Trip Report: Scouting The Whiskey Dick Road Management Area - 05.16.2008

[Steve]

NOTE: This trip report is cross posted on the blog at Trip Report: Scouting The Whiskey Dick Road Management Area - 05.16.2008.

Who would have thought that a Friday trip to the Whiskey Dick Road Management Area near Ellensburg, Washington would bring out more participants than most weekend trips.

Well Jerry (aka SoggyMountain) picked a wonderful day for a Backroad Drivers Northwest tour of the Whiskey Dick. Hands down, this was the warmest day of 2008 to date.

The meeting place that morning was the Bar 14 restaurant in Ellensburg. In attendance for the days trip was of course Jerry from Yakima driving his full size Jeep SJ Wagoneer; (and if I get the names wrong, please forgive and let me know to correct them) Phil and his son Travis from Newcastle, driving the white Ford Explorer; Paul from Tacoma driving the other Ford Explorer; Jim (stucky) driving the white Chevy Pickup (I forgot to ask where Jim was from); Trish and Tammy from Bothel driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon; John and Cindy from Monroe driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon; Sid from Renton driving his Jeep Wrangler, Peter and Don (I forgot to ask where they were from or if I did, I didn't write it down) driving the Sportsmobile van; myself in my 80-series Toyota Land Cruiser; and Bill from Ellensburg who joined us for breakfast but had to supervise a fencing property today so he couldn't join us.

After breakfast, we all headed out of town on the Old Vantage Highway. On the way there, we met up with Brandon and his son (sorry I didn't get your boy's name) driving a 87 Toyota FJ60 Land Cruiser. Just past the Wild Horse Wind Farm, we entered the Whiskey Dick Road Management Area on the Whiskey Dick Corral Road. With the Wind Farm on our left, we started climbing out of the valley.



For the most part, the trip was in open shrub-steppe desert. The roads consisted of native soil and rock - typical of much of Eastern Washington. The roads in this area typically climb ridges and drop into canyons - some dry and others with a small creek running through them. Some roads travel along the ridge tops and others through green, brushy canyon bottoms. With a closer look, this time of year there are many plants in bloom, including the hedgehog cactus and many others.

At the first fork in the Whiskey Dick Corrals Rd. we stayed to the left and followed the Whiskey Dick Creek Rd. for several miles. Our next junction was with the Cayuse Rd. and Road 19.2. We stayed to the left and followed Road 19.2 in a northerly direction. After short distance on Road 19.2, we came to the intersection with the Hartman Rd. (which appears on the map to dead end after about 4 miles). Road 19.2 continues on to the right at this point.



Along the way, we passed multiple closed roads (not marked with a green dot). We passed through multiple drainages, some key ones marked on the map include Rollinger Creek, Bryant Creek and Little Bohinkleman Creek. Most of the creek drainages were not labeled on the map. In this section of travel, we passed a marker (I don't if it was an actually gravesite or a memorial) of Darrell F. Jones that was right next to the road (I could not find any information while doing a quick search on the internet).

At Bohinkleman Spring, we passed on old building with stone wall. I'm guessing it was an old cabin, possible a homestead? From Bohinkleman Spring, we climbed out of the canyon and intersected the Skookumchuck Ridge Road that led off to the West. We stayed to the right and continued on Road 19.2 until eventually reaching the Quilomene Ridge Road.



Once we reached the Quilomene Ridge Road, we traveled in a westerly direction, leaving the Whiskey Dick area and entering the Quilomene Road Management Area. Again, the Wild Horse Wind Farm was in plain view to our left.

Along the way, Jerry's Jeep Wagoneer decided it didn't want to run while driving up a hill. Stuckey gave Jerry a tow up the hill and things seemed to be fine after that.



After approximately six miles or so, somewhere along the way, the Quilomene Ridge Road becomes Road 18 and then intersects with the Little Brushy Creek Road where it becomes Road 14 (also known as the Caribou Road - according to GPS).

Along the Caribou Road, Paul's Ford Explorer dies and needed a jump. Luckily, that was the last of any vehicle problems.



While following the Caribou Road out the the Colockum Road, we came upon our first and only snow crossing about a mile or so from the Colockum Road. Shortly thereafter, we saw two elk in the open meadows. We eventually reached the Colockum Road and headed down to the lowlands near Ellensburg. To the North on the Colockum Road, the road appeared to be still snowed in. I'm sure after this weekend, a lot of that snow will be melting.



Once we reached the pavement, we aired up our tires and said our goodbyes. I'm sure everybody had a great time and of course, Jerry was a great organizer and tour guide.

It appears that Fridays are great days for Pacific Northwest backroading.

You can view of all the photos I shot on this trip at Exploring the Whiskey Dick.

[Ceg]

Very nice! I would like to go there some time.

[Jerry]

Great trip report, Steve. I enjoyed meeting a lot of folks and it was a fun day, hotter than..............., but fun!

I hope to see everyone again.
Jerry

[RidgeRunner]

Looked like a great trip...and trip report. Sorry I missed it.

Mick

[Velogeo]

It was a great trip. It was my first with the group and my first in the area. I really enjoyed it. I appreciated the effort to make it a good trip. It's a great group.

What are the rules for camping in the area? Are they posted anywhere? I'd like to take the family back there in the near future.

Peter

[Jerry]

I'm traveling at the moment and can't take time to do the search, but I'm sure the State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife allows camping in most of their wildlife areas. You might search Whiskey Dick, Colockum and Quilomene along with DNR or DFW. I recall seeing something about keeping your campsite "x" number of feet back from the road and that would mean camping is allowed. Those areas are heavily hunted and most hunters camp. Good luck and hope to see you some future trips.
Jerry

[Steve]

The rules for public conduct on lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife are available at WDFW - Revised WAC Chapter 232: Public Conduct in Wildlife Areas & Access Sites Owned or Controlled by WDFW

WAC 232-13-060 applies specifically to camping while WAC 232-16-070 regulates fires and campfires.

Steve

[OlympiaFJ60]

Added my own little writeup at Scouting the Whiskey Dick RMA | OlympiaFJ60
Thanks Steve for the use of the pictures. Note to self 'DON'T TAKE CAMERA OUT OF CENTER CONSOLE".

Little video clip of trip (12:40) at http://www.olympiafj60.net/wordpress...uting_trip.wmv

Thanks for a great day.

[Steve]

Brandon,

Thanks for the plug on your website.

Even though you may have forgot the digital camera, you have some great video. That little camera works pretty well.

Steve

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by OlympiaFJ60

Added my own little writeup at Scouting the Whiskey Dick RMA | OlympiaFJ60
Thanks Steve for the use of the pictures. Note to self 'DON'T TAKE CAMERA OUT OF CENTER CONSOLE".

Little video clip of trip (12:40) at http://www.olympiafj60.net/wordpress...uting_trip.wmv

Thanks for a great day.

Thanks for the writeup, Brandon, it was a pleasure meeting you and I appreciate your following me and my gremlin infested Jeep back to Yakima. I hope to see you again soon.
Jerry