Or:
"A Long and Sometimes Strange Trip through Canyonlands"
I have always loved my 80, but sometimes I am given a clear reminder of why.
Just got back from a four-day family trip in the Canyonlands area. Planned months in advance, the trip was supposed to consist of my 4-member family unit in our 1993 FZJ80 and my father and brother in dad's Rubicon. Dad backed out at the last minute, so it ended up being me, my wife, my 4-year old, 21-month old, and my brother cozied up in the 80. Add these 5 homo sapiens, 10 gallons of H2O, 10 gallons of C8H18, cooler of High Life, cooler of food, and other assorted camping crap to a fully armored, winched and spare-tooled FZJ80, and you get a hefty little pig of a Land Cruiser.
The planned route was originally a transit from Blanding, north over the Dark Canyon Plateau and into Beef Basin followed by a couple days in the Elephant Hill area of the Needles District. From there we would continue north on the Lockhart Basin Road to the banks of the Colorado River at the mouth of Lockhart Canyon, then north, up and over Hurrah Pass with a camp on upper Kane Creek. The final day would be a trip up Kane Creek to the highway, then Moab.
Needless to say I was nervous to travel the route as a solo vehicle with two small children. After learning that the Dark Canyon Plateau roads were likely muddy and slick after a recent rainstorm, we took the conservative option of amputating the lower section of the route from our plan.
Into Canyonlands from the main Needles entrance took us up and over the front side of Elephant Hill. Understanding that the Elephant Hill trail is rated a tame 3.5, and having been along the trail years ago in a stock Pathfinder, the steps on the front side of the hill still looked impressive when we pulled out of the parking lot in low range. Even though the near-seven thousand pound vehicle felt a little more sluggish than usual, it calmly lumbered up the steps without any fanfare or excitement. The ascent went so quickly we forgot to take photos
.
The day's weather was dominated by high clouds and high winds, so we pretty much stayed in the 80 the whole time and Cruised down the long green lanes of the north-south grabens toward Beef Basin. The ascent to Bobby's Hole looked rough, with ample small boulders and small steps. I entertained myself and the passengers by taking the worst possible line up the track. Nothing like an 80 with a locked rear end to make you feel unstoppable.
We spent several hours exploring Beef Basin. Free-standing ruins, beautiful cliff-dwellings, and long vistas, but the howling winds kept all three adults and two kids penned-up in the Cruiser without complaint.
We opted out of camping in Beef Basin for finer-looking sites back near Bobby's Hole. The early spring moisture had left the grasses green in the long grabens, and we found a nice spot in an old cattle-camp. Despite the fine environment and improving weather, my youngest preferred to play in the Cruiser .
On Thursday we zipped up to Chesler Park for an outstanding hike along the Joint Trail and around Chesler Park. The weather was sunny and 60* Fahrenheit, and we only encountered a handful of other hikers. Back at the trailhead my youngest went straight for his seat in the Cruiser.
After two nights at our private Devil's Lane Estate, we headed back along the second half of the Elephant Hill loop, with a quick stop and short hike to overlook the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. The handful of Jeeps on our way back over Elephant Hill were the only other vehicles we encountered on the entire loop.
Surprised to be at barely over a half-tank and two empty jerry cans, we opted to stop in at the Needles Outpost to resupply with high-priced gasoline and candy. Although the experience started with colorful language and a hand-slap from the "unique" proprietor, she sent us off with smiles, kind words, gasoline and home-made $5 chocolate milkshakes that would keep us for the remainder of the journey. A small group of tourists lounging under the stoop complemented the capable look of my 80 as I distributed the milkshakes to its occupants.
CONTINUED BELOW...
"A Long and Sometimes Strange Trip through Canyonlands"
I have always loved my 80, but sometimes I am given a clear reminder of why.
Just got back from a four-day family trip in the Canyonlands area. Planned months in advance, the trip was supposed to consist of my 4-member family unit in our 1993 FZJ80 and my father and brother in dad's Rubicon. Dad backed out at the last minute, so it ended up being me, my wife, my 4-year old, 21-month old, and my brother cozied up in the 80. Add these 5 homo sapiens, 10 gallons of H2O, 10 gallons of C8H18, cooler of High Life, cooler of food, and other assorted camping crap to a fully armored, winched and spare-tooled FZJ80, and you get a hefty little pig of a Land Cruiser.
The planned route was originally a transit from Blanding, north over the Dark Canyon Plateau and into Beef Basin followed by a couple days in the Elephant Hill area of the Needles District. From there we would continue north on the Lockhart Basin Road to the banks of the Colorado River at the mouth of Lockhart Canyon, then north, up and over Hurrah Pass with a camp on upper Kane Creek. The final day would be a trip up Kane Creek to the highway, then Moab.
Needless to say I was nervous to travel the route as a solo vehicle with two small children. After learning that the Dark Canyon Plateau roads were likely muddy and slick after a recent rainstorm, we took the conservative option of amputating the lower section of the route from our plan.
Into Canyonlands from the main Needles entrance took us up and over the front side of Elephant Hill. Understanding that the Elephant Hill trail is rated a tame 3.5, and having been along the trail years ago in a stock Pathfinder, the steps on the front side of the hill still looked impressive when we pulled out of the parking lot in low range. Even though the near-seven thousand pound vehicle felt a little more sluggish than usual, it calmly lumbered up the steps without any fanfare or excitement. The ascent went so quickly we forgot to take photos
. 
The day's weather was dominated by high clouds and high winds, so we pretty much stayed in the 80 the whole time and Cruised down the long green lanes of the north-south grabens toward Beef Basin. The ascent to Bobby's Hole looked rough, with ample small boulders and small steps. I entertained myself and the passengers by taking the worst possible line up the track. Nothing like an 80 with a locked rear end to make you feel unstoppable.
We spent several hours exploring Beef Basin. Free-standing ruins, beautiful cliff-dwellings, and long vistas, but the howling winds kept all three adults and two kids penned-up in the Cruiser without complaint.
We opted out of camping in Beef Basin for finer-looking sites back near Bobby's Hole. The early spring moisture had left the grasses green in the long grabens, and we found a nice spot in an old cattle-camp. Despite the fine environment and improving weather, my youngest preferred to play in the Cruiser
. 
On Thursday we zipped up to Chesler Park for an outstanding hike along the Joint Trail and around Chesler Park. The weather was sunny and 60* Fahrenheit, and we only encountered a handful of other hikers. Back at the trailhead my youngest went straight for his seat in the Cruiser.
After two nights at our private Devil's Lane Estate, we headed back along the second half of the Elephant Hill loop, with a quick stop and short hike to overlook the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. The handful of Jeeps on our way back over Elephant Hill were the only other vehicles we encountered on the entire loop.
Surprised to be at barely over a half-tank and two empty jerry cans, we opted to stop in at the Needles Outpost to resupply with high-priced gasoline and candy. Although the experience started with colorful language and a hand-slap from the "unique" proprietor, she sent us off with smiles, kind words, gasoline and home-made $5 chocolate milkshakes that would keep us for the remainder of the journey. A small group of tourists lounging under the stoop complemented the capable look of my 80 as I distributed the milkshakes to its occupants.
CONTINUED BELOW...
