just have not seen it) a video of a man keeping the camera trained on the mountain lion that found him. He backed up a full mile to return to his car and NEVER turned away from the creature. The reason for the video in such a dangerous situation ... if he had to keep looking that direction, ...

He was rather disturbed at the events of that day ...

 

What kind of topper is that? I love the side windows!

 

No matter the time of year, the sunset rays offer the most beautiful light and ambience on planet Earth IMHO. I’ll tell ya, the Joshua Trees did a number on U2, because the way that album makes you feel is spot on what the desert feels like.

 

LOL, too funny - “You sunk that 16D nail with one blow like Big John Henry!!!”

I worked many years as a carpenter. One outfit was all Italians and Portugese guys, and they were really great guys. If you could not drive a 3.5 inch spike flat in with a single blow of your framing hammer, you were basically a wuss.

My partner on that job, in his past life had been a mercenary soldier in Angola. He had a few bullet hole scars right in his stomach. Also a nasty, deep 8” chainsaw scar that ran from his shoulder to his neck. Chainsaw bucked and he almost decapitated himself. He was a fantastic carpentry partner, and married with kids when I worked alongside him.

 

I hike a fair amount, amd always on guard as I hike alone and not on groomed trails, just bushwhacking. Drawn to remote nature.

Here is a crazy video. A guy being followed just 40 foot away, by a mother grizzly and 2 cubs. Big stress, and the guy handled it so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oASEB1Z6VFk

Some years ago, my father on a moose hunting trip was almost killed by a grizzly sow with cubs. He comes into a small clearing in thick brush, and 2 cubs are 20 foot away. Mother comes charging out of the bush 40 foot away and he raises his rifle and gets off a very lucky shot. He would have been done otherwise. I was not on that trip.

My dad here, a photo I took. A nice bull, we bagged about 20 like that over the decades. For food, no interest in a trophy. That is the typical terrain we hunted. Hiking 15 miles per day up and down mountains was common. Small backpack with food and emergency gear, lots of coffee and Finnish rye bread with salted salmon, that was it. No camouflage, no ATV, just bolt action rifles and a lot of hiking. He was a real life Davey Crockett, incredible tracking and outdoor skills. I doubt few could match him. Plus a jack of all trades, miner, logger, carpenter, commercial fisherman, and together we built some homes and a 40 ft commercial salmon troller.

One of my favorite photos of him.

 

Bestop, I don't think they make it anymore

 

Damn the luck.

 

We left grandmas and from Idaho we headed to the redwoods. Found a road that had some hiking trails. At the end of the dirt road we came across a sandy area by the beach we were able to drive on.

Ps. Getting stuck in the sand is one of my wife’s worst fears when going off the beaten path

 

Today near Gringo Gulch, AZ

 

Out in the Sequoia National Forest earlier today.

 

Gold Mountain, John Bull, Holcomb Creek trails this weekend. The truck made the Gold mountain and John Bull gatekeepers and obstacles really well. Made some Jeeps look bad. Quick winch through the middle rock garden at Holcomb creek and we were on our way. TJ behind the JK behind me said nope and turned around

 

Sierra National Forest

 

Welcome to TW!

 

I went back to the Rim.



Heading to a second spot on day two, I got half way there and realized I wasnt't that far from Horseshoe Bend. So I made an impromptu change in direction, ha. Had no idea it was such a tourist destination.







Not bad for a Pixel 6 Pro, ha.



After that, the whim continued and we ended up across the state line in Utah, teehee.







And then to end this epic adventure, I made one last rest stop near Sunset Crater and my blue heeler found a fresh pile of human feces and decided to roll around in it, smh. After doing the best I could to clean him up, we headed home. Yes, he was the first thing out of the truck and hand escorted directly to the tub when we got home. 2nd heeler followed and then I disinfected my truck, smh, bleh, ha. But still a great trip!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L_1_QD8HiVA

 

I took this one from the driver’s seat of the truck, believe it or not:

 

Silverado on a foggy mountain day

 

Coyote Dry Lake, near Barstow, CA

Rainbow Basin, near Barstow, CA

 

Trails around the Appalachian Mountains. Last weekend.

 

Hey man, what trails? I'm close and looking for places to go.