NW WA Meet / BS Thread

Well I haven't been on this thread forever, not like I was able to be active with any recent meets anyway though. I was busy this last weekend at eh hawks game

Anything going on soon?

 

Tahuya this Sunday and sounds like another group is going on a snow run that same day

 

#2 is hard to uphold. Gitout is trying to find a different means of communication because there's always a group of people with unreliable, poor performing, or broken CB gear. They are researching race radios or GMRS. HAM costs too much to easily make policy.

#4 is somewhat of an art and gets learned as you go. I'm still trying to figure it out.


Recovery points, recovery gear, one or two planners (not necessarily have to be the trail leaders, just have to be the coordinators), and a cap on attendance are really what we need. I like Jake's idea of keeping location/time 'secret', but Jake, I don't know how that gets pulled off. A lot of places have the common meet up spot, and you have to post times so people can figure out if they can go. I don't see a way around it. The best way is to have capped attendance and a 'sign in' sheet that the coordinator has. I've done the sign in sheet, and it works pretty great.

 

Oh yea I'm not trying to make these laws or anything, this is a public community and I am by no means in charge. Just figured with all of the Tahuya discussion it might be helpful to discuss some guidelines etc.

 

The gate was and probably still is still open due to lack of snow. The snowplow went by the day I was there.

 

I would think that hand held radios should be minimum for communication, CBs preferred, HAM as best bet.

Coordinator would be helpful to know areas for meeting points, as well as being able to define trail leader(s).

For anybody newer, like me, if you have any recovery gear, bring it all. If you have some tools, bring them as well. A basic kit with metric sockets can be a wonderful thing at times. For those with winches, or ride along in those rigs, good solid wheel chocks as well. I know one guy who was wanting to tie off to a tree as his anchor to winch me up a hill, but couldn't because it was too far. Always have water to drink. In the off chance that you get stranded somewhere, and there is no water nearby, you will die inside a week. Also useful if you ever have to back your truck up is a solid and flat platform. I recently acquired from work a piece of 4x12 wood.

I will look later to see if there are any threads made that give basics of what to bring on any given wheeling trip, and if there isn't one, I will start one and ask a mod to sticky it. That way it can always be added to and give a solid starting point for anybody who doesn't know better.

 

I went searching and found a great post of gear to take for an offroad adventure.

Read More Here

 

I have 2 handheld CB radios. They don't work outside of about 60yards when you are in the truck but I will bring them if anyone needs to borrow 1.

 

I'm surprised you get 60 yards even. Truck is like a faraday cage.

 

I just got a

$90 Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

Midland handheld and an external magnetic mount antenna. Found a local shop to set the SWR...and found that the antenna was hosed. So for like $30 they hooked me up with a different one and set the SWR. The guy said their test simulates 3-4 miles, so I'm expecting maybe one.

 

Zach, wheel chocks won't help overcome a winch's pulling power. The operator should set the brake, and if at all possible, be inside the vehicle. The only time someone isn't inside both vehicles is when it is too dangerous or you don't have the proper amount of people.

 

Hey...is airing down/up going to be necessary for Tahuya?

 

On the open hwy with no one else around

I am heading out to D&R Communication in Clackamas on Saturday to see about getting the 3ft Antenna for them. Of course at that rate it may be cheaper to just buy a damn unit for my truck.

 

That's where I just was yesterday. If you're going by Apple GPS...don't believe it when it says you have arrived. Go down to the next light where Witchita Pub is and turn in there. They're in the same office row as Ampro.

Harry checked my El Cheapo Amazon antenna and found it was hosed. The cheapest magnet mount he had was around $30 and seems to work well enough. I didn't want a permanently attached antenna, so that was the ticket for me.

 

Yeah Apple GPS sucks. He has done all the set ups on my previous rigs. Been please with service and knowledge. Gonna get a unit for the taco eventually but most my time spent in the woods is done solo so haven't really needed it. If i start doing more meets and trips with people then it will be necessary.

 

Well...poop. That all makes sense. And the one time I tested my cheapo 12v air compressor, it didn't really seem to do much. And now it's only 2 days away.

 

Flipped through the last 10 pages or so... seems like a few backed out for Tahuya. Who all is still in for sure???

I'd like to tag along. Leaving from Seattle so I'll probably just going to catch the Bremerton ferry and meet in Belfair.

Snow is terrible right now, went out last weekend and it was no fun and we haven't gotten any fresh stuff since.

I'd enjoy hitting some of the harder stuff at Tahuya. I don't mind helping some of the less seasoned guys. It really shouldn't be to much of a cluster as long everyone is on the same page. Tahuya is pretty easy even in a completely stock truck, there are a few good challenges for more equipped rigs like the rock gardens and yellow jacket hill. It would make for some good spectating for those willing to try.

Anyone got an idea of an updated list for Sunday? If so, add me to it.

 

Why not meet up with us in fed way and go around the peninsula?

Im definately planning on going still, might be only wheeling trip i get to take until tsf.

 

Mike brings up some good points! I have found that turning the front wheels will help keep your truck from sliding.

 

I'm in w the crazy Indian for sure! I'm also down to try yellow jacket hill n mud lake, not so sure bout the rock garden tho... we will see