Run for the Border (2022 Trip Planning)

Run for the Border
Planning thread
Summer 2022​

This is the planning thread for a 1-2 week adventure across our northern border to visit our friendly neighbors in Canada.

Lavina Lookout, BC, Canada.


Rady Creek, BC, Canada.​

Start Date: Aug 6-14 inclusive.

Trails: There are... a lot. They will be in British Columbia and Alberta. A GPS file will be shared prior to the trip via PM; public updates to the trail list will be general only. Here's why.

The main "RULES":
These - along with the format for this thread - are taken from the very first TW trip that I went on. I don't think there's any better way to say them.

There aren't any real rules... I can't make anyone do anything. So, these are more like guidelines that regulars in this group would appreciate that everyone follows; it'll be a better time that way.

1. We are all in it together. As in, we are all doing this for generally the same reasons. To get away from busy life and enjoy some fun driving, camping, and sights with great company. This also means if someone gets hurt or damages their rig, we all help how we can. Your tools/parts/gear should be considered OUR tools/parts/gear. I know that often goes without saying but just wanna put it out there.
   .
2. Respect everyone. We do this to get away from drama, not to create it (despite all of our constant ribbing of each other). So, chill. Breath the fresh air and enjoy the moment .

Thats pretty much it. Let's have a good time!

The new Rules:
OK, there are some actual new rules, just because of the world we all live in now, which is significantly different than 2017, and the fact that we're crossing the border.

1. Be prepared to cross the Canadian border. Bring your passport, there will be at least two border crossings. If you are going to have trouble crossing the border for any reason, this is not the trip for you.
2. Bring nothing with you that makes it difficult to cross the border or that requires special paperwork (e.g guns, pepper spray, alcohol in quantity, etc.)
3. You must be fully vaccinated + boosted and you must be willing to comply with all proof/testing/masking requirements while entering/in Canada.

How do I sign up?
As much as we would like to have 20 Tacoma's or more come on this, it just isn't possible. A lot of the areas have limited camping room. We are limiting this to 6 rigs at any given time.

Some people have been invited before-hand. We will track additional folks who are interested. Priority goes to those who can make longer durations of the trip and who can start at the beginning.

Do you need a 1st gen Tacoma? No.

Gear/Rig Prep:

• Tire size: If history is an indication (it is), all of this trip will be doable with a truck on 32s. Even 31s really. But 33s are recommend for some of the trails.
• Full size spare.
  
• CB Radio is required. Not kidding. If you don't have one, get one. Handheld is fine.
• 5 gal of extra gas minimum; 10 gal recommended. Be ready for gas to be significantly more expensive in Canada.
• Working emergency brake.
• Somewhere to sleep. This doesn't need to be a fancy tent mounted to your truck. Ground tents are great, sleeping in the bed is fine. It is bear country, and we will be at elevation.
• Sliders are highly recommended. Not just as armor but as recovery points.
• If you have a credit card with no international fees, bring it.

Thats it for basic gear. Of course, all the other cool shit is always great. But don't feel like you need to spend 10 grand on the truck suddenly for this...because you don't.

That's it! Who's ready for an adventure??

 

Initial notification:
@POSTacoMike, @Blackdawg, @Digiratus, @drr, @m3bassman, @Speedytech7, @Squeaky Penguin

Going for the entire trip:

• Dan - @turbodb
• Mike - @Digiratus
• Monte - @Blackdawg

Interested:

• Initial notification folks
• @Pj40
• @stonylaroux

 

@turbodb Dan I wish there were more people like you with respect to preserving our outdoors! I read why do not share/share and respect that philosophy 100% and do the same. The "insta" people are the same ones that get lost/stuck/injured way out in the backcountry then complain that is takes SAR hours to get to them. However, they do keep Matt's Offroad Recovery in business! LOL.

Paul

PS - get the KDMax tune before you head out. @PNWTacoma can probably get a group rate/deal if enough people are interested.

 

No idea what my summer is going to look like, but subbed.

And good on ya for the public invite. I've meet a lot of great friends on random open-invite TW trips. Need to make some of those happen again as well.

 

Canada eh? Cool.

And love the copy paste from the detour ha I think the Cb part could be changed to either cb or ham at this point. Will just be some extra coordination to see what people have what.

 

None of us in the "core group" have turd gens. All best gens(1st)

I agree. See what happens. Hope you can make it whatever we come up with.

 

I thought it was appropriate, since that was our last public planning thread!

I never brought it up in DV, but I'm wondering if it's time to move off of CB, maybe to GMRS. Seems like that's what most people who are getting into exploring are using these days. Ham is good for us, but requires a license, which seems tough to require on a trip where we invite others.

Also, I have a feeling that your dates are going to be the most difficult to figure out. Can you request time off early? (now) Then we can get a bit question mark answered. Was a great thing about the De-Tour and F.U.Rain where we had the dates for a while.

 

GMRS requires a license for use in the US too.

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

I still believe the CB is the best option for those unwilling or unable to acquire a ham license.

 

Yeah I'll work on that.

I can tell you it'd be august 7-21st

Gmrs..eh idk. Haven't looked into it much but it means another damn radio haha

Huh interesting I thought you didn't need a license either.

 

Interested. No interest in going into Canada though. Canada is alright, but I like bringing pew pews on overland trips a lot more.

 

Well getting a license is easy. Just apply and pay $70. No test required.

Im curious if you have a HAM license if you even need a GMRS one though..more digging to do..

Edit:

Thats a negative. You need a separate license for a few reasons.

So another license and another radio..hmm. Idk. I haven't met anyone yet even using GMRS yet so be hard to convince me to get a setup I think at this point. Especially since if those of us with Licenses bring handhelds to pass around those folks can operate under out callsigns legally more or less and doing simplex is not that risky anyways at low power.

 

We aren't much of a pew pew crowd honestly. Nothing against them. But we never bring them, or use them, or encourage their use or presence.

 

ok, good to know. probably not the trip for me then. out of curiosity, who is "we" though? literally every other outing I've been on via this NW forum has been Pew friendly.

 

Im not saying we aren't pew pew friendly. We just don't make them a priority and part of the trip.

The "we" I guess is the dudes that tend to meet every year for this big trip. Myself, Digirtus, Turbodb mainly never miss it and tend to do the core planning. We have a few others that tend to be there regularly as well that are close friends.

Again, Im not saying don't come or don't bring anything. But I am saying we likely won't make any plans to stop somewhere to let off a few rounds. We've had plenty of people on our trips that have and do that. No problems with it.

But i guess since we are planning for Canada first, Montana is our fall back, then maybe it won't work out if it's that important to you? Up to you.

 

all good man, thanks for explaining. It's never the top priority of multiday trips for me either, but at the end of a long day of driving, it's fun, but not if I'm the only one. I'll keep following this thread for updates for now.

 

Interesting, didn't realize there was a license or that large a cost (well, relatively large anyway). I agree that for our normal group, CB is still the best. Was just wondering if over time we'd migrate. If we do, we should all do it together so we can replace the CB antennas and not have even larger antenna farms.

+1 to all that Monte said. We've certainly had folks on the trips with guns before, and I wouldn't have added anything about it this time except that with the borders already "on edge," there's no reason for us to push the line at all.

 

I never said I would attempt a border crossing with them, that would be moronic. I meant it was an either/ or...pew pew OR border crossing.