5th gen 4Runners in scenic locations

I moved from Arizona to North Carolina last year. The humidity isn’t that bad (imho) compared to the heat. However, there are things that I missed about being out west.

• Quick access to trails
• Amazing mountain peaks
• Not having to worry about mold (not as common but could happen in Arizona)
• Less bugs (there are bugs in NC I have never seen).

However, there are benefits I love about the east…

• 4 seasons
• Fireplace in winter (northern Arizona uses fireplaces)
• Grass that I don’t have to constantly try to keep green
• rain
• Beautiful scenery (trees, mountains, etc)

All in all they have their benefits. I asked my wife if I were to go back would she? Her answer was a resounding… NO!!! We miss family but we love it out east. Still want to travel out west to go off-roading and see family but that is about it.

 

Up in the PNW, we have all that!

 

Kite Lake, CO

Can you spot my truck?

 

But there is still quite a bit of humidity for me anyway. End up drenched with any exertion, even in the winter. I think I'm too used to the desert. Oh, but luckily very few ticks so far. (knock on wood. LOL)

 

We have had rain almost every day for about a month and a half. This is the monsoon season and it has been very good to us this year. While the rest of the west has been 90 to 100 degrees, we have been in the 70’s.

 

city scapes

 

Meefzah, I could live like a king if we moved to Our place in Pa. Sell the place in NM and no mortgage in Pa. But, the sport of falconry is 1000 times better in the west because the western states have Jack rabbits, the eastern states do not. They do a lot of squirrel hawking back there. So you end up using different birds to hunt with. I have my golden eagle, but, it’s a waste of time to have one in the east. They don’t do well in the forest, but, are great on long chases over the open desert. Lately, my place in NM has been getting more rain than Pennsylvania. When I am in Pa, there is nothing better than sitting on our screened in porch drinking coffee and listening to the creek as it flows by. We have rapids right by our place. How ever, it does suck when you have to do anything because you end up soaking wet from the humidity.

 

I'm not leaving the south west and west for couple of years.

 

8 years grad school in Buffalo. I can hang.

 

damn that looks bad ass!

 

Gettysburg, Pa

 

Its for a Thor Hammer

 

I did some quick poking around the net and found my answer. Then deleted my post. Thanks for the quick reply, though.

 

No pics and we did it in our RAV4, not the 4Runner but we ran into a herd of about 50 elk coming home from the Yakama "Rez". For those who know the area, it was about a mile south of Hwy 97 and Blewett Pass. We had just cleared the crest and my wife said "No elk" (there's a herd that winters in that area). I told her the elk would be up in the high country to avoid the heat and the bugs. We came around a shallow curve and there they were! I guess 7 years of college was wasted!!

 

Sunrise in the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, CA.

 

Beautiful Picture!

 

Left the SW for the PNW 20+ years ago. We go back down to visit family once or twice a year. Family in L.A., Victorville/Apple Valley and Flagstaff. Usually go down 395 along the eastern Sierras. Visit Bodie, Manzanar, etc. Usually try to hit Gallup and maybe relatives along the east side of the Rockies.

 

BearBio, know Hwy 395 very well. Lived in So Ca for more than 50 years and would drive 395 many times a year to camp and fish the High Sierra’s. Retired to NM in 2007.

 

Did someone call my name?

 

With all the fires and I-5 closures in Castaic, we might be changing plans and going 395 again!

Looks like HWY 99 south to Fresno then Hwy 58 to Victorville/Apple Valley (hit Tommy's in Barstow! ). Return via 395. Gotta check fire maps!

 

Tincup Pass, CO

 

man i looove that blue!!!

 

Taylor Pass, CO

 

Weston Pass, CO

 

https://youtu.be/29A9PKmqnzM

 

Is that you @Fltslr ? If so you have slowed down since I went off-roading with you last.

 

Just enjoying the scenery

 

Capulin Volcano in New Mexico - National Park.

 

National Monument, not a National Park. A slight but definite difference (From someone who worked 20+ years with the Department of the Interior).