Colockum Snow Wheeling
Hosted by Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch Association
2/26/2011
Video Location:
Colockum Pass, Kittitas County, WA
Date:
2/26/2011
Taken By:
Clay Graham of Ceg-TV.com / CegPics.com
Camera:
KODAK EasyShare Z981
Edited by:
Clay Graham
Also on YouTube
On Saturday February 26, 2011 around 10 AM we met up at 4WheelingPlus.com in Kittitas Washington for a 4×4 run up Colockum Road. We had Forest Watch Volunteers come from all over Washington State to do this 4×4 snow run.
The weather was great and the snow was perfect for snow wheeling. The area on top of the ridge had a lot of use by snowmobiles. A few snowmobilers were friendly and happy to see we had a legal road to snow wheel on since most everything else for many miles was only open to snowmobiles. We made it up to the top of Colockum Pass and only lost the road once due to a blip on the GPS leading us. Lucky we found out we were off track not to far from Colockum Road.
On the way back we stopped at the point where we were off track earlier to check two of the GPSs since the one who lead us there had left before us. This is when our great day turned ugly. We met a Snowmobile group mad at wheelers because Kittitas County said they had to stop illegally grooming Colockum Road and wheel vehicle had a right to use the road. These guys were flying around between us at high speeds and taking down our license plate numbers. They remind me of the outlaw biker clubs you see on TV. Three guys were yelling at us saying we were off Colockum Road when we were all in the area of the road on top of deep snow doing no resource damage. I trying to talked to the one that seemed to be the gang leader calmly. He just got in my face yelling he was turning us into the Sheriff because we had no right to be on DNR land. These guys are giving the Snowmobile users group a bad name by harassing other users. User groups need to fight to keep public lands open for ALL users, not fight with each other. If they would have showed us where to road went after the markers, that would have helped us to be over the top of Colockum Road which we were trying to follow. So instead of educating us, they just made us mad and we still had no clue where the road really was since there was barbwire sticking up were the GPS said the road was. I reported what happened to the DNR I told them I take full responsibility since it was my run but do not see anything wrong with what we did.
This was a very fun run. We plan to go back soon as we can and of coarse have two GPSs up front to show the way.
Here are some photos of the Colockum 4×4 Snow Run:
4WheelingPlus.com in Kittitas Washington
Airing down.
Heading up Colockum Road.
Crossing the first soft area.
Stuck.
Rubiclone ordering pizza.
What you looking at me for Andy? It was just a guess.
Moving on.
Another stuck.
Another soft area that claimed many.
Some friendly people on snowmobiles came and talked with us.
Here they are moving off the road to make room for the rigs that are being pulled through the soft area.
The peanut gallery.
I like to see people having fun!
Deep wrong turn.
Foxracer needing a pull.
Now I need a pull.
At Halfway Station Colockum Pass.
Heading back.
We stopped for some to have lunch.
Bobs Racing was pulling out Rubiclone when the snowmobile gang showed up to harass us.
I did not take anymore pictures until we got to the bottom due to being upset about being verbally attacked by the snowmobile gang leader.
After the run Rubiclone and I had dinner at Yakima Craft Brewing Co.
Slab ORV Meet & Greet
Hosted by Eastern Washington Adventures.
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay Graham & Brandon Hoeksta / Eastern Washington Adventures
Around 11 AM on Saturday February 5th, 2011 we met up at the Slab ORV Area for the Annual Eastern Washington Off Road Slab Run Meet & Greet.
It was a great turn out again this year. Some people came from far away. We had a great time thanks to all who came. Here are some pictures of our day.The group picture. (There are a few rigs behind the line up)
We convoyed to Flex Canyon.
This next off camber part I do not have pictures of. It was real tight for the Suburban and the back tire was off the ground.
Foxracer took a few pics with my camera.
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
I think Costco tire department put helium in my tires.
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Colemancooler on Roll Over Hill.
Looking down Roll Over Hill as we drove down it.
Foxracer took a few pics of my playing on some small climbs by Roll Over Hill.
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
The Subaru did great all day.
Havo’s truck fell over at the top of a climb.
We had fun with the recovery.
Nothing like a little Father and Son time on a nice day.
We used my rig the pull from the front and Colemancooler’s winch from the rock slider.
Guido’s RC Jeep did great on the hill climbs.
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Broken Jeep.
My boys checking out what their big brother and the others were working on.
The kids had a fun time playing as the JK was being worked on.
Trail fix axle tube plug.
Some people just draw kids.
RDub got there late since he had to work. BlindPilot and my crew hung out with him after everyone left. We had a fun time.
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Photo by Brandon Hoeksta
Eastern Washington Adventures
is an Outdoor Recreation Information Center that holds many free events.
Snoqualmie Falls
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures
On January 17th, 2011 we were heading back from the west side of the state and decided to show the kids Snoqualmie Falls. It had warmed up in Washington State a few days before Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the snow was melting fast. There was flooding across Washington State and a lot of water coming off Snoqualmie Falls. Here a few pictures of our time there:
Western Washington Brew Tour – Day 3 of 3
Report by Clay Graham
On Sunday January 16th, 2011 we left my brother Ron’s place in Kent and headed toward Gig Harbor for day three of our Western Washington Brew Tour.
Tacoma
Narrows Bridge
In Gig Harbor I dropped my wife off at her sitters and my brother-in-law Trever jumped in so we go check out 7 Seas Brewing.
We pulled in to find the place was did not open until 3 PM. We decide to go back to Sunset Grill for a beer to kill some time.
After a beer we took our time and made our way a few blocks over to 7 Seas Brewing.
We were just a little early and had to wait for them to open the gate.
Inside the Tap room was small but nice. We ordered the samplers.
From the Tap Room you can look down on where they make the beer.
My Brother-in-law Trever having a good time. We both enjoyed this place.
We got a growler of British Pale Ale to go and head to see other places. I will be back to 7 Seas someday.
We went down to the water to a place called Tides Tavern.
We just ordered a light beer and checked the place out.
The Tides Tavern was very roomy inside and had a great view over the water.
The service was great. Another good place to stop in.
We next took a walk out on Jerisch Dock to check it out and work off some of those beers.
The next stop was down the road at Anthony’s.
Down stairs there is a lounge.
There is a very cool view from the lounge.
A very nice bar too.
After a beer we headed on. Here is the view outside Anthony’s.
We went down the road for dinner at the HY-IU-HEE-HEE.
A lot of beer on tap.
The food was real good at the HY-IU-HEE-HEE but the service was a little slow. I would come back again.
After dinner we headed back to Trever’s house to share the growler with the wives.
That was the end of this Western Washington Brew Tour.
I plan to do a few more Western Washington Brew Tours since there is so many places I did not have time to go to. These and other upcoming adventures can be found at EasternWashingtonAdventures.com.
