new guy here - Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures Forum

olypen jeeper · #1 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 08:11 AM

hey everybody, my name is Brian. I live in Port Angeles out here on the beautiful peninsula. I drive a 2000 cherokee XJ. some of the mods i've done to it are, 5 inch Rubicon Express lift, 4.56 gears. tru-tracs front and rear, SYE for the np231, swapped in a stronger d-44 from an older xj, banks header, custom 2.5 exhaust with flowmaster 50 series. I'm sitting on 33x10.50 bfg mt's. custom bumpers, t-max 900 pound winch, and a very sought after nv3550 5 speed. I used to wheel alot out here than kind of fell out of it. now my main thing is exploring the vast system of roads out here, trying to find the perfect steelhead fly water, my main hobby. Hope to see some of you out there-Brian

Jerry · #2 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 04:23 PM

Hi Brian, nice looking XJ. Welcome to the forum!
Jerry

RidgeRunner · #3 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 01:29 PM

Brian, that's a very good looking jeep. I get up to the "olypen" once in a while maybe we'll see each other on the trails.

Mick

Steve · #4 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 11:21 AM

Welcome to the forum.

You live in some very beautiful country over on the peninsula. Over the past two years, I've just begun doing a little exploring and there are a lot of areas I have yet to visit.

Steve

olypen jeeper · #5 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 12:04 PM

thanks guys, the best map i've found of the area is the one that the forest service office in forks sells. the gazeteer is pretty much worthless for back country travel. I consider myself very lucky to live here, there are alot of really cool spots out here.

Steve · #6 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 12:21 PM

All the maps west of Forks up and down the coast shows a lot of roads but no information. I guessing many of these roads are on closed private or state forest lands.

Do you know if these roads are primarily closed lands?

I'm assuming they are. My interest is that they look like they would make for a great backroads loop around the peninsula (at least on the west side).

Steve

olypen jeeper · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 09:30 AM

most of the roads to the west of forks are gated up. It appears on some maps that you can travel to neah bay on these roads, but it is not possible. a couple of mainlines are always open like the d-2000 road east of forks which will go up to a couple of lakes and offer access to the several forks of the dickey river, a prime sea-run cutthroat habitat in the fall. FR 29 aka the "A" road just east of foks appears that it will eventually hook up with the 2918 the upper sol duc drainage. the loop is not passible due to washouts on 2918 around the 12mile ? post. i believe that if it were possible that would get you very close into the interior of the park. it's really amazing the amount of roads out here. I've begun to make my own map, for accuracy purpose. keep in mind that most of these roads are in use weekdays with loggers. it's a good idea to take it slow around corners and get the hell outta the way when you see one coming. i've had good experiences with me having to go ina ditch and the truck passing and then stopping to make sure i was able to get out ok. loggers have been very helpful also when i ask about certain river access or hidden lake info. -Brian