Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (1 Viewer)

[UZJ40]

Danny, glad to see you're out and about again.

Shandelle and I went camping down off of highway 95 a few weeks ago. We went south to Searchlight, then west on the Nipton Hwy. After you go west a few miles, you'll see a dirt powerline road that runs north/south. We went north a mile or two, the west up a draw that eventually dead ends at a coral. It's about 6,000' and a beautiful view! The best part is, on the way back, instead of going back on the Nipton Hwy/95, we went NORTH on the powerline road he had turned off on the way in, and it eventually leads all the way back to Horizon Ridge Rd... about 2 miles from out house!

The area reminds me a lot of the pictures you just posted. Lots of junipers, some pine trees, and lots of yucca and jumping cactus! You might enjoy it out there. It only took about an hour and a half to get to the camp area (all BLM land down there), and 3 hours to get back on the dirt road! We had a great time, and didn't see another soul!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Excellent adventures Danny! Wish I was there.

We had a great time, regardless... But, I didn't post this pic earlier... Mountain lion scat... Less than 24 hours old.

 

[Helipilot]

Nice photos and write ups Danny. Happy you are enjoying yourself.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Danny, glad to see you're out and about again.

Shandelle and I went camping down off of highway 95 a few weeks ago. We went south to Searchlight, then west on the Nipton Hwy. After you go west a few miles, you'll see a dirt powerline road that runs north/south. We went north a mile or two, the west up a draw that eventually dead ends at a coral. It's about 6,000' and a beautiful view! The best part is, on the way back, instead of going back on the Nipton Hwy/95, we went NORTH on the powerline road he had turned off on the way in, and it eventually leads all the way back to Horizon Ridge Rd... about 2 miles from out house!

The area reminds me a lot of the pictures you just posted. Lots of junipers, some pine trees, and lots of yucca and jumping cactus! You might enjoy it out there. It only took about an hour and a half to get to the camp area (all BLM land down there), and 3 hours to get back on the dirt road! We had a great time, and didn't see another soul!

Hey Riley!

Thanks for the info, that looks great!!

I'll have to work my way down there one day... When 44 starts trusting me again.

I think, Thursday, I'm going to stay on US93 and take a run up to Echo Canyon (east of Pioche). We'll spend the night wherever we go.

It's 360 miles round trip ... I'd like to do it with out some issue arising.

I'm glad you and Shandelle are getting out there! The best part of any trip is not seeing another soul!

Chester and I drove up Alamo Road the other day and hiked part of Hidden Forest. Then drove on up Alamo, almost to the dry lake bed. Then back to Sheep Pass... About 60 miles altogether and never saw another soul.

We stopped for lunch at Sheep Pass... We were listening to a good audio book and relaxing, when a huge explosion went off over the ridge a couple hundred yards from us... Scared the hell out of both of us!

The Nellis Range begins there, but they never bomb or shoot that close to the perimeter.

Shortly after the explosion, a quad ATV came by, with a 50-something couple on board... Boy, did they get the stink eye!

Kids! What can you do?!?

Say hello to Shandelle and Onyx for us!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Nice photos and write ups Danny. Happy you are enjoying yourself.

Thanks Roger! It's good to be out and about again!!

 

[Honger]

Somehow I got unsubscribed from your thread... and had missed your surgery and recovery. So glad you are pain free and getting out there again. Very encouraging! My dad just had a laminectomy for some back problems of his own and is also greatly relieved of his pain. Modern surgical miracles.

Anyway, keep those photos coming... of Nevada, dogs, and your Cruiser.

 

[UZJ40]

We have been taking the Tacoma mostly... We took her 4Runner out once, but we love the tent on the Tacoma. We won't start camping in the 40 until we get some sort of off road trailer.

The are just north of Prescott AZ in BLM area by the Verde River, which flows year around.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Somehow I got unsubscribed from your thread... and had missed your surgery and recovery. So glad you are pain free and getting out there again. Very encouraging! My dad just had a laminectomy for some back problems of his own and is also greatly relieved of his pain. Modern surgical miracles.

Anyway, keep those photos coming... of Nevada, dogs, and your Cruiser.

Well, welcome home, Joel!!

Yeah, for the most part, the surgery was much easier than I expected!!

...and the results are much better than I expected!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

We have been taking the Tacoma mostly... We took her 4Runner out once, but we love the tent on the Tacoma. We won't start camping in the 40 until we get some sort of off road trailer.

The are just north of Prescott AZ in BLM area by the Verde River, which flows year around.

Nice!!

It doesn't matter what you take, as long as you get out there and enjoy!!

 

[lostmarbles]

Cool pics Danny, Jetranger.

Here are some of a different kind I just got today from my network of railbuffs (and shot by Tim Burt) here in New Zealand to show some of our recent earthquake damage near Kaikoura:

Lots of buildings in Wellington where I live are badly damaged (with talk of some recently built high-rises having to be demolished) but thankfully no problems for me at home here. (I'm on solid ground and everything in this house - like the TVs, fridge, stove, cabinets, H/W cylinder - is bolted down... as well as the major factor that the Culverden epicentre of the 7.8 quake is 143 miles away from me as the crow flies..)



(I know you appreciate the twists and turns your thread sometimes takes Danny )

By the way... that highway you see is our main highway (State Highway 1) that travels the length of the country (or at least, the length of the two main islands because we have some much smaller ones).

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Cool pics Danny, Jetranger.

Here are some of a different kind I just got today from my network of railbuffs (and shot by Tim Burt) here in New Zealand to show some of our recent earthquake damage near Kaikoura:
View attachment 1353127 View attachment 1353128 View attachment 1353129 View attachment 1353130 View attachment 1353131

Lots of buildings in Wellington where I live are badly damaged (with talk of some recently built high-rises having to be demolished) but thankfully no problems for me at home here. (I'm on solid ground and everything in this house - like the TVs, fridge, stove, cabinets, H/W cylinder - is bolted down... as well as the major factor that the epicentre was about 150km away..)



(I know you appreciate the twists and turns your thread sometimes takes Danny )

While I certainly appreciate the pictures and information, Tom, I certainly don't like the damage your beautiful country endured!!

A lot of smart assed comments come to mind (like really narrow gauge railroad), from your pics, but I'll leave it at that.

It's really amazing what Mother Nature can do to the best laid plans of man... I remember a very deep, 3m chasm, with a 2m rise, on a local paved road, after an earthquake when I was about 13 years old.

Regardless, I'm really glad y'all are ok and that you don't personally have damage to deal with.

Pretty pictures nonetheless.

Talk to you later cobber!

 

[78fj40mg]

Cool pics Danny, Jetranger.

Here are some of a different kind I just got today from my network of railbuffs (and shot by Tim Burt) here in New Zealand to show some of our recent earthquake damage near Kaikoura:
View attachment 1353127 View attachment 1353128 View attachment 1353129 View attachment 1353130 View attachment 1353131

Lots of buildings in Wellington where I live are badly damaged (with talk of some recently built high-rises having to be demolished) but thankfully no problems for me at home here. (I'm on solid ground and everything in this house - like the TVs, fridge, stove, cabinets, H/W cylinder - is bolted down... as well as the major factor that the epicentre was about 150km away..)



(I know you appreciate the twists and turns your thread sometimes takes Danny )

By the way... that highway you see is our main highway (State Highway 1) that travels the length of the country (or at least, the length of the two main islands because we have some much smaller ones).

Wow Tom that's pure devastation for the New Zealand people, we hope for a quick recovery. Seismic zones are no fun at all. I'm so glad you and yours are safe and sound.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Cool pics Danny, Jetranger.

Here are some of a different kind I just got today from my network of railbuffs (and shot by Tim Burt) here in New Zealand to show some of our recent earthquake damage near Kaikoura:
View attachment 1353127 View attachment 1353128 View attachment 1353129 View attachment 1353130 View attachment 1353131

Lots of buildings in Wellington where I live are badly damaged (with talk of some recently built high-rises having to be demolished) but thankfully no problems for me at home here. (I'm on solid ground and everything in this house - like the TVs, fridge, stove, cabinets, H/W cylinder - is bolted down... as well as the major factor that the epicentre was about 150km away..)



(I know you appreciate the twists and turns your thread sometimes takes Danny )

By the way... that highway you see is our main highway (State Highway 1) that travels the length of the country (or at least, the length of the two main islands because we have some much smaller ones).

BTW Tom,

I know your pictures aren't necessarily indicative of the extent of the damages.

But, the pictures you attached look like it's primarily a matter of laying new tracks and pavement... The tunnel looks to be intact.

Maybe the transportstion routes can be reopened quicker than anticipated...

Remember, I'm not a civil engineer... I just play one from a couple of kilometers away...

Has it finally stopped shaking down there?

 

[lostmarbles]

BTW Tom,

I know your pictures aren't necessarily indicative of the extent of the damages.

But, the pictures you attached look like it's primarily a matter of laying new tracks and pavement... The tunnel looks to be intact.

Maybe the transportstion routes can be reopened quicker than anticipated...

Remember, I'm not a civil engineer... I just play one from a couple of kilometers away...

Has it finally stopped shaking down there?

Well here's another tunnel that looks a little twisted to me (taken by Tim again)......

I was intially going to say that this is another indication of newer structures fairing worse than older ones. However in this case I think that's unfair because this newer corrugated tunnel would be passing through fill whereas the old one would be passing through a section of solid rock that hasn't ruptured..

Here's a high rise that towers above one of my work rest areas.

(You can see our table and chairs in the last pic.)



Edit: The quakes are continuing and we're still well within the period (from the big 7.8 one) when another big one is reasonably likely...

Here's a snapshot of the most recent shakes:

So they're far from over...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Well here's another tunnel that looks a little twisted to me (taken by Tim again)......
View attachment 1353291

I was intially going to say that this is another indication of newer structures fairing worse than older ones. However in this case I think that's unfair because this corrugated tunnel would have been made by the cut-and-fill method whereas the one in the last pic would have been blasted through solid rock..

Here's a high rise that towers above one of my work rest areas.
View attachment 1353292
View attachment 1353293
(You can see our table and chairs in the last pic.)



Edit: The quakes are continuing and we're still well within the period (from the big 7.8 one) when another big one is reasonably likely...

Here's a snapshot of the most recent shakes:
View attachment 1353298

So they're far from over...

Yeah, the corrugated tunnel is drunk... And high rise is split... I'm not sure your table and chairs are safe... Until the shakes are over.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

wow - glad you're okay

 

[Bear]

Sorry to see all that, Tom. With all you've bolted down, I guess you expect it will shake sooner or later.

I live several miles from the San Andreas fault line which is long overdue to have a huge eruption. We're told to "be prepared", but as you've seen, how much preparation is enough, when modern seismic-proof buildings crack and collapse? We even have a local courthouse that's built on huge springs to ride out "the Big One."--we shall see.

Take care and Godspeed.

 

[65swb45]

Sorry to see all that, Tom. With all you've bolted down, I guess you expect it will shake sooner or later.

I live several miles from the San Andreas fault line which is long overdue to have a huge eruption. We're told to "be prepared", but as you've seen, how much preparation is enough, when modern seismic-proof buildings crack and collapse? We even have a local courthouse that's built on huge springs to ride out "the Big One."--we shall see.

Take care and Godspeed.

That's why preparation should include a couple of cargo containers!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Well... I was supposed to take 44 and Chester back out yesterday, for a few more days/nights... But, I woke up yesterday with major allergies... or the makings of a cold... so, I stayed in bed yesterday.

This morning, I didn't feel much better. But, I really wanted to see if I could make a full trip without any more failures. So, since I wouldn't be hiking, just driving, I took both Chester and Gunner for a 140 mile drive.

We drove the 47 mile Mormon Well Road, yet again, and came out on US 93 with NO problems at all!

So, rather than air up and drive pavement, we crossed US 93 and drove the Coyote Springs Area of Critical of Environmental Concern... not a very pretty area. But, I guess the tortoises aren't really particular.

Anyway, here's the legendary 44 in her natural environment

That's Chester in the window, above... here's proof that Gunner was along for the ride

The entrance to the Coyote Springs Area of Critical of Environmental Concern has this sign at the entrance... allowing target shooting

This is one of many hills in the area, with no brass and no target remnants... but, plenty of broken glass... eventually the area will be closed to target shooting and everyone will cry foul...

Da

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I also took a couple of pictures back along Mormon Well... the headwaters of the Sawmill Canyon Wash

Two large dogs and 44

But, bottom line... the trip was very successful - no breakdowns - and great fun!!