A Few Days Off the Grid with FLATED
The first trip to the ranch each year is always full of surprises. Winter leaves its mark and before I can even get to the property there's usually some work to do. This year was no exception.
I loaded up my wife's first truck from when she was a teenager, a 1980s Ford F-250 long bed, and headed toward the mountains. On the back was the new FLATED Air Topper Fleet/commercial model. With no windows and a simple setup it was the perfect cover for a trip focused on getting away from everything. Plus having an 8 foot bed made for so much more room to stretch out and haul gear.
As expected several fallen trees had found their way across the ranch road over the winter. A chainsaw and a little effort cleared the path and before long I was finally rolling into one of my favorite places on earth.
Not long after arriving I spotted a moose standing quietly in the pond. It felt like the perfect welcome back. I set up camp beside the water and stretched a Kelty wing over the back of the truck for extra cover then settled in for the evening as rain moved through the valley.
The FLATED Air Topper proved itself immediately, keeping my gear dry and giving me a comfortable place to sleep despite the changing weather. That's one of the things I appreciate most about it. It’s simple, quick to install, and turns any truck into a capable camp setup.
The wildlife didn't disappoint. The next day I spotted the cow again, this time accompanied by a bull moose. Throughout the trip I also saw two bears roaming the area, one of them the largest I’ve personally ever seen in Colorado. A reminder that this ranch is still as wild as ever.
There's something special about these first trips of the season. Clearing roads, watching wildlife, listening to rain on the topper and spending a few quiet days disconnected from the noise of everyday life. The truck may be over 40 years old but paired with the FLATED Air Topper it was exactly what I needed for a few days deep in the woods.
Sometimes the best adventures aren't complicated. They're just a truck, a camp beside a pond and a chance to reconnect with the wild places that keep calling you back year after year.
