The Fellowship of PNW Tacomas | PDX Area Wheeling

my apologizes I got the lots mixed up. It looks like it’s actually just past the white river snow park. Service road 48

 

Okay. That makes more sense. Thx

FYI-that is technically closed.

 

Well other than that I’m not sure of anything that is opened and people are using. When I went a few weekends back there was a bunch of people at the lot that had just pulled out and a bunch going in and on the trial. I’m sure with all the additional snow we’ve gotten it’s a pretty rowdy now. Lots of fully built rigs driving it when I went.

 

Off topic sort of, but "fully built" got me thinking...I was looking at my neighbor's 2020 Raptor parked near mine. His 35s look MASSIVE compared to my stock Tacoma tires. We were just laughing saying can you believe these "fit" on a Tacoma???

 

The Raptors are Beasts!

 

It's unreal how much power they have. I miss my 3.5 twin turbo F150 engine and it wasn't even a Raptor. No regrets going to Tacoma, though. Been much happier since.

 

Yeah-it is hard to beat the Tacoma. And I couldn’t imagine wheeling a Raptor in the PNW other than at the dunes. But they sure are sweet!

 

The Raptor is massive.

 

I wish that an individual like any one of us, or small group of us could do forest/off road/dispersed camp cleanups to earn credits/discounts on all these various fees that we have to pay to be able to enjoy "our" public lands.

I get it that the fees are in place to fund something here and there, but if we kick in the labor to help keep things looking good and enjoyable to the next feller, we should at minimum be considered for reimbursement one way or another.

As it works now, I get the feeling that many of the underachievers in our society feel entitled to just leave their trash on the ground, diapers and beer cans in any one of the too many fire rings, broken tents and ripped tarps strewn about, as they already paid their"fee" to use the public land as if it were a "tit for tat" kind of transaction.

 

I know this isn't much but going up and over Lolo pass (or making the loop that goes past the Ramona falls bridge, and top spur access) can get you into some snow driving. It's a little bare right now but I was able to almost get stuck by the turn for top spur trailhead on Friday.

Getting to the top of lolo is usually pretty straight forward. Keep in mind that the north east side of passes tends to hold more snow so the top is usually easier than the backside.

Again, this isn't much but with everything above Estacade closed the options are slim. We've been discussing exploring above Carson WA. The drive is a bit longer but you get away from the crowds.

Edit: depending on the snow berm road 44 off of hwy 35 can also be attempted. There is a road closed sign at the intersection but it is easily driven around and I believe it is more of a 'youre on your own here' sign. Road 44 isn't a ski or snowmobile trail so you won't be disturbing anyone. It does go straight up the side of a hill so angles may get interesting.

 

I'd like to be able to get a 'good citizen' key for some of the locked gates. I'll do community service and be the caretaker for an area. Just let me have access please? These closed areas hurt my soul.

 

Thanks for the info. The Carson area has some good spots. Cougar/Ape Caves, Slatchie Prarie areas in Washington all get pretty deep and it’s some real snow wheeling. Definitely need a solid setup for those areas and if you break down you won’t have anything left of your rig by the time you come back to fix it. Larch mountain above Washougal can have some good stuff, but there’s not a lot of snow right now.

 

Trying to find some cascade high lakes.

 

wheres this at?

 

It’s up past West Fir outside of oakridge headed to Blair Lake.

 

44 as in Dufur Mill Rd.?

 

So on the note of getting anxious for the next outting, the wife and I are gonna be heading to White River Snow Park this upcoming Sunday (the 10th) and I would love the opportunity to meet some of the group in a "responsibly socially distanced" manner. I'm gonna have my shepherd with me too. I'm thinking we'll get there probably in the morning/lunch time.

 

Yeah, I guess so. According to google maps it is Brooks Meadow Rd down near hwy 35 and then turns into Dufur Valley Rd up at the top of the hill. I grew up in the area so we always just called it rd 44. Really you probably aren't getting up it very far during the winter if you can even get past the initial plow berm. I've been up (as a passenger) it a good ways on the firm spring snow before getting horribly stuck and broken.

 

New to PDX. Would love to get out in the bush with you guys! Let me know when and where!

 

You might want to have a backup plan. White river has been getting pretty jammed up lately.
I drove by last thursday, and it was one lane in and out, with folks backing out onto 35. Both sides of the highway were packed.