Since turning 60 yrs old I have been feeling a little nostalgic, for places in my past that held great memories with family and friends.

So I dreamed up a road trip down memory lane.

This trip would encompass 2500 miles with as much as possible on dirt roads (a thing they call overlanding today) It would be me, the dog and my Jeep.

For the grand finale at the end I would meet an old high school buddy and do an epic Jeep trail.

The wife wanted no part of it as it meant sleeping on the ground for a couple weeks.

So I departed my cabin in NW Montana and headed south to Darby, Mt. from there I hit the dirt. I would travel south to the River of no return (Salmon river)

Years ago I did a float trip with friends down the middle fork of the Salmon and our takeout was close to Shoup, Idaho. The float trip was an epic adventure in my life and a very special memory.

This is also Bob Hagel & Elmer Keith country, for years Keith had a place on the Salmon and Hagel was just up the road in Gibbonsville. Special country in my book.

First pic is heading up the pass towards Idaho,



Looking into Salmon river country from MT...






My trusty steed...

Awesome!

Descended a steep mountain pass to the river, main fork of the salmon...



Shoup, Idaho.



Elmer Keiths old place? have no idea, but possible...



Headed south towards Challis.

Congrats...color me envious

nice pics.......nice trip I'm sure.....no current wildfires in the area ?

MT & ID are fuggin' awesome !

Plans soon to head in that direction

But....you know I'll be in my ole '03 Lexus LX.....(:

Bob Hagel, ain't heard that name in a long while.

From Challis I would pass through Stanley and Sun Valley, didn't waste time in either location as neither is my kinda town.



Headwaters of the salmon river in the valley bellow and the end of the sawtooths in the back ground

come on man .

where's the dog pics ?????????

Next stop Jarbidge Nevada... oh the memories. Several hunting trips and one 4th of July...

En route...



Jarbidge river.



The town...

I hate Jeeps.

Most excellent trip man!

Wow, pretty country!

Your trip looks outstanding. One of my wife and I’s favorite thing to do is explore in her Jeep.


I love the Pintlers. My favorite Wrangler wheel.

Do you like the Patagonias?

my kinda guy.......

T O Y O D A

Thanks for sharing these beautiful images.

My thoughts as well,,,

Looks like a fun adventure.

Beautiful country. That looks like a great road trip!

Jarbidge...a tiny lesson in standing up to the Feds....semi successfully. Year 2000, Sagebrush Rebellion, Shovel Brigade.

Outstanding. Did you stop at the bar in Jarbidge and at least have a drink?

Great pics and looks like a great trip.

From there it was off to my final destination... the Rubicon trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of N. California.

Years ago in my previous life me and friends and family were really into 4 wheeling and we did the Rubicon trail every year and at times a couple of times a year.
The last time through for me was 30 years ago. The first time through was 48 years ago as a child with my family in the family Jeep.

So I picked up my old buddy and we headed for the trail. Our plan was to do it solo... something you should never do ! but my old Jeepin buddies had quit years ago and took up more leisurely activities... solo it was... ha

The Rubicon for those not familiar is the grand daddy of Jeep trails. It's not the hardest, it's not the most dangerous, it's not the longest.... but it is the best and you had better bring your "A" game as it is relentless and unforgiving.

A mistake of a few inches of vehicle placement could end your trip , result in breakage or getting really stuck.

And since we were solo with no support group we had to be extra careful.

The trail was even more challenging than I remember it. Asked a few people if my memory was correct and they said Yep! the rock buggies with 40" tires tear it up every year and if would have waited a couple of weeks the Jeepers Jamboree would have had an army of people filling holes with rocks to get the dudes through!

I will let the pic's tell the story.....

Jeepers jamboree support chopper.

Some beautiful and rugged country. Once did a dirt track from Elk City to the Salmon River at Mackey"s Bar where the road ended. Epic. Envy the trip you are doing.

Not me... another jeeper in the small sluice, a difficult obstacle and one of only a couple with a bypass... I took the bypass









This one is for Rio7... even though he will never see it as he has me on ignore...



Bad to the bone...





Believe it or not the Rubicon trail is a county road.... the road crew could use a little more practice filling pot holes...

When I worked for jeep as a support company the job was to support foreign journalists make it through the Rubicon. I never got to do the trip myself.

I hope you have more pics of the trip.

Our destination... Rubicon springs.





Camp at Rubicon springs

They have wanted to close that trail for years. Jeep has big influence in keeping it open.

Nice looking ride.

I did, the plan was to have a beer for old times sake, But it was 90 degrees out and they would not let my dog in the bar! the place has become civilized apparently....

Hate to burst your Yota bubbles but you will not see an IFS rig on the trail

Damn that's beautiful.

WTH? Haven’t been there for a few years but we always stop at the bar.

Great pics and thanks for sharing them. Looks like an amazing trip.

So far I really like them. My Jeep has open diffs so I need all the traction I can get

OK..........................................................................

The Rubicon is a known 80 series Yoda trail.........

we all know that

The final leg of the Rubicon is climbing out and up Cadillac hill. Named for an old 1930's Cadillac that is over the side of the trail

I know nothing of jeeps......or want to


only the death wabble

XOXOXOXO
from your buddy , Fubar...

U need a hat........

Having survived the Rubicon it was onto another special destination.

When I was a young boy we would do family camping/jeeping trips.

We had one special lake we would go to every year for a week with the Jeep and camp, fish and explore.

In all the years we went to this lake we rarely saw another person, just a few Jeepers passing by.

We always did this trip with another family. We had a 12' aluminum boat we put on top of the Jeep with a 6 hp Mercury.

The adults would let us kids use it for fishing and swimming.

Us kids always camped on the lakes island, while the adults made camp on the shore.


First pic is of the lake and island....








will not disclose the name of this lake..... after a 40 yr absents the lake was virtually the same and not a sole in sight, that pleased me greatly....

Thought you had me on ignore?

dunno

I'll ask Rick

My hat blew off when I was fishing....

Very cool thread brother Fubar, thanks for taking us along on the trip!

Have no clue what an 80 series yoda is? pretty sure never saw such a thing on the trail.... I will have to confer with Travis... maybe he knows?

Thanks brother Sam... I am glad you are enjoying it....

It was a tough decision whether to dedicate this thread to Flave or Rio7.
Rio thinks I am full of schit when it comes to 4 wheeling... but he has me on ignore, so Flave won...

Land Cruiser 1990-1997......6 banger.....TANK......PIG.....known knicknames

Before the IFS....hard to find a good/rust free one & triple locked

I've settled on a couple 100 series...next Gen

Still good dependable rigs with IFS

https://www.classic.com/m/toyota/land-cruiser/80-series/

Awesome thread and wonderful pictures

I am damn tired of the dog stealing the show!!! this is about me this time.... damnit

I too thank you for the trip. Great pics and you have brought memories back from long ago. There are so many places I have forgotten till now. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

why does everyone have you on ignore ?

They have a giant rainbow sticker on the back.

it's OK you drive a jeep.

ask DeFlave

I have never seen one.... I'll be darned.... oh wait , doesn't mackay sagebrush have one?
Years ago us Jeep owners had an endless rivalry with the Yoda FJ40 guys... it was fun, kinda like a Chevy/ Ford thing

who da phhuuck R U ?

Well, apparently I have a tendency to ruffle snowflakes feathers.... crazy I know...

Fug



No dog pics.........

I'm leavin'

93 YO MIL waitin' for the ribeye on the Weber

GOOD FOR YOU !!!!

Have the Yoda 80's replaced the VW microbus as the hippies love mobiles? have I been in the hills too long? or is a gay pride thing? wtf
Tikka better watch out.... people could get the wrong impression

Have been elk hunting North of Shup around Gibbonsville for about 30 years. Some beautiful views between North fork and there. I will be back there in about 38 days.

Pretty cool to see your pics. Often wonder how the cabins were built across the Salmon river.

Any chance you stopped at the Empty saddle saloon for a beer.

Thank you.... and a hearty GFY to you also...

You do realize death wobble is a solid axle thing, not just a Jeep thing?

It happens on Fords, Dodges, old GMs and the almighty solid axle Toyota lol.

Correct... the IFS suffers from no such problem... it's much better suited for the street and comfort... real men can handle a little death wobble...

Is the shoup store still open?

Use to hunt that country not long ago and get fuel from the old pumps!

Very cool. Love the trip report, irfubar.

I've been on the Rubicon, you did well coming away unscathed.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip.

It was closed...

Did that Jeep come with a dental dam?

LOL

Thanks brother Morewood, if I remember correctly you are from this area?
As for unscathed, yes, and must admit I feel lucky also..... oh and don't tell Tikka but I had to winch twice.... I will retire my Jeepers license for such a violation....

WTF is a dental dam? and no I am not Googling it.... are you being a prick? again

think about it

FuBar

U really live in hollyweird ?

we won't start a Chrysler vs Toyoda debate

You know the out come

Yes... I live among the beautiful rich people......

Really awesome trip Fubar. I’m envious. You did take your dog didn’t you?😁

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great trip

Yes.... she wouldn't let me leave without her... usually she photobombs my pic's but this trip was about me, so I kept her in the Jeep with the windows rolled up... she is an attention whore...

I'm sorry

just don't send any more to Utah

Awesome trip !!!

Me and my tribe are moving there.... I have already scouted it out..
We bought this place...
Howdy neighbor...

I plan on taking my CJ6 back to the Rubicon next year. The last time I did the Rubicon was 2005 and did it at least once a year from 1983-2005.

I will be sure to hit you up and let you know when.

Just for fun, my father and I 1986.

Great thread, great pics, great trip great storyline. Glad you made it safely back.

I'm a Jeep'er too, have had several, have one now as my everyday vehicle.

Those pics of central Idaho are terrific..............hunted there & further north in the Lochsa River area & that's as tough a country as there is anywhere to hunt. Not as high as other place, but plenty steep just about everywhere, downed timber everywhere & wet much of the time in the fall.

MM

sorry man

that pic is public land

Me & DeFlave own it

UR fugged

sactoller, that is so cool... we are brothers
Saw two old school jeeps on my trip , and made a point to tell them hi and cool rigs...

Thanks for sharing the Jarbidge pics. Buddy of mine used to have some property there next to the school. We were part of the shovel brigade. Fuggin Clintonistas using the excuse of a culvert to close the road. Afterwards, the bitch they sent to run the Elko BLM field office went squealing like a pig out of town for back East. Said her life was in danger there. 😇😆😈

Love it! cool story

Well you better get your ass in gear and finish that project then…

can U retract your offer ?

You fuggin Yoda people... I hate you... maybe I should ignore you? oh wait... then I would miss out on the awesome pic's... fugg... I hate you...

There are always more than one Jeep in any smart "jeepers"pics.

while grillin' some ribeyes

I thought fubar could be my neighbor

then I thought....not

'nuff neighbors

Another fuggin Yoda owner.... envy is not your friend...

I'd form an HOA and shut your azz down....

Yes.

Jeepers always travel in groups.......

Brother Fubar, I won't say the name of the lake I'm thinking of, but when I was a kid (and even up until about 10 years ago when I still lived in CA), I'd backpack from Loon Lake into Desolation Wilderness and the lake with an island looks a lot like the place we'd set up tents the first night. If I'm even close, your secret fishing lake is one of my favorite places on the planet.

now that's too fuggin funny

Visit any Podunk Utah

they run UR sorry CA azz outta town

Did you two geniuses miss the part where I said we went through solo?
I would expect such foolishness from a Texan.... but a Utahan.... damn retards

just heard back from Rick------I G N O R E--------

until you post some exciting dog pics

UR screwed

no more Podunk oics

Can we negotiate?

Can NO longer see UR posts

WTF man ?

where's UR dog ?

Everbuddy luvs dogs

Holy shiit brother bri, what a badass trip!! Thanks for sharin 👊🏻

Gotta...if you want to get home.

Ok ok Tikka .... how about an Idaho dog pic?

Not optimum for sure, but IFS do the Rubicon. Hell, Jeep took a Liberty through the trail back when they introduced that model…

OP

100 replies

2K hits

Rick gonna send you a prize !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats !

Epic trip irfubar! Great pics, thanks for posting.
Jeeps and rivers have been a big part of our family's adventures too.

Middle Fork of the Salmon 1996

Desert Jeeping

Tikka,
How about a Utah jeep pic?

Hello......

Great pics! Looks a heck of a good trip

Tikka,
If you look close there is a dog... my dog in this Utah pic.... that should earn me bonus points

You are a fellow Jeeper, outdoorsman, river rat etc.....

Great pics, irfubar. Thanks for sharing

Shoot You weren't suffering on a road trip in that Jeep. That's a nice one. I made some 3500 mile trips in colorado in some primitive jeeps and it was fun but a handful in those 75 mph zones ( most of Texas).

For sure... the new Jeeps have much better road manners.

Oh hell ya……..

Thanks brother Jud... glad you are enjoying the pic's
In my estimation this is the best part of the fire...

Thanks brother Dirt.... not something you are likely to see in Florida huh ?
I think Travis is home sick myself... what do you think?

Great pics. Enjoying them very much.

Thanks Johnny,
I have been a lucky guy and enjoyed many great adventures and this trip was simply a reminder. Much to be thankful for.

Hey irfubar, good onya for getting out and hitting the old stomping grounds. Must say, Jeeps have come a long way. Spring in 1987 I worked for a production co. that did syndicated tv shows and advert.s for co.s like Dodge when they bought Jeep that year. We did a show on the first Jeep Jamboree outside of Calif. in Utah(this is for Tikka too). The car for the filming was a bone stock wrangler. Jeesus! what a piece of crap. The rest of the jeepers had all the mods. needed for serious trail cruising at least for the time period. They were none too happy with the "crew" screwing up their trip with all the waiting on that Wrangler just getting through basic obstacles. We started in Blanding, UT. and did what was called the Hole In The Wall Trail if I remember correctly. Followed an old Morman trail of some repute. Anyways, your rig would have made life much easier for us and the rest of the Jamboreer's blush with envy.

Oh, and you might as well get it over with now and tell me to GFY, I'm on Tikka's side being a Yoda dude too!

This is awesome! Good on you!

With a heavy heart and great disappointment.... GFY....

Oh and GFY....

Brian you ever do the magruder cooridoor. Need to do that one fall. Been talkin to iddave about that trip

Yep!

Jud,
I have not done the macgruder, I passed the turn off just south of Darby on my trip, I will do it soon and post a report.
Not this year as I have several other trips already planned.

Copy that. Sounds like cool trip, lotsa lakes, grouse killin etc. 👍

For sure not likely to see terrain like that in FL, irfubar. Absolutely nothing like that here. Kinda makes me want to do a circular road trip out west some time soon, like you're doing.

Travis may be missing some wide open country. But, probably not the winter weather. "Winter" here is low 80's, pretty much. Plus, except for all the rain, this summer has been pretty mild. Far off the normal heat and humidity index.

Life is short buddy... do it, those rentals will be there when you return!

Most excellent trip

Thank you

Thanks for posting.
Great adventure.

Most moronic cliche...

Jeep guys just wait to take the photo until the trail has filtered out the faint hearts, wannabes, and Toyotas.

Nice trip and pictures!

JEEP stands for: Just empty every pocket!

Splendid journey man! Thanks for sharing.

To not have someone offer up picts of a Lexus had to have taken herculean restraint.

Maybe some day we will see Tikka's Lexus pic's on the Rubicon..... naaa , better chance of seeing Old Toot pic's... lmao

AWESOME!


🦫

Thanks for sharing your trip! Awesome pictures and i don't blame you for not naming that lake...great trout!

I had a CJ2 with 283 small block and 452 gears - it toped out at 60 mph! I got to see some awesome Idaho back country before the Forest Service closed many of the jeep trails.

Thanks

>>>and<<<

GFY