lupinsea
11-12-2014, 02:19 PM
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Evan's Creek
Near Carbonado, WA
November 8th, 2014
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps4802b468.jpg
It has been over a year since I took my Jeep out on the trails. Between a remodel and busy family life trail running has fallen by the way side. But this weekend some friends and good weather came together for a good day of wheel'n. After a month and a half of overcast or rainy skies today the sun broke through the clouds. Glorious blue skies welcomed us to the foothills around Mt. Rainier and I finally had a chance to put my top down. Here it is, Seattle, early November, and I was wheel'n with the top down, sun shining, blue skies, in only a long sleeved t-shirt. Such is nirvana in this part of the country. We came to Evan's Creek today, a local ORV park near Mt. Rainier. It is known for tight and twisty trails that work their way across steep mountainous terrain.
Joe came down with his two boys in their JK Unlimited, Alex and his friend had their trusty red TJ, and I was in my beat up, yellow TJ. I've been wheel'n my rig for the past 10 years and it has gotten me through a lot while adventuring all over the state. Normally at Evan's Creek I venture up the 311, but today we ran the ORV park somewhat backwards. From the trail head we started off on the 102. This route follows an old logging road for the first 2/3s of its length. This part is easy as we mostly splash through some mud puddles and had Joe's eldest son asking "when do we get to the real offloading?"
That came on the last 1/3, which starts a long climb up the opposite side of the valley from the trail entrance. Here the trail leaves the old logging road and starts threading through the trees. There are very tight switch backs, and sections of the trail have been cut down into 4 ft deep trenches. On one of the turns the JK suffered some carnage when a front tire dropped off an embankment which slammed the hard top into a tree. This was to be the first of several scars Evan's Creek would leave us with today.
Exiting the 102 we crossed the forest road and started up on the 198. Joe started hearing an odd clicking / ratcheting noise from under his Jeep so we stopped to investigate. Unable to determine the problem we pressed on. The northern end of the 198 climbs a ridge back. At the top it intersects with a few other trails. Unsure of the JK's trail worthiness we passed through the intersection and kept on the 198 to return us back to the road. The clicking under the Jeep kept getting worse.
Eventually the 198 empties out in a rocky bowl. We stopped here for lunch and putzed around. The sun was warm as we ate lunch on the uphill rocks. As Alex and his friend played around with the other Jeeps, Joe and I hopped in his JK to try to replicate the clicking noise but couldn't. It had seemed to go away. Weird.
As it was early afternoon we decided to head out with the JK in a less noisy state. We'd take one last trail on the way out, running the 311 "backwards" or downhill. Things were going ok until a stump rolled under the JK and caved in the front fender flare and the fender sheet metal. First the hard top, then the clicking noise, now the dented sheet metal. Oof. The mid-point of the 311 breaks out to a stunning overlook of Mt. Rainier. Our party stopped for some photo ops and to take in the sight. Today was a good day with the mountain incredibly clear in the near distance.
Pressing on we dropped down the hill climb on the lower 311 where the JK had another fender nearly torn off on yet another stump. This was not Joe's day at all and he had all of our sympathy. We rolled down the rest of the trail nearing the trailhead and the end of our day's adventures. However, another rig coming the other way was broken down in the middle of the trail. A steering linkage has snapped, the driveshaft had fallen out, and one or more control arms had popped out. It was not looking good and while the owner was onto of making the repairs, we could tell it would be a while. So we mounted up again and turned around, heading back up the 311. No more damage from here out a we hid the mid-point and then exited through the campground.
The drive off the mountain graced us with a sunning orang, yellow, pink, and purple sunset. By the time we reached pavement it was dark. After airing up we motored out and headed our separate ways, off into the night.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsf6a1c438.jpg
Starting up the switch backs on the 102 trail in the morning.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps73b83581.jpg
Joe bringing up the rear. Something had held him up and
we'd soon find out what.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps9062bdad.jpg
First carnage of the day.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsa479916b.jpg
Pressing onward toward the end of the 102 trail.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpse3f2729a.jpg
Trying to determine the maddening and illusive ratcheting noise we
all spent some time under Joe's rig.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpscd6d127e.jpg
Alex and I swapped Jeeps. He drove mine the rest of the day and I
either drove his or rode along with Joe.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps2ca21666.jpg
Sloshing through some mud puddles at the top of the 198.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps4802b468.jpg
Stopping for a breather and some photos of Mt. Rainier at the
midpoint of the 311 trail.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps0f543e9b.jpg
Alex piloting my rig down the 311 hill climb.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsc5056233.jpg
Alex trying out my rig on the 311 hill climb.
.
Evan's Creek
Near Carbonado, WA
November 8th, 2014
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps4802b468.jpg
It has been over a year since I took my Jeep out on the trails. Between a remodel and busy family life trail running has fallen by the way side. But this weekend some friends and good weather came together for a good day of wheel'n. After a month and a half of overcast or rainy skies today the sun broke through the clouds. Glorious blue skies welcomed us to the foothills around Mt. Rainier and I finally had a chance to put my top down. Here it is, Seattle, early November, and I was wheel'n with the top down, sun shining, blue skies, in only a long sleeved t-shirt. Such is nirvana in this part of the country. We came to Evan's Creek today, a local ORV park near Mt. Rainier. It is known for tight and twisty trails that work their way across steep mountainous terrain.
Joe came down with his two boys in their JK Unlimited, Alex and his friend had their trusty red TJ, and I was in my beat up, yellow TJ. I've been wheel'n my rig for the past 10 years and it has gotten me through a lot while adventuring all over the state. Normally at Evan's Creek I venture up the 311, but today we ran the ORV park somewhat backwards. From the trail head we started off on the 102. This route follows an old logging road for the first 2/3s of its length. This part is easy as we mostly splash through some mud puddles and had Joe's eldest son asking "when do we get to the real offloading?"
That came on the last 1/3, which starts a long climb up the opposite side of the valley from the trail entrance. Here the trail leaves the old logging road and starts threading through the trees. There are very tight switch backs, and sections of the trail have been cut down into 4 ft deep trenches. On one of the turns the JK suffered some carnage when a front tire dropped off an embankment which slammed the hard top into a tree. This was to be the first of several scars Evan's Creek would leave us with today.
Exiting the 102 we crossed the forest road and started up on the 198. Joe started hearing an odd clicking / ratcheting noise from under his Jeep so we stopped to investigate. Unable to determine the problem we pressed on. The northern end of the 198 climbs a ridge back. At the top it intersects with a few other trails. Unsure of the JK's trail worthiness we passed through the intersection and kept on the 198 to return us back to the road. The clicking under the Jeep kept getting worse.
Eventually the 198 empties out in a rocky bowl. We stopped here for lunch and putzed around. The sun was warm as we ate lunch on the uphill rocks. As Alex and his friend played around with the other Jeeps, Joe and I hopped in his JK to try to replicate the clicking noise but couldn't. It had seemed to go away. Weird.
As it was early afternoon we decided to head out with the JK in a less noisy state. We'd take one last trail on the way out, running the 311 "backwards" or downhill. Things were going ok until a stump rolled under the JK and caved in the front fender flare and the fender sheet metal. First the hard top, then the clicking noise, now the dented sheet metal. Oof. The mid-point of the 311 breaks out to a stunning overlook of Mt. Rainier. Our party stopped for some photo ops and to take in the sight. Today was a good day with the mountain incredibly clear in the near distance.
Pressing on we dropped down the hill climb on the lower 311 where the JK had another fender nearly torn off on yet another stump. This was not Joe's day at all and he had all of our sympathy. We rolled down the rest of the trail nearing the trailhead and the end of our day's adventures. However, another rig coming the other way was broken down in the middle of the trail. A steering linkage has snapped, the driveshaft had fallen out, and one or more control arms had popped out. It was not looking good and while the owner was onto of making the repairs, we could tell it would be a while. So we mounted up again and turned around, heading back up the 311. No more damage from here out a we hid the mid-point and then exited through the campground.
The drive off the mountain graced us with a sunning orang, yellow, pink, and purple sunset. By the time we reached pavement it was dark. After airing up we motored out and headed our separate ways, off into the night.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsf6a1c438.jpg
Starting up the switch backs on the 102 trail in the morning.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps73b83581.jpg
Joe bringing up the rear. Something had held him up and
we'd soon find out what.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps9062bdad.jpg
First carnage of the day.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsa479916b.jpg
Pressing onward toward the end of the 102 trail.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpse3f2729a.jpg
Trying to determine the maddening and illusive ratcheting noise we
all spent some time under Joe's rig.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpscd6d127e.jpg
Alex and I swapped Jeeps. He drove mine the rest of the day and I
either drove his or rode along with Joe.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps2ca21666.jpg
Sloshing through some mud puddles at the top of the 198.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps4802b468.jpg
Stopping for a breather and some photos of Mt. Rainier at the
midpoint of the 311 trail.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zps0f543e9b.jpg
Alex piloting my rig down the 311 hill climb.
http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx141/lupinsea/Jeep%20Trail%20Photos/Evans%20Creek%20Nov%208%202014/file_zpsc5056233.jpg
Alex trying out my rig on the 311 hill climb.
.