Location:
Cle Elum Ranger District, WA
Date:
July 18 2021
Taken By:
Clay Graham of Ceg-TV.com / CegPics.com
Camera:
Samsung Galaxy S9+
Edited by:
Clay Graham
Music:
YouTube – Over the Mountain – Mini Vandals
Also on YouTube
Around 3:30 PM on Saturday July 17 2021 the Eastern Washington Expeditions group finished the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Section 2 (Click for report) in Ellensburg and fueled up for section 3.
We headed up Reeser Creek Road onto FS35 then up on Table Mountain. We turned off to FS3500-124 to set up camp for the night. Charlie cooked up some good tasting food that night. We sat around the propane campfire into the night.
Sunday morning after breakfast we aired down and drove over to Lion Rock to see the view. I have been there many times but never in the morning. What a great view.
We headed back out to the FS35 and headed north. We took a right onto FS9712 and ran it all the way to Mission Ridge Road. We did take one break and enjoyed the “Washouts” along the way.
We dropped down in Wenatchee and made our way up to Number 2 Canyon. Number 2 Canyon road was in pretty good shape. We ran it onto FS7100 and out a few miles from Cashmere. We had to drive a bit down the pavement to air up. There were a lot of towing signs.
In Cashmere we stopped at Riverside Park for lunch. You could see the start of WABDR Section 4 which was closed due to the Red Apple Fire. After lunch we headed over and topped off our fuel tank to head for home.
Here are some photos of the EWE Washington Backcountry Discovery Route – Section 3:
Around 10:30 AM on Wednesday July 14 2021 the Eastern Washington Expeditions group finished the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Section 1 (Click for report) in Packwood and fueled up for section 2.
As we went over White Pass we stopped to see the views. The first stop was at US-12 Observation Site: Mt. Rainer – Goat Rocks and then at Clear Creek Falls Overlook.
We turn off US12 onto Bethel Ridge Road (FS1500) and stopped for a break. We aired down and had lunch.
After lunch we headed on up to the top of Bethel Ridge and turned up FS324 and ran it to 4W325 where we stopped for the view of Rimrock Lake and the surrounding mountains.
We moved up 4W325 and stopped for another look off the ridge at a known photo op place. No one felt comfortable about driving to close to the edge of the cliff.
We moved on down the trail. The mud hole area was dry making it easier to get through. We may our way to Bethel Ridge’s Devils Table Viewpoint. At this point Foxracer head to break off and head for home back in Western Washington.
The remaining three Jeep headed on down through Oak Creek Wildlife Area and out at Nile. We saw a big herd of elk on the way.
At Bethel Ridge Road (FS1500) we aired back up and headed home. Two of the Jeeps stopped off at the Wood Shed for cold drinks.
Saturday July 17th we meet back up at the Wood Shed with only two Jeeps. We picking up some supplies at Eagle Rock Grocery / Wood Shed and head up SR410, then up FS1701, and then onto FS1711. We found a wide place to stop and air down.
We ran FS1711 to the top of the ridge where we left the Forest Service and entered Oak Creek Wildlife Area again. We drove up on top of Cleman Mountain took a break to see the view. My sons told me we pasted TrailRecon on the way.
After a short break we moved on. We turned down into the Wenas Wildlife Area. We made our way to the bottom to find out the WDFW closed the road out to the pavement. There was a detour sign but not pointing where. You have keep going to the next to the next road and turn down it.
After closing the gate we headed up North Wenas Road on the pavement a few miles. We turned up going toward Umtanum Ridge. Up around the corner there is another gate you have to open and close behind you. We made our way to the top of Umtanum Ridge and took another break for the view. We looked back at Cleman Mountain we had crossed. The white dot on the ridge to the north is the Manastash Ridge Observatory. The Steward Mountains beyond that.
We headed on up the ridge watching dust devils everywhere. We stopped for another view once we reached the Umtanum Ridge towers. There was another group doing the WABDR taking a break there. They said they were taking the WABDR south.
We ate lunch at the towers and then headed down to Ellensburg. We aired up at the north end of Durr Road and then headed into the City of Ellensburg. In Ellensburg we topped off our fuel tank to hit WABDR Section 3 (Click for report).
Here are some photos of the EWE Washington Backcountry Discovery Route – Section 2:
Location:
Packwood, WA
Date:
July 14 2021
Taken By:
Clay Graham of Ceg-TV.com / CegPics.com
Camera:
Samsung Galaxy S9+
Edited by:
Clay Graham
Around 4 PM Monday July 12 2021 the Eastern Washington Expeditions group got to Bridge of the Gods to do the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route after seeing Mount Stt Helens on the way down (Click for report). After a few photos we were on our way.
We stopped for fuel in Stevenson and headed on up through Carson. We decided to take a side trip off the WABDR to go see Panther Creek Falls. It was getting to be dinner time so we found a camp along Panther Creek for the night. It was very peaceful.
Tuesday morning we ate breakfast and packed up camp. A little after 9 AM we headed on to find the Panther Creek Falls. We found a parking area near where the falls were marked on my map. After looking we saw a spay painted arrow pointing to the trail with a trail sign. We hiked down to see the falls. It was worth taking the side trip off the WABDR.
Next we headed on north and then east to meet back up to the WABDR. We came up to Goose Lake that is at the end of a lava flow. I slowed down to a crawl to get some photos. As we drove by the lake a crazy lady started yelling something at us. We could not understand what she was yelling but her arms were flying in the air and then gave the rigs following us the bird. We stopped for a break at the boat launch. The people there seemed to be normal.
We moved on east getting back on the WABDR a few mile down the road. We first stopped at the Natural Bridges and then went over to Guler Ice Caves. We had lunch and then checked out the main cave. As soon as we got near the caves you could feel the cold air coming out. This felt good since it was a hot day. Some of our group went through the caves coming out in other places. This is a must see. We plan to come back for sure.
The next part of the trip was long and run on many different roads. We made one stop to get a rock out of Dan’s JK’s brake caliper as we headed to Takhlakh Lake (AKA Tapioca Lake). At Takhlakh Lake we checked out the full campgrounds and then moved on toward Mount Adams. The mountain was so close but there were not many good views. We came across a hiking trail by a meadow and where able to get a photo of Mount Adams from there. That is where I saw the first mosquitos of many to follow that day.
We keep going trying to get near US12 to set up camp before it got to late. The road after the meadow was rough. Closer to US12 the road got better. Around 6 PM we decided we needed to find a camp for the night. We stopped along the Chambers Creek area about 18 miles from Packwood. It was a nice campsite but the mosquitos were real bad.
Wednesday Morning we had breakfast, swatted mosquitos, and packed up to go finish WABDR Section 1 and start WABDR Section 2. We aired up at US12 and then headed to Packwood. In Packwood we topped off our fuel tank to hit WABDR Section 2 (Click to see report).
Here are some photos of the EWE Washington Backcountry Discovery Route – Section 1:
