The Why Behind the Wheel – Introducing Cruise

Every journey has a heartbeat, and ours is named Cruise. Our 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series isn't just a vehicle. It's our lifeline, our shelter, and our passport to a world beyond the pavement. From the deserts of Arizona to the Arctic edges of Prudhoe Bay, Cruise is the rig we trust to take us through it all.

Why the 100 Series? It strikes a rare balance—luxury, capability, and a reputation earned on every continent. With a 4.7L V8 under the hood, full-time 4WD, and Toyota’s legendary durability, Cruise is built for adventure without compromise. This leg of the journey requires more than just off-road chops—it demands comfort, reliability, and a mobile command center. Cruise delivers all three.

But this isn’t just about specs—it’s about mindset. We’re not racing. We’re not conquering. We’re connecting—with the road, with the wild, and with ourselves.

The Route South to North – From Cactus to Coast

We kick off in Phoenix, Arizona, where red rocks and dry heat mark the starting line. From there, Cruise climbs west through the Mojave Desert into Southern California, rolling past wind farms, Joshua trees, and roadside Americana.

Next stop: the Pacific Coast Highway. This legendary road snakes along the California coastline, offering cinematic views at every bend—Big Sur cliffs, Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz surf breaks, and the golden hills of Sonoma. Each night brings a new campsite under eucalyptus trees or beside the Pacific.

Cruise rolls north through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate, and into the towering redwoods of Northern California. From there, we descend into Oregon’s rugged coast—Cannon Beach, sea stacks, lighthouses, and the smell of pine in the sea breeze. Every mile is a blend of adventure and awe.

Into the Wild Green – Washington & The Inside Passage

From the Oregon coast, Cruise climbs into Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, a land of deep green and constant mist. We explore the Hoh Rainforest, driftwood beaches, and glacier-fed lakes in Olympic National Park.

In Bellingham, the road ends—but the journey continues by sea. We board the Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry system that threads through the Inside Passage. For a week, we drift through channels flanked by glacier-carved cliffs and island towns unreachable by road.

Stops include Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg—each offering unique history, native culture, and raw Alaskan beauty. Whales breach, eagles circle, and Cruise waits below deck, ready to resume the journey.

The Soul of Alaska – From Homer to Denali

We land in Skagway or Haines and head inland. The Alaskan mainland opens up like a myth: vast, rugged, and barely touched.

First stop: Anchorage, our refueling point for supplies, gear checks, and planning. From there, we head south to Homer, at the edge of the Kenai Peninsula. It’s part seafaring village, part end-of-the-world outpost.

Then we swing north to Kenai Fjords National Park, where ice meets ocean, and humpback whales cruise beside our boat. Next: Denali National Park, home to North America's tallest peak. Wildlife is everywhere—grizzlies, moose, caribou. The road narrows to a ribbon of gravel that disappears into wilderness.

Cruise eats up the miles with steady resolve. The weather turns wild. The scenery turns cinematic.

The Dalton – Where the Road Ends

From Fairbanks, we face our final push: the infamous Dalton Highway. Built to service the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, it’s 414 miles of unforgiving gravel from Livengood to Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay.

This is true wilderness. Gas stations vanish. Trees give way to tundra. Atigun Pass is a steep, avalanche-prone gateway into the Brooks Range. Beyond lies pure Arctic.

We carry extra fuel, two full-size spares, recovery gear, and satellite comms. There are no hotels, no phone signal, no second chances. Just us, Cruise, and the wind off the Arctic Ocean.

The moment we reach Prudhoe Bay, we park and breathe. There’s nothing left to drive. We’ve reached the end of the continent.

Building Cruise – The Rig Behind the Journey

To survive a trip like this, Cruise is more than just stock. It’s a purpose-built platform:

Powertrain

• 4.7L V8 (2UZ-FE) w/ auxiliary transmission cooler, snorkel, and upgraded cooling

• Long-range fuel tank = 700+ miles of range

Suspension

• Old Man Emu medium-duty lift

• Airbag rear assist + re-geared axles (4.88)

• ARB lockers front/rear

Touring Setup

• Goose Gear drawer system, dual fridge/freezer, Redarc power

• Rooftop solar, onboard air, and Starlink Mini

• Interior sleep setup + rooftop tent for flexibility

Armor & Recovery

• Slee Offroad bumpers, sliders, full skids

• Warn Zeon winch, recovery boards, kinetic rope

• GMRS comms, Garmin Overlander + InReach

Roadside Essentials & Safety Gear

The road north isn’t kind. We prepare accordingly:

Recovery & Maintenance

• Tool roll w/ spares: belts, fluids, filters

• ARB twin compressor + tire repair

• Hi-Lift jack, traction boards, soft shackles

Safety & Survival

• First-aid kit, bear spray, fire extinguishers

• Water filters, food reserves, survival bivvies

• Starlink + Garmin InReach for remote comms

Weather can shift in minutes. Tires shred on shale. Bears cross the road. The Dalton doesn’t forgive, so we respect it—and come equipped.

Why We Go – Reflection from the Road

This trip isn’t about ticking off locations. It’s about presence. About noticing the way the sun lingers in Alaska at midnight. About fog curling across a beach in Oregon. About being small, yet completely alive, in the shadow of Denali.

Cruise brought us here—but the real journey is inward.

From cactus to coastline, glacier to gravel pass, we’ve seen the continent shift under our tires. And when we finally stood at the edge of the Arctic Ocean, wind on our backs, we knew something had changed.

This wasn’t just a trip. It was a transformation.

And Cruise made it possible.

More to come. More to explore.

#CruiseToTheLastFrontier