Photos: AWORC Blue Lake Meeting & Camp Out

Posted on July 15, 2007 by Ceg

AWORC Blue Lake Meeting & Camp Out
Hosted by All Wheelers Off Road Club
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay Graham & ? / CegPics.com

Our club decided to have our July meeting at Blue Lake and wheel there. So on Saturday July 14th, 2007 we left with nine rigs from Ceg Ranch in Gromore around 11 AM and headed for the Ahtanum State Forest by the way of Summitview Road and then Cowiche Mill Road. We aired down at the parking area at the end of the pavement of Cowiche Mill Road. Miles up Cowiche Mill Road, we turned up C1000.

Up on Cowiche Ridge, Fatboy and Colemancooler broke off from our group and ran the Strobach and 4W613 trails. We went to Nasty Creek Corrals and up Doe Pocket. On up the trail we turned onto Jackass Road and followed it to 4W615 where we dropped down to Blue Lake.

Hercules, Bobstar and Luna met us at Blue Lake by coming up from the Ahtanum North Fork Road. Fatboy and Colemancooler drop down from Foundation Ridge after running 4W613. We set up camp and the stuff for dinner and what a great BBQ potluck dinner it was. Demontang, Bobstar, Luna, Fatboy and Colemancooler headed home. The rest of had some cold ones and BSed until around 2 AM.

Around 5:30 AM the mosquitoes started biting. They woke up the kids and we didn’t get the kids back to sleep until around 7AM. I got up around 8 AM and put on the coffee. I forgot to bring a cup and had to drink coffee out of wine cooler bottle. Scuba and Co-pilot headed home. BSLM cooked biscuits in his Dutch ovens and 99 cooked the bacon and eggs on the gas stoves.

After breakfast we headed out. BSLM headed for home. We head on around the Darland Loop. At Eagle Nest we stopped to use the out house. This is something we had not seen for over 24 hours. Talk about roughing it.

We head down to the Ahtanum Sno-park, up A2400, A2420 and got onto the Sedge Ridge 4×4 Trail. On the way we ran into PUO at Red Saddle. We talked for a few and then headed on up to the Rocky Climb. I tried the hard climb but couldn’t get the traction with the tires I was running on the Jimmy. I went up the easier way and 99 followed in the Tweety Jeep. It still was a workout for the Jimmy. Hoss also tried the hard climb but had to take the easier way. Test Dummy’s XJ just walked up the hard climb with ease. Hercules couldn’t make it to the top of the easy climb with his bike because it was to long. He went right up the hard climb like nothing.

On up the trail Hercules and Test Dummy headed down the Ahtanum South Fork Road toward Tampico. We headed on up Sedge Ridge 4×4 Trail. The trail was a little tight is places for the full size rigs. This was my first time with a full size on this trail. It was a lot of fun.

We drove on up to the cross above Cultus Hole for the view of the area we use to use that has been closed off to the public by Shawn Monty Lumber Company. Since the area just past the cross is now closed, we turned around a headed back down. We turned off the trail onto the Ahtanum South Fork Road toward Tampico. Near the end of the dirt part of the Ahtanum South Fork Road we stopped to say our good byes to Hoss.

This was a very fun weekend. Thanks to all the members that came to make this a great All Wheelers Off Road Club run.

Here are some photos of AWORC Blue Lake Meeting & Camp Out:

Ahtanum

Posted in News | Tagged 4 Wheeling, Camping, CegPics, Eastern Washington, Jeep, offroad, overland, Washington State Tourism, Washington Trails | Comments Off

Photos: EWOR Do The Dew ORV Run

Posted on July 8, 2007 by Ceg

Do The Dew ORV Run
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road
By Clay Graham / CegPics.com

On Friday July 6th, 2007 we meet up at Tree Phones Camp Ground around sunset to set up camp.

Saturday morning three of us (Bobstar, Ceg and Test Dummy) from All Wheelers Off Road Club headed out on quads to “Do the Dew”. On the way up to Darland Mountain I stopped to take some photos of the view. We could see Mount St. Helens which we don’t get to see very often. You could see Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and Mount Jefferson.

The next stop was at Blue Lake for a break and a photo. Then we ran 4W615 up to FS1020 and on down to 4W613. We stopped for photos at the top of 4W613 and then again at Strobach Springs. We stopped for a break at Louie Way Gap. We found the 4W613 sign was removed from the trail heading to Jumpoff. We did see new “no quads” and “no jeeps” signs nailed to a tree.

We turned around and headed back up 4W613, climbing the steepest part of the trail. At the top of that climb is a great place for a view of Rimrock with Mount Rainier in the back ground. You could see Jumpoff Lookout from there across Louie Way Gap. Looking off Divide Ridge, you could see Long Lake below Louie Way Gap. There were people down there. On up the trail after the off camber area we took another break. I took a few photos of Divide Ridge and Rimrock Lake.

Moving on down to the Grey Rock Trail intersection, I took a few more photos. At the top of the loose hill climb near the cattle guard I took a few more. We rode on back to Tree Phones and had dinner. We rested around the campfire with a few cold ones.

Sunday we had more All Wheelers Off Road Club members & Eastern Washington Off Road forum members come up for the all ORV part of the run. Around 10 AM, we headed up to Darland Mountain. We stopped on Darland Mountain for the great view. Next stop was Blue Lake.

At Blue Lake we split up into different groups. Our headed back to Tree Phones to pack for home by the way of North Fork Ahtanum Road, then crossed Whites Ridge on McLain Canyon Road, then up the Mid Fork Ahtanum Road to Tree Phones. On the way we stopped at Snow Cabin and then the North Fork Ahtanum Creek at McLain Canyon to cool down.

This was a real fun run and the weather was great.

Here are some photos of EWOR Do The Dew ORV Run:

Ahtanum

Mount St. Helens

Ahtanum

Mount Hood and Mount Adams

Blue Lake

Ahtanum

Mount Rainier and Rimrock Lake

Bethel Ridge

Ahtanum

Long Lake

Jumpoff Lookout

Ahtanum

On top of Darland Mountain with Mount Rainier in the background

Ahtanum

Blue Lake

Ahtanum

Snow Cabin Campground

Ahtanum

Posted in News | Tagged CegPics, Eastern Washington, Jeep, offroad, Washington State Tourism, Washington Trails | Comments Off

Photos: 99’s Yakima County Ridge Views Backroads Run

Posted on July 4, 2007 by Ceg

Yakima County Ridge Views Backroads Run
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road
Run Called by Lisa Graham AKA “99”.
By Clay / CegPics.com

On July 4th, 2007, my wife (Nickname 99) wanted to go see some views from the top of some mountains since it was going to be hot in the Yakima Valley and it would be cooler up there. So we left Ceg Ranch around 10 AM with two rigs on this run. We topped our fuel tanks in Naches and headed west on Hwy12. At road FS1500 (Bethel Ridge Road) we turn off US12 and stopped to air down. The wash board was beating us up.

It was much smoother running 10 lbs. We headed up on top of Bethel Ridge to a view point near the Microwave tower. There were great views from there of Rimrock Lake, the Tieton Dam, Divide Ridge, Rimrock, Mount Adams, Goat Rocks and Mount Rainier.

Fatboy called to 911 about the fire that was down below us. We want to make sure someone knew about it in case it was not a controlled burn which it was.

Next we headed back over to FS1500 and head down to SR410. At SR410 we headed west a few miles to FS1702 (Rock Creek Rd). We took FS1702 to the end then hit 4W675. At FS1701-530 we went up to see the view from Bald Mountain Lookout. Here we turn around at 4W644. That is where the lookout tower used to stand.

Next we headed down FS1701-530 and then on down FS1701 to FS1712. We made our way toward Cleman Mountain Lookout. Once at the Fire Lookout Tower we were sadden to see what was left of the historical building. The cut it down. Fatboy told us he had seen the tower up a few years back and how someone was using it to watch a fire.

Next it was time to head on down the ridge toward SR410. We stopped at Mud Lake so the dogs could get cooled down. We decided to air up at Mud Lake since we were not to for from SR410 and that was the last shade on the trail. It was a very hot day.

After airing up we headed back to Ceg Ranch for a barbeque. A little after 9 PM we head to Yakima to watch the Independence Day fire words.

This was a real fun Independence Day. Special thanks to Fatboy for coming along.

Here are some photos of 99’s Yakima County Ridge Views Backroads Run:

Naches

Posted in News | Tagged 4 Wheeling, CegPics, Eastern Washington, Jeep, offroad, Washington State Tourism, Washington Trails | Comments Off

Photos: EWOR Manastash Summit Trail Run

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Ceg

Manastash Summit Trail Run
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay & Hank Graham / CegPics.com

UPDATE: I was told from the Department of Natural Resources that the Manastash Ridge Road is closed to the public. It is not a Green Dot Road.

On June 30th, 2007, around 10 AM we met up with 8 rigs at Many’s market in Naches, Washington. Fatboy lead us out of Naches, across the Wenas Valley onto North Wenas Road and through the Wenas Pass. We turned up the Observatory Road and followed it to the top of Manastash Ridge to the Manastash Observatory.

The views from the Observatory were great. We took a group photo and headed up the Manastash Ridge. 99 being new to wheeling wasn’t sure about going down a steep loose hill we came to. She was in the lead and had to be the first one down. She went on down and did fine. We stopped to watch the others come down and then moved on.

At FS1701, Jerry headed home. We took 4W694 to stay on top of the Manastash Ridge.

Down the trail Test Dummy’s rig started having a few problems. Test Dummy dropped down 4W670 to get his rig home. We head on with 6 rigs. We stopped for a view of Manastash Lake.

We stopped at Funny Rocks to watch some rigs play and then we went to Moon Rocks.

We headed back to 4W694 and turned down 4W686.

I got out to take pictures of the wash out on Milk Creek Road because a lot of people ask to see pictures of it. I think the guys that drove around us thought I was nuts for taken road wheeling pics.

We are aired up at the bottom of Milk Creek Road (FS1708) and headed home on SR410.

This was a real fun run. Great people, scenery and weather.

Here are some photos of EWOR Manastash Summit Trail Run:

Manastash

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Photos: 99’s First “More Difficult” 4×4 Trail Run

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Ceg

99’s First “More Difficult” 4×4 Trail Run
By Clay Graham / CegPics.com

On Saturday June 23rd, 2007 my wife (99) wanted to take her sisters up to see the views of Divide Ridge. This was the first time 99 had drove her Tweety Jeep. It was also the first time for her to wheel a rig on a “More Difficult” trail.

We started off by taking Cowiche Mill road up toward Jumpoff Tower. At the top we ran the trail that over looked Louie Way Gap. After a look we headed over to Jumpoff Tower and had a BBQ.

After Lunch we headed on over to the Strobach Mountain Trail. We had to stop on the trail to put the fire out under the Jimmy’s hood. The battery box broke and the battery shorted out. We put the fire out and had to start the truck by holding the positive cable to the battery since the clamp melted off. We were back on the way to the Strobach Mountain vista.

After a look off Strobach Mountain we ran 4W613 toward Dome Peak. I blew a tire on the Jimmy in the Dome Peak Fire Area. I hit a dead root with the side of the front tire. I am use to running MT/Rs so wasn’t watching close enough.

We broke off a stud when taking the tire off. We put the spare on and broke another stud tightening the lug nuts. We added a little more air to the spare and turned around to run the trail back out.

About 8 miles from the North Fork Road (Nasty Creek) I blew the spare tire we just had put on. 99 headed to Tampico to find some of our club members to get another tire. I wasn’t for sure if she would find anyone so I kept driving slowly toward the North Fork Road. The steel wheel held up good. Hercules, Tiny and Test Dummy showed up with one of Hercules’s Chevy wheels with a bald 32. I was happy to see them. They put the 32 on and broke another stud. Three out of six studs were now broke off. They were all broke in a row so only one half of the wheel was bolted on. We drove the rig down to Tampico Park where Tiny had a hub. Hercules, Tiny and Test Dummy changed out the hub and we were on our way home. We got back home to Ceg Ranch around 2 AM.

This was a fun trip even with the added drama. 🙂

Here are some photos of 99’s First “More Difficult” 4×4 Trail Run:

Ahtanum