Nile Camp Out and 4×4 Adventure
Hosted by Eastern Washington Adventures
Report and photos by Clay Graham / CegPics.com
On Wednesday August 14th, 2013 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up on FS1600 (Cover Springs Rd.) near Saw Mill Flats to camp out and run the 4×4 trails in the area though the weekend. Our first run was that evening.
We ran FS1601 up the mountain and turned on 4W696 (Mud Springs). We ran the ridge along the William O Douglas Wilderness Area all the way past Clover Springs and over to Little Bald Mountain. From Little Bald Mountain we took FS1600 (Clover Springs Rd.) back down to camp.
On Thursday we ran some Manastash Trails. We took FS1701 (Bald Mountain Rd.) up and turned onto FS1701-530 to Bald Mountain. We ran 4W644 (CJRs Hideout), onto 4W694 (Summit) and down 4W307 (Tripod Flat). We stopped at Tripod Flat to have lunch. After lunch we continued down 4W307 (Tripod Flat), back up 4W308 (Shoestring), across 4W306 (Manastash Ridge), turn down 4W309 (String) and ran 4W330 (Tipover) back to 4W307 (Tripod Flat). We ran 4W307 (Tripod Flat) up, turned onto 4W694 (Summit), turn onto 4w695 (Mid Summit)ran through Moon Rocks and down to FS1701 (Bald Mountain Rd.). We took FS1701 (Bald Mountain rd.) back down to SR410 and back to the Nile stopping off at the Wood Shed for fuel.
On Friday we did some exploring in the Bethel Ridge area. We took FS1500 (Bethel Ridge Rd.) across taking a few routes out and back to see different things. The first turnoff was to go check out McDaniel Lake on FS1502. The second turnoff was to Timberwolf Mountain on FS1500-190. The third turnoff was to Cash Prairie on FS1500-199. The last turnoff was to play on the 4×4 trails at the end of FS1500-325. We made our way across the ridge, around to Bear Lake and back up and around to were we started. We ran FS1500 (Bethel Ridge Rd.) back over to the Nile and back to camp.
On Saturday we ran FS1600 (Cover Springs Rd.) up, turn down FS1706, turned onto SR410, turned on NF19 (Little Naches Rd.), turned up FS1903 and ran 4W676 (Kaner Flats). At the top of 4W676 (Kaner Flats) we turned onto 4W306 (Manastash Ridge) and ran it to Quartz Mountain. Along the way TJ40’s rear track bar broke off. He was able to do a trail fix enough to limp the rig back to camp. We took the easiest way back to camp we could think of without having to go all the way around through Ellensburg. We took FS3100 (Manastash Rd.) down, had to turn up FS3111 because FS3100 (Manastash Rd.) was washed out near Manastash Campground, we turn down 4W311 (Buck Meadows) and came out at Riders Camp. We turn back up FS3100 (Manastash Rd.) and onto FS3104 and then ran 4W307 (Tripod Flat) up. At the top we ran 4W694 (Summit), 4W644 (CJRs Hideout), FS1701-530, down FS1701 (Bald Mountain Rd.) and back to camp.
Here are some photos of the Nile Camp-out 4×4 Adventure:
Wednesday
The Washington Army National Guard was working on the FS1600 and their equipment was staged in Saw Mill Flats.
Turning off of FS1601 onto 4W696 (Mud Springs).
A nice hill climb here.
Little Bald Mountain.
Thursday
Bald Mountain.
Tripod Flat.
Turning onto Shoestring 4×4 Trail.
Region 4 Meadows.
Passing String 4×4 Trail.
Turning onto Manastash Ridge 4×4 Trail.
Taking a break on Manastash Ridge.
Turning onto the String 4×4 Trail.
Turning onto the Tipover 4×4 Trail.
Foxracer turned around to go up the climb for fun.
Back on the Tripod Flat 4×4 Trail it started to rain. Time for me to put on the bikini top.
Going through Moon Rocks.
Regrouping on FS1701 (Bald Mountain Rd.).
Gas at the Wood Shed.
Friday
McDaniel Lake had a lot of snakes.
Timberwolf Mountain. Mount Rainier in the background.
A cabin along FS1500-190.
At the end of FS1500-199.
Looking toward the Conrad Lake Fire.
Looking at Timberwolf Mountain.
We stopped at a view point along FS1500-190.
Topping for the view near the Bethel Ridge Microwave towers.
4W325 (Bethel Ridge)
Looking down on Rimrock.
4W672 (Bethel Overlook).
4W652 (Bethel Oak)
FS1400-666 4×4 Trail.
Bear Lake.
4W671 (Lynn Lake).
Turning back on 4W325 (Bethel Ridge) from 4W671 (Lynn Lake).
Looking across at Jumpoff Lookout on Divide Ridge.
The last look at Rimrock Lake. Mount Adams and Conrad Lake Fire in background.
Mount Rainier.
Saturday
Easter Washington Adventures Camp off of FS1600 (Cover Springs Rd.).
We stopped to see if FS1708 (Milk Creek Rd.) was open so we could have options returning to SR410. The road is closed still.
Turning up the Kaner Flats 4×4 Trail.
Aardvark Hill on 4w676 (Kaner Flats).
On Manastash Ridge 4×4 Trail.
Quartz Mountain.
Trail repairing TJ40’s rear track bar.
Buck Meadows 4×4 Trail.
Turning up Tripod Flat 4×4 Trail.
Back to camp and end of story.
