- First Name
- Glenn
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- Aug 6, 2020
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- Austin, Texas
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- 1994 Isuzu Trooper
- Your Bronco Model
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I did a mix of dispersed camping, established campgrounds, and two hotel nights in Lake Tahoe. I wish I could dedicate a whole month for a trip like this. Between Sequoia, Yosemite, the Redwoods, Tahoe, and Grand Canyon, I think I put in hundreds of miles of very curvy, hilly drives. No major off-roading, just a few forest roads. No major issues with the Bronco, though some of the windier interstate sections can rip through gaps of the soft-top. Android Auto disconnected at times, sometimes connecting via cable would resolve that.
For my setup I removed the rear seats, wired up the Ecoflow Delta 2 + alternator charger like many others have, and used a Hele Outdoors bed platform paired with a Deepsleep mattress on top. With this I was able to store all my gear under the bed and where the rear seats would be while having half the cargo space still available for activities, and nothing mounted on the exterior.
Other gear options I went with include Amazon roll bar bags, Blue Ridge Overland attic, small Iceco fridge, and my Geyser shower (uses less than one gallon for a piping hot sponge bath- if you detach the water temp sensor). I wanted to be fully electric, but I found a small Nature Hike butane heater that is very efficient and easy to use.
With that here are a lot of pics to share. For some reason the last three are out of order and my edits can't be saved.
Day 1: 700 miles to Socorro, NM. Stopped at Barney's Coffee Shop in Brady, TX- highly recommend if you're swinging through. I found free camping at the Box Canyon rec area. Didn't spot any climbers but there was a small wedding photo shoot.
Day 2: 370 miles to Sedona, AZ. Made a stop at Petrified Forest National Park. I stayed near Slide Rock state park, though it was raining and a bit too cold for swimming unfortunately. There were great trails directly connected to my camp site, and babbling Oak Creek was a couple sites away.
Day 3: 535 miles to Delano, CA. First couple stops were in Williams, AZ. I was really looking forward to Bearizona, and it definitely did not disappoint! I got to watch the wolves howl and had bears usher my Bronco. Such a cool experience. Then I checked out DJ's Wild West Junction and the Poozeum. After that I hit the historic Route 66 section of Oatman, AZ, where wild burros rule the town along with old people and the smell of cigarettes. No goldfish in the Shaffer Springs fish bowl. I wanted to check out a dry bed lake, but I was losing and wanted to cover more distance. Stayed at the Walmart in Delano, CA.
Day 4: 250 miles through Sequoia National Park. The trees are beyond majestic, and I was struggling to comprehend them. Did the small hike up Moro Rock, and really enjoyed the Parker Group cluster of Sequoia. I sat with a 90yr old woman and we shared tears due to the incredible beauty. Found a nice, free spot in Fish Camp. Nice trails to explore, but it was disappointing to small bits of littler throughout the main area.
Days 5 and 6: 80 miles to Yosemite National Park. So many giant waterfalls that sound like jet turbines. I secured a camp site in the valley right next to the Merced River surrounded by views of Half Dome and other massive granite cliffs. You know you've got a good site when all the other campers and the host claim you've got a got one. I started hiking Mist Trail around 5:30am and was thrilled the traffic was very low. For the iconic misty part, I linked up with one of the only small groups of people. Thank you to the kind lady who helped make sure my pack cover was on correctly, and offering to take a photo of me (I'm cheesing real hard because I absolutely loved this section; Also repping the Bronco rain poncho). Nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain from my site, I was really feeling it and was taking in all of the views. After several hours of hiking I returned to my camp, and tragically right was I was arriving an elderly man blew through a stop sign, striking an elderly woman on a bicycle (wearing a helmet). A crew attempted to resuscitate her, but after a few minutes a white blanket was draped over the lady. Exhausted and stuck in traffic, wasn't sure if what I was processing was true. Please slow down and enjoy these beautiful places, there should be no rush.
Day 7: 420 miles to MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg. I stopped at the Golden Gate bridge, and enjoyed driving the 128 through the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. I love all the flora and how heavenly the smell is driving up Highway 1. I played on the Mendocino cliffs and Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. The campground was stocked with amenities. My site had a trail that led through small sand dunes and onto the beach, where I got to watch a beautiful sunset.
Days 8 and 9: 180 miles to Redwood National and State Parks. This was the first part of the trip I booked. It rained a lot while I was in the rain forest, and that made me happy. Had yet another incredibly spot right next to the Prarie Creek, with more great trees and trails connected to the aptly named Elk Prarie Campground. The site next to mine had it's own little beach, so that's gotta be the best site there. I drove and hiked a few trails around the area, have so many great pics and videos flocking around here.
Days 10 and 11: 390 miles to Lake Tahoe. Halfway into the trip and I was happy I got a hotel in Tahoe City. It was snowing slightly when I arrived. I spent most of my time enjoying various hikes and views. I woke up super early to check out the not so secret Secret Cove. It was in the 30s and cloudy when I got there early in the morning. Parking was sketchy as construction blocked off many off the spots, and the small parking areas down open until Memorial Day. With all of that along with it being a week-day, it was a perfect recipe for me to be able to enjoy the Secret Cove all to myself for hours! Time flew by after the sun came out, and I only left because I had an irrationally eerie feeling my Bronco would get towed, or something else would happen to it.
Day 12: 530 miles to Valley of Fire. I wish I gave myself more time to explore the trails and Fire Wave, and I was really hoping to see some Big Horn Sheep here, but no luck. I still loved my beautiful spot.
Day 13: 250 miles to Grand Canyon North Rim. The canyon was immense, but one of the main trails was closed. The lack of trails felt a little underwhelming. However I was pleased heading back up the Kaibab Plateau, a few miles down a gravely road to a fantastic free spot with stellar views.
Days 14: 600 miles to Capitan, NM for the final night. I had to visit a little mountain near Sunset Crater that I visited on a trip 14 months back with my late Thor.
Day 15: 600 miles to Austin, TX. There were many cool stops and other places from this trip I didn't mention, and plenty of great videos as well.
For my setup I removed the rear seats, wired up the Ecoflow Delta 2 + alternator charger like many others have, and used a Hele Outdoors bed platform paired with a Deepsleep mattress on top. With this I was able to store all my gear under the bed and where the rear seats would be while having half the cargo space still available for activities, and nothing mounted on the exterior.
Other gear options I went with include Amazon roll bar bags, Blue Ridge Overland attic, small Iceco fridge, and my Geyser shower (uses less than one gallon for a piping hot sponge bath- if you detach the water temp sensor). I wanted to be fully electric, but I found a small Nature Hike butane heater that is very efficient and easy to use.
With that here are a lot of pics to share. For some reason the last three are out of order and my edits can't be saved.
Day 1: 700 miles to Socorro, NM. Stopped at Barney's Coffee Shop in Brady, TX- highly recommend if you're swinging through. I found free camping at the Box Canyon rec area. Didn't spot any climbers but there was a small wedding photo shoot.
Day 2: 370 miles to Sedona, AZ. Made a stop at Petrified Forest National Park. I stayed near Slide Rock state park, though it was raining and a bit too cold for swimming unfortunately. There were great trails directly connected to my camp site, and babbling Oak Creek was a couple sites away.
Day 3: 535 miles to Delano, CA. First couple stops were in Williams, AZ. I was really looking forward to Bearizona, and it definitely did not disappoint! I got to watch the wolves howl and had bears usher my Bronco. Such a cool experience. Then I checked out DJ's Wild West Junction and the Poozeum. After that I hit the historic Route 66 section of Oatman, AZ, where wild burros rule the town along with old people and the smell of cigarettes. No goldfish in the Shaffer Springs fish bowl. I wanted to check out a dry bed lake, but I was losing and wanted to cover more distance. Stayed at the Walmart in Delano, CA.
Day 4: 250 miles through Sequoia National Park. The trees are beyond majestic, and I was struggling to comprehend them. Did the small hike up Moro Rock, and really enjoyed the Parker Group cluster of Sequoia. I sat with a 90yr old woman and we shared tears due to the incredible beauty. Found a nice, free spot in Fish Camp. Nice trails to explore, but it was disappointing to small bits of littler throughout the main area.
Days 5 and 6: 80 miles to Yosemite National Park. So many giant waterfalls that sound like jet turbines. I secured a camp site in the valley right next to the Merced River surrounded by views of Half Dome and other massive granite cliffs. You know you've got a good site when all the other campers and the host claim you've got a got one. I started hiking Mist Trail around 5:30am and was thrilled the traffic was very low. For the iconic misty part, I linked up with one of the only small groups of people. Thank you to the kind lady who helped make sure my pack cover was on correctly, and offering to take a photo of me (I'm cheesing real hard because I absolutely loved this section; Also repping the Bronco rain poncho). Nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain from my site, I was really feeling it and was taking in all of the views. After several hours of hiking I returned to my camp, and tragically right was I was arriving an elderly man blew through a stop sign, striking an elderly woman on a bicycle (wearing a helmet). A crew attempted to resuscitate her, but after a few minutes a white blanket was draped over the lady. Exhausted and stuck in traffic, wasn't sure if what I was processing was true. Please slow down and enjoy these beautiful places, there should be no rush.
Day 7: 420 miles to MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg. I stopped at the Golden Gate bridge, and enjoyed driving the 128 through the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. I love all the flora and how heavenly the smell is driving up Highway 1. I played on the Mendocino cliffs and Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. The campground was stocked with amenities. My site had a trail that led through small sand dunes and onto the beach, where I got to watch a beautiful sunset.
Days 8 and 9: 180 miles to Redwood National and State Parks. This was the first part of the trip I booked. It rained a lot while I was in the rain forest, and that made me happy. Had yet another incredibly spot right next to the Prarie Creek, with more great trees and trails connected to the aptly named Elk Prarie Campground. The site next to mine had it's own little beach, so that's gotta be the best site there. I drove and hiked a few trails around the area, have so many great pics and videos flocking around here.
Days 10 and 11: 390 miles to Lake Tahoe. Halfway into the trip and I was happy I got a hotel in Tahoe City. It was snowing slightly when I arrived. I spent most of my time enjoying various hikes and views. I woke up super early to check out the not so secret Secret Cove. It was in the 30s and cloudy when I got there early in the morning. Parking was sketchy as construction blocked off many off the spots, and the small parking areas down open until Memorial Day. With all of that along with it being a week-day, it was a perfect recipe for me to be able to enjoy the Secret Cove all to myself for hours! Time flew by after the sun came out, and I only left because I had an irrationally eerie feeling my Bronco would get towed, or something else would happen to it.
Day 12: 530 miles to Valley of Fire. I wish I gave myself more time to explore the trails and Fire Wave, and I was really hoping to see some Big Horn Sheep here, but no luck. I still loved my beautiful spot.
Day 13: 250 miles to Grand Canyon North Rim. The canyon was immense, but one of the main trails was closed. The lack of trails felt a little underwhelming. However I was pleased heading back up the Kaibab Plateau, a few miles down a gravely road to a fantastic free spot with stellar views.
Days 14: 600 miles to Capitan, NM for the final night. I had to visit a little mountain near Sunset Crater that I visited on a trip 14 months back with my late Thor.
Day 15: 600 miles to Austin, TX. There were many cool stops and other places from this trip I didn't mention, and plenty of great videos as well.
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