Wenas Wildlife Area 4×4 Snow Wheeling Run
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Saturday January 26th, 2013 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at the Eastern Washington Adventures Club House in Selah Washington for the Wenas Wildlife Area 4×4 Snow Wheeling Run. We had five Jeeps on this run, TJ40 – TJ, Guido – TJ, Foxracer – TJ, Rangerat – YJ and Ceg – JK. TylerB rode with me. We convoyed to Sheep Company Road and aired down.

Once aired down, we headed on up Durr Road and then turned up Bel Tel Road. Near the top of Umtanum Ridge we climbed out of the fog. The weather was very nice on top of Umtanum Ridge. We took a break as we turned Northwest on Umtanum Ridge Road.

We ran Umtanum Ridge Road getting stuck here and they due to dry powder snow drifts. We passed a few other ORVs a long the way. About a 1/4 mile from ...

EWA Sledding Backroads Snow Run – Dec 9 2012
Posted on December 10, 2012



Sledding Backroads Snow Run
Report and photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Sunday December 9th, 2012 we met up at Highland Quick Stop in Cowiche Washington for the annual Eastern Washington Adventures Sledding Run.

We convoyed to the parking area at the end of the pavement on Cowiche Mill Road and aired down.

We headed on up Cowiche Mill Road, up C-1000 and up Cowiche Ridge Road. The snow got deeper as we climbed Cowiche Ridge. Once up into some deeper snow, we stopped to do some sledding.

After awhile we headed on up Cowiche Ridge. Some of the hill climbs were very slick and some had some good size snow drifts making it a challenge for some.

At the last long hill climb Victor and the Jeep Unit Guys headed back down toward Cowiche. We moved on and headed up the Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail.

The Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail had some very deep snow on it that slowed us down a lot. A few got stuck ...

Eastern Washington Adventures
Thanksgiving 4x4 Snow Run
Report & photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Saturday November 24th, 2012 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at the Tampico Church for the annual Eastern Washington Adventures Thanksgiving 4x4 Snow Run.

Around 10 AM we convoyed up the South Fork Ahtanum and found a place to pull off to air down. Next we ran the South Fork Road all the way to the end and onto the Sedge Ridge 4x4 Trail. As we climbed the snow got deeper. The hill just before the Duel Climb stopped us. A few tried but could not make it up. As we watched, the Quad Squad came up behind ...

Eastern Washington Adventures
Wagons East! Naches Pass Trail 4x4 Run
Report & photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

The Historic Naches Pass Wagon Trail is one of the most poplar trails in the Northwest. Some years we run this trail a few times during the time the west side is open. We really like to run this trail in the fall after the dust is gone and we do it in the opposite direction of the settlers for more of a challenge climbing the west end.

At 10 AM Saturday October 13th, 2012 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at intersection of NF19 and FS1914 for the annual "Wagons East! Naches Pass Trail 4x4 Run". After letting some air out of our tires, we headed across Pyramid Pass with 6 rigs and met up with Mario at the end of the Naches Pass 4x4 Trail on FS70.

We took a hike down to see the cliff where the Longmire Party lowered their wagons down in October 1853. We hiked back up to start the 4x4 part of the run.

We stopped to see the sights along the way as we made our way East on the Naches Pass 4x4 Trail.

At FS1913 a few rigs headed for home and the rest of us finished the tight part of the trail.


Here are some pictures I took of our trip:

Meeting up on FS1914 right off of FS19.


On the west end of the Naches Pass 4x4 Trail we walked down to see the Naches Cliff where the Longmire Party lowered their wagons in October 1853.




I found this ...

PNW4WDA Region 4's
"Pick Up A Mountain"
Report and photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

Every year on the third weekend of September, Region 4 of the Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association holds a big event at Jim Sprick Park to pick up trash in the surrounding mountains of the Naches Drainage.

People started setting up camp Thursday afternoon and by Friday night the park was packed.

Saturday September 15th, 2012 the day started with a driver's meeting at 8 AM. Naches Ranger Irene Davidson came out to talk with us before we headed out into the mountains. There were many fires in the area and we needed to be out of the way of he fire crews. She also wanted us to report any fires we saw as we were out.

After the drivers meeting we took a group photos of the rigs and headed out

Our group Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch (a division of Eastern Washington Adventures) headed up FS1701 which is across the road from Jim Sprick Park. We stopped at the intersection of FS1701 & FS530 to clean up the camps. Next we ran to the end of FS1701 and turned up 4W694. We picked up trash along the way. We took a lunch break at the Manastash View Point. After lunch we continued on 4W694. We drive around Funny Rocks since other were there. At 4W695 we turned up it and stopped to pick up trash at Moon Rocks. Next we headed down 4W695 and turned back onto FS1701. We normally run FS530 up to Bald Mountain and take 4W675 down but there looked to be a fire near 4W675. This year we just ran FS1701 back down.

In the afternoon they had games for the Junior Jeepers.

In the evening they had the Corn Shucking Contest. Joleene Vessey won the Corn Shucking Contest the second year in a row.

After all the corn was shucked and cooked, they had a potluck dinner. Pollock's Rears and Gears donated the pork for Pulled Pork.

Around 6 PM the raffle started. There were ...

Little Rattlesnake Jeep Run
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures
Photos by Clay Graham & Doc Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

Around 10 AM Sunday August 12th, 2012 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at The Wood Shed in Nile Valley for the Little Rattlesnake 4x4 Run. Only three rigs made this run: Ceg (CJ5), The Middle Kid (CJ3A) and Issytj (TJ).

We convoyed to up FS1500 and aired down at the gravel. We turned on FS1503 and then run FS1501 to the end where the Little Rattlesnake 4x4 Trailhead (4W680) is.

The Little Rattlesnake 4x4 Trail was very dusty. The trail did not seem as tight as it was two years ago when I ran it with my same CJ5. I saw where some trees were cut down and some by-passes were made. If people don't want to dent their rigs, they should not be on a trail that is meant for vehicles not to exceed 75 inches in width and a wheelbase not to exceed 95 inches in length. It is very sad to see people are screwing it up for others.

Once at the end of the Little Rattlesnake 4x4 Trail, we went up to Timberwolf Mountain. We really did not have a good view because it was hazy.

Next we headed ...

2012 Ahtanum State Forest Camp-out & Clean-up
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures
Photos by Clay Graham , Charlie Graham, Doc Graham & Amanda Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Tuesday July 24th, 2012 members of Eastern Washington Adventures started showing up for the annual Ahtanum State Forest Camp-out and Clean-up. The event is hosted by the Yakima/Kittitas Forest Watch Association (the Non-profit division of Eastern Washington Adventures).

On Wednesday we headed out with three Jeeps (Ceg, Rangerat & Foxracer) to do maintenance on the Blue Lake 4x4 Trail, 4W613 and everything in between. We got back to camp around 7 PM. Guido came that evening to camp for the rest of the week. Craigen came up to visit us that night.

On Thursday we headed out with four Jeeps (Ceg, Rangerat, Foxracer & Guido) to do maintenance on the Whites Ridge 4x4 Trail and repair the Green Dot Markers on all the roads on Whites Ridge. Rangerat took off for home that evening.

Friday morning Foxracer had to leave for work. We headed out with two Jeeps (Ceg & Guido) and a quad (for the Ceg boys to share) to do maintenance on the Sedge Ridge 4x4 Trail and repair the Green Dot Markers on all the roads on Sedge Ridge. Jeepscum and TJ40 came and set up camp when we were gone.

Saturday morning more people showed up to help with the clean-up. We took off in groups to pick up trash across the Ahtanum State Forest. My group also did some Green Dot Repair work. That evening we had a potluck dinner.

On Sunday we packed up and headed home.

This was a very fun week thanks to all who came out. Thank you all for volunteering at this event.


Here are some photos of our fun week at the Ahtanum State Forest:

Do not leave food out or the locals will take it!



Wednesday July 25th, 2012

Replacing Green Dots on the Blue ...

4W613 Season Opening Work Party
Report & photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Friday June 29th, 2012 a lot of Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at the Ahtanum Winter Recreation Trailhead to set up camp for the weekend to help at the annual 4W613 Season Opening Work Party.

Around 10 AM Saturday June 30th, 2012 volunteers met up at Nasty Creek Corrals to air down for the work run. We headed on up Nasty Creek Road to the 4W608 and 4W613 intersection. We aired down a little more and headed up 4W613. It was not far up the trail we had to move some down trees off the trail.

Once we got up to the Louie Way Overlook we stopped to regroup and take in the view. Once everyone made it up the climb we moved on up removing trees out of the trail as we went. A little over the 5900 foot level we had turn around since the trail was block with big off camber snow drifts.

We got all turned around and headed back down. I lost a bead om the right rear of my CJ5 and had to stop to air the tire back up. Thanks Havo for the air and thanks TJ40 for the use of your hi-lift jack.

Once we regrouped, we took C-1000 up to the Strobach Mountain 4x4 ...

Memorial Day Snow Run at the Ahtanum State Forest
Report and photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

Around 10 AM on Monday May 28th, 2012 Eastern Washington Adventures members meet up at the Ahtanum Winter Recreation Trailhead and aired down for the snow wheeling run. It was a nice warm day.

We waited around until 10:30 for others and then headed up the Mid Fork with Joker as the lead. We turned onto Whites Ridge Loop and then up the Whites Ridge 4x4 Trail. Not far past the McLaine Canyon Road we found some trees across the trail. Guido cut the down trees and we helped get them off the trail. We moved on to hit off camber snow not to far past where the trail merges with the closed road. BlindPilot took the lead about the point where I smashed up my XJ on the 2011 Memorial Day run. We pushed on up the off camber snow covered trail cutting more down trees out of the way as we went. We pulled off to the side to let some FJ40s go past us. They did not go to far before turning around. We pressed on until we lost the trail in the area the logged out.

We decided to go back down once the group was back together and Joker lead the way. We turned off the Whites Ridge 4x4 Trail and run McLaine Canyon Road down to the Mid Fork. Next we headed up the Mid Fork and stopped at Tree Phone to use the outhouse. Once ...