Easy Ahtanum 4×4 Trip
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road
Run called by Lisa Graham AKA “99”
By Clay Graham / CegPics.com
On November 17th, 2007 we headed out for an easy run for 99 so she could get use to wheeling her XJ. It was also Test Dummy’s birthday and he wanted to wheel too. On this run we had three rigs, BenW, Test Dummy and 99 driving the Tweety Jeep.
We headed up Cowiche Mill Road and then headed up C1300. At the Y to Hatton Road we aired down. The roads up there are rough but we waited for the rain to slow down to air down.
We headed on up Hatton Road and then onto FS1302. It got foggy. We only ran into a few areas that had a little snow. Up towards Jumpoff Lookout it was very cold. We had a little snow mixed in the rain. We stopped at Jumpoff Lookout for a break.
We headed back down FS1302, then C1210 down to Reynolds Creek and back to Cowiche Mill Road. We turned off Cowiche Mill Road, ran C1000 over to Nasty Creek, then ran up Doe Pocket (C5001) and onto Jackass Road (A2300) on Foundation Ridge. It was not very fat before we started running in snow. The snow drifts started getting deep at the log decks and Test Dummy had to air down more to move.
99 enjoyed making new tracks in the snow as we moved up the ridge. The snow drifts were deeper farther up we went and it was hard to see where the trail was. We stopped at Blue Slide Lookout.
It was getting dark so we headed down 4W615 toward Blue Lake. Coming off the top of the ridge down the mountain was a blast with 99 driving. The trail was no where in sight. She had no idea what way to go so I was yelling, “go left, sharper, turn right, easy left, watch out for that tree” and so on. I am glad she listens good.
At Blue Lake on the upper trail above the lake the trail was off camber because of the snow. 99 slide off the trail sideways. I took over but could not get the XJ back up on the trail. BenW went for it and went sideways too. I dropped down to the lake and followed the shore and Test Dummy Followed. BenW started airing down more. After airing down more, BenW made it look easy going crossing that bad snow section above the lake.
99 took the driving back over and we headed out. She had to take a few runs at the Gate Keeper Hill. She finely made it up without hitting anything.
This was 99’s first time driving snow wheeling and she did very well. This run was a lot longer and a lot more miles than planned but I think it was worth it. 99 has a lead foot so we moved a long pretty good all day. She is now ready for Baja racing.
Thanks BenW and Test Dummy for coming and making this a fun run. 99 and I had a blast.
Here are some photos of the EWOR Easy Ahtanum Run:
