WA 2021 Summer BDR Run (7/31-8/5) - The Details

Hmm NV BDR...I just moved from Vegas and didn't even know of this. I've been to some of the points of interest though. If there's a group that goes that way I could give some good spots to check out.

I'm still in the run if anyone else still is. Might be able to take more days off also.

 

I'm still down to go. Anyone else? Did we lose everyone?

Updated info from RideBDR's website: https://ridebdr.com/news/wabdr-riding-season-route-updates/

 

I'm down if we've still got a decently sized groups and federal land isn't shut down. I'm also lucky that the section I plan to do (1-3) avoid most of the really bad active fires.

 

I’m still down.

 

Having done most of the WABDR. Loop Loop to Stevenson in one trip last year I think it would take away from the integrity of the entire WABR experience and be more going through the motions. It’s a 560 mile track mostly dirt with little pit stops for fuel and supplies doing it the OG way. Coming out of Packwood and driving to north Ellensburg on black top then over Table Mt to Wenatchee and I’m not 100% sure if the Chumstick section that crosses DNR would be open, so from Wenatchee to Chelan blacktop then up Cooper to Carlton then blacktop to the border through some hellacious smoke. I’m kinda rambling a little but trying to piece what’s left together in my head. It would loose that exploration man and machine vs the mountain feeling and be more of a weekend warrior let’s see where this road goes then drive for a few hours to the next spot. That being said I would have to come over Sunday. Sunday you are scheduled to be in Packwood at 1:00pmish. That would mean I would probably meet in Ellensburg because I don’t want to backtrack if Bethel and Cleman are a bypass. That would leave Table Mt. maybe Chumstick, Cooper and a drive to the border basically all blacktop left. Maybe I’ll find so more info with Facebook WABDR groups. Just my $.02 and I’m on the fence.

 

Some guys from the Avants Off-Road group are currently riding the BDR, and it sounds like they dropped Section 1 & 2 entirely because of the closures. They're running 4 backwards next and then dropping 5 & 6 entirely.

Honestly I'm starting to lean more towards postponing. Consider me on the fence. Spending a bunch of time on detours and dealing with potential route closures isn't exactly what I was hoping for with this trip.

 

We can all go to Grants Pass. So you can see my truck get a RSI cap installed.

 

So from the original list:

Going

1. @stonylaroux
2. @EK99civic
3. @colin1qk

Maybe(s)

1. @Shadowhunter
2. @vecdran

No Longer Going

1. @Tacodog

Have Not Heard From in a While - please confirm if you are still attending

1. @WrecklessAbandon (cannot tag for some reason and last activity was 7/6) - what does it mean when a member's name is crossed out on their posts? RIP?
2. @irritable_vowels

I'll update the main OP.

 

Anyone going on the Moab run in September?

 

That usually means they're banned, but his name is not present in the ban list. Maybe he requested a temp ban to keep him away? I know people do that sometimes on forums.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/banned-members-memorial-thread.115215/page-1848

 

I am not sure of this Moab trip you keep mentioning. But I do want to go to Moab. Got a link?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/moab-2021-sept-16th-22nd.714018/

 

Man, everyone is dropping out.

 

Is the plan to still camp at Bethel Ridge, then drive back out and take 12 & 82 to Ellensburg?

 

@EK99civic & @colin1qk

Just wanted to start coordination with you two since we're the lone survivors of the DNR land closures.

You both are leaving on Sunday? Should we plan to meet up in Packwood at around 1:15 like the schedule says? That schedule is super tentative so we can shift things around. I'm self debating whether or not I do Section 1 now since it's just me that day.

I have a Little Red Campfire that runs on propane that I plan to bring for the evenings at camp.

@EK99civic You said you could go until 8/3. Were you planning to pull off the trail in Cashmere at the end of Section 3?

@colin1qk How do you feel about Section 6? That seems like one we just couldn't smoothly do without reroutes. I would be okay skipping this one. I'm not sure where you live but a return on Hwy 20 isn't doable either since it's still closed.

@Shadowhunter & @vecdran Let us know if you change your minds!

 

Section 2 looks to be doable via the NF-1500 bypass that RideBDR posted. It crosses DNR land but on pavement and from reading other sources, the pavement is open and they have closed signs at every available turn off of it. The orange route below is an alternative I found going back down from the ridge to Hwy 12.



Source: post from Facebook's WABDR For 4x4s Group

 

Ok, with Bethel Ridge camping back on the table I am much more predisposed to go, Sections 1-3 as I originally intended. I'll make a final commitment in the next day or so. Still some pavement driving, but not the massive 12 & 82 re-route I was fearing we would have to take.

 

I think the Hwy 12 and Hwy 821 reroute is unavoidable. The previous map image was just the Bethel Ridge portion shown as doable. After that, the second half of Section 2 starts by crossing a bit of DNR land and finishes by crossing a bit of DNR land (circled in red). Very annoying. The entire middle section is WDFW land.

Do you guys think those two sections of DNR crossing would be an issue? West piece is about 2 miles of dirt road we'd need to go on just to pass through a corner of the parcel. East one is only 1/2 a mile.

 

Man, this whole DNR thing is pissing me off. Public land is such a random fucking checkerboard and one agency pulling a stunt like this makes an absolute mess.

I was going off your previous map where you said the section after Nile was good to go because it was WDFW land. But if there's DNR sections blocking...

 

Sorry, I hadn't zoom in close enough for the agency name to pop up when I was looking that time. It showed it all as WDFW until I got closer.



The two segments in darker red above are WDFW lands and marked as primitive roads by Gaia. They could be our bypasses. It would mean a bit of tracking on Hwy 821 but along the Yakima River which is pretty nice.

West bypass is Garrett Canyon Road. Mud Lake Road is another option that connects to the same point.



Eastern bypass is primarily Old Durr Road until you get into Selah.