Snow Wheeling at the Ahtanum State Forest “Round Two”

Snow Wheeling at the Ahtanum State Forest “Round Two”
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Saturday March 9th, 2013 Eastern Washington Adventures Club members met up at Highland Quick Stop in Cowiche Washington for the Ahtanum 4×4 Snow Wheeling Run. This was a second try at the same area we ran two weeks before where we did not make it very far due to the powder snow. We had three rigs on this run, Guido – TJ, Rangerat – YJ, and Ceg – JK. TJ40 rode with Guido. We convoyed to Cowiche Mill Road and aired down.

Once aired down, we headed up Cowiche Mill Road and then up C-1300 onto Hatton road. Less snow on the way up than two weeks before. Up on Hatton the snow was great for traction. We stopped for a break at the area we hit the soft snow and got stuck two weeks before.

We moved on up the ridge finding some soft powder drifts along the way. We all got stuck at one time or another. We turned around at a big hill climb that had snow real deep powder snow.

We back tracked our route in having fun playing in the snow and finding some deep drift to get stuck in.

Back down on Cowiche Mill Road, we turned up C-1000. The road was wet and made a mess out of our rigs.

We turned up and ran Cowiche Ridge Road. The snow was great for traction even in the deep areas. We made it a long way up but turned around since it was getting late in the day at an area that we had trouble with last year.

We back track down to the end of the Cowiche Mill Road and aired up for home.

This was a great day snow wheeling with friends.

Below are the pictures of our Ahtanum Snow Wheeling adventure:

The rigs of the day lined up at Highland Quick Stop in Cowiche Washington.
Highland Quick Stop

Highland Quick Stop

At the end of the pavement on Cowiche Mill Road airing down.
Cowiche Mill Road

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Heading up Cowiche Mill Road not far past the end of County Road.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Near the Y on C-1300.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Looking south toward the way we came up.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Taking a break on Hatton Road where we were stuck two weeks before.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Coming up to the big drift that got all the rigs the last trip.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Walking right on up that big drift with not problem.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Guido took the lead at the place we turned around the last trip.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Then Guido got stuck.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat to the rescue.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat getting ready to pull Guido’s TJ out of the powder snow.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

We moved over to try another line. I got stuck and Guido pulled me out.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat taking another line. The kids building a snowman.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat did not have much luck and let Guido try to break trail.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Avalanche, Snowman and Monster.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Guido dropping more PSI.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Taking another break.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Great view of the valleys below.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Getting ready to move on. TJ40 and Guido.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Avalanche and Rangerat.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

I got stuck again. Monster hooking up the recovery strap.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Guido trying to pull my JK out of the powder snow.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Now both rigs stuck.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Out comes the winch cable.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

I was able to winch Guido’s TJ out but my JK would not move.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

So we winched off of a tree to get unstuck.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Then I got stuck again in the powder snow.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat pulled my JK out.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

This was the end of our journey due to the deep powder snow drifts. Rangerat proved it.

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Guido pulled Rangerat’s YJ out of the deep snow drift.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Heading back down we had some fun playing.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Snacks anyone?
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

I found more soft snow to get stuck in.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

So did Guido.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat pulled Guido’s TJ out and I winched. I was still stuck at the tree I winched to, so Guido let me winch off of his TJ to get unstuck. Here are my ruts.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Going around to the other side of the Y.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Turning down the Y.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

On C-1300 there is a big washout. Monster took some pictures of the rig of the day.

Ceg
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Rangerat.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Guido.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Turning on C-1000.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Turn on top of Cowiche Ridge.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Snow fun.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

At the top of the 2006 Sledding Hill
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

We stopped for a break and let the shadow men play.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Moving up the ridge we saw some Elk on the trail.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

The above picture was taken (zoomed in) from this point.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

This is the point were we had to decide to go on and get home real late or turn around.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

We decided to turn around.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

More Elk on the ridge we were on earlier.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Down at the end of the pavement of Cowiche Mill Road airing up for home.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Monster helping out her Dad.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

“Can you hear me now?”
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

Fishing for Big Foot.
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

“It was this big!”
Ahtanum Snow Wheeling

The end of another great adventure.

Go Play

About Ceg

Photojournalist at CegPics.com
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