Member Since: 12 Jan 2011
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 32
What's your definition of "Off-roading"
Like the subject says, What is your definition of "Off-roading"?
Driving through deep mud holes seems to be the big fantasy with Rover folk but the reality is that is only a small part of the "off road experience", or at least I hope you all do?
For me I just plain LOVE TO BE OUT OF DOORS, my 4x4 is the vehicle that gets me to my destination.
My adventure starts when I leave my drive with a loaded rig and a plan. Typically a Friday evening (more like 1-2 a.m.) just off work and leaving for a 3 day holiday!
Next 2-3 hours to the mountains, gas up, grab a hamburger from under a heat lamp ("lamp Food") nasty, but whatever it is made of (not beef, can't be....) it is delicious when eaten in sleep deprived delirium, then 30 minutes to the gravel, all lights on here, to Riders camp. Set up tent, BS a bit then sleep.
7 a.m. Start camp fire, cook coffee, eat food. Wait for group to wake, and arrive then around 9-10 a.m we drive into the high desert mountains here in Washington State.
Click image to enlarge
There are plenty of roads. I've been driving there for the last 20 years and have not even come close to seeing even 1/4 of them. I love the adventure of driving a long ways out, overcoming what the trail throws my way, then seeing all the glorious country, then finding my way back home.
Awesome, Fun, Exciting, Scary, all simultaneously.
So I ask again, what is your idea of Off roading?
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15th Jan 2011 8:12 am
Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
If I had that wonderful scenery and adventure playground as close as you have I would say its exactly the same thing! I spent Wednesday this week chugging round a muddy estate in Buckinghamshire on a Land Rover Experience day which was fun but not in the same league as off-roading for the adventure factor rather than just the driving factor. Top man
15th Jan 2011 8:44 am
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488
Mark you are a lucky man to have access to that sort of country but do you stay on maintained trails or can you venture off the beaten track?Club Exped trailer
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Mark
Sounds good to me. The photo is fab.
Let us see some more photos. Have you got a flickr / gallery or anywhere to see them on line.
Cheers
Johnhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8851994@N05/sets/
Last edited by Migster on 16th Jan 2011 12:24 am. Edited 1 time in total
15th Jan 2011 10:37 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6910
We can get close to a miniture version of that in Argyll, not that I would take my D3, its always the old defender as the trails are very narrow with branches scrapping down the side.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
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15th Jan 2011 1:59 pm
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6403
don't be so proud of it Big_Mark still not paid for it since ....
it has been stolen from native hmmm
15th Jan 2011 2:41 pm
TwelveSticks
Member Since: 16 Jan 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 798
If I'm right, your photo is of Mt Rainier, yes? In which case, enjoy it while you can, because its one of the 16 most dangerous volcanoes on the planet 2001 D2 GS (I must be mad!)
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15th Jan 2011 10:59 pm
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488
Are you two cheery chaps a double act?Club Exped trailer
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15th Jan 2011 11:24 pm
Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
And started as such a promising thread.......
15th Jan 2011 11:42 pm
Harvoy
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Redditch
Posts: 212
We have to go to Scotland to get anywhere near that quality of scenery! what you describe sounds like nirvana to me The D3 is a truely inspiring vehicle and deserves to be used in an overland/adventure environment.
There is alot of fun to be had in the UK, but most of it entails muddy lanes and much more average scenery; thats if you can find routes still open, lol.
Keep on taking and sharing lots of pictures for us less fortunate mortals 56 plate Zermatt Silve
16th Jan 2011 11:26 am
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
We love to get down to Morocco - deep south where one can drive from fantastic oasis
to deserts
Click image to enlarge
to snow capped mountains
and back to civilisation
LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
16th Jan 2011 11:39 am
Harvoy
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Redditch
Posts: 212
Wow! nice one Ted 56 plate Zermatt Silve
16th Jan 2011 11:41 am
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
And to Tunisia
to answer the original question though . . . Offroading is going anywhere a eurocrapbox can't Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
16th Jan 2011 1:35 pm
Big_Mark
Member Since: 12 Jan 2011
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 32
Thanks for the replies all. Yes Mt Rainier. The trails are semi- maintained by the US Forest Service, WA State Dept of Forestry and by local 4x4, Motorcycle ATV groups. Oh and Hillbillies that cut down the fallen trees after storms and in the Spring time.
Fording off and making your own trails is frowned apon but there are times and places where it is acceptable behavior. As a rule of thumb stay on the existing road/ trails is the best policy.
The roads are a combination of these, Old Logging roads, old Mining access roads and old wagon trails that early American settlers used in their migration to the west coast. The Naches Trail is one of those roads.
Yes the land was stolen from the Indians but the US is not the only Country guilty of such acts (don't get me started, LOL ) Mt Rainier is indeed active however I don't let that stop me from traveling near it. The way I look at it is, if it blew and I was in the blast zone so be it. That's a far better fate than life support, cancer, then slow drawn out death any day!
Again if any of you folk are here on business or travel look me up I'll take you for a day trip!
Last edited by Big_Mark on 16th Jan 2011 5:51 pm. Edited 1 time in total
16th Jan 2011 2:46 pm
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488
It's good to see you enjoying the area to the maximum whilst you can. I went through the Canyon Park in Utah last year and would have loved to have hired a Wrangler for the weekend to do a bit of off roading with a couple of nights under the stars. Keep the pictures coming Club Exped trailer
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