There are two critical parts to any adventure: getting to your destination and then getting back.
Adventure takes on a whole new meaning in Colorado’s rugged and remote San Luis Valley. This vast expanse, spanning 8,000 square miles, is a playground for the daring. Majestic mountain ranges, including the San Juans, Sangre de Cristos, and the Saguache Mountains flank it. With nearly a dozen “Fourteeners” (14,000-foot mountain peaks) and one of the world’s largest high desert valleys at 8,100 feet in elevation, it’s a haven for those who seek to venture off the beaten path. And what better way to do so than with the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser, a versatile vehicle designed to conquer any terrain and adapt to any adventure.
Photograph by Keith Ladzinski
Photograph by Keith Ladzinski
The San Luis Valley is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including wild horses, plus incredible sunrises and sunsets. The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser can help amplify the experience by getting travelers to and from their adventures.*
Photograph by Keith Ladzinski (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Keith Ladzinski (Bottom) (Right)
For Colorado-born National Geographic Photographer Keith Ladzinski, the San Luis Valley is one of his ideal spots for adventure, offering a thrilling experience of off-roading, rock climbing, backpacking, and backcountry exploration. But that’s not all, there’s a myriad of other landscapes to discover: alpine lakes, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, forests, and rugged mountains.
It’s a fantastic place for a road trip because you can see so much as you’re heading in and out.
Keith Ladzinski, National Geographic Photographer
Not only did Ladzinski return to the San Luis Valley to capture an off-the-beaten experience, but Toyota also headed to the area with the Get Back Challenge to test the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser’s off-roading capabilities with two unlikely celebrities.
Hilary Swank and Jimmy O. Yang were blindfolded and dropped onto the plateau of a snowy mountain, armed with nothing but a paper map and the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser to test their survival skills. Among off-road enthusiasts, this adventure vehicle is Toyota’s longest-running nameplate, known for being “the truck that gets you back” no matter how far off the grid you get.
Hilary Swank and Jimmy O. Yang Take on The Land Cruiser Get Back Challenge | Toyota
Video by Toyota
To test out this theory, award-winning actor Hilary Swank and her energetic director friend Deon Taylor formed one team, and actor/comedian Jimmy O. Yang and his ever-critical father, Richard Ouyang, formed another. Armed with an all-new Land Cruiser, each team attempted to get back to civilization using their unique route.
Their journeys took them across hundreds of acres of pristine wilderness in the San Juan Valley, dotted by challenging gravel and dirt roads. Both teams navigated hairpin turns and steep inclines while trying not to get distracted by the stunning mountain views – or the abundance of local wildlife.
When neither made it back by nightfall, they each set up camp in the wilderness. The next day, the terrain threw them some curveballs. Swank encountered mud that would freeze most vehicles. Yang expertly drove over some fallen trees before encountering a boulder blocking the path; emboldened by his success in brand-new circumstances, he navigated around it at a 45-degree angle.
Whether snow or deep sand, the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser can get you to and back from an adventure. *
Photograph Courtesy Toyota (Top) (Left) and Photograph Courtesy Toyota (Bottom) (Right)
This is when it’s critical to have a vehicle that can handle any terrain. The all-new Land Cruiser’s full-time four-wheel-drive provides continuous power to the front and rear axles for improved traction and stability and features three distinct drive modes: Sport Mode has sharp acceleration, Eco Mode adjusts the throttle for maximum efficiency, and Normal Mode uses fuel economically while maintaining performance.
At the end of the challenge, both Swank and Yang arrived at a lodge, proud of how they navigated the obstacles nature threw at them without incident.
Whether you’re a lifelong adventurer or new to off-roading, if you want to get into the wilderness and get back, it might be best to trust the all-new Land Cruiser.
*Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. Off-roading is inherently dangerous. Abusive use may result in personal injury or vehicle damage.