I hope that everyone agrees that it was a good weekend. The weather was warm enough for shorts, but not so bad that I had to go sit in the creek to get cool. The camp ground was pretty full ,but Gary was able to get there Thursday night and stake out a spot big enough for all of the Tamers to circle the wagons. To the best of my recollection, here is a list of everyone that was able to come for the weekend:
- GaryTJ and Lori
- Mark (Dirtball) and Lori
- John and Gina
- Dan, Julie, and the girls
- Rocko and the Mrs’s
- Ed, Eric, and some friends of Ed’s
- Lane (candidate) and Logan
- Russell (candidate) and Scott
- Rudi, Melissa, and the kids
I was able to get there on Friday around noon along with the kids, but Melissa was not going to be able to get there until Saturday. What resulted was what I think Gary would agree an “entertaining show” as I setup the camper with the “help” of the kids. Just a little while after we finished setting up Rocko arrived and got settled. Russ and I wanted to look around the old stomping grounds and see what changed so we took off on a quick run up the 319 to the top of “Rear End Hill”. After a couple of phone calls we headed back to camp to find that Lori, Lori, and Mark had arrived. There were just about done setting up camp and then Lori brought out the cookies then and passed them around. MMMMMMMM … they were good!! Thank you Lori. As we were done for the night we all just kind of relaxed and listened on the radio for anyone else that was coming in for the weekend. Next to arrive was John and Gina. Lane was the last one to roll in before I went to bed but I know that Dan and Ed arrived sometime between 11pm and Midnight.
The next day everyone got moving and we were ready to hit the trails by 10am. I was volunteered to lead the run that day so we took off out of camp and hit the 319 first. Last year we found a dried up mud hole that posed a little bit of a challenge and a year had made it a little more difficult but everyone was able to make it through with the exception of Lane who chose to keep his rig in one piece. Unfortunately we were then paused for a bit as a fan blade on Mark’s flat fender had nicked a radiator hose. It took us a bit to affect a repair but we were able to get him moving again and out onto the road. As it was before noon still Mark headed back for camp via the FS road with plans to head for town in order to get parts.
The rest of us kept moving up 319 to the top of “Rear End Hill” where we checked on the warning sign (looked real good) and ate a little lunch. Moving on from there we kept going on 319 and arrived at the stair steps where we waited for about 10 minutes as the group in front of use was still working there way through. When it was clear John was the first one to make his way up, and did so with out issue. Next was Ed who once again proved that a little longer wheel base makes it look easy. I was next and I did not mess around either, walking right up. Lane then took a shot and got about 3/4 of the way up before needing to be winched the rest of the way. Ed was able to help out with that and mad short work of the task. At this point John decided to move his rig only to discover that as he tried the trail wanted to collapse out from under the tires. Ed helped out again and we put a strap on John’s cage for safety and avoid a roll over. Rocko’s turn at the stair step came and he took the hill with out issue. When it came time for Russell to take a turn he opted for the bypass in the middle of the hill but quickly found that he was sliding down the hill faster than he was moving across. Rocko was able to maneuver in above Russ at the top of the hill so that we could put a strap on Russ’s roll bar then connect it to Rocko’s winch. Russ was then able to finish driving across the hill to a point where he could turn and come up the hill. Problem is that he could get turned up the hill so Ed came over and we hooked his winch up to Russ to help him make the turn and get started up the hill. Rocko was disconnected from Russ then and Ed was helping pull him up the hill but Russ’s Toyota was a little to heavy for the conditions and Ed was getting dragged down the hill by Russ. We finally strapped my Jeep to Ed’s and were able to pull Russ up the rest of the way. The rest of the trail was pretty a nice ride but just before we came to the blacktop road Lane discovered that his rear right lower control arm had taken a hit somewhere and was about ready to break all the way.
As is was only 3PM we all headed towards Ellensburg. When we hit 97 Ed headed back towards camp and the rest of us headed for gas and the Jeep dealership to see if they had the part in stock. It was not to be however as apparently the people at the parts do not work weekends, not to mention the Rodeo that was going on. At this point we were looking for any solution so Russ called a friend of his that works at a shop in E-burg. Dan (Russ’s friend) agreed to open the shop up for us and help get the control arm put back together for Lane. It took a few hours of pounding, cutting, and welding but in the end Dan prevailed and the control arm was repaired to the point that Lane could keep wheeling if he wanted. A big thank you to Dan and “The Shop” where he works for helping out. If you ever find your self in E-Burg and in a bind, drive by and see if they can help.
With Lane repaired, he and I headed back towards camp, but Russ hanged behind to talk with Dan. In the end Dan was to pick up his girlfriend Lori and come camping for the rest of the weekend.
Sunday dawned a little cloudy but by 10am when we left camp for the 324 trail across the highway, it was clearing up fast. Shortly into the trail Mark started having problems with his rig and decided to turn around and work on it in camp rather than on the trail. Russ was also hurrying to catch up with Dan in tow. We stopped on the first major hill waiting for them as it was pretty loose. As it turns out it was a good idea as both Russ and Dan needed to be pulled up the hill. About this time Rocko let us know that his rig was starting to get hotter than it should be. By the time we got to the first place where the trail crossed a road Rocko was ready to call it a day rather than roast the engine. We got him pointed in the right direction and made him promise to let us know if he had problems. Since Mark could still hear us back at camp we were sure that we could hear Rocko. Finally we got moving again and did the rest of the 324 stopping at the top to adminre the view of Cle Elum with Rainer behind it. About this time Mark was asking where we were as he had found the problem and was moving in out direction to catch up. He must have been flying up the trail as it did not take more than a few minutes for him to get there.
With the group back together again we headed towards Red Top taking the 327 along the way. As we went along the 327 up a steep loose little hill we came upon two suburban’s loaded full of people. I really would not have expected to see the two rigs where they were because of the trail conditions but I guess they were rental vehicles. We went on by waving to them as we did and dropped off the edge of a steep little hill much to there surprise I think. Just after that was a tight winding section between trees and stumps on a hill of very loose dirt and rock. You kind of slid down the hill more that drove down it. The rest of 327 was no issue and we made it to Red Top. Everyone parked the rigs in the shade and walked on up the trail a ways to where we could see the Look Out. After a few group pictures Dan (Russ’s fried that fixed Lanes control arm) decided to head back to it was back down to camp as his steering was not handling the off road stress well and he did not want to have a problem on the trail. Everyone else headed for the 327 again to run it the other way and go up the steep little hills. Everyone made it up the first tight and loose hill except for Russ who needed a strap from Mark for about 20 feet. The second little steep hill then turned out to be difficult part. The hill was a whole bunch of loose dirt with a couple of feet of steep rock right in the middle. You did not want to hit it to fast for fear of popping the front end up and going over backwards but you needed the momentum to get your rear tires up on the rock to keep moving up the hill. Ed went first and was able to get the right line on the second try. Next was John who gave it a really good try but just could not get the right line so took the by pass instead of causing carnage. Mark was next and he was able to find the right line on the second try. Finally it was my turn to give it a try so I put it in second gear with the lockers on and used a little speed see if I couldn’t make it happen. I had my rear tires on the rocks when the engine stalled because I let it lug down to low. On the second try I was able to get the rear tires up on the ricks and then I put my foot down a little more to make sure that I would make it the rest of the way. Mark said my right front tire was off the ground about a foot. I would do it again, it was fun. Finally Russ gave it a couple of tries but with no lockers and the soft springs it was not to be so he took the bypass also. We all took off again down the trail and turned off the 327 to find the 326. The 326 turned out to have a few tight and loose hills which were interesting but there were no incidents and everyone was able to make it down to the FS station and camp with out incident. That ended it for the day and we all relaxed again soaking up the last few remaining hours before having to go back to reality on the west side of the mountains on Monday morning.
Thank you to everyone for a great weekend.
Rudi
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