Summer Fun 2016

[Kya]

Okay, we admit it. Having the summer off as family is awesome! We do our best to make everyday count and to appreciate the freedom of fun we have for a few months. This summer our daughter had two service trips planned. First, she was headed to Fiji with National Geographic.
http://trips.ngstudentexpeditions.com/fijicsa2016/

Second, she was headed to Tanzania with a local non profit out of the Vail Valley called, Children's Global Alliance.
kaikeasjourneythroughlife.blogspot.com

http://www.childrensglobalalliance.org/

Since the Fiji trip was flying in and out of LAX, we used it as an excuse to roadtip, er....overland to CA and back. Once finally back in Colorado, we were able to access more dirt, more lo-range, and unlimited primitive camping sites. Here are some pics of our summer fun.

June proved to have a deep snowpack, so the truck and camper were used as basecamp to complete a few 14er ski missions. Final day of the year at Mt. Harvard. I have summit skied half of the 14ers and love the ability to 4x4 to THs, and sleep in luxury anywhere, anytime.




Off to Moab so my amazing wife could run the Thelma and Lousie Half Marathon. Any reason is a good reason to go to Moab!






Our dog Kenai hates swimming, but we always make her "practice" a little bit. Funniest thing to watch!

 

[Kya]

Headed to California with a stop at Zion National Park.






Quick stop in Las Vegas


And then California. If the traffic wasn't enough proof that we were in LA.....


Hollywood!


Camp site at the Leo Carrillo State Park. Great surfing here.

 

[Kya]

First thing we did back in Colorado, took our daughter and some friends to their first Red Rocks show: 21 Pilots. Good stuff!


Then a backpacking trip...




What do you do at a secluded lake at 12,000 ft in the summer? Take a swim, boardshorts or not!




Headed up the Mt. Princeton road for the night and a beautiful hike the following day!



Mt. Princeton summit in the distance. Big vertical (4,000-5,000 ft) on these Sawatch Peaks when measuring from the Arkansas Valley.


After a cold summit on Mt. Yale the day before, we were stoked for perfect weather on Mt. Princeton. We finished off the day with a soak in the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

 

[Kya]

Finally some 4x4 and lo range action! After a successful summit day on Mt. Princeton, we headed up and over to Tincup Pass on the way to Crested Butte.
The lower part of Tincup Pass after leaving town of St. Elmo.



Approaching the summit of Tincup Pass from the east side. Nothing too challenging. Just scenic and fun.





Starting down the west side. The west side is definitely harder with larger obstacle features.




Mirror Lake

 

[Kya]

Coming down the west side of Tincup Pass.


Mirror Lake



The town of Tincup. There are a few places open to stop for food/drinks.



...and think that's the gist of it. Thanks for checking it out!

 

[bigskypylot]

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...and think that's the gist of it. Thanks for checking it out!

Looks like a great time! The Taco looks great! What did you do suspension-wise, any upgrades for the 4WC top? The front bumper looks great as well.

 

[diluted]

Looks like a great time! The Taco looks great! What did you do suspension-wise, any upgrades for the 4WC top? The front bumper looks great as well.

I think that's a Tundra not a Taco?

 

[Kya]

Yeah, it's an 06' Tundra. Did a Wheeler's 3-pack AAL to the rear, but eventually added airbags since I fell in love with them on our Dakota/camper combo. For us, everything works really well. If I had the $$: I would do a custom Alcan leaf pack + airbags relocated to be centered over axle + airbag cradles + SFK + longer shocks.

 

[bigskypylot]

Whoops, Meant to Say Tundra! Either way it looks great! I am running Radflo 2.5's with 700# springs and PRG UCA upfront. Radflo 2.0 with Alcans @ +450 over stock and Timbren bumps and adjustable shackles. I plan on doing a Titan Swap along with a VK swap if I decide not to get a new overland rig and keeping my 06 Xterra. Love the Tundra!