Eastern Washington Adventures
Spring Fever run at Colockum Pass
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road
Report by Clay Graham / CegPics.com
Photos by Clay Graham, kenny24 and Amanda Graham
On Saturday March 3rd, 2012 we met up at Ron the Parts Guy’s shop in Kittitas, Washington for the Eastern Washington Adventures Spring Fever Run.
Around 10 AM we headed out with twelve rigs and traveled a little over eight miles to the gravel part of Colockum Road and aired down. It was lightly raining and a little cold as we aired down.
On up the road not far into the trees we hit snow. The road was a little slick up to the DNR sign. Toward the top at the last switchback as the road straightens out, the snow got deep and soft real fast. I found out as I sunk and got pulled off to get stuck. Guido pulled me out for the first of many time on this run. A lot of us dropped more air. It was very cold since the wind was blowing. I dropped to 4 PSI and was able to break trail most of the rest of the day getting stuck in the powder drifts a long the way.
The snow wheeling was great on top until we past the power lines. The snow turn to powder and just got to soft. The kids got to run and play as we pulled our rigs out of the deep powder snow. Most of the group headed out around 3:30 PM. A few of us ran up the power lines until the road dropped into some deep snow. Mrs. AlwayswrenchN was kind enough to pull my rig back on top of the hill out of the deep stuff.
We decided to head back to Kittitas to meet everyone for dinner. Not to far from Colockum Road I lost my rear drive-line off the differential. The straps on the yoke were stretched and the caps fell out. Luck I had a spare so we had new caps to put on. Kenny24 volunteered to fit the rig. Everyone offer tools and things to help. Kenny24 was able to use zip-ties to take up space between the straps and caps. The trail fix worked well enough to get us back to Ron the Parts Guy’s shop in Kittitas.
Once we got back to 4WheelingPlus.com, we dropped off the Tweety Jeep and headed to Curly’s II for dinner with a lot of the group of the day.
This was a very fun day thanks to who came. What a great group to wheel with.
Pictures of the day:
Meeting up at Ron the Parts Guy’s shop in Kittitas, Washington
Airing down on Colockum Road.
Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Amanda Graham
At the last switchback as the road straightens out, the snow was deep and soft. I got stuck so Guido gave a pull.
Photo by Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Photo by Amanda Graham
Photo by Amanda Graham
I found a soft drift across the road and got stuck. So did Guido pulling me out and then TJ40 pulling both of us. Jeepscum got stuck next to me.
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
A little winching and we were free again.
This marker was just up from the stuck-fest.
We turn around to see what happen to the others and Jeepscum got stuck. Guido helped him out.
Once everyone regrouped we moved on up the road.
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Until I got stuck again.
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Guido pulled me out and we were on our way again. Well until I stuck it again.
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Photo by kenny24
Guido pulled me out again.
We had AlwayswrenchN come around to break trail for awhile. Well he got stuck coming around.
AlwayswrenchN winched off of “80_yoda’s” rig to get out.
I thought I would give the next big drift a try thinking I was just going to stick the Tweety Jeep into the snow bank.
I made it! Love the power of the 4.0L.
My riders had to walk a ways. I would not have left them if I thought I would of made it through the snow drift.
The snow was nice up here on top.
The last stretch before the power lines was soft but I was able to stay on top until this point.
AlwayswrenchN took the lead, kind of.
I winch off of AlwayswrenchN to help both rigs out.
We were on our way again but did not make it to far. The snow at this point would not pack and was deep.
My team hooking up the trap so “80_yoda” could pull me out.
Snow art: Jeep in hot sauce.
Kenny24 saying we are ready.
We headed back down to help the Hummer get turned around. “Albino 94LTD” was getting good at pulling the Hummer around.
Jeffs_62 and daughter having fun.
Most of the group headed out around 3:30 PM. A few of us ran up the power lines until the road dropped into some deep snow.
Leaving my rig broke but with kenny24 and the help of everyone we got it going. Here we are airing up at the bottom near the tree line.
Once we got back to Ron the Parts Guy’s shop in Kittitas, we dropped off the Tweety Jeep and headed to Curly’s II for dinner.
This was a great day thanks to all who came.
