Doug's 2016 460 is very well outfitted but not over done, as one would expect from the Toytec founder.
Suspension? Yeah, a full King remote reservoir setup.
Wheels & tires? Of course. Icon wheels wrapped in Falken
Protection? Sure, Toytec sliders customized for a factory-like fit.
This truck turns heads everywhere she rolls.
Since I'm on east coast time, the dark morning didn't feel too early, but at 7,975ft it was - cool. A quick stop to Brown Dog for a hot double espresso, and I'm headed west (and up).
While we love exploring in the east with our (new to us) 2007 FJ Cruiser and previous 6MT Tacoma, it's always great to spend a little time in the high country. The big sky and more wide open spaces of the west are always exciting.
For this quick adventure, especially in a borrowed rig, I chose to pop up Cottonwood Creek Rd, just a few minutes from our Basecamp Cabin (available at BuenaVistaCabin.co). There are plenty of other trails to explore in the area (see Funtreks latest book), but this one is well known and a quick trip. Ten minutes later and I was on dirt, headed toward Cottonwood Lake.
Late September in Colorado's Collegiate Peaks area means you're usually going to see some snow along with plenty of fall color. This particular Sunday did not disappoint from the color perspective, but I'm surprised that there was almost no snow to be seen, even on the tallest peaks.
It's no secret that the off-road / overland world has exploded in the last 5 years. During the COVID pandemic, it seems everyone figured out that with a little 4x4 and some gear - they could explore the high country. I am all for more people enjoying the mountains, but the additional use of our forest roads have taken their toll. Routes that were previously lightly used dirt roads are now washboarded in faster sections, and very rocky and rutted from heavy use in the higher sections. Still, the GX with a full King Suspension barely noticed, and I made it to my preferred side-trail well before sunrise.
I'll let the photos & video speak for themselves.
It was a short adventure, but well worth it for a little mountain therapy.
