I know, I know… each and everyone of you has been waiting by your email, gnawing at your fingertips waiting to hear about the McGrew Trail Run on July 1-3rd ish or June 30th-5th. Travel is permitted only with a permit that you must apply for the previous year.
Jeremy and I headed out on Friday afternoon on June 30th. We wanted shorter days and to enjoy our newly built camper van. The first night we stayed at a Hip Camp in a Filbert Orchard. We were pleasantly surprised.
The next day we slow rolled and headed over to Gold Beach, OR. I know, you are thinking why would we go to Gold Beach. It’s no where near the start, which is near O’Brien, OR. As it turns out, the end of trail comes out by the coast. We wanted to drop our van off and Ed was bringing his trailer and although we were content to camp on trail, while we were off trail who doesn’t want all the luxuries.
We rolled into camp are 4:00. Steve and Jamie and Miley their new puppy in their new JK rolled in shortly thereafter. Ed and Katie coming in later around 7:30 I believe in their FJ. We all enjoyed a nice evening around the fire.
July 1st we woke up and headed out to O’Brien, traveling down and around the coast, with wonderful Oregon Coast views, no clouds, no fog. Then we headed into California and touched in the Redwoods, eventually arriving in O’Brien, OR. Arriving around 10:00, we met up with Rick and Jennifer Carter in their JK and Virgil in his TJ, a friend of Ed’s. Virgil lives in the area and has run the trail many times and volunteered to lead for the day.
With the code, Jeremy crawled under the gate and let us all through. I stayed back to lock it up and unbeknownst to me, my phone fell out. To be discovered shortly up trail. Jeremy and I came back to get it and landed as tail gunner for the day. On the first more difficult obstacle with a by pass, Jeremy was headed up. It’s not a hard spot, but needed lockers on to slow crawl it. But the CJ just wasn’t getting it. Finally Steve asks are you locked in. Jeremy, had Steve look… nope just trying to do it all in 2 wheel drive.
Shortly after that I believe is where Ed decided to make some modifications to the FJ. See Katie said, he should take the steps off at camp. But Ed clearly just wanted to do it on trail starting with some rock obstacles to rip them off. The right one came mostly off, but Ed had to crawl under and get the last couple bolts. And of course Ed picked the best spot on a hill, with a rock where he needed to lay down. But he got them off and on we went.
Virgil telling us about the trail. Heading up through trees. Eventually we stop for lunch where Ed completes his removal of the other step and ties them on top. We continue on the trail with no real struggles. Lots of challenges with bypasses. Just a fun trail.
The way down was a lot of overgrown brush and the other vehicles (not the CJ) were definitely feeling the PNW pinstriping being added to their rigs. In the CJ we were noting the heat was clearly in 90’s and we were getting tired. And then we started descending down and over the ridges. The past fires had wiped the landscape so amazingly you could see the trail along the next hill long before you got there.
The final descent was down a shelf road with nothing to stop you from rolling if you made the wrong mistake. Let’s say there were a few people very uncomfortable with the last section. We are discovering at this point there really wasn’t a place to camp mid-trail which worked out well for us.
We hit the bottom ready for some cooler temperatures. We took a group picture and then we parted ways with Virgil and Rick and Jennifer. The rest of us headed down to Sourdough Camp for the night. First crossing over an awesome creek an waterfall and then camping by the creek for the night.
The next morning, July 3rd, we packed up. Jeremy and I went for a swim in the river while the others packed up and we headed out. Surprisingly the drive from Sourdough out is a long one, but dropped us right on the coast. Steve and Jamie headed home. Ed, Katie and Jeremy and I headed back to camp. We enjoyed dinner out that night and an evening around the campfire.
July 4th, we climbed on a Jet Boat up the Rouge River! Highly recommend! We had perfect weather, lunch on the river. In the evening we went to dinner and waited for fireworks, but as the clouds rolled in and became chilly we headed back to camp to sit by the fire. Only to learn later they canceled them.
July 5th, Ed and Katie headed home, stopping by the Prehistoric Garden, Steve had mentioned wanting to go. And then we didn’t hear from them, so we Jeremy and I headed out we stopped in to check on them and thankfully saved them. 🙂 If you didn’t see the pictures on Facebook… just go to the page and take a look.
Jeremy and I spent the next three days traveling home, camping and sight seeing.
I’m sure there is a lot I forgot to tell. Like how cute Miley is and how fun it was to finally meet Rick and Jennifer in person. We also found some bees and ants. But… this is the story I have and I’m sticking to it. Pictures and videos coming to Facebook soon.
Noni
You must be logged in to post a comment.