Bringing a thread over here I just posted on ORTB. We get far too few demonstrations of what you can do with a lifted, modified truck. Mine is built for long-range expedition driving, living out of the truck for as long as a week at a time. After a couple of years of not getting together with my old time expedition buddy Greg (member name Teebes) , one of the guys I started Offroadtb.com with five years ago, we were able to put together four days offroading a couple of weekends ago. Over 350 miles of dirt and dust and rocks.
So Greg (Teebes) and I both have work issues getting away for 6-10 days like we used to in the days of the epic Sierra Nevada and Death Valley expeditions, but we managed to do four days recently to commemorate the 5th anniversary of ORTB, and to reconnect after Greg's relocation to Vegas. Managed to drop some really good GPS bread crumb trails this time with new tablet tools, so here is a link to an annotated Google archive:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zQbBj0a_Y-6g.ktAKuHnNlAr4
DAY ZERO: Drive to Vegas
On I-15, there is a massive mirror-based solar power generation facility.
There is a bit of environmental controversy about this one now because of the bird kill. It will never be zero, but the bird-huggers are especially up in arms because of the *way* they die. In wind turbines, they get chopped up. In the solar facilities, they catch fire in the air, and fall to earth as what's been called *streamers*. Sigh....there's no perfect way out of the need for air conditioning in a place like Vegas.
Closer to the city, the pavement is striped with these triple lines. Don't know why. They aren't noise makers to wake you up, so I haven't been able to guess the purpose yet. Anybody have a clue?
At Greg's fantastic house:
So we get on the road for Day 1. (152 miles total for Day 2 combined) Greg with nice LED taillights. I had been telling him for years when one or the other of his brake lights went out. No failures at all now. And his intrepid trail dog SPEED, in his traditional spot on a pad behind Greg. Only problem is when we're on a steep downhill trail, and something flies from the back and hits Speed, he leaps forward and gets in Greg's lap, and that does nothing to enhance his driving skill.
On our way out of town towards Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (BLM) http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html There's an entrance fee as for National Parks. Annual passes can cut this expense, as can (what works finally for me) turning 62, so I bought a lifetime national park pass for $10 (!) that also gives discounts on organized campgrounds where it's not free.
First of the Joshua Trees that dot (or carpet) distinctive areas around here and the Mojave Preserve just to the south of Vegas.
Some of the noted red rocks
So Greg (Teebes) and I both have work issues getting away for 6-10 days like we used to in the days of the epic Sierra Nevada and Death Valley expeditions, but we managed to do four days recently to commemorate the 5th anniversary of ORTB, and to reconnect after Greg's relocation to Vegas. Managed to drop some really good GPS bread crumb trails this time with new tablet tools, so here is a link to an annotated Google archive:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zQbBj0a_Y-6g.ktAKuHnNlAr4
DAY ZERO: Drive to Vegas
On I-15, there is a massive mirror-based solar power generation facility.
There is a bit of environmental controversy about this one now because of the bird kill. It will never be zero, but the bird-huggers are especially up in arms because of the *way* they die. In wind turbines, they get chopped up. In the solar facilities, they catch fire in the air, and fall to earth as what's been called *streamers*. Sigh....there's no perfect way out of the need for air conditioning in a place like Vegas.
Closer to the city, the pavement is striped with these triple lines. Don't know why. They aren't noise makers to wake you up, so I haven't been able to guess the purpose yet. Anybody have a clue?
At Greg's fantastic house:
So we get on the road for Day 1. (152 miles total for Day 2 combined) Greg with nice LED taillights. I had been telling him for years when one or the other of his brake lights went out. No failures at all now. And his intrepid trail dog SPEED, in his traditional spot on a pad behind Greg. Only problem is when we're on a steep downhill trail, and something flies from the back and hits Speed, he leaps forward and gets in Greg's lap, and that does nothing to enhance his driving skill.
On our way out of town towards Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (BLM) http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca.html There's an entrance fee as for National Parks. Annual passes can cut this expense, as can (what works finally for me) turning 62, so I bought a lifetime national park pass for $10 (!) that also gives discounts on organized campgrounds where it's not free.
First of the Joshua Trees that dot (or carpet) distinctive areas around here and the Mojave Preserve just to the south of Vegas.
Some of the noted red rocks