Slacker over here! Finally started a Trip Report thread:

TRIP REPORT

I really enjoyed the weekend. While I am usually kinda quiet and tend to hang well outside the circle, I really felt like part of the group. Even at times when I got uncomfortable, someone always seemed to drop by my camp spot, to say hi. Really a great weekend, Thank you. Can't wait for the next run.

Nice photo John.

Where's everybody else's pictures?

Done.

Hey Keman, can you email me that video? Aaron.kravik@gmail.com

The stars were amazing. Wish I had a camera that could capture that. Best camping I've done in ten years... ;) Happy little detour with the original site being full turned out well in our favor. Thank you all. It was nice meeting new people and having such a relaxing weekend.

I don't want to say how awesome this spot was..... so I'll just show ya.

Awesome camping spot. And thanks to Kemam for pointing out the milky way. I had never seen so many stars

Best spot since Lake Powell a few months ago.

I could stay here a while...

Packing up today and leaving home for the meet at Shelton Tractor Supply at 10 AM Friday. Not sure about traffic, so I'll be leaving a bit early. I should be there well before 10, if not, I will be there shortly.

Hi Tod, I might need to come later in the day due to work, I IM'd you but doubling up in case you can send me coordinates to where we are going?

No amenities so bring it in and take it out. The majority of camping is on the gravel bar so minimal privacy areas as well. There is room to spread out a bit just no trees ,etc.

Porta-johns, or "pack-it-in pack-it-out"?

Yes campfires are allowed on the gravel bar. There is some drift wood but always a good idea to have season firewood available.

Paul, No to be concerned and we will figure it out. Will you be going over with the Friday morning group?

Hi Tod -Just received reminder on trip. But when I re-review the trip site, my name is missing from trip list. Should I be concerned ?

The campsite is a gravel bar on the Hoh River on private land. The owners allow campers and fishermen to use the bar with a $5.00 a night donation (leave in the box at the entrance) or no charge for active military. The expectation is to leave it clean and in good condition for all to continue to use. There is no potable water or facilities so everyone will need to be self supported for all your needs. It is a fairly large bar and so there is room to spread out a bit.

For those arriving individually private message me and I will provide further location information.

This is looking to be a fun weekend with a nice forest road drive over and a variety options for adventure Saturday and Sunday.

Hey guys,

Is this dispersed camping, group site, or official camp site? Access to potable water, or no?

Thanks in advance!

Will be joining for off-road drive over to Hog. Silver runner with a few mods.

We have a rig count of 18 ready to hangout on the river and see what else we can get into in the area.

See you there at 10 Aaron!

Tractor Supply. The airport has caused confusion in previous years

We'll be heading over offroad (FJ Cruiser) and have CB. Just to make sure, we are meeting on Friday the 3rd at 10:00AM at Tractor Supply and not the Shelton airport?

Last year we had two members float down the Hoh River from just below the park entrance to where we will be camping and It was a good 8 hours. From what they said fairly technical. Definitely not for an inner tube. They had and inflatable kayak.

The other option is from our campground down to the ocean. Depending on water flow the river will be moving at a fairly good speed so again no inner tubes but inflatable kayak should be fine. There are a few kayak rental places on the Hoh River I suggest giving them a call to find out the conditions, etc.

We have not gone before. Has anyone done the float before? Is it an innertube level float or something more technical? Is anyone planning to do so this year? We have a guide level 16' Kaboat (big inflatable kayak), and a smaller Sevylor inflatable. Not sure what we will do, but good to know our options.

Thanks

Cool, I'm not into HAM yet, but will eventually go that route once I get edge-a-macated about it and find a cheap enough radio.

I'll have both. I'm not sure what everyone else has.

?? Will there be other rigs with CB radio? or is the crew all Ham? I am limited to CB at the moment.

I plan to do the trek over from Shelton as well. New trailer in tow. My truck should do ok, never run trail with a trailer tho' so I may be a little slower than some. I have a lot of off road experience, just not in what is basically a street 4x4 with a trailer in tow.

I'll join the off road trek over.

Time to resurrect this thread. I'll be leading the offroad group over.

We will meet at the Shelton Tractor Supply (12001 US-101, Shelton, WA 98584) at 1000. There is a shell across the street so you can fill up there before coming over.

Who all is coming over offroad and who all is planning on just going on the highway to get there? Trying to get a head count to estimate how long the trip will take.

I'm in! Now I just have to get a few things done on the truck, and gather some gear.

Hoping there are some mild trails for me to play on. I do have front and rear rescue points, first aid, CO2 tank, Fire extinguisher, and 32" Wildpeak AT3W tires. Now I just need to figure out camping gear. It's been almost ten years since I have had the chance...

The trip over on Friday is doable in a stock Tahoe. And any difficult sections we may try have go a rounds if deemed necessary. A good set of all terrain tires would be preferable over stock street treads though. The difficulty would change if there is a significant amount of rain during the trip so keep that in mind.

Where we plan on camping is very near Hwy 101 so the option to drive pavement will always be there as well. The intent of this trip is to be available for the new overlander to the experienced with options to match those that show up. So sign up and we will get details out about 10 days prior to the trip. Do some research on the Hoh River area and you will find there are plenty of things to see and experience with in

a short distance. And hopefully a few of the NWOL local members will be available to point us in the right direction as well.

A view from the Olympics to Mt Rainier with Shelton, Olympia and Tacoma under cloud cover.

Is it suitable for a stock Tahoe?

Yes it is a dog friendly trip.

We'll plan on meeting at Shelton Airport at 10AM on the 3rd. Is it okay to bring our dog? .... very friendly and well-trained (Stella). Thanks

Well that is what you built it for.......

I'm looking forward to bouncing my little trailer down some forest roads.

Having a few motorcycles along would be great. Wish I have mine or I would join you.

And yes the correct dates are Friday August 3rd to Sunday the 5th.

We had fun last year! I'm not sure Tod enjoyed us parking next to him with the three girls up at sunrise...

Do you mean August 3-5, 2018?

If the whole family is not interested I might partake on my motorcycle.

As long as the trailer has some suspension/clearance and you can make a few tight turns should be doable.

Are you pretty familiar with those FS roads Tod? How trailer friendly would they be?

More then likely the meet up time will be 10:00 am as this will let us enjoy and see more as we traverse up and over several ridges along the southern Olympics.

Option #1 actually sounds like fun. I'll just need to know what time is the the meet-up at the airport when they are posted (like you mentioned - details will go out about a week prior).

Indeed we will have a fun time at the Hoh. There are two options for for driving over on Friday.

1) Meet up at the Shelton Airport and caravan over Forest Roads 23 and 22 to Hwy 101 and then up to our campsite. Plan on 4-6 hours depending how many are in the group.

2) You will be provided the campsite location about a week prior and can take whatever route best suites your schedule.

We will have more details about a week prior to the date that will be sent out to everyone signing up. Basically plan on the area where Hwy 101 and the Hoh River cross paths.

Registered. We'll likely be bringing whatever trailer we have at that point too.

Should be a very cool trip! I'm already committed that weekend, doggone it!