LA, Denver, Alaska, Inuvik and back - 5 months with a Land Cruiser FZJ80 (Pictures!)

[nosedive]

What else would you expect at the Teakettle Junction?

Unfortunately, we didn't bring a teakettle with us.

We didn't want to drive the Racetrack Road to the Ubehebe Crater, so we took the other road at the junction which I forgot the name of. We made a little sightseeing tour to the Lost Burro Mine. Another small and narrow road.

Walking around and checking out the old mine and cabins was the next thing we did.

History to touch - I love it!

And once again it seemed like we're getting some rain.

Driving back the narrow road.

We continued the road south and it was a perfect drive. Nice road with beautiful scenery. And then it started to rain, at Death Valley! And it wasn't just a sprinkle.

After hours on that nice road we slowly reached the main road which brings you into Death Valley via Panamint Springs.

Lookout before the main road drops deeper down into the valley.

Camp spot for the night was at the Panamint Springs Campground and we had a nice dinner at the restaurant. Luckily we didn't have to gas up at Panamint Springs were fuel prices are ridiculously high, props to the second fuel tank.

Making friends with the locals.

The next day we squeezed the big boy through Ti(gh)tus Canyon.

Titus Canyon Road is super easy to drive, we even saw a sedan on the road.

Las Vegas is close to Death Valley, my dad has never been to Vegas and we wanted to stay at a hotel/motel for a couple days, so off we went.

 

[nosedive]

While resting at MC Donalds with free wifi, we checked out the hotels in Vegas. Luckily it was during the week and the prices were cheap for a nice room. I made an online reservation at a hotel for three nights in walking distance to the strip.

It was nice having a room, two big beds and a bathroom with hot shower. Two years ago I spent 4th July in Vegas with some friends of the English school I went to. I won't say I'm traumatized, but it definitely was crazy! Vegas is fun, but I already had my fun and my dad isn't a fan of big cities or a gambler neither. We were walking up and down on the strip, went to a casino or spent time in the hotel room and just relaxed.

I don't know how many of these fortune cookies are given away in Vegas, perhaps more as in other cities.

During our stay we had enough time to plan our next adventure, camping at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Next stop, St George Utah. We ended up on a parking lot in St George while looking for a snack and ate the worlds best corndogs. Well, they were our very first corndogs. We were chatting with the owner of the food truck and he recommended us Sand Hollow State Park for camping. pretty good advise.

While others had some fun in the sand -

Did we what we can do best. Yep, nothing.

We were the only campers on the beach and the only thing that bothered us were thousands of flies and mosquitoes.

Otherwise it was such a peaceful place.

We left early the next day and went south direction Grand Canyon via wide gravel roads which were fast and nice to drive.

A lot of cars were staying around the Mount Trumbull school house as we arrived. The school house was full of people and cameras and an older lady was talking. We didn't want to interrupt and moved on to Mount Trumbull. We later heard that this lady was the last teacher of the school house, telling stories from back then and answering questions.

The view from the road as amazing.

Entering the Tuweep area.

Everything around us was green and blooming.

you now need a permit to camp overnight at the Toroweap Campground. We got our permit the day before in St George at the BLM office within 20 minutes. The employees there were super friendly and helpful and gave us a lot of information about the area.

The Ranger Station at the entrance, they close the gate from sunset until sunrise. Not a bad place to work though.

 

[ClayH]

Awsome trip so far!

 

[Justincredible]

Great write up so far.

And I agree with lumpskie; it's fun to see the US through outside eyes.

 

[nosedive]

We first drove straight to the Lookout point for getting a first impression. What should I say, you need to see it. Pictures just can't justified how awesome and spectacular this place is. No barrier between you and the edge, no tourists bumping into you, just you, the canyon and the silence. the only thing you hear are the birds flying by and swooping down into the canyon. We both have been to the south rim two years ago, but the north rim, especially Toroweap beats everything.

We decided to set up camp and coming back in the evening to watch the sunset and seein the canyon in the evening light. Even here was everything green and blooming along the road.

The next highlight was the campground itself. It's perfectly built into the landscape, nice sites, not too big and clean.

there were about 5 other campsites occupied by other campers and we had a very nice spot right under the rocks.

The view from our campsite.

it didn't take long and we already knew most people of the campground. Everyone that passed by on the way to the restroom stopped to say hi and to chat a bit. The atmosphere on the campground was super nice and familiar, we felt welcome from the first minute on.

As the sun started setting down we walked to the overlook to capture that moment.

The view is just stunning.

We then had a beautiful and quiet night at the campground.

Both of us were super amazed by the beauty of this place. So we set up our alarm clock to 4:30 in the morning for watching the sunset from the edge. And guess what, it was absolutely worth it!

Doesn't matter if you look left or right, it's amazing anyway.

An experience I'll never forget.

 

[forty2]

Excellent trip report thus far, eagerly awaiting updates.

Sub'd.

 

[trailsurfer]

Fantastic trip report! Thanks for taking the time to put this together for all of us.

 

[RV4021]

That is an awesome picture of you and your father. I can't wait for the day I can take a long road trip with my son.


One Life

 

[mjmcdowell]

Your trip....

Was at the N. Rim early fall this year with DE V some of the places you were also it was awesome! Enjoyed your trip report so far and look forward to more as your journey continues! There is an trip report/photos here on EXPO of our trip as well, check it out. mjmcdowell

 

[subarubobby]

Amazing report! Cant wait for more!

 

[mph]

A journey with memories to last forever...Congrats! It appears you and your father had a grand time

 

[pmatusov]

Please continue!!!

 

[QuadsBC]

Awesome adventure so far!!

 

[Silversurferyyc]

I'll be following your trip with great interest!! We just completed Alaska Yukon and Northwest territories in August,and I can say you're going to be in for some amazing experiences!!

 

[Mike S]

Looks like a great trip, Neil. I am pleased that you enjoyed the North Rim. I thought that you would! -- Mike