On Tuesday July 10th, 2018, Eastern Washington Adventures Club members started off with another nice day from Misery Campground in the Umatilla National Forest.
After breakfast we head out toward Pomeroy, Washington. We stop at Clearwater Lookout & Clearwater Guard Station along the way.
In Pomeroy we stopped for fuel. It took 12.88 gallons of gas to do the loop from Dayton to Pomeroy.
We then went to lunch just down the road at Tonia’s Cafe. It was a good lunch.
The group spit up. Kevin, his son, I and my two boys headed to Hermiston, Oregon to pick up my P30 work truck our friend was fixing.
We picked up the P30 in Hermiston. I drove it and Kevin’s son Jared drove my Jeep to Benton City, Washington where we left the truck to pick up on another day.
This was a great trip. Something worth doing again some day.
Here are some photos of day 3 of the Blue Mountains Trip:
This event was eligible for a voucher toward a complimentary Discover Pass.
On Friday June 29th, 2018, volunteers headed from Selah to north of Kittitas, Washington to set up camp for the Eastern Washington Adventures Naneum Ridge State Forest Work Party.
We found a flat place to set up camp on Dawson Cutoff Road. Other volunteers showed that evening.
On Saturday morning, we meet the DNR staff at The Orchard on Coleman Creek Road. Other volunteers also came to help. At 10 AM we headed across the Naneum Ridge State Forest fixing Green Dot Markers and picking up trash. We meet back up at The Orchard with the DNR in the afternoon to load the smaller trash into their truck to haul away. The big items we piled up and gave the location to the DNR staff to pick up later.
Once camp was set up, we decided to take a sightseeing drive. We headed to the Naneum Basin, then up to Wenatchee Mountain, over snow drifts on Naneum ridge Road, and then back to camp. The trip was fun even with cold high winds, but views were not good due to the clouds very low.
On Sunday we headed across the Colockum Wildlife Area to West Bar on the Columbia River. Across the river you could see Crescent Bar. After awhile enjoying the beach, we headed back to camp taking a different route.
This was a very fun weekend thanks to all that came to volunteer. Thank you to all the volunteers, Eastern Washington Adventures Members, Kittitas County Field & Stream members, and the Department of Natural Resources.
Here are some photos of the Naneum Ridge State Forest Work Party:
Beverly Dunes Clean Up, Camp-out & Adventure Hosted by Eastern Washington Adventures with cooperation from the Department of Natural Resources. Sponsored by Selah Sweets Report and photos by Clay Graham / Selah Sweets
On Friday November 4th, 2016, my sons Doc and Odo, and I headed out from the Eastern Washington Adventures Club House in Selah toward Beverly Dunes to set up camp for the annual clean-up. We headed through the Yakima River Canyon stopping at Helen McCabe State Park on the way to Beverly Dunes.
Once at Beverly Dunes we set up camp and waited for other to show up. Kevin pulled in just after dark. This year he was the only other person camping with us. That was alright, the four of us had a blast.
Saturday morning the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff showed up early to greet the volunteers for the Beverly Dunes Clean Up as they signed in. Doug came to volunteer. He was the only other volunteer to show up for the clean up. Around 10 AM the five of us volunteers headed out picking up trash and cleaning fire pits out. Doc found a Leatherman and Odo found someone’s drug pipe. Around 1 PM we were finished with the clean up and everyone left but us camping.
Around 2 PM we headed out with our two Jeeps to Saddle Mountains. Saddle Mountains is the tall ridge that runs along Beverly Dunes on the other side of Crab Creek. The wet end has some steep and dune. We played a little on the big sand dunes and then headed up a canyon trail to get on the top of Saddle Mountains for the view. The trail up was full of big rocks. Some rocks we could drive over and some we had to drive around. We made it up a long way up the canyon. We had to stop to see how we were going to navigate around a section of bigger rocks. We were out looking when a group of dirt-bike riders that passed us earlier had turned around. They said around the corner was a five foot wall we should look at. So we took a hike on up the trail and saw the wall. We thought we might be able to climb it with the Jeep. Still hiking, we climbed up on top of the wall to see what was past that. The trail became to narrow for a rig. That is when we decided to turn the Jeeps around and go up a different way. We headed back out and found a road that took us to the top. The view was great on top of Saddle Mountains. I took a photo of the GPS to see the difference in elevation from where we were camped down below at Beverly Dunes. Back at Beverly Dunes I took another photo of the GPS to see the difference. If the GPS is right, the top of the ridge at the big towers was 1914 feet higher than camp.
After dinner we took the Jeeps on a night run through the Beverly Sand Dunes. Our friend Kevin driving the other Jeep had some excitement when his Jeep became sideways on a hill climb. Over all the night run was fun.
Sunday morning Kevin left around 9 AM and my son Doc took us on a drive across Beverly Dunes and back. Once we got back to camp, we also headed out.
The boys and I decide to do some sightseeing on the way home. We first stopped at the Wanapum Dam Overlook. It was pretty cool place after we picked up someone’s trash they left behind. Next we stopped at Sand Hollow Recreation Area. It is a very nice place for a picnic next to the Columbia River. My son Doc wasn’t feeling well so we headed on home by running the Old Vantage Highway and the Yakima River Canyon.
This event was a very fun weekend. Here are some photos of the weekend Adventure:
Selah Sweets
makes handcrafted snacks, shaved ice, and has souvenirs.
Inside and outside seating at the shop. Off site catering.
On January 1st, 2014 Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at Curly’s II in Kittitas, Washington for the New Years Day Adventure. Kyle was our leader since he was the only one that had been through the whole route we were looking to do.
Around 10 AM we headed out from Kittitas with six Jeeps and one Early Bronco. We ran Vantage Highway and turned up Parke Creek. We stopped to air down in a parking area before heading up Parke Creek Canyon.
Shortly we were on our way. We drove Parke Creek Road to the top of the ridge, turned south and took a break on Quilomene Ridge Road.
Next we continued on Quilomene Ridge Road and made our way down to Quilomene Bay on the Columbia River across from the Gorge Amphitheater. About half the group hiked out to the Sand Dune along the Columbia River. The hiking trail was real bad in a few areas where it would have been easy to fall down the hill into Quilomene Bay. Out in the sand area views where great. We walk the beach around the sand dune and then hiked back to the Jeeps. Back at the parking area the rest of the group had been watching the Long Horn Sheep up the side of the hill. We stopped below the sheep for a few photo before heading back up on Quilomene Ridge.
We back tracked our route and continued past Parke Creek Road we had came up earlier. We drove on top of the ridge to Colockum Road. On the way there we past a lot of Side-by-sides and ATVs then a big herd of elk crossing in front of our Seven 4 Wheel Drive rigs.
We aired up at the bottom of Colockum Road then headed to Curly’s II in Kittitas for dinner.
This was a great time thanks to all who came.
This drive was educational in a few ways. The main one being the drive a long the Green Dot Roads proved that ORVs and wildlife can be in the same area. Don’t buy into Wildlife Season Closures on the Green Dot Systems. This is our land too! These road are also miles apart where the wildlife could get away from people if they choose to. On this day they wanted to hang out with us!
Here are a few pictures of the Eastern Washington Adventures New Years Quilomene 4×4 & Hiking Adventure:
This photo is of the Yakima River Canyon on our the way from Selah to the event in Kittitas.
Kittitas, Washington
Airing down at Parke Creek.
Quilomene Bay
Columbia River across from the Gorge Amphitheater.
The sheep don’t mind the Jeep, near Quilomene Bay.
Eastern Washington Adventures Leavenworth Backroads Adventure Report & photos by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures
On Wednesday August 15th, 2012 Foxracer and I headed out from the Naneum Ridge State Forest Backroads Run parting from Toy Man near Wenatchee to continue our Eastern Washington adventure around the Leavenworth area.
We stopped in the town Leavenworth around 5:30 PM. We parked at the Northeast side of town and walked through the Bavarian village to the München Haus for dinner. It was nice to sit in the biergarten under the misters on this hot day.
After dinner we wen back to our rigs to get our growlers and then got them topped of at the Icicle Brewery.
Next we head out of town on Icicle Road to go find a campsite. We found a very cool campsite near the end of the road. Map
On Thursday August 16th, 2012 Foxracer and I headed back through Leavenworth to go explore some backroads Northeast of town.
We headed up Darby Canyon Road (FS7400) from Peshastin and drove up to Chumstick Mountain. The views was great. After a short break and cell calls to our families, we headed back down the mountain to US-2 by the way of FS7415 & FS7412. This route dropped us near Cashmere.
Once on US-12 we drove back toward Leavenworth. I stopped in Leavenworth for lunch and Foxracer continued over the pass to the west side.
Jeffs_62 met me in Leavenworth to visit awhile before I had to leave for a DNR Recreation Committee meeting in Wenatchee.
A little after 5 PM I headed for the meeting in Wenatchee. I got to the meeting place to find out the meeting had been canceled due to the Taylor Bridge Fire in the Ellensburg Area. Some of the people on the committee live in the fire zone. The DNR did call me the day before while I was at the Naneum Ridge State Forest and left me a voice mail. My phone did not show I had a message until I turn it off and then back on again.
Since there was no meeting I headed back toward my home in Selah by the way of Quincy.
On the way I stopped to in Kittitas for some diesel at the Shell Station I filled up at the day before. It was Taco Thursday at Curly’s II so I headed into Kittitas for dinner. Ron the Parts Guy came and joined me for a couple of beers.
This was a great trip! Thanks for leading the way Foxracer. Thank you Jeff and Ron for coming to visit as I was near your areas.
Here are some photos of our Leavenworth Backroads Adventure:
Wednesday August 15th, 2012
Passing through Wenatchee on the way to Leavenworth.Foxracer’s dirty Subaru parked in Leavenworth.Foxracer in the München Haus biergarten.The misters cooling us off.A walk through Leavenworth.
We topped of at the Icicle Brewery and headed for camp.
We found this campground way at the end of Icicle Road had open spaces. Map
Icicle Brewing Company’s Lokal Lager in my Yakima Craft growler.
Thursday August 16th, 2012
Our camp.
A cool Guard Station way out in the middle of no where.
Heading up Darby Canyon Road (FS7400).
There were some great views as we climbed.
Turning up toward Chumstick Mountain.This road is bad.
Foxracer heading on up.We saw this trail from the bottom and thought it was a crazy mountain bike trail.Looks as the Forest Service things so too.Near the top of Chumstick Mountain looking toward the East.On the top of Chumstick Mountain.
On Chumstick Mountain looking toward the Northeast.
On Chumstick Mountain looking toward the Southeast.
On Chumstick Mountain looking toward the Northwest toward Mount Baker.Mount Baker.There were a lot of butterflies.Heading back down Chumstick Mountain.
Turning off FS7400 onto FS7415.
Once on US-12 we drove back toward Leavenworth. I stopped in Leavenworth for lunch and Foxracer continued over the pass to the west side.
A few photos of Leavenworth as I walked around with Jeff.
I had to park down by the river since every parking space in town was taken. I had a hard time getting my truck back out.Heading down the Columbia River from Wenatchee after checking in at my meeting place.
South of Quincy heading toward I-90.On I-90 heading south about to cross the Columbia River near Vantage.
The next stop was Kittitas for dinner with Ron the Parts Guy and then home.
This was a great trip thanks to all my friends I saw along the way.
Selah Sweets
Outdoor Recreation Information Center.
