I’ve done some pretty crazy, and downright stupid, stuff on four wheels. So when Toyota asked me to put their new Tundra TRD Pro to the test, naturally I said yes: “Piece of cake… where are we going?” I was promptly informed that I would be climbing volcanoes in Chile. Gut-check.
Screenshot: Toyota
Who in their right mind climbs an exploding mountain in a truck? Apparently, I was the obvious choice.
When we arrived in Chile, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never been on a volcano, much less driven up the side of one. That being said, I was confident that my superior intellect and catlike reflexes would get the job done! Joking aside, being behind the wheel of the new Tundra TRD Pro didn’t hurt my chances, either.
Photo: Toyota
The plan was to climb three different volcanoes in three days. Once we started the journey, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Volcanic terrain is the gnarliest stuff you can find — loose ash, sharp rocks, huge boulders, sudden drops, it all rallies against you.
Photo: Toyota
It definitely felt like the fire gods didn’t want me on their mountain.
Screenshot: Toyota
When the dust cleared, we knew we accomplished something special, but it wasn’t without a few “all-is-lost” moments. Sure, the Tundra TRD Pro got us where we wanted to go, but there were some spots where nothing short of tank would do.
Photo: Toyota
