Graham Family Farm NW

Cowiche Snow Cruzin’
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road.
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Off Road

On Saturday January 5th, 2008 we had an Eastern Washington Off Road snow run on Cowiche Ridge at the Ahtanum State Forest. Most could not make the run but a few did.

“FJ CRUZER” and I headed up Cowiche Ridge to play in the snow. The snow had iced over since the weekend before and was good to get up on until I hit a big snow drift. It took me awhile but I finely made it through and headed to the next snow drift. “FJ CRUZER” called me on the CB and said he was stuck. I turned around to go help him. I thought he may have slid of the trail at the last snow drift, but I found him stuck on flat ground due to his big bling wheels and small sidewall tires. LayemStr8 came up in “Little Woody the grocery getter” as were working on getting “FJ CRUZER” unstuck. We got the his FJ Cruiser unstuck and turned around to go back down the ridge.

We stopped and played at the rock pit. LayemStr8’s Little Woody did great for having little tires. “FJ CRUZER” some how got stuck again and LayemStr8 used Little Woody to get the FJ Cruiser moving again. We headed down to Cowiche Mill Road and ran it up. After a water crossing there was a hill climb so I kept going until it flatten out. I took some pics of the deep snow as I waited for the others. Again I get a call on the CB saying the FJ Cruiser was stuck. I turned around and headed down. The FJ Cruiser was off the trail and stuck at the beginning of another one. I tried to pull the FJ Cruiser out but the driver felt he was going off the trail. LayemStr8 got stuck turning around blocking the road out. I tried to back up the hill to winch the FJ Cruiser forward but for some reason my XJ would die every time I tried to back up. I couldn’t get it to move more than a foot or two before it would load up and die. Now we had two rigs stuck and one that was in the middle that couldn’t back up. I used my winch to pull LayemStr8’s rig back on the trail. I drove forward off to the side so LayemStr8 could pass. LayemStr8 went up to turn around and pulled the FJ Cruiser back onto the trail with Little Woody. LayemStr8 lead us out in case my XJ decided not to run forward. We stopped at the parking area at the end of the pavement of Cowiche Mil Road to say our good byes.

As I was heading toward Yakima on Summitview when “FJ CRUZER” called me on the CB and told me my XJ was smoking. I looked in the rear view and hardly could see LayemStr8 flashing his head lights at me. I pulled over and found tranny fluid dripping and burning in the exhaust. I could not see what was going on since it was getting dark. I just drove on since I was close to home. UPDATE: Why the XJ would not back up. It had a bent flexplate got bent from snow being packed into the inspection area. The TPS was not able to read to flexplate right.

This was a fun run. Thanks guys for coming.

Here are some photos of the EWOR Cowiche Snow Cruzin’:

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New Year’s Day 4×4 Snow Run
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road.
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay & Lisa Graham / Eastern Washington Off Road

On Tuesday, January 1st, 2008, Eastern Washington Off Road members were invited by BSLM to do a New Year’s Snow Run on Pine Mountain. The land is owned by private parties and you can only go there if invited by a land owner like BSLM.

We met up at the Nasty Creek Corrals. We headed up Nasty Creek Road to a private road. The snow was powder and very deep in areas. Most rigs had to winch through one real deep powder snow area on the north slope.

We worked our way to the BSLM’s cabin and had lunch. We took another run driving on roads in the area then went back to the cabin again for the campfire.

We wheeled back out after dark backtracking the way we first came in. At Nasty Creek Corrals, we aired up and headed home.

This was a very fun day.

Here are some photos of the Pine Mountain New Year Snow Run:

Here are some photos of the New Year’s Day Snow Run on Pine Mountain:

https://youtu.be/GkOhdxF4_ho

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Year Ends 4×4 Snow Run – Day 2 of 2
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road.
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Off Road

On December 30th, 2007 Eastern Washington Off Road met up in Cowiche at the parking area at the end of the pavement on Cowiche Mill Road to air down. I lead us up onto Cowiche Ridge. Most of our tracks from the day before were gone. I took Tail Gunner before the first big snowdrift since I was in a low rider.

We made it to the place the snow stopped us the day before. The guys tried to push on farther, but no luck, all three stuck. I pulled 2 rigs out with the Tweety Jeep.

As I headed back down the trail, Icesis tried to make his own line and got stuck. Once we were all going things got real fun. In the open we had fun passing each other. Sometimes we couldn’t see from the snow coming blowing onto the hood. We stopped for a break before dropping off the ridge. P309’s CJ was covered with snow.

Down at the gravel pit P309 broke his clutch linkage playing. Icesis winch him up. P309 headed to the trailer with most of the group. Icesis and I ran up to see how the snow was on the road up to Hatton from Cowiche Mill Road. Icesis ran into a big snow drift. Icesis backed up and was able to plow through the snowdrift. He stopped on top of the climb to ask us where the trail was since there was no sign of it. I took the lead breaking trail. Some how Icesis backed up over a stump so used my rig as a tow point and winch off of it. It was getting late so we headed on out.

Thanks to all that came for the fun time.

Here are some photos of the EWOR Year Ends 4×4 Snow Run – Day 2 of 2:

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Year Ends 4×4 Snow Run – Day 1 of 2
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road.
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay Graham & ? / Eastern Washington Off Road

On December 29th, 2007 Eastern Washington Off Road members met up in Cowiche at the Quick Stop. We headed to the parking area at the end of the pavement on Cowiche Mill Road to air down.

I lead the way up onto Cowiche Ridge until I ran into a big snow drift. Roger took the lead and right off found out he had to air down more.

At the first Snow Drift Hill the real fun began. This hill is always a lot of work to get to the top in the snow season. Roger made it up. I tried making my own line. Jerry took a run at Roger’s line a few times before topping the hill.

On up the trail I got stuck. BSLM was nice enough to pull cable. That’s what co-pilots do. 🙂 Jerry winched me out and we were on our way with Roger back in the lead.

Up the trail a little ways I got stuck in Rogers tracks. The snow was real deep and soft. Roger help me through. Icesis was next to get stuck in the same place. Jerry helped him out. We turned around and I got stuck in the same place going back down. Roger pulled me though the deep snow.

Back down at the parking area we aired up. .

Another real fun day thanks to the guys that came a long.

Here are some photos of the EWOR Year Ends 4×4 Snow Run – Day 1 of 2:

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