LCXC 2018: Baja! (1 Viewer)

[linuxgod]

Re: North rim of the GC... I was there a year and a half ago. It's very cool, and we camped right on the east rim (if you go, PM me and I'll give you directions). But trail-wise, there's not a whole lot in the park. We did what trails were available, but none we terribly difficult. In fact the hardest one was to Point Sublime and only required 4Lo in a couple spots.

Outside the park I hear Toroweap is worth the overnight trip, but it's a couple hours from the north rim.

From Arizona TRAILS | AZoffroading.com
Grand Canyon N.P., Tusayan area:

• Toroweap Overlook (easy) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]
• Fire Point, Timp Point (easy) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]
• Saddle Mountain Road (easy) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]
• Point Sublime (moderate) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]
• South Bass Trailhead (easy) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]
• Grandview Lookout (easy) [Jeep, SUV, ATV, DirtBike]

Personally I'd like to do Utah in the spring one year. Really interested in seeing more of Canyonlands... White Rim, The Maze, etc when it's not 100F. But I don't think I'll be able to do it this year.

 

[TonyP]

If I had to project my idea of LCXC, it's less about challenge trails and more about seeing cool s***, seeing new stuff and camping in cool spots for several days. So easy trails are gravy if the spot is good. Just my thoughts.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Fwiw trails/areas like White Rim, Maze, Elephant Hill, etc area all fantastic areas but hard to do with groups of 4 or more vehicles legally and ethically. There are certainly routes in similar areas that you can do sans permit restrictions.

 

[linuxgod]

If I had to project my idea of LCXC, it's less about challenge trails and more about seeing cool s***, seeing new stuff and camping in cool spots for several days. So easy trails are gravy if the spot is good. Just my thoughts.

No particular issue with easy trails from me. Just noting the difficulty since you guys tend to wheel harder than I normally do. To me seeing cool stuff is the whole point of wheeling and/or overlanding, which is why I don't bother with the ORV parks in the midwest. Hard or easy, I just want to go where few have gone before.

 

[Union]

As someone who has limited Land Cruiser experience, I'm always open to learning how to work the vehicle through tough areas of trail safely and efficiently but I second what Tony said about less requirement on tough trails and more on seeing the sights. I wonder if there are spots where we can offroad the vehicles and then hike into some pretty cool locations. There is the rainbow arch near lake powell (unsure if we can even drive to a location to hike to that being on native american land). I'm sure there are other areas along the colorado north of lake powell as well.

 

[linuxgod]

Fwiw trails/areas like White Rim, Maze, Elephant Hill, etc area all fantastic areas but hard to do with groups of 4 or more vehicles legally and ethically. There are certainly routes in similar areas that you can do sans permit restrictions.

Good point, I hadn't really thought of the permits required.

To be fair I'm mostly dreaming right now... I can't get enough time off to do the LCXC and LCDC and all the other vacation time with my family that I'd like. Also my kids really like to do trails, but I wouldn't subject the rest of y'all to my kids for more than a day unless others had families along coming too.

 

[Union]

Does my dog count?

 

[TonyP]

As someone who has limited Land Cruiser experience, I'm always open to learning how to work the vehicle through tough areas of trail safely and efficiently but I second what Tony said about less requirement on tough trails and more on seeing the sights. I wonder if there are spots where we can offroad the vehicles and then hike into some pretty cool locations. There is the rainbow arch near lake powell (unsure if we can even drive to a location to hike to that being on native american land). I'm sure there are other areas along the colorado north of lake powell as well.

If you (or "we" if I can make it), end up doing part of the route I have, there's only a couple small spots that are technical. Nothing crazy. The drive into this spot is a little, iffy but worth it. If you guys do choose AZ/UT I'd just have to ask if I can disclose the route, as it's not mine.

 

[Union]

Wow that looks awesome! I bet sunrises look pretty nice lighting up the canyon from that view.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

That is fantastic. Was on that ledge in ‘99, but on a mountain bike.

 

[Mogwai]

In. Love the roundabouts on this thread. Partial to exploring more of Baja but also down for a SW desert trip.

 

[M1911]

Wow, what a spot!

 

[TonyP]

In. Love the roundabouts on this thread. Partial to exploring more of Baja but also down for a SW desert trip.

Same here. There are a few spots I'd like to hit up on the east coast especially now that we know it's pretty quick to get from one area to another as long as you bend the speed limits a bit... or a lot.

But UT/AZ is pretty great too

 

[Str8Laced]

That is fantastic. Was on that ledge in ‘99, but on a mountain bike.

Me too ! I was on SlickRock last month, Beautiful ledge, can't get much more scenic.

SlickRock Crosses Hells Revenge a few times and the 80-series was just as capable if not more than the Raptor from what I saw that day

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Me too ! I was on SlickRock last month, Beautiful ledge, can't get much more scenic.

SlickRock Crosses Hells Revenge a few times and the 80-series was just as capable if not more than the Raptor from what I saw that day

That it Str8laced, rock on!!

 

[TonyP]

Bump?

 

[indycole]

So... just tossing an idea out there...

While not as exotic as Mexico or Alaska, would anyone be interested in an Eastern Sierra/Inyo Mountains/Death Valley focused trip? I'm thinking something like a Saturday-Saturday "Grand Tour" of the Death Valley vicinity. Timing-wise, I'd recommend mid-March to mid-May. Cruise Moab is 4/30 - 5/5 and OE West is 5/17 - 5/19.

That's a good amount of time to experience the Inyo Mountains, Eureka Sand Dunes, Hunter Mountain and Racetrack Playa, Saline Valley, Mengel Pass and the Panamints, desert canyons (Marble/Cottonwood), the Coso Wilderness, plus all the regular attractions/sites near pavement. The path would likely route us near gas (expensive) every couple days and is completely suitable for stock vehicles with AT tires. There'd probably also be time for obligatory Instagram photos at Alabama Hills and/or a Sierra run depending on snow and timing.

 

[Union]

@indycole

Absolutely. I'd need to get a leave request in to work ASAP but I can cancel it if we dont end up going. A buddy of mine and I were just talking about hitting up the racetrack in march (never been). Also, I wonder if there will be a superbloom this year at badwater basin.

Union

 

[JohnJB]

There'd probably also be time for obligatory Instagram photos at Alabama Hills and/or a Sierra run depending on snow and timing.

Oh look, there goes Cole again... always doin' it for the 'gram.

 

[Union]

Oh look, there goes Cole again... always doin' it for the 'gram.

You should see what my wife and I do for my dog's IG account lol