Adventuring the MTN4RNR

MTN4RNR

Adventurer
Starting the New Year, the Mountain Way

My girlfriend and I decided to start the new year with a trip to the mountains. We left the Bay Area early on the first to get to the cabin with time left to enjoy the day. When we arrived, we lit a fire in the old country stove to heat the cabin.

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Pup naturally found her spot in front of the fire

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I made dinner on my new Tembo Tusk Skottle. Fajitas! This thing is going to transform camp cooking for me. I just need to learn how to cook on it. I have a lot of practicing to do… And eating!

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The next morning we awoke to snow falling. The cabin is around 2k feet elevation, so snow is a once a year event. We got large, lofty flakes. A good sign for the rest of the day on the mountain.

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Coffee was in our cups, we were on the road. Mountain bound to Truckee for the day.

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My sister happened to be heading down the mountain from Tahoe with her boyfriend, so we met on a snowy side road to say hi, and Happy New Year. He had just purchased a new Subaru Crosstrek and was loving it's snow performance.

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Truckee had some light and fluffy powder. So before lunch at a local cafe, we let Maeve out to enjoy some snow time with her toy. When we got her, I really didn't expect her to enjoy being in the snow, but she goes crazy!

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We tooled around in truckee for a short while before heading out to find some untouched snow. We found it!

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With more weather closing in, we decided it was best to head back to the cabin. Unfortunately the weather, combined with traffic from folks leaving the Tahoe area turned a 1 hour drive in to a 3 and a half hour crawl. We played some puzzler games in the car to pass the time, drank some hot chocolate, and made it home late. All worth it for a day in the snow.

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onemanarmy

Explorer
what caused the gear failure in the Tacoma? Was it a non-oem ring gear? No way it should have broken like that unless it was seriously being beat on.
 

LandOps

Observer
I saw some bandages on the Tacoma. I need some that size for my first aid kit. Where did you get them?
 

MTN4RNR

Adventurer
Big Sur - January 2017 [Page 1 of 2]

Reed had spent the better part of December and January working his way into a roof top tent sleeping situation on his 4Runner. After MUCH debate on sizing, types, and brands, he landed on the AutoHome Maggiolina Extreme. To mount he used a modified Front Runner full length roof rack. We also built Reed a full second row replacement platform for his 4Runner that allows for storage space underneath and a solid platform for his three large dogs to roam around on when travelling. But more on the platform later…

To celebrate his new purchases and installs, we decided a short one nighter would be a good way to give the tent a good shakedown before he goes out on a longer trip with his girlfriend and dogs. With a good portion of overnight destinations in California covered in snow, or flooded, we chose to head down to Big Sur for a night under the stars, 3,300 feet above the ocean.

Driver/Rig:
RedStripeRanger [Reed] - Toyota 4Runner Trail
MTN4RNR [Max] - Toyota 4Runner Trail

With Highway 1 being closed at Lucia, we had to enter the Big Sur area through Fort Hunter Liggett in Central California. As we drove south through the Salinas Valley, we saw traces of snow that had fallen on the Santa Lucia Mountains the Monday before, 18” on Cone Peak.

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Travelling through Ft. Hunter Liggett is an interesting place, because the road is public, but anywhere off of that road is military controlled, and obviously not allowed. The constant view of signs and gates makes sure that you are well reminded as you pass through. Too bad, as there are some great looking roads and trails that I will never get to explore.

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One thing I noticed this year versus my trip last year was that there was actually water in the mountains of Central California. To Californians, this is a big thing. And to Californians in this area, it’s an even bigger thing having dealt with a summer of massively destructive fires. From the last month of heavy rains, there was a lot of water flowing down creeks, in ravines, and being held in seasonal ponds. It was a happy sight to see as the last time I was there it was dusty and dry. The creeks show the tale of the massive runoff from weeks of heavy rains by way of large logs being wedged and stacked against trees and rocks from the high flows. Amazing.

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We reached our turnoff and aired down for a more comfortable ride on the dirt road. And around the first corner, we ran into a problem, and it had to do with Reed’s new investment.

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Normally I travel with a chainsaw for times like these, but for this short overnighter I elected to leave it behind because our destination is well traveled and I assumed that any debris would have been cleared. And I guess, for any normal vehicle, it is clear. But for the overlander, height restrictions can be a bear. We took out the hatchet that Reed brought to knock off some of a knot that was the lowest point of contact. With the knot removed and Reed on the back bumper, we cleared the tree…. Just…. A short while later, another tree. But this one we cleared by picking a good line.

Lesson learned. Bring. The. Chainsaw.

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We made it to camp, and got our pick of the litter as it was a quiet weekend on the ridge. We setup camp, Reed with his new tent and I with my new Skottle, headed out to the bluff, met some good people and dogs, watched the sunset, ate some bomb fajitas, drank beer, took some night photos, and eventually went to bed where Reed’s tent performed great in the constant 15mph offshore wind.

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MTN4RNR

Adventurer
Big Sur - January 2017 [Page 2 of 2]

Morning broke on camp. We started with coffee and breakfast.

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We had heard a bunch of noise coming from “the pond” campsite on the ridge the day before and elected to not venture down as it's usually host to larger groups. In the morning the group emerged from the trees, and I recognized some familiar rigs. Turns out it was an Overland Bound group down below. Small world! We went down to check out the rig line up of Toyotas, Jeeps and a well kitted Subaru.

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As they were leaving, we decided to tag along to head back to the Bay Area. When we reached the tree block, the other 5th gen made it under the tree with the addition of 6 guys on the sliders and bumpers, we ended up doing the same for Reed's rig. The Jeep however took a Jeep shortcut thanks to 35's, good traction and a short wheelbase. I was envious. But at the same time I didn't have any height problems. #noliftnoproblems

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We then hit the highway and headed home. It was a great one night trip to test out some new gear. It was also fun running into familiar people on the trail and making new contacts. While it may not be a huge adventure, it's the short overnighters that keep me going.

More to come…

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Rubicon85

Observer
Awesome! I live in Paso Robles, you guys were not too far away. I have done some off road training out at Ft. Hunter Liggett and it is a cool place to drive through and check out. Amazing sunsets at the coast and I need to get the family up there once the weather calms a bit. Thanks for the pics!
 

MTN4RNR

Adventurer
Awesome! I live in Paso Robles, you guys were not too far away. I have done some off road training out at Ft. Hunter Liggett and it is a cool place to drive through and check out. Amazing sunsets at the coast and I need to get the family up there once the weather calms a bit. Thanks for the pics!

Nope! Not far at all! I'm super jealous, that area looks like it would be fun if you had a free pass to romp around!

Head up soon, should be pretty quiet as the only way you can get there is via Ft. Hunter Liggett. Nacimiento Furgeson Road is closed west of the summit to highway 1 due to slides. And highway 1 is closed now in Big Sur proper, and down at Ragged Point. Pretty amazing with all of the weather the past month or so.
 

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