Memorial Day in The Q

[T.Low]

Finally got the van out this year. Joined up with some guys for a weekend of camping and back road driving. Originally we were going to "thru camp" overland style but some of the guys wanted to shake out their camp trailers for the summer so we "base camped" it instead, out of Vantage, Wa., known as the Quillomene.

70 miles the first day, 60 the second. This was the first time with these particular guys. They didn't quite know what to make of the van at first, but once they became acquainted with it more, they warmed up to the idea.

I pushed the envelope in the van ever so slightly by lifting a rear wheel off the ground a couple times and by being forced to go a longer route than the others thru a muddy detour and suprising everyone by making it. The lead XJ and big Rubicon were stuck in the snow so the big Explorer (33" MTs ) took a detour line over the side of the road's berm and into the mud. Everyone took his line and made it and then while they all hopped out of their vehicles to watch the Jeeps winch out, I had to wait my turn after a bunch of Quads snuck in coming the opposite way. I went after them. Well, when I got to the end of the mud run, the last guy had pulled over the berm and stopped, leaving me no room, so my only choice was to keep going on past the tree and beyond until I saw a low enough spot on the berm to angle over it. Was throwin two little roosters out the rear and luvin that posi, let me tell ya.

I had to tow one of the Explorer's out of the snow that my van had gone thru. He is stock height with BFG ATs.

It was a great weekend. Here's a link to my slideshow, then to a video from one of the guys. Cheers and thanks for watching. Happy Memorial Day. Salute.
http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee25 ... =slideshow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jahpurlbQw

[dunedog]

Great shots again Tom !!!!! Thanks for taking the time to post and bring us along!
Looks like you had great weather and a good time. AND passified the doubters!
Great video shot of the van also........

[tinytherhino]

Thanks for sharing your weekend. Looks like a lot of fun. hopefully I can return the favor soon!

[mdmead]

Wow, great trip! Thanks for sharing! Were you on green dot roads during this?

[T.Low]

Yes.
We camped next to a creek in Cook Canyon.

First day we headed up and over to the river, right across from the Gorge Amphitheater.

The snowy parts were on the second day heading up Tarpiscan road then up Wenatchee mountain. My little mud run was right at the end of that idea. It was too snowy to continue. The little snow run in the video is us turning around after the little mud run and going back down.

[Rebel]

Thanks for sharing the pics. looks like you guys had a blast.

[mdmead]

Yes.

Duh! I hadn't watched the video when I made the post. I saw at least two green dot markers in the video!

You have given me an idea of a place to go ATVing! Looks like some great terrain. Just need to decide if I want to take my family or a friend of mine instead...

[T.Low]

John sent me a link to video of him winching the stuck Quad. It was loaded with gear and really stuck so none of us volunteered the old fashioned technigue of 4 guys heave ho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkCO_5D9Xk

[dunedog]

Old guys do rule!!!

[mdmead]

John sent me a link to video of him winching the stuck Quad. It was loaded with gear and really stuck so none of us volunteered the old fashioned technigue of 4 guys heave ho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpkCO_5D9Xk

Whaaat, the ATV didn't have a winch? (It was a 'must' for me when I bought mine!)

While riding with Ryan, she couldn't get through some of the bigger snow patches with only 2wd and not much clearance. On some of the longer runs, she'd end up in the middle, or just a few feet from solid ground. But her little 90 doesn't weigh much, so I'd tell her to put it in reverse and I'd drag her a foot or so back. Then I'd tell her to put it back in forward and give it full throttle. With a little push from dad, she'd then sail the rest of the way through. (I also had a strap so I could tow her if need be!)

[T.Low]

Yeah...he had a winch but he didn't seem to know how to ride, let alone know how or even want to try to use the winch. I got the impression he was new or borrowing it or? A little snow and he was wanting to turn around and go home.

He was already stuck when we drove up to them. Who knows. I think John did a quick assessment of the situation and realized it would be quicker for him to just take control and get the guy out.


Phil, the Old Guys Rule guy, said I wasn't old enough to qualify for a Old Guys Rule shirt. Well that leaves me stuck in purgatory then cause i'm definitely not a young buck anymore!