Liberty-Table MT-Blewit Pass July 11-14

[Albino94ltd]

Come join the NW Ford Explorers in Eastern Washington (where it's acutally warm!) the weekend of July 11-14 for camping and wheeling.

Liberty is just off SR-97, about 15 miles from Cle Elum. We'll be camping at the Williams Creek camp area. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/cl...ampground.html

The trails around the area are rated 'moderate' for short wheel base vehicles, although 2 years ago we brought a couple stock (well slightly lifted) X's through with no damage (other than tree scratches). These trails are not recommended for full size vehicles and tree scratches are expected. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...light=cle+elum

There some trails that we did not explore on the west side of SR97 that are rated tougher and I expect we'll try them too. Map of the area is here; http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/cl...map-east-3.pdf

The views are spectacular, the weather should be wonderful and the company is always interesting. 3-1-08 Tahuya Aftermath - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

We are a 'tread lightly' group and do NOT drink and drive.

More details will be posted on the Explorerforum.com; Liberty-Table Mt-Blewit Pass July 11-14 - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts Serious Explorations

[AWDios]

I'm assuming you're welcoming other vehicles then?

[Albino94ltd]

Words of caution though.
High ground clearance is required,
Tight turing radius (read short wheel base) highly recommended,
Tow points HIGHLY recommended

There are a lot of stiff branches to scratch paint and some roof sweepers too.

Here is a list of the trails with a rating I think I got off the PNW4WD web site a couple years ago. Remember, these ratings are in reference to Jeeps (CJ).

Swauk / Table
Mountain Area
4W315
Nealy Creek
2.3 From FS Rd. 3500 near Lion Rock to FS Rd. 3521 in upper Naneum Cr. Basin. More Difficult
4W316
Ragan
4 From 4W315 at Nealy Creek to FS Road 3521 near High Creek. More Difficult
4W318
First Creek
2.5 From 4W320 to 4W319. More Difficult
4W319
Crystal Ridge
7 From FS Road 9726-113 in Deer Gulch to FS Road 3500 on Table Mountain. More Difficult
4W320
Hidden Gulch
1.5 4W319 to 4W318 between Robinson Gulch and First Creek. More Difficult
4W321
Pit Overlook
2.7 From the junction of FS Road 9726-113 and 4W319 to another junction of FS Road 9726-113 in Deer Gulch near the town of Liberty. More Difficult
4W323
Wildcat Gulch
2.3 From 4W329 to 4W318 in First Creek area. More Difficult
4W324
Guard Station
3.5 FS Road 9700-116 to 9702-111 in the Baker Creek/Liberty Guard Station area near Highway 97. More Difficult
4W325
Baker Ridge
2.6 From FS Road 9700-192 to 9702-111 in the Baker Creek/Liberty Guard Station area near Highway 97. More Difficult
4W326
Mill Gulch
2.6 FS Road 9702-111 to 9700-116 in the Baker Creek/Liberty Guard Station area near Highway 97. More Difficult
4W327
Baker Creek
2.2 From 4W325 to FS Road 9702-111 in the Baker Creek/Liberty Guard Station area near Highway 97. More Difficult
4W329
Tuff Ridge
4.75 From 4W319 to 4W323 in the First Creek area. More Difficult
4W332
Lion Gulch
3.2 From FS Road 9712-113 to FS Road 9712-113 in the Lion Gulch area North of Liberty. More Difficult
4W340
Baker Tie
0.6 Connects 4W325 to 4W327 in the Baker Creek/Liberty Guard Station area near Highway 97. More Difficult

I'll try to post some pictures from the last trip this evening, after I re-size them or you can look at the thread on the explorer forum. The pictures are on the last couple of pages.

[Toy Man]

I did 4W324 with some Jeeps 4 or 5 years ago. Some steep sections (one with deep ruts and loose dust), off-camber at the very top of the ridge before you dive down the other side. Easy after that. This was running clockwise starting at the bottom of the hill.

Toy Man - Xterra

And yes the trails are tight coming down the mesa above Liberty.

[Jerry]

I think it was 4W319 that we drove with the Backroad Drivers group several years ago, top to bottom (the easy route) in mostly stock Full Size rigs. Back then the trail was signed as "Most Difficult" because of a hill climb going from bottom to top. The hill climb topped out right next to a thousand foot cliff. The trail we took started just south of Lion Rock, meandered through the forest on an off-camber trail, dropped down the hill climb and jogged at cross roads until it came out at the Williams Creek camping area. Believe me, we didn't take Full Size rigs on this trail without knowing what we were doing. We had a good "guide" who knew the trails like the back of his hand and we pre-ran the trip with his CJ-5 and my FSJ Cherokee before inviting the stock rigs.

QUESTION: Since this tour is basically aimed at the NW Ford Explorers, I am wondering what constitutes "short wheelbase", i.e. shorter than a pickup, shorter than an Explorer?
Jerry

[Albino94ltd]

We winched the lesser lifted rigs down the loose side of that hill, including letting myself down with the winch mounted in back. Diff Whack Daddy crawled down the rocks between the trees on the 4W319.

As you know, the RBV's (Ranger Based Vehicle) have a very tight turning radius for their size, so I would say,,,,anything bigger than a 4 door Exporer may find the going narrower than comfortable. (we're pretty darn skinny)

There are/were many branches and the dryness of the area makes them pretty stiff = lots of scratching.

There was 1 gully (I'm trying to remember which trail, maybe the 4W318?) that had dead-fall intruding into the desired line of a corner. That took about 12-13 back&forth's to get lined up without putting a significant crease in the body panels, unless you were significantly built and locked to climb the 2ft log oposite the dead-fall (we don't modify trails except tire tracks).

All that being said, a short box full size pickup with tight turn radius should be OK as long as scratches aren't an issue. The Sportsmobile? you'll want to ride with some one else

All this is from 2 year old memory so things may have changed.

Jerry, we want to see your BII

[AWDios]

Hmmm, it's sounding like my rig might be boarderline too big.

[n16ht5]

id love to go, but I dont want tons of new scratches in my paint... got a newer 4runner.. arghh im set up pretty well too

33s and a locker!!

[Albino94ltd]

Yeah, I think both you guys would be a bit unhappy with the tree scratches but your rigs would certainly make it through everything I have seen over there, with the exception of the one section (4W318 I think).

It sounds like we are getting a couple of SAS'd X's to come up from Oregon. If you do show, you'll be surrounded by Blue Ovals

Chris, you'll be missing your RBV's but you won't be needin a locker.





Not trying to scare you away, just being realistic.

[AWDios]

Originally Posted by Albino94ltd

Yeah, I think both you guys would be a bit unhappy with the tree scratches .

Ha Ha ha. You're funny.