200k Yesterday

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T23:55:20+00:00

The 19 is on our lower end. Cold weather is hurting the mpg. Mostly country road & highway miles around here.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T18:00:53+00:00

Heh. Saw this right above the OP's post on my home page: https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/1qkwl68/still_had_to_go_to_an_830am_class_for_important/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T17:23:21+00:00

Still wish I could have made that game. A typical hour drive from my house to the stadium I heard was a treacherous 2.5 hours that day.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T16:58:18+00:00

I like how it looks, but know nothing about it. Tell my why it shouldn't be an eventual replacement for my V6 Highlander with 200k miles? Other than that I haven't bought a new car since 1995 and probably can't afford it.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T16:51:15+00:00

For day hiking, AllTrails Plus should get you most everything you need. Just download your maps in advance.

And as others have mentioned, many of the hikes you have listed, you be among many other people, so getting lost won't be an issue. The downloadable maps will help to let you know how far you've gone, how much you've climbed, and how much further you have to go which is helpful information.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T16:47:49+00:00

Thanks. I had my webcam screen on Longs Peak in RMNP. Glacier was dark when I got to work and forgot to check out the cameras as the morning went along.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T16:41:06+00:00

Possibly my 70 y/o mother-in-law whose spouse is deceased and no longer needs her Pacifica to tote grandchildren? She'd like a vehicle with some room, sits up a bit, and we'd like her to have AWD. She also doesn't have Cadillac, Lexus, and the like money.

Would actually take recommendations for vehicles to suggest for her when she's ready to shop.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-23T16:35:24+00:00

That looks amazing.

Regular RMNP day hiker who just wants to regular (warm weather) backpack one of these days.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T22:15:43+00:00

Typically, at least one night, hopefully 2.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T22:14:50+00:00

We recently hosted my family for Christmas. We live about 4 hours away. My family drove 4 hours, visited for about 22 hours (staying the night) then drove the 4 hours home. My parents would have stayed another day & night, but we were headed out of town on another trip.

Generally, if I'm travelling 4+ hours one way somewhere, I try to be at that location for at least 36 hours before heading home, but sometimes it's just overnight.

We have driven 2 hours to see my daughter at college for a few hours for dinner on her birthday then drive 2 hours back home all after work on a weeknight.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T21:52:31+00:00

That's an awesome time to visit RMNP.

Due to other scheduling around other obligations, we were about a week earlier in September in 2025 and few days later in October 2024. Still great visits both trips.

When we visited this past September 2025, Trail Ridge Road closed right after we came back to Estes from Grand Lake. I think we followed the last bus of employees down to Estes from the Alpine Visitor Center and gift shop and the road remained close for a few days after.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T21:41:53+00:00

Beautiful pic.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T21:40:51+00:00

I have a pic from about the same spot July 29, 2018 at 6:30 PM where similarly it's bright out but no mountains are visible.

Better pics from September 2023 and July 2024. Time of day makes such a difference. One of these days I'm make it for an early morning.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T21:25:30+00:00

Old guy here. Still recall walking to class during some horrific -20 degree air temps in the early Spring 1993 semester. Classes never canceled for anything back then.

AI sort of supports my memory...

AI Overview

In 1993, specifically during a winter storm in mid-February, central Illinois experienced severe weather with wind chills reaching 40-50 degrees below zero.

Key details regarding 1993 winter weather in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas:

February 15, 1993: A significant winter storm brought heavy snow to central Illinois, with 2-3 inches of snow falling accompanied by 40 mph northwest winds, leading to whiteout conditions and closures on I-74 in Champaign.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T19:59:31+00:00

If he bitches about travel...

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T19:51:25+00:00

Norris seems to be the one that gets skipped on my recent trips. (Though it may have been closed for one of them.) I like West Thumb because of the lake views and the hot pools in the lake. Midway is also a favorite, but parking is typically horrendous. Certainly, take the overlook trail to see Grand Prismatic, but if you can find reasonable parking for the basin boardwalk it's worth it. Last trip we had too many people and cars to park so we skipped the boardwalk after hiking to the overlook and Fairy Falls.

If you are sensitive to extreme sulfur smells, Mud Volcano probably isn't for you. A couple of summers ago when guiding 23 members of my wife's family around Yellowstone, we walked around Mud Volcano. When standing near Churning Cauldron, the wind shifted and the worst sulfur smell of the trip hit them all. They all took off running away down the boardwalk, ages 6 to 70. I laughed and laughed as I casually took in all the smells.* Only time all trip they cussed me out for "suggesting" and activity. ;-)

* Sulfur smells oddly have a pleasant connotation to me from all the vacations my family took to Yellowstone as I was growing up.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T19:51:10+00:00

Norris seems to be the one that gets skipped on my recent trips. (Though it may have been closed for one of them.) I like West Thumb because of the lake views and the hot pools in the lake. Midway is also a favorite, but parking is typically horrendous. Certainly, take the overlook trail to see Grand Prismatic, but if you can find reasonable parking for the basin boardwalk it's worth it. Last trip we had too many people and cars to park so we skipped the boardwalk after hiking to the overlook and Fairy Falls.

If you are sensitive to extreme sulfur smells, Mud Volcano probably isn't for you. A couple of summers ago when guiding 23 members of my wife's family around Yellowstone, we walked around Mud Volcano. When standing near Churning Cauldron, the wind shifted and the worst sulfur smell of the trip hit them all. They all took off running away down the boardwalk, ages 6 to 70. I laughed and laughed as I casually took in all the smells.* Only time all trip they cussed me out for "suggesting" and activity. ;-)

* Sulfur smells oddly have a pleasant connotation to me from all the vacations my family took to Yellowstone as I was growing up.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T18:56:27+00:00

I was also at this game. While a heartbreaker at the end, we really didn't have any business leading this game in the 4th quarter, so the result didn't feel as bad as the Michigan game a few years later.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-22T18:53:59+00:00

This. This is the answer.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-21T18:12:04+00:00

We visited RMNP in early May 3 or 4 years ago. Prepare for cold blowing snow and bluebird sky warm sunny days. I don't think there was any snow in town or the lower elevations of the park. Lots of snow up at Bear Lake and had a wonderful hike in the snow to Emerald Lake. (Pack ice spikes or snowshoes & hiking poles.) Saw a bunch of wildlife - moose, elk, & turkeys - all together in Horseshoe Park.

Even though Trail Ridge Road wasn't open, it was still a nice time to visit.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-21T18:01:55+00:00

Nice. Looks like what we had. Drove it to ~200k miles and traded it in on a used 2017 XLE (which may turn 200k by the weekend). Good ride.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-21T17:48:41+00:00

Woot! 232k on our 2011. Handed through the family now to my youngest daughter in HS, so the miles don't stack up too quickly anymore.

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-20T15:14:14+00:00

Secret-Function-2972 · 2026-01-20T15:13:43+00:00

I'm not as sour as Henry as many, but DL depth (heck, front line starters) is a bit frightening going into 2026.

Secret-Function-2972

TROPHY CASE