My second offroad excursion with the Land Cruiser was a whirlwind for some fall leaves, and although I thought I might be a bit early, the leaves were scorching in central CO. This 4-day trip would have me traverse:
I decided to drive Weston Pass (instead of going through Buena Vista) since I hadnāt been there in decades, and it turned out to be a dirty affair. Weston is mostly just a road, but as soon as I turned onto it I ran into a water truck spraying down the dusty road. Only, it wasnāt water. It was mag chloride, and the first two hours of my several day trip found the wheel wells immediately caked-on with a paste of nasty saltā¦dirtā¦ muck. Ugh.
Stopped in Buena Vista for a quick car wash to get the salt-paste off the undercarriage, then headed north to find the leaves raging around Twin Lakes, so I searched out a spot that overlooked the Box Creek area beneath Mt. Elbert (where there is actually quite a major placer mining operation going on in the alluvial terraces). Spent some time chatting with a pair of elk hunters (bow) whose overlook spot Iād decided to camp in, but they were off at dusk to catch some sleep before their hike in the AM. Overnight a bit of aurora decided to peek above the horizon for a bit, and I actually caught a Starlink train (recent launch of 23 satellites), which looked blue as they traversed the sky due to the dielectric mirror coating on their undersides. None of the roads were challenging on this day, but there are some cool trails that meander around in the hills east of Box Creek. I did finally get to use my new Kammok Outpost hammock setup, which ended up working out better than Iād expected. I sleep in a hammock 95% of the time while out shooting, and this setup will alleviate me having to choose a spot primarily based upon having a tree or rock to connect with the rack of the 4Runnerā¦ er, Land Cruiser, now. So great to have more flexibility!
The next day I meandered around Twin Lakes before hitting the Brown Dog in Buena for some java and a breakfast burrito. From there I headed back north after getting gas (yes, the range in the LC is a bit of a pain in the ass!), and headed up Missouri Gulch, a place Iād never been. The leaves were again stunning, with lots of oranges bordering on maroon in places! Drove up both the North and South Forks above Winfield until both roads ended at trailheads, and found some fantastic views of the valley and leaves, and few people. Found a spot to camp that looked across at Ervin Peak and its huge avalanche path, full of raging aspen, and no one camped near me.
After a cold and wet night that found significant condensation both inside and outside my hammock enclosure, I decided to head to the other side of Independence Pass, as Iāve spent little time around Aspen and decided to explore. To my chagrin, I found peopleā¦ lots of people, so I kept driving up Lincoln Creek until there were no people. Early on the way up, one doofus in a Tesla ignored the fact that I was behind him for 7 or 8 minutes, and finally let me go after I honked at him. [eyeroll] Got to the empty Portal Campground and picked a spot there; an hour later most of the 5 or so other spots were filled. Not many aspen around this area, and the Grizzly Lake (reservoir) dam was drained and being refurbished, so the view wasnāt quite as nice as it normally would be.
[A quick aside on the Land Cruiser, since thatās why weāre here. This was my first opportunity to get this thing on highways for any significant time, and I really appreciate how well the adaptive cruise and lane tracing works, quite a bit better than my wifeās ā22 RAV4 prime. It even works fairly well on somewhat curvy roads, even at highway speeds! I got my first opportunity to use the inverter, and Wow does that thing work well! It charged my half-empty Jackery 1000 in no time, and now that I see what such a big inverter can do, it will leave me some latitude with not having to immediately throw solar panels out every time I arrive at a destination. No FE lights in the tailgate like the 2025 LandCruisers? I was pissed at first, but after learning there is no āoffā switch, I now feel gratified. Iām primarily a night photographer, so I appreciate dim lighting that can be used without blinding people (especially me). Now, the beeping when the tailgate opens or closes every time? That is infuriating, there should be a way to turn it off. Also, there should be a way to use ONLY your fogs if you wish (without the low beams having to be on), as it would be really nice not to blind people coming into a campsite late. Like all those people that came in after me at Grizzly Lake. I digress.]
The next morning I decided to head toward Crested Butte (with a stop at Teocali Tamale!) and see how Kebler Pass was faring with colors, and again ran into hordes of people, everywhere. I ended up backtracking and heading down Ohio Pass to escape the madness. I continued south through Gunnison and toward the San Juans to see what the leaves were doing down there, and to hopefully hop up onto the Alpine Loop for a pass or two. Since light was fading and there was no way to get where I wanted to be before dark, I quick-camped at an overlook on the way up Owl Creek Pass, as Iād had 10+ hours in the saddle on this fine day (my 60th birthday, at that). The new hammock setup makes it really easy and quick to sleep and get out fast, love that thing.
Up and out with the sun, I headed straight for Corkscrew Gulch, one of the entries into the Alpine Loop, and certainly my favorite spot on the loop, for sure. If you havenāt been there, put it high on your list, as the road squeaks through the valley between Red Mtns #1 and 2, and then steeply climbs a mountain face up to 12.300ā, and onto the Alpine Loop. Not a particularly difficult climb, but the road can be quite loose and rocky; not sure an Outback would make it up (last time I was there I ran across one at the bottom switchback; he turned around). The sun was finally up enough to warm my surroundings, and provided some fantastic light for a panoramic 'heroā shot of the LandCruiser at the top of Corkscrew, looking down on Red Mtn. #2, Imogene Pass on the other side of the valley (Septemberās Land Cruiser of the Month photo). From there I headed to Hurricane and California Passes, the latter of which is the high point of the Alpine Loop at 12,960ā. Not much to say about the Land Cruiser on the Loop, it climbs like a goat, and it has a turning radius that I really appreciate, it feels tighter than my former ā16 4Runner (which I sadly said goodbye to today, as I write this). I said this before and Iāll say it again now, the LC is simply better offroad in nearly every respect compared to the 4Runner, which I spent nine years in. The LC just never even spins a tire, never has a tire in the air, compared to the 4Runner. The difference is substantial, and not just due to 285/70r18s compared to 275/70r17s. Iāve seen mentioned that people are assuming there is some sort of A-Trac going on in the LC at all times (or perhaps when center is locked?), but I donāt know if itās true or not. Whatever it is, Iāll take it.
Since I got such an early start I decided to descend down to Animas Forks so I could get through Silverton and across 550 to drive up to Clear Lake, off S. Mineral Creek. Another super-fun drive, big bang-for-the-buck for how long it takes. Great views across toward Ice Lakes Basin as you are climbing, and then topping out at the lake is stunning. Parked near a legacy LandCruiser at the top (a ārealā Land Cruiser, for those folks so inclined to berate us 250 owners), and then headed back down. Iād planned on spending the night at the top of Corkscrew, but weather pulled in and it looked like the rain and clouds were going to stymie what I was there to capture, so I bailed and drove all the way home.
Despite a few long days and cold nights, the Land Cruiser literally made it a breeze to drive another 6 hours after driving off-road (literally) all day, a true gift, and certainly one of the primary reasons I wanted to replace the prehistoric 4Runner with something with some tech.
Happy trails!
Weston Pass
Independence Pass
(to Grizzly Lake)
Cottonwood Pass
Kebler Pass
Ohio Pass
(Owl Creek Pass Overlook)
Red Mountain Pass
Corkscrew Gulch
Hurricane Pass
California Pass
(Clear Lake)
Corkscrew Gulch
I decided to drive Weston Pass (instead of going through Buena Vista) since I hadnāt been there in decades, and it turned out to be a dirty affair. Weston is mostly just a road, but as soon as I turned onto it I ran into a water truck spraying down the dusty road. Only, it wasnāt water. It was mag chloride, and the first two hours of my several day trip found the wheel wells immediately caked-on with a paste of nasty saltā¦dirtā¦ muck. Ugh.
Stopped in Buena Vista for a quick car wash to get the salt-paste off the undercarriage, then headed north to find the leaves raging around Twin Lakes, so I searched out a spot that overlooked the Box Creek area beneath Mt. Elbert (where there is actually quite a major placer mining operation going on in the alluvial terraces). Spent some time chatting with a pair of elk hunters (bow) whose overlook spot Iād decided to camp in, but they were off at dusk to catch some sleep before their hike in the AM. Overnight a bit of aurora decided to peek above the horizon for a bit, and I actually caught a Starlink train (recent launch of 23 satellites), which looked blue as they traversed the sky due to the dielectric mirror coating on their undersides. None of the roads were challenging on this day, but there are some cool trails that meander around in the hills east of Box Creek. I did finally get to use my new Kammok Outpost hammock setup, which ended up working out better than Iād expected. I sleep in a hammock 95% of the time while out shooting, and this setup will alleviate me having to choose a spot primarily based upon having a tree or rock to connect with the rack of the 4Runnerā¦ er, Land Cruiser, now. So great to have more flexibility!
The next day I meandered around Twin Lakes before hitting the Brown Dog in Buena for some java and a breakfast burrito. From there I headed back north after getting gas (yes, the range in the LC is a bit of a pain in the ass!), and headed up Missouri Gulch, a place Iād never been. The leaves were again stunning, with lots of oranges bordering on maroon in places! Drove up both the North and South Forks above Winfield until both roads ended at trailheads, and found some fantastic views of the valley and leaves, and few people. Found a spot to camp that looked across at Ervin Peak and its huge avalanche path, full of raging aspen, and no one camped near me.
After a cold and wet night that found significant condensation both inside and outside my hammock enclosure, I decided to head to the other side of Independence Pass, as Iāve spent little time around Aspen and decided to explore. To my chagrin, I found peopleā¦ lots of people, so I kept driving up Lincoln Creek until there were no people. Early on the way up, one doofus in a Tesla ignored the fact that I was behind him for 7 or 8 minutes, and finally let me go after I honked at him. [eyeroll] Got to the empty Portal Campground and picked a spot there; an hour later most of the 5 or so other spots were filled. Not many aspen around this area, and the Grizzly Lake (reservoir) dam was drained and being refurbished, so the view wasnāt quite as nice as it normally would be.
[A quick aside on the Land Cruiser, since thatās why weāre here. This was my first opportunity to get this thing on highways for any significant time, and I really appreciate how well the adaptive cruise and lane tracing works, quite a bit better than my wifeās ā22 RAV4 prime. It even works fairly well on somewhat curvy roads, even at highway speeds! I got my first opportunity to use the inverter, and Wow does that thing work well! It charged my half-empty Jackery 1000 in no time, and now that I see what such a big inverter can do, it will leave me some latitude with not having to immediately throw solar panels out every time I arrive at a destination. No FE lights in the tailgate like the 2025 LandCruisers? I was pissed at first, but after learning there is no āoffā switch, I now feel gratified. Iām primarily a night photographer, so I appreciate dim lighting that can be used without blinding people (especially me). Now, the beeping when the tailgate opens or closes every time? That is infuriating, there should be a way to turn it off. Also, there should be a way to use ONLY your fogs if you wish (without the low beams having to be on), as it would be really nice not to blind people coming into a campsite late. Like all those people that came in after me at Grizzly Lake. I digress.]
The next morning I decided to head toward Crested Butte (with a stop at Teocali Tamale!) and see how Kebler Pass was faring with colors, and again ran into hordes of people, everywhere. I ended up backtracking and heading down Ohio Pass to escape the madness. I continued south through Gunnison and toward the San Juans to see what the leaves were doing down there, and to hopefully hop up onto the Alpine Loop for a pass or two. Since light was fading and there was no way to get where I wanted to be before dark, I quick-camped at an overlook on the way up Owl Creek Pass, as Iād had 10+ hours in the saddle on this fine day (my 60th birthday, at that). The new hammock setup makes it really easy and quick to sleep and get out fast, love that thing.
Up and out with the sun, I headed straight for Corkscrew Gulch, one of the entries into the Alpine Loop, and certainly my favorite spot on the loop, for sure. If you havenāt been there, put it high on your list, as the road squeaks through the valley between Red Mtns #1 and 2, and then steeply climbs a mountain face up to 12.300ā, and onto the Alpine Loop. Not a particularly difficult climb, but the road can be quite loose and rocky; not sure an Outback would make it up (last time I was there I ran across one at the bottom switchback; he turned around). The sun was finally up enough to warm my surroundings, and provided some fantastic light for a panoramic 'heroā shot of the LandCruiser at the top of Corkscrew, looking down on Red Mtn. #2, Imogene Pass on the other side of the valley (Septemberās Land Cruiser of the Month photo). From there I headed to Hurricane and California Passes, the latter of which is the high point of the Alpine Loop at 12,960ā. Not much to say about the Land Cruiser on the Loop, it climbs like a goat, and it has a turning radius that I really appreciate, it feels tighter than my former ā16 4Runner (which I sadly said goodbye to today, as I write this). I said this before and Iāll say it again now, the LC is simply better offroad in nearly every respect compared to the 4Runner, which I spent nine years in. The LC just never even spins a tire, never has a tire in the air, compared to the 4Runner. The difference is substantial, and not just due to 285/70r18s compared to 275/70r17s. Iāve seen mentioned that people are assuming there is some sort of A-Trac going on in the LC at all times (or perhaps when center is locked?), but I donāt know if itās true or not. Whatever it is, Iāll take it.
Since I got such an early start I decided to descend down to Animas Forks so I could get through Silverton and across 550 to drive up to Clear Lake, off S. Mineral Creek. Another super-fun drive, big bang-for-the-buck for how long it takes. Great views across toward Ice Lakes Basin as you are climbing, and then topping out at the lake is stunning. Parked near a legacy LandCruiser at the top (a ārealā Land Cruiser, for those folks so inclined to berate us 250 owners), and then headed back down. Iād planned on spending the night at the top of Corkscrew, but weather pulled in and it looked like the rain and clouds were going to stymie what I was there to capture, so I bailed and drove all the way home.
Despite a few long days and cold nights, the Land Cruiser literally made it a breeze to drive another 6 hours after driving off-road (literally) all day, a true gift, and certainly one of the primary reasons I wanted to replace the prehistoric 4Runner with something with some tech.
Happy trails!
