Alee891's Radiant Red Build & BS

Late night proj wrapped up before we leave for Moab tomorrow morning. Thanks @3378jakesr5 for the lights and equipment to install. Huge thanks to @capturecolorado for digging out his solder iron and letting me pick it up late this evening. So damn happy to have light in the bed now.

 

Dude take a shit ton of pics so I can live vicariously through you at Moab!

 

Probably the longest post I've had to date (photo heavy). If you don't like it get bent.

Took a trip to Utah this past weekend (10/21 - 10/23) to do White Rim with @thefatkid & @Poorboyota26.

The week leading up to the trip was hectic due to a busy work schedule and recent move to Golden. All of our shit is in boxes and/or spread throughout the new place, so digging for camping stuff was swell... I worked late into the night Thursday in order to get bed lights installed and do some minor stuff to get the rig ready for a shit load of dust. Callie and I also packed all of our stuff that night, so we made it to bed around 02:00 before waking up at 07:00 to put the finishing touches on packing and hit I-70. Brian and I left the Denver area Friday morning to meet up w/ Kevin and Brandi in Copper before we headed west bound for the desert. Kevin and Brian worked on getting permits for a one-night stay Saturday night, so we made camp on Willow Springs Road Friday night.

@thefatkid setting up his new Odin Designs tent, the 4 Seasons Hotel of RTT's.


I don't have any photos from Friday night, but we celebrated Callie's birthday with homemade cupcakes (made by Brandi) and a few beers around the camp fire. I can't believe Callie was down for a Moab trip over her birthday, but it turned out to be a weekend to remember.

@Poorboyota26 and Brandi tearing down camp early Saturday morning. Temps in Moab are still hot as hell this time of year.


Our "traditional" tent before tearing down. We looked like a bunch of poverty folk when surrounded by sophisticated RTTs


Overlook at Island In The Sky visitor center. Below you can see Shafer Road, a series of switchbacks that started our trip.


@thefatkid making his way down Shafer.


@Poorboyota26 heading down.


After our descent we stopped at the Colorado River overlook and Musselman Arch for some site seeing.

River overlook:






BECAUSE WE FUCKING CAN.


Musselman Arch:


@thefatkid stuck in a crack. It's not worth it.


Scenery and stuff looking past the arch.


After the arch we decided to put the hammer down in order to make it to camp before sundown. The many stops prior to Musselman Arch put us behind schedule time wise, so we set forth with the goal of making it to camp for a hike to watch the sunset.

@thefatkid just out for a rip


...then we stopped for more site seeing


Obligatory pano:


Some canyon that probably has a name, but I can't remember. Nice views though.


Poser photo.


Callie being touristy as all hell.


Stopped midway through the first day of the trail because Kevin was having shock/RTT problems. I guess bahaing (is that even a word) down desert two track has a tendency to shake things loose. Once everything was situated and tightened down we continued on.

Kevin squatting one out for a photo?


Oh, shit, guess we're going again now.


Some scenery photos as we neared Murphy Hogback. At this point we were chasing the sun in order to make it to camp on time.




@thefatkid starting the ascent of Murphy Hogback. Shadows had fallen on the landscape at this point.


The 'ol Tundy (or trail cow, whichever you prefer) lead the way with ease.


Kevin and Brandi close behind.


CAMP! After a long day in the heat we finally made it to Murphy campsite. Unfortuneately we didn't make it in time to setup camp AND make a sunset hike.


The rig looking majestic as fuck with some mesa's in the background.


Callie snapped a photo of Hannah and I wondering around camp just as the sun was going down. Not sure what we were looking for (possibly a place to setup the tent), but cool photo nonetheless.



Alright, Day 1 was in the books and we were all beat. We set up camp, made some food, and chatted throughout the night as the stars came out. I cooked Callie some fancy birthday dinner (hash brown patties and turkey...) and Kevin and I celebrated her birthday with a shot of Tin Cup. Callie was a little dehydrated from being in the sun all day and opted out on alcohol that evening and turned in early for bed. Due to the elevation change (I believe we were ~600ft lower than Friday night), temps were mild and sleeping was easy.

Sunday morning started early as we woke up to try and catch the sunrise (FAIL). The sky looked pre neat, though, so it was still worth it. Photos on Day 2 were sparse from my Sony. The battery died midway through the second half of the loop.


These two love birds taking in the sunrise.


Oh, shit, back on the trail again. Descent down the back side of Hogback with a bunch of tourists watching.


Touristy as fuck.


River overlook.




Kevin coming down a rocky section. Probably the only trail rated rocky section on White Rim.


Views & stuff.




Where there's a ledge, there's a Toyota...


Some canyon fun as we neared the end of the trail.




Another Colorado river overlook.


View point at the top of Hardscabble Hill.


@thefatkid paving the way in the Tundy.


Towards the end of White Rim we stopped at Fort Bottom trail to do some hiking and sightseeing. We hiked along the hillside as we made our way to an old rock hut (of which I don't have photos).




JK. If you look closely you can see the hut to the right of the photo.


At the end of Day 2, we all grouped together before hitting the paved road, unloaded our fuel tanks, chatted briefly and said our goodbyes. We hit the road around ~5:00 and made it home around ~12:30 that morning. We couldn't have asked for a better trip before year's end. Many thanks to Brian, Kevin, and Brandi for inviting us along and making the trip as badass as it could be.

 

Good looking pics for a peasant that sleeps on the ground

Looks like a fun time

 

Awesome report Austin!

White Rim is one of the few I still haven't done. It's on the list though. Looks like an excellent time of year to be out there as well!

 

The peasant camera even did alright.

Maybe one day I'll get an RTT... don't plan on it anytime soon, though. I just want an awning haha

 

Thanks, Brett! I was surprised how hot it still was. This time of year is great for sightseeing and avoiding big crowds. Many of the campsites we passed throughout the trail were unoccupied.

White Rim is only the 2nd "overland" trail I've done, with the exception of Rim Rocker on our way to Rock Therapy this year. I'm really enjoying the multi-day trails, though, and look forward to planning a handful of trips next year.

 

If you have a peasant camera what's a phone then?

 

A phone?

Although, my new Iphone 7 camera is pretty damn good. A lot better than some of the garbage cameras I use for work.

 

yeah iPhone 6 camera but it's better than nothing

 

Looks like an awesome trip!

It's on my list too. My first time to Moab I ended up on it by accident. Probably went 15miles before I realized what the White Rim was! Being dark and not having the fuel to make it, I decided to turn around .

 

Looks like a fun trip! Ours was also excellent. Weather was perfect I thought down there.

 

Did some snow bashing w/ @Reh5108 this past weekend at Jones Pass.

Photos can be found here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/colorado-trip-reports.250254/page-148#post-13705507

I'd do a write-up, but all photos were captured with my phone... and I'm lazy as usual.

 

Subd.

 

@ChadsPride you have competition.

 

Pffffhahahahahahah that just made my night!

 

That's the "Oh fuck! This isn't the mall" face

 

Must have made a left at Starbucks instead of a right that day. My intentions were to pose on the red, concrete spheres at target. As you can tell by the expression on my face, I was lost as fawk.

 

Not Tacoma related, but put the security deposit down on this little gal.



Blue Merle Border Collie w/ a little Kelpie. Open for name suggestions. Right now we have Remmy, Sophie, Sage, and Willow in consideration.

We get to pick her up in Walden on Dec. 23 on our way back to the Black Hills, just in time for Christmas.

I plan on building a platfrom for the rear seats this weekend similar to this:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dog-platform.357086/

I really like that the platform is divided into two sections so that a single rear seat can still be used in addition to the platform. Hopefully I can get it finished up in a timely manner on Saturday and post a little write-up. I also need to get photos posted of the retro headlights (still), as well as the new winch connection (now mounted in the grill). This thread is lacking as of late.