[Jerry]

Tour Announcement

SCOUTING WHISKEY DICK
May 16, 2008 [Friday]

Everyday is a good day to go backroading, right? Well, this tour happens to be on a Friday and it's a perfect day for folks who can find the time.

We're going to explore the Whiskey Dick Road Management Area just east of Ellensburg, Washington. The Whiskey Dick is located in the southeastern foothills of the Colockum Range to the west of the Columbia River and north of the Old Vantage Highway. The landscape is typical of the Columbia River breaks region, with steep, rocky slopes and narrow creek bottoms.

The area offers expansive ridge views of creek valleys and the Columbia River as well as excellent springtime wildflower displays. Vegetation is primarily sagebrush and bitterbrush mixed with various bunchgrasses and wildflowers of which we hope to find lupines, sage violet, balsamroot, sunburst and my favorite, blooming hedgehog cactus. The Whiskey Dick maintains a large elk herd and also supports mule deer, birds of prey, songbirds, and a variety of mammals.

Four-wheel drive will be necessary for this tour. SUV's and pickups should work just fine. The Whiskey Dick is served by a network of primitive roads and our goal is to drive specific ones that we missed on previous visits. Most roads are unimproved, two-track dirt surfaces with ruts and holes while others are of heavy pit run and may include large patches of bedrock. If it has recently rained we will encounter mud.

Bring bottled water, snacks and a lunch. You might bring some extra clothing, too, because Whiskey Dick Mountain has the distinction of being the windiest place in Washington. You will be glad you have something to cover your ears! We also suggest binoculars and cameras. There are no facilities so plan ahead.

We are meeting at the Bar 14 Ranch House Restaurant (509-962-6222), 1800 Canyon Rd in Ellensburg. From Interstate 90 take Exit 109 and the restaurant will be on the north side of the freeway. Come early for breakfast or coffee and plan to leave at 9:00 A.M.

Look for my Orange and white modified Jeep Cherokee with Backroad Drivers Northwest window stickers; you can't miss it.

Jerry

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BACKROAD DRIVERS NORTHWEST