5th gen 4Runners in scenic locations

Hope you had your recovery gear with you. Gorgeous sunset!

 

Here is some of Sedona today....I know many like these before but my first time on this trail. 4R did good today.

 

India and I took a 2,000-mile round-trip from Phoenix, AZ to Boise, ID. Our first stop, and India's first Dog Park, was Love's to weigh the 4Runner, which came in just overweight at 6,440# gross weight, 3,080# front and 3,360# back axles, after adding the 2nd 400ah battery (but India too gained ~25# since we last weighed the 4Runner).


Next, we stopped at Grey Mountain, AZ, which is north of Flagstaff, AZ and south of the Grand Canyon, AZ, and where I randomly found India and her three siblings in the middle of nowhere after they were purposely abandoned there. It was moving watching India sniffing the air as if she were familiar with the area and knew where she had come from.


Hoping to take the tandem bike with us next year to Alaska, I loaded it up to see what adjustments would need to be made for taking it on the long trip and offroad (that's India's slobber on the window).


Heading to the South Canyon Trail via the north rim of the Grand Canyon. A current rule is, that if I air down then the bike gets strapped in. The intent: Decrease the torsion on the bike rack from the bike's lateral movement offroad. (The blue basket over the rear wheel is India's seat.)


While I had planned for India and me to hike down (pink route) to the Colorado River once there I had a change of mind as I was exhausted due to day two with a viral illness. Maybe some other time. Nonetheless, what a great spot on the north rim.


After a number of unplanned undocumented stops, due to not feeling well, India and I made it to Boise, ID to pick up My Life [sic], who had flown there days before and was traveling with us back home. When in the Kanab, UT area we prefer to stay at the Best Friends Roadhouse (https://www.bestfriendsroadhouse.org/) with our animal companions. This is India's first stay. Pictured is Houdini, one of the Best Friends Sanctuary alumni from Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, LA (https://bestfriends.org/stories/features/dog-who-survived-hurricane-katrina-gets-adopted)...because we all have a story--Save Them All.

 

What a great adventure. Have you hiked that South Canyon trail previously? AllTrails makes it sound like a pretty difficult scramble. Although the description is for a longer hike from a different trailhead than your drop-down. Also saying that it’s not good for doggers.

 

Nice trip report. Thanks very much.

 

India said the same thing, "AllTrails (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/south-canyon-trail-to-colorado-river) said, 'NO dogs allowed!'"

I have not been on the South Canyon Trail. I read up on it at AllTrails too after seeing the trail on GAIA for a different purpose, and the GAIA trail route caught my attention. As you mention, AllTrails rates it difficult, and from the top, it looks challenging but not intimidating. However, without hiking the trail, I cannot comment on its difficulty. Having said that, from the top, this trail is definitely not easy or for the inexperienced. Additionally, as you mentioned, my start point is different from the AllTrails' start point. The route I was taking joined the AllTrails' reference almost at the midpoint. Without taking either I would say the difference was the distance, mine was shorter, and the terrain and difficulty would be similar. My intent was to overnight camp by the river once down and ascend the next morning. However, while I might have made it down despite not feeling well it was not worth the risk of getting more ill the next day and not making it back up. As for India, I planned on tucking her into my backpack for most of the hike. Like Foresty Forest and Rocko do on YouTube. But you are correct: Dogs are NOT allowed, as the hike is within the Grand Canyon.

Thanks for the nice comment.

 

Still in Arizona this week. Today, we did Soldiers Pass and Broken Arrow. And yes, we went down the staircase AKA devil's steps. The 4R of course behaved extremely well!

 

I love this thread, so many great pics, inspiring places to visit.

 

Best thread on here! Not all of the Mickey Mouse shit that comprises the other 80% of the threads!

 

First real off road outing. a co-worker took me up an unnamed trail on West Mountain in Utah, just east of Provo. Beautiful views. The clouds left snow on the peaks you see in the distance.

 

I traveled the Wyoming Back Country Discovery Route in July and here are a few pics from that trip.

Cheers,
Bob

 

Near sonora pass. Finally got to use my rock sliders.

 

Arizona?

 

Yessir

 

What beautiful trees you have

 

River Road hugging the mighty Fraser River
British Columbia

 

I didn't do donuts

 

Just got back from Moab...first time there and we'll be back...trip report as soon as I get it together ;-p

 

Is there a reason everyone buys the trim overlays and no one covers them in 3m vinyl wrap. Am I missing something here? Are the pieces hard to remove and folks just look for the easy way out?

 

Easy way out. I don't know anything about 3m vinyl wrap. Never heard of it. I know you can wrap a car...I know people who have wrapped cars.

Pretty easy to stick an overlay on.

 

Not as scenic as these other dudes but it's hard to beat a freshly mowed lawn.

 

Gotcha. Easy is right but the cost factor is huge.. guess some have more than others ‍♂️

 

Was about a hundred for a full overlay kit. I don't like how they look. Been thinking of removing them and spray painting my stock emblems and then clear coating.

 

Must of been a while ago… now the kit is $400 CDN unless I’m looking at the wrong stuff..

 

I think you're talking interior trim and I'm talking emblems and we are in the wrong thread anyway, should post this in a different spot.

 

Ah. I thought it was fitting for this thread as I was about to get the overlays on and decided against it due to cost.. gonna return it.

 

Limited glamour shots! LOL

 

Here are some from today on pretty easy back roads and forestry service roads behind Cheyenne mountain going from Colorado Springs towards Cripple Creek. We were mostly leaf peeping today, as were quite a few others. Most of the Aspens below 8,000 feet had already turned and dropped their leaves. Around 10,000 feet though they were still a pretty vibrant yellow.

 

October greetings from the Maine Coast! Averaged 22.4 mpg on the 435 mile trip up. Not too shabby!