You have to start somewhere

This is where my journey began. January 7th, 2011. The Northern Exposure event at Rausch Creek offroad park. It is hosted every year by the NEXterra offroad club. Great group of people. Check them out here: http://www.nexterra.org/nexterra/

I imagine it was cold out. I don't remember. My adrenaline was pumping. I had researched the Xterra and knew it was capable of doing things like this, but I had never done anything close to this before, and I had no idea what to expect.

NEXterra Northern Exposure 2011

Before this, I was into sporty cars. I had owned a Xterra earlier, but it was a lease, and my wife drove it most of the time. I did enjoy driving it when I did drive. I had always imagined I was track one of my cars but the expense and the fear of wrapping it around something always held me back.  Plus, I never quite felt like I belonged in that crowd.

I had purchased Goodyear Duratrac tires (size 265/75r16 aka 32s) and sliders, but otherwise, the truck was stock. I thought it would be fun a few times. Not this offroad addiction that it has developed into. I started following around this beast of a Xterra, and we did some normal looking trails with some water crossings.

Beast of a Xterra

All was going well. Then this happened. What did I get myself into?? And did I really have to follow him down there?

What did I get myself into?

And it continued to get worse!

Tippy!

The thing was, I was having a ball. It was a great time. My sons and I were out enjoying the wilderness in the middle of January. I had found my new passion.

Ready for another adventure! Follow along!