Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007

[Steve]

For the past year, I've had the desire to map out and drive an overland route through the Cascade Mountains of Washington state from the Columbia River near Oregon all the way to northern border with British Columbia.

Last year (August 2006), my son and I completed a portion of this route from Cle Elum to Mt. Adams but did not go any further South because of time constraints. At the time, I knew little of any possible routes from I-90 North to British Columbia.

Shortly after that trip last August, I sold my Jeep YJ Wrangler and purchased my Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser with the goal in mind to make it into an overland expedition vehicle.

Winter and Spring came and finally the snow thawed in the high country. With vacation scheduled for August, I started getting serious about mapping out a route through the Washington Cascades.

Just any forest road route wouldn't do. I wanted more. My goals for the route were the following:

Read more at Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007: Intro

[Steve]

Day One: August 10, 2007.

Daily Goal: To Drive from Carson, Washington (Highway 14 off the Columbia River near the Oregon border) to Packwood, Washington (Highway 12).

Map Reference:
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Map
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Adventure Routes - SUV and Dualsport Motorcycle Routes



Today was going to be a very long day. Not only would I be attempting to reach my destination in Packwood, I would also have to include the drive from my home in the middle of Washington state to the southern border near Oregon to start the tour of the Washington Cascade Mountains. My goal was to complete the drive from the Oregon border to the British Columbia in four days.

Read more at Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Day One

[Steve]

Day Two: August 11, 2007.

Daily Goal: To Drive from Babyshoe Pass (on FS-23 near Mt. Adams) to Cle Elum, Washington (I-90).

Map Reference:
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Map
Wenatchee National Forest Map



After a surprisingly comfortable night of sleep in the back of my 80-series Land Cruiser (with my dog Tareva right next to me), I arose just after daybreak to the awesome views of Mt. Adams and Mt Hood. This was my first attempt at sleeping in my FJ80. I initially had my doubts on how comfortable it would be, considering my height. My newly built cargo box, the back seat folded down, a plastic tub on the second row footwell and the front passenger seat folded forward and all the way to the dash provided a great support for my air mattress. All that I had to do to rearrange from the days trip was to move the ARB refrigerator to the drivers side and throw some of my bags in the front seats.

After securing my gear in the Land Cruiser, and after a breakfast that included freshly picked huckleberries, I was on the road again.

Read more at Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Day Two

[Photog]

This is great. I have been marking your route in my Gazetteer Map.

During the 4th of july weekend, my wife & I completed a less remote route, from Ellensberg to The Dalles. 20% of our route, matches your route.

I am anxious to see the rest of the trip.

[Steve]

Day Three: August 12, 2007.

Daily Goal: To Drive from near Blewett Pass (Cle Elum) to Chelan, Washington.

Map Reference:
Wenatchee National Forest Map



Today, I awoke to what sounded like raindrops landing on my Land Cruiser. I looked out, sure enough, it was raining. This was a perfect time to see if I could roll up my sleeping and air mattress as well as rearrange the refrigerator and my gear before even stepping a foot outside. Success. It was actually easier once I got over the fact that there is limited headroom. After my morning routine, I was on the road again for the days adventure.

Read more at Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Day Three

[Steve]

Day Four: August 13, 2007.

Daily Goal: To Drive from Cooper Mountain Lookout (near Chelan, Washington) to Chopaka (border with British Columbia)

Map Reference:
Okanogan National Forest Map

Since this going to be the last day of the trip and I had no idea how long it would actually take to complete my goal of reaching the British Columbia border at Chopaka. So I set my alarm to get up and be on the road by daybreak.



From my campsite on Cooper Mountain, FS-8020 (Cooper Mountain Rd.) continues to follow the Sawtooth Ridge in a northwesterly direction. Along the way, I saw several grouse standing in the middle of the road.

Read more at Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Day Four

[Photog]

This was a great trip to follow on the map. My wife & I will have to run this one, some time. Thanks for all the info, and stories.

I saw that you didn't make it to the border, via your planned route. I have hunted in the Pasayten Wilderness, west of your crossing attempt. Did you check the road from Toats Coolee Rd up Ninemile Creek (near FR 39), past Joe Mills Mtn? Map has road marked as 4WD. Maybe it is closed (gated) these days?

Again, great trip & story.!

[Steve]

I just checked out the Okanogan National Forest map and it doesn't show any roads going any further North.

Then I looked at the Washington Road & Recreation Atlas and saw the road you were speaking of. It looks like it may go just past Hurley Peak (according to the map) but not all the way to the border.

Looking at the forest service map again, several sections of that road may be on private land, meaning that there may be road into the area, then again, it may be gated to prevent access.

I'll include this possible route in the "Final Thoughts" post that I'm currently writing.

Has anybody out there ever traveled or know about that route?

Steve

[Steve]

Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Final Thoughts




Over four days, I completed a 671 mile adventure (not counting the additional 465 miles to get to the starting point and back home again) following an overland route through the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, stretching from the Columbia River near Carson, Washington to Chopaka at the border crossing with British Columbia. From my records, about 63% of the overland route was on forest roads.

Over these four days, my Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser was driven hard, physically traveling roughly the same mileage that it would take to get to Los Angeles from Seattle via I-5 without leaving Washington state (is this what is considered "severe service" by the manufacturer?). Near the British Columbia border, the odometer on my Land Cruiser also achieved the 190,000 mark.

Read more at Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 - Final Thoughts

[Jerry]

Steve,
AWESOME! I enjoyed your trip report and couldn't wait from one installment to the next. And the pictures were great, too. Some really neat shots! A job well done. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Jerry