October 2014 | Volume 7 | Issue 4

Photos by Paul Gardner & Jonathan Harris

How often do you hear an event described as “Epic?" Each time I speak with someone, the last event they attended was the best event ever. They may have even described it as “epic."  Is it possible for an event to transcend the epic status and, if so, what’s the next level?

I look forward to any opportunity to travel in the mountains, especially with a few good friends. Event or no event, sitting around a campfire long after the sun has set is one of the most rewarding aspects of adventure travel. Campfires have the ability to invoke a primitive comfort inside all of us. The dancing flames, orange glow and inviting warmth can do wonders for your soul.

Photos by Colter Larsen and Shane Williams

There wasn’t the violent surge of the vehicle as one might expect. There was a subtle thump of the rear tire that signaled something was wrong. A quick inspection proved a flat tire, further inspection the spare tire was also flat.

With the light rain turning to snow they jumped into action. In an already cramped single-cab pick-up they couldn’t huddle together, and the steel of the rig would only rob them of precious heat. While one quickly collected firewood, the other two set about making a shelter from a tarp found in the back of the truck. Soon the three were bundled close, as a roaring fire projected heat under the small tarp. The next morning a passing truck stopped to help. They survived a night where temperatures plummeted into to single digits and light snow filled the forest.

Two key accessories I discovered I needed in the first year of ownership

As many of you know I was a long-time holdout, not wanting to ditch my trusted cooler and ice for a 12-volt fridge freezer.  I am stubborn and, even as the number of cooking classes we began teaching increased, did not think I needed a 12-volt fridge.  It was not until my good friend Josh stopped me and said, ‘What are you doing?’ that I really took a step back and thought about our setup. 

The 4 Door FJ-40 from Red Line Land Cruisers

As I chat with Justin Robbins about the frame in front of us, I’m reminded of the scene in Days of Thunder (don’t hate) where Harry Hogge (Robert Duval) is speaking to the frame of his latest race car creation. Justin is a lifelong Cruiser lover and his passion for building amazing trucks permeates this not-so-little shop in eastern Colorado Springs. While we’ve known about this project for quite some time, seeing it rise from an aging 80 Series, a shiny new aluminum body, and parts strewn about brings this vision a little closer to reality.