4W613 Season Opening Work Party - June 30 2012

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4W613 Season Opening Work Party
Report by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures


4W613 at 4W608 - Photo by Clay Graham / Eastern Washington Adventures

On Friday June 29th, 2012 a lot of Eastern Washington Adventures members met up at the Ahtanum Winter Recreation Trailhead to set up camp for the weekend to help at the annual 4W613 Season Opening Work Party.

Around 10 AM Saturday June 30th, 2012 volunteers met up at Nasty Creek Corrals to air down for the work run. We headed on up Nasty Creek Road to the 4W608 and 4W613 intersection. We aired down a little more and headed up 4W613. It was not far up the trail we had to move some down trees off the trail.

Once we got up to the Louie Way Overlook we stopped to regroup and take in the view. Once everyone made it up the climb we moved on up removing trees out of the trail as we went. A little over the 5900 foot level we had turn around since the trail was block with big off camber snow drifts.

We got all turned around and headed back down. I lost a bead om the right rear of my CJ5 and had to stop to air the tire back up. Thanks Havo for the air and thanks TJ40 for the use of your hi-lift jack.

Once we regrouped, we took C-1000 up to the Strobach Mountain 4x4 Trailhead and stopped for lunch. After lunch we headed up the Strobach Mountain 4x4 Trail moving down trees as we went.

At the Strobach Mountain 4x4 Trail and 4W613 intersection we replanted a Green Dot marker.

The next stop was at the Strobach Mountain Vista to take a break. We saw a Mountain Goat below us and then a marmot climbed the cliff to come see us. He was not afraid and wanted to come a lot closer than we would let him. He seemed to be friendly but we kept some distance just in case he attacked.

Next we headed up 4W613 toward the Upper Meadow. At the steep hill climb we saw the full size truck someone left there last fall.

At the Upper Meadow we regrouped again. Spot had some problems making the climb. Once everyone we up, we moved on finding a lot of trees across the trail in the Dome Peak Fire Area. It took us awhile to get through that section clearing the trail as we went. About the end of the Dome Peak Fire Area we ran into to much snow for the time of day it was. It was around 6:30 PM so we turned around and headed back to camp.

A few had to go home and the rest of us had a great time around the campfire. Most left before noon on Sunday.

See full report with 80 photos and 2 videos at: 4W613 Season Opening Work Party - June 30 2012