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Johnson Family vacation!

Willie B

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This is the only pic I took of us offroad.. we went 10’ish miles or so out Stage Coach pass. Basically saw a dirt road and turned and then kept going until we had enough then turned left and headed back to the highway. View attachment 1013031
Absolutely amazing snd relaxing.. stopping to listen to the wind in the trees and the occasional animal etc.. I really enjoyed it.
…Reminds me of having the 100 acres to myself above Lake Oroville…Bears snakes coyote tame deer an occasional bobcat…no bison though… The sound of the wind blowing through the tall pines and black oak at times was hynotic…You guys are definitely on a good one…👍
 

RiverDave

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Now I’m not saying I’m a good cook.. but I got the fajita thing down to a science.. even upside down! Lol

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Kbach

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Family vacations are the best. Loved going on them as a kid and now do it with my fam every yr.

Tell me more about the what's ahead app...couldn't find it and sounds pretty damn cool.
 

HNL2LHC

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This is the only pic I took of us offroad.. we went 10’ish miles or so out Stage Coach pass. Basically saw a dirt road and turned and then kept going until we had enough then turned left and headed back to the highway. View attachment 1013031
Absolutely amazing snd relaxing.. stopping to listen to the wind in the trees and the occasional animal etc.. I really enjoyed it.

I think that we went on th same road back in January.......


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Sleek-Jet

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Current situation.. relaxing and really enjoying life!

Hard to imagine 100+ degrees in Havasu when I’m making the best of this little fire trying to stay warm. Lol
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Yeah it gets cold at night that far north and in the Mountains. I miss that, having grown up and lived in Colorado.

I sent a picture of your adventure to my dad,.we did the same trip when I was about your oldest age, and I still remember most of it. So does he.

Great times you're having with the kids right now. Enjoy every minute of it.
 

RiverDave

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Going to be adding a few pics. Some might be out of order because Stacy just sent me some as well!

We did 8 hours of Yellowstone today snd again it didn’t disappoint! Unbelievably beautiful place! Would love to come back with some friends and camp for a week or more out here.

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RiverDave

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It’s crazy to see these hot springs and Steam vents literally everywhere.. you drive by what you would think are frigid streams and they are warm, and some lakes are steaming etc..

The “earth” is extremely active here and many things are changing in the blink of an eye in geological terms.
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RiverDiva

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Family vacations are the best. Loved going on them as a kid and now do it with my fam every yr.

Tell me more about the what's ahead app...couldn't find it and sounds pretty damn cool.

The app is called Just Ahead. It’s great because you can download the park you are going into and then it works by GPS when you are driving without cell service. Tells you which ways to turn, what’s coming up etc. it was super helpful and informative. I think it’s $20 for one download or $39 for the year with all the downloads.
 

Bear Down

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Great thread... this is inspiring me to do something similar in 2022..... @RiverDave and others who have done similar trips, how is the cell reception at campsites and such? Going dark during vacation is impossible for me, so having some limited access a few times a day is critical to make trips like this possible? I could plan accordingly on service availability.
 

RCDave

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Amazing pictures. Looks like a family trip that will be very long lasting memories indeed!

Thanks for sharing
 

CLdrinker

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that’s how we roll down the road on travel days.
My kids enjoyed this approach more then sleep in and get to next park @ dark

Wake up @ 5
Roling out of the park @ 6
Lunch Stop @ 11
Roll into new park by 3
Unhitch ToyHauler
Wife and kids go to pool, I head to gas station and gas up truck for next day
Happy Hour for Dad by 4
Solid!

But, you end up waking up your neighbors hitching up, running the stabilizer up, running the slides in slamming truck doors.
Not cool.
I left Zion early. I set everything up so all I had to do in the morning was the slides and front Jack. Left the truck hooked over night. The load distribution bars creaking still probably woke everyone up.

Atleast don’t be the guy with the impact running your stabilizers up at 6am. I wanted to kill that guy
 

RiverDave

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Great thread... this is inspiring me to do something similar in 2022..... @RiverDave and others who have done similar trips, how is the cell reception at campsites and such? Going dark during vacation is impossible for me, so having some limited access a few times a day is critical to make trips like this possible? I could plan accordingly on service availability.

Outside of the park it’s fine.. 1/4 mile into the park there is zero service. We are camped at valley view which is 14 miles or so south of the entrance.
 

Singleton

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Solid!

But, you end up waking up your neighbors hitching up, running the stabilizer up, running the slides in slamming truck doors.
Not cool.
I left Zion early. I set everything up so all I had to do in the morning was the slides and front Jack. Left the truck hooked over night. The load distribution bars creaking still probably woke everyone up.

Atleast don’t be the guy with the impact running your stabilizers up at 6am. I wanted to kill that guy

Funny thing, I was never the first to leave in any of the parks we stayed at :)
 

RiverDave

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My phone has been having some problems uploading photos.. for some reason the site is rejecting every second or third photo. 🤨
 

sirbob

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Looks like some great rivers for fly fishing - can you fish in those or are they protected being in the park?
 

Meaney77

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Now for the only negative part of the trip so far.. when we got back to camp yesterday I found Sierra’s bike looking like this.. 😳

I’d love to say this just happened.. but I’ve never seen a tire do that by itself.
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Have had the same thing happen to my kids bike, replaced the tube and hasnt happened since.

Maybe due to a change in elevation?

Looks like a great trip, you have me thinking about planning a road trip now!
 

sirbob

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HAHA - the new tie down looks a lot better than the start of the trip...

Good
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A little sketchy!



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stephenkatsea

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My wife looked over my shoulder as I was looking at these great photos and she asked, "Who's photos are those?" I said RD's. She said ,"No Way" "Where are the boats, broads and bars?" 😂
 

RiverDave

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Maybe I missed it but is there a reason you're not just towing the pathfinder on its own wheels?

because I got it the day before we left.. I didn’t have time to do a TOAD conversion on it etc.. besides there are some upsides to towing on a trailer vs flat towing and there are downsides.
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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