AWD Vehicles Will Be Cited on 4WD Only NP Roads

[ntsqd]

Several years ago just about to enter Goler Wash from Panamint Valley in a small group we paused to let the Porsche SUV coming down out of the narrows go past at a wide point. As he went past he had the courtesy to acknowledge that we were doing him a favor. I carefully watched his tire tracks, he came up from Stripped Butte Valley. No idea how hard he had to punish that vehicle to do that, or if he did have to.

What none of us was prepared to see was the first gen Prius parked at The Geologist's Cabin!! No one around, just the vehicle. Filthy as you would expect, but not beat looking. Mentioned that sighting to a former farmboy co-worker later, who happened to drive a Prius, and his response was "Of course! If you drove a piece of carp like that would you care where you drove it?"
Point!

 

[Dipodomys]

I get it, a lot of AWD drivers don't have a clue what they're doing off pavement. That said, I have a 4x4 lifted Tacoma with a locking differential and a '95 Subaru Legacy (slightly lifted, clearance like newer Outbacks), both of which have been all over the west. I'm constantly amazed by what the Subaru can handle. It handles soft sand in particular much better than the Tacoma, due to weighing a lot less and having 4 drive wheels. It has good approach angles and because it's so small, I occasionally take it down ATV trails. And its a lot easier than the Tacoma to get unstuck, also thanks to being so light weight. There are definitely places I'd take the Tacoma and not the Subaru, but most of them I'd rather walk anyway.