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

steve c

Adventurer
Excellent trip report!

It's really fun seeing places I've been through the eyes(camera) of someone from Europe!

Really enjoying this.
 

ab1985

Explorer
Great report. My father and I drove the White Rim a few years back in my 80 series. Tons of memories. Looking forward to the rest of the trip.
 

87Warrior

GP'er
Nice report. What a great trip to take with your dad.

I can't wait to follow the rest of your trip and commentary.

I was in Ouray a couple of weeks before you. My wife and I were the last ones to go over Cinnamon Pass in our Jeep before 24" of snow fell.
 

WyoCherokee

Adventurer
Just out of random curiosity, how did you register it in Nevada, while not being a US Citizen? Looks like a fun trip!
 

nosedive

Observer
I'm very sorry for the delay!! I didn't count with that much readers/followers of my trip report. I finally managed it to bring all my pictures in order and I'm still trying getting my ducks in a row and find a new workplace at home.

Thank you all for your kind words and your interest in my trip, I now start writing and uploading pictures again.

@WyoCherokee: I'm writing you a pm about the registration.
 

nosedive

Observer
It was a strange feeling after dropping off my dad at the airport, suddenly being alone again in the big world. The last couple days were very nice, but also a bit tough. The rain, cold weather and even snow made me thinking a lot about my concept of traveling to the north with just a car.
I made it to Cheyenne Wyoming the same day to spend 3 nights at a private accommodation wich I found on Airbnb. I had a comfy room in a big house with a very nice and friendly family. I spent those days with rethinking my travel concept, while it was snowing outside.

I came to the recognition that a car with only a roof top tent isn't the best solution for a multiply month journey to the north, at least for me. A small truck camper or a van would have been a better option for me. I also shared my thoughts with Mike, the pre owner of my truck, and he offered me to buy the roof top tent back for a really good price. I then made my decision to sell the tent and continuing my trip to the north, using the money from the sale to spend some nights at a motel when the weather is bad.

So I drove all the way from Cheyenne back to the west coast, dropped off the tent and Mike's warehouse near Santa Cruz and continued to my friend Jack were I spend about a week at his place. I reorganized all my stuff, bought a comfortable camping mattress at Cabela's for my sleeping platform and built myself a rear shelter out of a tarp and some old tent poles. The rear shelter was perfect for cooking on the tailgate or just for having a dry place before entering the sleeping area.

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I once again had an awesome time at Jack's place, but it was time to leave again. Next destination Yellowstone NP, but not without driving through Yosemite NP. I spent the night on a campground right in front of the south park entrance. I got up before sunrise the next morning and drove up to Glacier Point. Unfortunately, I din't make it to the top to watch the sun rising, so I stopped somewhere beside the road.

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I then continued to the lookout point to find myself absolutely alone. There was only one younger couple and a man photographing right at the lookout point. Everybody told me in advance it will be super crowded up there. It definitely wasn't.

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It's an absolutely amazing and magical place. If you haven't been there, do it! It's absolutely worth it.
I sat down and enjoyed a not so fresh Subway sandwich from yesterday.

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Deers right next to the parking lot.
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Another view of Half Dome from Tioga Pass Road.
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The beautiful Sierra Nevada landscape.
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Those little guys were all over the place.
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nosedive

Observer
The next couple days were filled with driving and stealth camping near the freeway until I reached Grand Teton NP.
Grand Teton offers an impressive mountain range.

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I assume that I hit a bird and not a stone. There was no one driving in front of me or in the oncoming lane. I had a shock anyway from the bang.
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Bad luck for me at Yellowstone NP. The completely road through the west side of the park has been closed and made driving a loop impossible. I was only abel to visit the right half of the park.

Wildlife everywhere along the road.
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One of the many geysers.
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Finally some bisons!
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A free living bison herd.
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Drive by shot.
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The most dangerous thing inside the park aren't all the animals crossing the road, it's the idiot people doing emergency brakes when spotting a squirrel high up in the trees 100 feet off the road or parking in the middle of the road..

Upper Yellowstone falls.
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The waterfall is huge! You can spot the people on the lookout point right next before the water drops.
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nswanny

Observer
This has been an awesome report, can't wait to see more! So many places I'd love to go back to and so many I have yet to explore.
 
I just spent the past 30 minutes going through your post.

My god. - Love it. Very cool that you and your dad can do that together. Keep exploring and posting!
 

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