Lost Corner Exploration

Hey all. I'm new around here. I was alerted to this trip by AWilson, whom I have met a few times before. My rig is a '97 4Runner, 5-speed, stock except for 32" tires. I have been out on some trails this summer, but nothing requiring much of a lift. Now that Alex might be taking a different route than the group, I figured I should introduce myself. I don't want to be a stranger

I have already taken Friday and Monday off work to take this trip and now I am a little up in the air... Am I welcome to join along with the group, camping, etc.? Is the route do-able with my stock truck? When and from where are people planning on heading home, at the end of the trip?

Thanks.

 

If you are stock except for your tires... I dont know how well you would fare after we move on from funny rocks.

and welcome!

 

Do you have front and rear recovery points? This involves a front frame mounted point that is capable of accepting a 3/4" diameter bow shackle. For the rear you need a recovery hitch and a class III/IV receiver.

If you do not have this, you will need to avoid any obstacle where a stuck situation could occur, or risk damage. If a recovery is unsafe, I won't do it.

I don't anticipate any stuck situations on day 1 until we get into moon rocks.

Beyond day 1 I would advise parking in camp for any stock unprotected vehicle, though there might be some driving options after we figure out what trails are safe for stockers

 

I have some 3/4" shackles but I haven't looked for attachment points in the front. Barring suitable attachment points, I do carry a 3/8" chain with a screw gate link, so I could find a method to sling the frame. I have a rear tow hitch shackle which works with the factory 2" tow hitch; not sure if that is a class III/IV receiver. I have the rear diff locker. I usually air down and I have onboard air to fill up.

I totally agree with you, on refusing to make a recovery from an unsafe situation. I have taken that route in the past (I wasn't the one stuck). If the route itself is drive-able and I can get around the tough stuff, that is fine for me. I don't have to tackle every obstacle along the way

 

I'm not knowledgeable enough to inspect a chain for structural integrity, but I try to use it as rarely as possible as a result because I don't need links popping me in the head . Additionally, chain is only really to be used in a static pull (winching). I have some chain myself that I haven't had to use yet. The only real bad thing I can say about chain is that if we had to improvise, it could bend some stuff up. I haven't looked under a stock truck of your year to see what would be possible to grab. Just don't hook to the front suspension or something like that. I saw a silly XJ hook to his tie rod... didn't quite get him free

factory hitch is I think a Class IV... it is at least Class III.

 

I agree. I only carry the chain to wrap around metal parts, in order to save my tow straps. Static pulls only. If possible, I would double-wrap the chain. I also carry some tow hooks, which will hook into an eyelet in the front. However, I think that reduces my WLL to about 4,000 lbs.

I try to do as little towing, and for as short distances as possible. Maybe just a few feet, but not as a winch replacement.

As long as the trail will allow me to drive around the more obscene obstacles, I'll be good to go. Is it the main trail that has the tough stuff, or is the tough stuff basically off different off-shoots (optional)?

 

Mike and Ben, any itinerary updates?

 

yes please.

 

Ehh don't use the hooks unless you have a WLL printed on them to ensure they can handle the load. Also, I've always been told to avoid hooks on a dynamic pull due to things having a chance of dislodging.

We haven't done WABDR, but it should be a walk in the park.
Moon Rocks is as easy or as hard as you make it. It's a completely open playground area, so you can make choices before you do anything.
Naches on the other hand has trails that are some of the hardest I've been on. We have mapped out some hard and some easy ones, but I don't remember too many being all that easy. We have enough days that we can do ride-alongs and always come back for a redo.

Typically when either Ben or I have had a tight plan, it gets blown out by people being indecisive or the trail taking longer/shorter than planned.
Instead,
We will finish WABDR at 410, then head over to Whistlin' Jacks for a top off. At that point we will check what time it is and if we need to establish camp before we do Moon Rocks.
We will then do Moon Rocks, and after that is free game. We have several trails, some taking most of a day by themselves. It is really what people hope to do and how fast we roll through them.

 

OK got it. I guess I should be more specific. I just wanted to know the trail prospects so I can prefetch as much map data as possible.

 

Since there are so many questions, here's some 'what to expect of Naches'

Pictures from a previous run through Naches here

A previous trip report and pictures

Yet another trip report... this was the hardest run I ever went on. I've never been so off-camber, or through such tight spots. Pete (the green shirt guy) is a much better spotter than I am, so trying those trails will take lots of patience or may just be something we don't feel like doing. We were able to fit my truck and an FJC through two trees that we didn't think a 1st gen 4Runner was going to fit.


This pic is from that run later in the day when I was getting comfortable. Notice how tilted my passenger tire actually is.


Highlights from other runs...





Moon Rocks (not the best shot, but showing how the area is 'open'



Funny Rocks



Ben's cat scratch fever

 

Assume the campground is at Crow Creek.
Furthest 'south' is going to be Mud Spring
Manastash Ridge ridge line will border the top for the most part
The west entrance is NF-70 in Greenwater.

 

Thanks! Though the crow Creek link didn't work.

 

O.O
my swaybar may be my limiter this weekend.

 

Maybe I'll take mine off this weekend and see what it's like. I don't really plan on daily driving without it but I would like to see the difference for myself.

 

x2 on possibly taking mine off.

 

Fixed


Also, our last hope of WABDR might be shot down as well.
I tried to plan a way to NF-1500 that would skirt around the highway, and this is the best I can come up with so far... which is a full day detour, if it even works.

 

Well if they didn't close the road, I'd say we could go right over that! Maybe we can do Joe's route in reverse

I saw that article this morning but thought it was after 410 so we weren't blocked.

 

reopened?
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/08/mudslide-blocks-part-of-highway-12-in-yakima-county/

 

The road is closed between White Pass and the Oak Creek feeding station. We have 17 miles that are preventing us from getting to the trail.