4W613 Season Opening Work Party
Hosted by Eastern Washington Adventures
Report & photos by Clay Graham / CegPics.com
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 4×4 Trailhead and stopped for lunch. After lunch we headed up the Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail moving down trees as we went.
At the Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail and 4W613 intersection we replanted a Green Dot marker.
The next stop was at the Strobach Mountain Vista to take a break. We saw a Mountain Goat below us and then a marmot climbed the cliff to come see us. He was not afraid and wanted to come a lot closer than we would let him. He seemed to be friendly but we kept some distance just in case he attacked.
Next we headed up 4W613 toward the Upper Meadow. At the steep hill climb we saw the full size truck someone left there last fall.
At the Upper Meadow we regrouped again. Spot had some problems making the climb. Once everyone we up, we moved on finding a lot of trees across the trail in the Dome Peak Fire Area. It took us awhile to get through that section clearing the trail as we went. About the end of the Dome Peak Fire Area we ran into to much snow for the time of day it was. It was around 6:30 PM so we turned around and headed back to camp.
A few had to go home and the rest of us had a great time around the campfire. Most left before noon on Sunday.
Here are some photos of the work day:
Base Camp at the Ahtanum Winter Recreation Trailhead.
Getting ready to head toward Nasty Creek Corrals to meet the rest of the volunteers.
Nasty Creek Road airing down for the run.
Turning toward Louie Way Gap.
4W613 at 4W608 airing down more.
At the Louie Way Overlook looking down at Rimrock and Long Lake.
Zoomed in on Long Lake.
Rimrock Lake.
My co-pilot “Doc”.
The snow mounds got too big and off camber to continue up 4W613.
Turning around I popped a bead.
Moving back down toward Louie Way Gap.
Bethel Ridge across the way.
This was a fun little snow climb.
Looking down toward Cowiche.
Looking across Louie Way Gap at Jumpoff Lookout.
Heading up Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail in the rain.
Regrouping on Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail.
Fixing a Green Dot Marker at Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail and 4W613.
Strobach Mountain Vista.
A mountain goat below us.
Rimrock Lake.
A marmot came to greet us.
The marmot came all the way up the cliff to see us.
Looking South at Divide Ridge.
The climb to the Upper Meadow.
Spot has some problems getting up this muddy section of trail.
At the Upper Meadow Doc has a frog.
Looking down on the Lower Yakima Valley.
Regrouping at the Upper Meadow.
Moving on into the Dome Peak Fire Area.
Doc getting a picture of the signs at the Dome Peak Trailhead.
A big tree to remove from the trail.
There were a lot of trees down across the trail in the Dome Peak Fire Area.
At the edge of the Dome Peak Fire Area we hit snow.
BlindPilot testing the waters. LOL
To much snow ahead for the time of day. Turning around to go back to camp.
Our Tail Gunner “Don” (From the Yakima Valley Timberwolves 4X4 Club) became the Trail Boss.
I took the lead at the Upper Meadow.
Turning off 4W613 at Strobach Mountain.
Looking back up the Strobach Mountain 4×4 Trail.
This was a great time thanks to all that came. Thank you to all the volunteers of the day!
