5th gen 4Runners in scenic locations

Saw the world's largest steam locomotive today, Big Boy, 1,000,000 pounds of steam technology! I've never seen so many people up in the hills. I80 was a clusterF**k, stop and go all the way. Even my secret spot had people who hiked to get to that particular tunnel, IDK why.


I've never seen anyone at this spot, Casa Loma Spring, a paleo Indian village site above Giant Gap. And a fricken tree fell down on the tracks and stopped the train in Auburn, if you can believe that. So we went to the river for a couple hours then returned. 4Runner Nation!

 

I was up in a region of mesas and rimrock at an elevation of about 7000 feet this afternoon...nice day with a few fluffy clouds in the sky. Suddenly my phone began playing a series of weird loud tones. Looking at it, I saw the National Weather Service had sent out an emergency alert for a severe dust storm - hurricane force winds and zero visibility. In only a couple minutes the skies began turning black and the wind picked up.


I started hurrying to get back to a good road but just up ahead I could see I was too late:


When I got up on the next ridge and looked across the valley, here's what I saw. That cloud of dust had to be moving 70 mph. They were right. Zero visibility. Had to wait a couple hours before I could see the road out.

 

Wow! I worry about dust storms in AZ. I haven't seen one that bad elsewhere before.

 

Incredible photos! You see lots of huge dust storms in movies, but the only one I've seen in real life was also in Nevada, along Highway 375 (the "Extraterrestrial Highway"). In the middle of the dust storm, I rode into a herd of cattle wandering across the road (it's all open range). Orange sky, visibility about 20 feet, and huge cows wandering all around my bike...it was incredibly eerie.

 

Free range cattle are bad enough in clear skies with an enclosed vehicle. On a motorcycle with no visibility they would be an absolute nightmare.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. It was a ride from hell, but very memorable. They were so thick I decided to rev the engine (not an impressive sound on a GS) to get them to move, and some ran away from me, and some ran towards me (both aspects of fight or flight lol). Once I reached the other side the temperature plummeted, and the winds were brutal. I nearly kissed the ground when I discovered someone had planted a town named "Tonopah" in the middle of nowhere with gas and a hotel.

 

I think this qualifies as scenic

Boulder is 4R capitol

 

Finally had a chance to get up to the mountains for a ride over to the Tail of the Dragon. This was my first time towing with the 4Runner (any distance). All I can say is it was very smooth but could use more power and I am only towing: bike (395 pounds) and trailer (320 pounds), so really not much weight. I can't imagine what it's like towing a camper or something with significant weight to it.

The picture is right outside of Highlands, NC.

 

It was a great trail!

I'm running the Westcott Designs sliders w/no kick-out, and in that picture I have Thule cross bars I had left on the car from a previous trip. I'm waiting on my Westcott Designs Lo-Pro to ship any day now...

 

Explored some interest points in the old Target and Maneuver Range in Medicine Bow NF, near Gurt Gowdy State Park.

 

Uncompahgre mountain trail head. Parked right by the Forestry fellas. Beautiful day to hike. The road up was killer. Two creek crossings and some serious rocks in the road.

 

Awesome photo! But I have two questions for you...
Why aren't you at your post?

And why is your 4Runner silver instead of white and black?

 

Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri!!

 

Fingers crossed for occupants of that JKU, it's a long ways off/down from the trail (if you look at tall pine directly above Jeep, can see the trail just to the right of the tree top).

 

Grandson airing up after a day out. Child labor laws are highly overrated.....

 

Life lessons with grandpa are worth more than any child labor laws (usually).

 

Well done, young Jedi

I would have loved to have a white one....I was very picky about a 2023 LE with NOT black interior. I live in Texas. There were very few options in the US that had them. I ended up driving 1400 miles home with my fancy new used LE!

 

Where are these trails?

 

He'd agree with the "usually" part.

 

Ouray & Silverton CO.

 

Long Canyon and Gemini Bridges in Moab. Easy trails but fun and super scenic.

 

Beast!

 

Those are all awesome photos, but I'm particular fond of the last one. I'm a sucker for under-exposed, and the color on the rocks is insane.

 

Awesome

 

Checking out our new backyard. Broken Arrow Sedona

 

A little poser rock action. Finally got to Imogene Pass.

 

Looks stock? Other than rubber?

 

Great pics!.......Wow!