Posts Tagged ‘cle elum’

Winter Logging Begins in Lion Gulch Near Liberty, Washington

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest – USDA Forest Service
Contact: Kim Larned (509) 852-1062
Website: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/okawennf

Cle Elum, WA – Winter logging operations have begun in Lion Gulch near Liberty as part of the Liberty Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project. Logging operations and log trucks will be working Monday – Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM. The road will be plowed for log trucks but enough snow will be left on the road to allow continued snowmobile use. The road will remain closed to all other wheeled vehicles. Snowmobilers are urged to use extreme caution when riding on FS road 9712 as they will likely encounter log truck traffic during the week. The logging is expected to last through February.

The need for the fuels reduction project came from unnaturally extreme fire conditions in the Liberty area are the result of a century of well-intended fire suppression practices that have allowed fuels to build to unacceptable levels. This project is a step toward returning the area to a healthy condition and will create fuel breaks by commercially thinning approximately 1,310 acres, opening the forest cover, and reducing fuels. The focus of thinning will be on smaller diameter trees. In the planned fuel breaks, fuels will be reduced using a variety of means, including hand- and machine-piling and burning piles, and/or underburning.

For more information, please call the Cle Elum Ranger District at (509) 852-1100.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/news/2009/12/01/index.shtml

Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.07.2009

A few months back, my cousin Frank invited my family to come over to Conconully, Washington for a few days in July. Every year for the approximately the past ten years, his family has been spending their summer vacation at the Shady Pines Resort on the shores of the Conconully Reservoir. Having only drove through the town a few years ago on my Washington Cascade Overland Adventure, I knew it would be a fun place to hang out and explore for a few days. Luckily, there was a cabin available for four nights so we booked it.

I spent the week prior to the trip getting prepared. My daughter had never been fishing and I hadn’t gone for a long time myself, so new fishing poles and tackle were in order. I also borrowed my son’s ARB Freezer/Fridge for the trip to keep the frozen goods nice and cold for the trip. I then had to figure out how to pack three people, a large dog crate, the freezer, tools, recovery gear, spare parts, fishing gear, food and personal stuff for three people for five days into the Land Cruiser. Good thing we were not camping (still have to figure that one out).

This trip also marked the first real test of my Toyota FJ80 Land Cruiser since I installed the rebuilt 3FE engine. The engine had just recently logged 2000 miles on the new rebuild and it was time to put it through the test.

Day One – Tuesday, July 7, 2009

My goal was to be out the door by 6:00 AM for the trip to Conconully. To my amazement, we actually were out the door five minutes early. I think my daughter was excited for the trip. We fueled up at the local coffee stand and headed East.

From our home in Edgewood, Washington, we headed East over SR-19 to I-90 to Cle Elum, Washington. We stopped at the Cottage Cafe in Cle Elum for a very large and delicious breakfast (as usual). From Cle Elum, we headed over US-97 Alt over Blewett Pass to US-2 to Wenatchee, Washington. From Wenatchee, we drove North on US-97 to Lincoln Rock for the first fuel stop. We drove a little further and stopped at the Beebe Bridge Park to let the dog out and to take a little break from the drive. Our next stop was in Omak, Washington were we topped off the fuel tank and picked up some perishable groceries for the week. From Omak, Conconully is about a twenty-something mile drive. We arrived at the Shady Pines Resort a little after 2:00 PM, said our hellos and checked in our cabin.

Shady Pines Resort is located on the West shore of the Conconully Reservoir. There are lake side RV spaces, a log cabin duplex (where we stayed) and then across the road, there are several individual cabins to rent. Our cabin was equipped with two queen beds, a trundle bed to sleep a few extra people, a dining table, a full size refrigerator, a full size range, a fully equipped kitchen, a 3/4 bathroom and an excellent view of Conconully Reservoir (if you look past the RVs down below you).

We spent our first day just visiting and relaxing. It had just cooled down to the mid-70’s from the weekend where the temperature was in the upper 90’s. That night we watched the nearly full moon rise over the lake.

Note: This is the first installment of a five part series on our family trip to Conconully, Washington in July 2009.

Part 1: Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.07.2009
Part 2: Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.08.2009
Part 3: Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.09.2009
Part 4: Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.10.2009
Part 5: Exploring the Washington Okanogan – 07.11.2009

Tour Announcement: More of the L.T. Murray – 11.15.2008

If you never explored the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area just outside Cle Elum, Washington, there is a great opportunity with a great group of people on November 15, 2008.

Details can be on the forum at More of the L.T. Murray

Trip Report: Gallaher Head Lake Tour – 9.13.08

Well it looks like I missed another great trip. I need to get my engine finished. Jerry posted up a great trip on the trip to Gallaher Head Lake near Cle Elum, Washington. They had an excellent turnout with great people.

You can read the trip report at Gallaher Head Lake Tour.

Tour Announcement – Gallagher Head Lake 4×4 Run (09-13-08)

Join us for a day of easy four-wheeling north of Cle Elum, Washington. We plan on exploring the Fortune Creek Mining Area near Salmon la Sac and that includes three “easy” 4×4 trails and possibly a fourth rated as “more difficult”.

First will be the Fortune Creek Trail, 4W301 (rated easy). This trail offers beautiful scenery and along the route we may spot remnants of rusting mining machinery. The highlight of the Fortune Creek Trail is Gallaher Head Lake where there is a small primitive campground that would be a great place to camp if you so desire.

Read more at Gallagher Head Lake 4×4 Run (09-13-08).

Christmas Tree Run – 12.08.07

Even though we never found that perfect Christmas tree, we had a great time with some great people under beautiful blue skies on this year’s Christmas Tree run to the Cle Elum, Washington area.

We all met for breakfast at the Cottage Cafe in Cle Elum. Already seated upon our arrival were Jerry (aka soggymountain) and Evelyn from Yakima, Brian (aka Photog) and Cindy from Gig Harbor, Valerie and her mother Ellen from Bothell and Kent, and friends of Ellen’s (whom I did not get their names). Of course I can’t forget to mention my wife Martha, daughter Korinne and our dog Tareva.

After breakfast, we headed out of town to the Roslyn Cyclery in Roslyn to purchase our tree permits. We were the only family on the hunt for a Christmas tree, everybody was out for the fun of it. After getting the permit, we headed out of town, past Ronald towards Salmon la Sac.
Read more…

Cle Elum River in the Snow Photos – 11.29.07

On Thursday, I made a run into in Salmon la Sac area just north of Roslyn, Washington off the Cle Elum River. My intentions for the trip was for a scouting trip for the upcoming Christmas tree run on 12.08.07. But of course with fresh snow on the ground, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for some snow photographs. There is definitely a learning curve when shooting photos in the snow.

On the way home, I drove a few back roads instead of driving I-90 all the way home. There are a few addition photos of other areas also.

To see all of the photos I shot that day, visit Cle Elum River & Area 11.29.07.