Adventure. Chances are that word means something different to you and me. For me, adventure almost always centers around cars. Our group, Wide Open Rallies (http://www.wideopenrallies.com) regularly provides curated adventures that consist of driving through thrilling and scenic routes in the western U.S. My challenge for this article strayed a bit from my usual path: off-road. I readily accepted it though, embracing Northern Nevada and its vast network of off-road trails that include those fit for a complete novice all the way to those willing to push the limits of their purpose-built rock crawlers.
The local Land Rover store was quick to offer their latest and greatest steed as our first contestant in the form of a 2024 Defender 110. I have to confess; I have never driven a Defender of any vintage, so I was quick to accept before a saner mind stepped in to rescind. It was an off-road spec with the requisite knobby(ish) tires, nearly a foot of ground clearance, and impressive approach and departure angles each greater than 30 degrees. The interior was similarly purposeful with easy to clean surfaces, great sight lines, and plenty of grab handles, yet it still had accoutrements that most of us expect from the brand, such as heated seats, a top of the line stereo, and the now ubiquitous large center touchscreen.
Our second contestant was a proper OG thanks to my good friend and prominent local neurosurgeon, Michael Song. His 1995 D110 Defender with a turbocharged diesel engine was good for all of 85 horsepower and had that anachronistic style with just the right amount of patina to look the business. That classic boxy design that Land Rovers are known for looked every bit ready to tackle anything that lacked pavement.
We set out just as the sun rose early on a spring day that was crisp enough to not threaten any of the remaining snowpack that littered the route. My buddy and founder of Wide Open Rallies, Gregg Betonte, led the way towards some native American petroglyphs that we had been wanting to check out. The “road” (and I use the term loosely) turned into an off-roader’s dream. While the ruts and washed-out gullies would not even phase our conveyances, the ever-narrowing gap between the trees and shrubs threatened to add pin stripes, making this a route best suited for those ok with getting their ride a bit banged up. Neither Defender put a foot wrong to this point as there was no rut deep enough, or rock “rocky” enough that would have stopped our progress. If this sounds like your kind of gig, take Lousetown Road east from the Virginia Highlands.
Once back down Geiger Grade, we steered towards Toll Road instead, which quickly ran out of asphalt but still offered a more paint friendly path. This route threw a bit of everything at us, enough so that we were able to test the mettle of each vehicle as we crept over mud slicked surfaces, ruts deep enough to be named Lake Toll, and a few rocks large enough to get a wheel or two in the air. The newer Defender barely batted an eye as it was able to attack each obstacle with more poise and grace than either of us expected. It was as sure footed as our indigenous bighorns and required only a judicious right foot to maintain momentum. The OG, meanwhile, had a recalcitrant 5-speed with a right hand drive set up to wrangle. Every input had to be a bit more deliberate and done in anticipation of need. Balancing the rig required a deft left foot on the clutch to set the Defender up for approach. Its first gear was appropriately low, allowing a snail’s pace without bogging down. Both vehicles lived up to their pedigree with the only real difficulty being the steering of the older one that was about as accurate as Gieger Grade is straight.
Ultimately, our persistence paid off because as we climbed in altitude the view opened up to reveal that vastness of Washoe Valley with stunning vistas of the snowcapped mountains to the west. I have to confess; I do usually prefer my adventures to be on some sort of macadam but I now better understand the lure of an off-road adventure. You get a totally different experience than those that stay on the beaten path as it allows more intimacy with nature. Having two outstanding vehicles as we did certainly added to the enjoyment. The latest and greatest Defender is the most logical choice for many given the ease at which it tackled the route and demonstrated just how far modern vehicles have come, especially with its dual purpose nature. The ability of the new Defender to be a relatively plush, everyday grocery getter that is also one of the most capable off-roaders extant is nothing short of amazing.
The OG Defender is no slouch either and offers that sort of throw-back styling and panache that is in vogue today. Betonte and I were more than impressed and found it difficult to decide which we would choose next time. The decision would more than likely come down to the trail with the OG being our choice for the more hard-core route with the newer model reserved for the less risky one so as not to scratch the exterior. Therein lies the beauty of Northern Nevada and all that it has to offer as we are truly fortunate to have such choices; choices that allow each of us to define our own personal adventure.