For the last year or so I was planning to get back to Moab, Utah to join my fellow Land Cruiser compatriots for their yearly southwest event. I’ve driven round trip from our home in Jersey to Moab in 2011 and again in 2012, both times with my old 1991 white Land Cruiser with about 230K miles on her. This time it will be in my 1997 LX450, the Lexus badged Toyota Land Cruiser, with only 170K miles on her, so she’s just about broken in.
After about 2 weeks of maintenance and little things that she needed, we were off. My first stop was Harrisburg, PA where I had to pick up my off-road tires from one of our group that cancelled at the last minute. In fact several of our intended group cancelled within a week of leaving, so that left myself and my wheeling partner Mark with a 4 BR condo in Moab.
After loading tires on my small military trailer, Mark met up with me and we headed west. We landed in Charleston, Ill for the first night and my brother Donald and his family put us up for the evening and fed us breakfast and coffee the following morning. Thanks again for being awesome Don!
Our plan was to make it from Charleston, Ill to Burlington, Colorado, but the weather would have nothing to do with that idea. We got caught in that very large storm system that swept across the midwest and had to pull off in Hays, Kansas where we spent 2 nights in hotel rooms as this storm created white-out conditions and I70 was closed in both directions for 2 days. In fact, western Kansas was locked down in all directions and there was nowhere to go.
We pulled out of Hays very well rested and a full day behind schedule, but made it to Moab on Monday evening without issue. The drive from Denver over the Rockies and through the great divide was as spectacular as it has always been. If you get the chance, it shouldn’t be missed.
Mark and I had a great time banging our trucks on the rocks. Tuesday and Friday we did some sightseeing trails. Top of the World starts at a base elevation of about 4200′ and the end of the trail at the rock outcrop is at 7000′.
Thursday we did the most difficult trail you can register for at Cruise Moab, Pritchett Canyon. Here’s a short video of me onRocker Knocker in Pritchett Canyon
Saturday morning I was on the road to pick up Tracy in SLC. The ride from Moab to SLC was outstanding. I really love this part of the country, but now it’s on to other adventures with my favorite partner. I hope we’re still married by the time we get home…