[Toshi]

These 10 photos represent 36 hours and 900 miles condensed down to red, green, and blue:

A few extra photos and details on the manic trip's route are here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ToshiClark/posts/FXHg1eYFtDD

Photo-nerd details: 5D Mark II mated to a Sigma 12-24, Canon 24-105/4L, and Canon 135/2L variously, the latter two with polarizers.

 

[stevew]

so was maroon bells crowded?

 

[SkaredShtles]

Shoulda gone to Frutia...

 

[valve bouncer]

The beautiful autumn light in the Northern Hemisphere never fails to impress.

 

[Toshi]

so was maroon bells crowded?

Random Indian tourists plus a few leaf-peepers with tripods a la me. Not too bad of a crowd, really, and certainly not shoulder to shoulder.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Random Indian tourists plus a few leaf-peepers with tripods a la me. Not too bad of a crowd, really, and certainly not shoulder to shoulder.

Man... if they really were they missed the boat by WEEKS at the Bells.

 

[6thElement]

Great photos, I borrowed a few for my rotating desktop images folder.

 

[Toshi]

The Google+ link has full size ones to download (via a menu at the top of each photo--More? Ellipsis? Something like that, has a download photo option).

 

[TN]

oh...Alpine Loop looks fun. Is it pretty gnarly?

 

[Toshi]

Sections were pretty gnarly. I maxed out on departure angle and breakover angle in my Land Cruiser, which sits 0.5" higher off the ground than stock thanks to 32" tires.

Stock it has 9.8" ground clearance, 24 degree breakover, 24 degree departure angle. If your rig is at those levels or higher than you should be fine.

I saw Wranglers (of course) and lots of side by sides on the trail, but also two odd birds, a OJ-esque mid-90s Ford Bronco non-II, and a late model Ford F-150 extended cab long wheelbase/long bed that somehow wasn't dragging all its bits on the trail. He did have to do a 5 point turn to get around the switchback I met him on.

 

[TN]

Sections were pretty gnarly. I maxed out on departure angle and breakover angle in my Land Cruiser, which sits 0.5" higher off the ground than stock thanks to 32" tires.

Stock it has 9.8" ground clearance, 24 degree breakover, 24 degree departure angle. If your rig is at those levels or higher than you should be fine.

I saw Wranglers (of course) and lots of side by sides on the trail, but also two odd birds, a OJ-esque mid-90s Ford Bronco non-II, and a late model Ford F-150 extended cab long wheelbase/long bed that somehow wasn't dragging all its bits on the trail. He did have to do a 5 point turn to get around the switchback I met him on.

I only know if I hear shit dragging.