Trip Report: Gallaher Head Lake Tour (09-13-08)

[Jerry]

Gallaher Head Lake Tour
September 13, 2008





Sunshine, mountain scenery and a fun group of backroaders, what more
could you ask for? Checking in for breakfast at the Old Number 3
Restaurant in Ronald, Washington were Brian & Cindy from Gig Harbor
driving their Toyota 4Runner, Rob from Yakima was in his new Jeep
Wrangler JK, Paul from Poulsbo was driving his Toyota FJ Cruiser,
Terry, Missy and son Mason were in their Jeep TJ and Randy from
Meacham rode with me, Jerry from Yakima, in my Ford Bronco II. User
names? Photog, weisergeiser, lgrt, Blind Pilot, Roller Bear and
Jerry (soggymountain) in no certain order.

We gave any possible stragglers several minutes leeway before leaving
and heading north along the shores of Cle Elum Lake on our way to
Salmon la Sac. There was construction machinery all over the place
at the Salmon la Sac campground so the summer-long closure for
improvements was meaningful. We hit gravel at the campground and
followed it for about five miles before searching for the Fortune
Creek Trail. Our assortment of maps and GPS readings were enough to
confuse the issue so we followed the most logical entry and hit pay
dirt at one of the unmarked roads. After pulling off the main road
and airing down we shuffled vehicles so the first and last rigs were
equipped with winches. Just in case they were needed. None of us
had ever driven the trail so we were planning for the worst and
hoping for the best.

The Fortune Creek Trail, 4W301, was an easy 4x4 trail with a few
loose rocks, shallow ruts and holes, a couple of roots and gentle off
camber areas and if you were not careful there were a few
differential bangers. The trail climbed steadily, but gently as it
ran southward along the side of a tree covered ridge. We had
glimpses between the trees of a huge rocky mountain looming skyward
across the valley and peek-a-boo views of the treed ridge line above
us.

It took about an hour to reach Gallaher Head Lake, a much-welcomed
sight where the forest opened and three rugged mountaintops were
reflected in the shallow lake. It was a good time for a stop so we
pulled into a small camping area, relaxed and slowly got around to
discussing our next move.

The Jack Creek forest fire in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area had
forced the closure of the Van Epps Mine Road so our options were
limited to continuing to the end of the Fortune Creek Trail and/or
exploring the more difficult Hawkins Mountain Trail. Two of our rigs
had limited ground clearance so we chose to finish off the 4W301 and
return to the lake for lunch.

It was a peaceful setting; great weather, not many bugs and I think
all of us were thinking we should come back again. As we were
finishing up lunch three bikes pulled into camp followed by a couple
of quads, the only other vehicles we had seen since we left the main
road.

It was nearing three-o-clock so we arranged our caravan in similar
order as the morning run and headed down the hill. As we were
pulling away from the lake we heard a little voice out in the
distance calling us on the CB. It was Screamin (user name) from
Ellensburg, and he was on his way up the hill about a mile from the
lake. He had mentioned he might be coming up later in the day, and
sure enough there he was. He told us he would pull over and wait for
us, as there were not many good places to pass on the upper trail.
When we reached his location he had parked his full size Ford Bronco
to the side of the trail and he had also stopped some folks in a
Toyota pickup. Thanks, Screamin, it was good meeting you and I wish
we could have made connections earlier!

The trail down was uneventful except that it seemed like it took
longer to go down than it had to come up. Probably due to
anticipation of a cold drink at the restaurant back in Ronald. We
stopped at the main road to air up a little, but most of us finished
the job after a Coke in Ronald.

It was a fun day, great people, easy wheeling, neat scenery and
discovery of another cool spot to visit again one of these days.

Jerry

PS Please post pics if you have them!

[hutchman]

One of these days I plan to make a trip. Looks like this one was a good one!

[Binford]

And with that Grand Cherokee, you've got a great rig to take on such trips, Hutchman! What's that silver truck? A late-model crew-cab, short-bed GMC pickup? About the same length, if not a bit longer, than my '01 Silverado extended-cab long-bed. Just too big to take on most of these drives.

[hutchman]

Yep, it's an 07 GMC 1/2 ton crew cab. Works great for a family "car!"

[Photog]

We had a great ime on this trip. We only knew Jerry, so everyone else was new to us. All great folks. Our 4Runner was the least capable rig; but we made it through with no drama at all.

The trail description said it was "easy" 4WD. If I had been hiking the road, I would not have believed we could get my rig through there.

Great scenery and weather. I didn't take many pics. Only the ends of the trail. I will post a few, later.

Thanks again Jerry, for getting this coordinated. Thanks to Paul, for being the lead vehicle too.

[Photog]

I know some of the folks took pics; but nobody has posted any. We only took a couple at the campground and airing-down.

[nightfoam]

Yeah, I gotta say I was really hoping to see some pictures since I didn't get to partake.

[Jerry]

I clicked a few with my camera phone, but evidently it was already at maximum capacity so none of my pics were recorded. That was a first for me. Sorry. Maybe someone else has some pics???

[LoudMusic]

I was really hoping to go on this, but the timing didn't work out for me. I was also hoping there would be a good selection of pictures. Anyone?

[Photog]

One of the folks that came along and lead the driving duties,(LGRT) has a blog, and posted this group of photos there. Here is the link. He has a nicely set up FJ Cruiser.