Epic cross-country family road trip. IN --> UT, CO (Imogene Pass), and AZ

[urinalcake]

My family and I (4 of us) recently took a vacation road trip from Indiana to Utah.

12 days off work
4,236 miles
274 gallons gas.
9 states
3 national parks
13,114' highest elevation driven
54,029 steps
3,021 photos
37 movies
1 broken windshield
Countless memories....

2 day drive one-way, so we split it into two days. Sites out west included:

• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Grand Canyon (north rim)
• Conyoneering in slot canyons.
• Belly of the Dragon
• Glen Canyon Dam
• Horseshoe Bend
• Four Corners
• Monument Valley and Forrest Gump Hill.
• Imogene Pass. My first time driving off road and boy was it a duesy.

On to the photos....with a bit of commentary along the way.

For those wondering, stock LX except for 18" Land Cruiser wheels with 275/70R18SL General Grabber ATX tires.

There really isn't much to see or photograph through IN, IL, IA, or NE, and it rained/sprinkled most of the first day. So first pic came from second day in a rest area by Georgetown, CO along I-70 west of Denver.

My ladies fancied a coffee, so we found a fabulous local coffee shop.

Another rest area along I-70.

Somewhere in easter UT.

 

[urinalcake]

Zion National Park.

Grand Canyon north rim

Vermillion Cliffs in the background.

 

[urinalcake]

At the cabin in Duck Creek Village, UT. approx 8500' elevation

Forrest Gump Hill in Monument Valley, UT Notice the dude on the shoulder wearing high-visibly shirt. He had Forrest's hair and beard. Looked like he was walking across America pushing that cart.

Recreated a photo I took three years ago with my Volvo at sunrise:

 

[urinalcake]

On the way to Telluride stopped at some roadside pullout in SW Colorado with a mountain stream nearby.

 

[urinalcake]

The tunnel on Tomboy Rd on the way to Imogene Pass.

Tomboy mine.

Imogene Pass.

The truck didn’t even break a sweat during the climb or descent. It’s such a fabulous, comfortable, and capable rig.
I wasn't able to drive from Imogene Pass to Ouray because the trail was blocked by snow. Only about 100' of trail was blocked. The two jeeps (a Wrangler and a Gladiator) were lifted and apparently running 35s. They had traction boards and shovels and still weren't able to make it through. They dug themselves out, reversed, and drove towards Ouray.
Oh well, I guess I'll have to drive that portion next time along with Black Bear Pass (hopefully).

 

[urinalcake]

Notice the sticker on the lower right on backside of Imogene Pass sign.

Appropriate sign near Tomboy.

Airing up in Telluride afterwards. I don't do enough wheeling yet to justify the money on a twin piston compressor. The big single piston one works pretty well, just gets pretty hot after each tire, so I cool it between tires by blowing AC air on the heat sinks.

I was at 18 psi for the drive up/down Imogene Pass. Seemed to work pretty well with nice amount of sidewall squish and rocks left their marks pretty well up the sidewalls.

The big, thirsty girl at one of her favorite watering holes.

 

[urinalcake]

Another watering hole.

 

[urinalcake]

Day after returning home, time for a batch. She was dirty.

Before & after.

Cleaning the undercarriage and rotate tires.

 

[Madtiger]

wow!!! Amazing trip.

 

[LvCruiserNewb]

Which slot canyons did you do?

 

[ryanCA]

great trip

we do lots of long trips so can share your joy

i have the same tires- glad to know it can get up to Imogene

 

[TigerInFL]

looks like a fun trip. perhaps one day we will get that opportunity.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

What a great post!
Which route did you take to get to Imogene Pass?
We want to do it but we aren't sure we're up to it.

 

[urinalcake]

What a great post!
Which route did you take to get to Imogene Pass?
We want to do it but we aren't sure we're up to it.

I drove from the southwest. Spent the night in Cortez, CO, then drove Hwy 145 to Telluride, CO in the morning. Once in Telluride, find Tomboy on the north side of town. Telluride is pretty small, Tomboy Rd. is just a few block north of the main drag.

 

[jjtrou2072]

This trip looks very similar to what I am trying to plan now to attempt next summer (except leaving from GA).
GA --> UT/CO and back.

Couple quick questions, how is the LX outfitted? Sensor lift and larger tires? anything else? Anything you wish you had done differently when setting it up?
Also did you happen to use an app like GAIA to record your route / waypoints?

Ive been downloading random separate .GPX files trying to nail down what trails route I want to take once we get out there.

 

[Trukk]

This trip looks very similar to what I am trying to plan now to attempt next summer (except leaving from GA).
GA --> UT/CO and back.

Couple quick questions, how is the LX outfitted? Sensor lift and larger tires? anything else? Anything you wish you had done differently when setting it up?
Also did you happen to use an app like GAIA to record your route / waypoints?

Ive been downloading random separate .GPX files trying to nail down what trails route I want to take once we get out there. Blue squares is where I over nighted. I live in Crested Butte, so that was start/end point.

Might want to consider Rimrocker between CO and UT. Not a hard trail (mostly green, with a few blue bits nearer to LaSalle Mtn.) I did a long loop in September. Rimrocker, Onion Creek, Thompson Canyon to Uncompagre plateau. Could do RR in one very long day (I spread it over 2 days). Purple is offroad. Blue squares are where I overnighted. Green is Crested Butte (start/end, when I live).

 

[swhme]

LX with LC wheels and a V70R with prancing moose sticker?

I see you are truly a man of taste. Well done.

 

[MCtree]

Great write-up. Thank you for sharing.

Though maybe next time leave off the pictures of the gas stations. Those are just painful reminders of how much it costs to drive our beautiful beasts!

And I love the repeated pics of your LC and Volvo in that spot in AZ. I look forward to the next iteration in 10 or so years.

As for the dirt you are showing inside your gas flap - are you going to spray that down?
I too have accumulated lots of dirt there and have contemplated spraying it down but worry it might damage something.

 

[urinalcake]

Great write-up. Thank you for sharing.

Though maybe next time leave off the pictures of the gas stations. Those are just painful reminders of how much it costs to drive our beautiful beasts!

And I love the repeated pics of your LC and Volvo in that spot in AZ. I look forward to the next iteration in 10 or so years.

As for the dirt you are showing inside your gas flap - are you going to spray that down?
I too have accumulated lots of dirt there and have contemplated spraying it down but worry it might damage something.

Yes, I washed it out.

Rinse it without pause. Or use a detail brush to agitate with soapy water, and then rinse it. Use garden hose or, if using a pressure washer, keep the nozzle far away.

 

[Trukk]

LX with LC wheels and a V70R with prancing moose sticker?

I see you are truly a man of taste. Well done.

Randy Pobst approved.