ADVENTURE: NACHES,WA
ZUKIWORLD And MVC Explore Central Washington.
Editor: Eric Bewley Photo: S. Bewley
NACHES, WA – June in Washington is always a delight and the only thing that could make it better would be to have a group of good friends together for an adventure and wheeling fun. Our plan was to make a three day trip out of wheeling the Naches area. This is in no way enough time to explore and enjoy all this area has to offer.
Several of us left Salem, Oregon Friday high noon to get up to the Crow Creek campground about 5 hours later. A couple of us hauled our vehicles while the true enthusiasts drove their beloved vehicles loaded with camp gear. We were to meet several Washington folks at the campground for a glorious weekend of wheeling. Everything went to plan except for I, leading the Oregon group, took a left turn instead of a right and got us landed at the ‘auxiliary’ camp area next to Crow Creek. I claim dumbness as we start to unload, set up camp, and then I realize that the campground where everyone else is at is about a half mile away. Never fear, we made do.
We got the word out to everyone that we were to leave in the morning from our campsite after a brief drivers meeting. Since we spontaneously all arrived here at the campground, there didn’t seem to be any need for much formality. After introductions, we were on our way.
The plan was to run trail 676, Kaner Flats, Funny Rocks, then Moon Rocks. This was a pretty aggressive plan for so many vehicles to get that far but since it was fairly dry and everyone was feeling saucy, we went for it.
With a lot of very much appreciated guidance from our Washington friends, we had a wonderful day of wheeling. There was some dust but all in all the day was beautiful. The trails were in fine form as I had remembered them and I think everyone had enough challenge, excitement, and site seeing to fill up their day.
Finally off the trail at about 6 in the evening, we all gathered in the campground for a Chili feed potluck. The request was that everyone was to bring a can of chili and a side dish. Well, a lot of people had chili dogs in mind and we ended up with well over 100 hotdogs AND a complete pot luck dinner. I think everyone had their tent doors open a little bit that night.
During our pot luck dinner we were treated to a little RC rockcrawling action. Wow!
Sunday morning we said our goodbyes and headed home with memories of a fun filled weekend that had newbies in stockers and veterans alike grinning from ear to ear.
