Winter 2017

Continued from 6 Days on Hema Map Patrol, Part 1.

Our inability to cross the Continental Divide via Union Pass outside of Pinedale, WY had us a little disappointed. However, after three hard days on the trail, we were happy for a nice night in a soft bed.

"Is that a Lexus?"

"Are you lost?"

"You should turn back!"

These are the standard greetings I receive when I use my 2003 GX470 for trail duty.  It’s okay, I am used to it after almost 8 years.  I have learned to retort with witty humor to diffuse the clear shock of these folks; My GPS told me the outlet mall was at the end of this road.It’s all in good fun.

I am of the opinion that aftermarket roof racks, like those sold by Yakima, are an under-rated system that really should get a lot of respect from the offroad community. Sure I often dream of installing a full-length platform on our 4Runner, but truth be told, a set of aftermarket cross bars can be a great, low-cost, way for many entry-level offroaders and travelers to equip their pickups and SUVs for outdoor adventure.

Examining the night sky on a clear evening while camping far from light-polluted skies will captivate your inner sense of wonder. It is an incredible experience to sit in awe of the vastness of space. Capturing the endless array of stars has become an easier feat due to camera technology evolving rapidly. Between sensor design improvements and smarter built-in noise reduction software, cameras are performing at ISO settings of over 10K and producing usable results.