OK signed up for the NWOL trip this weekend to do part of WABDR bit in an epic feat of bad planning, it collided with the first week of school. So I have been "granted" an overnight with my newly teenagery son and I want to take him someplace cool for a quick but great two day-er. Departing from Seattle Saturday AM and returning Sunday night. Rolling a full size with an overland trailer. New to the sport so nothing too technical but would appreciate suggestions for a killer little trip that will hopefully have him coming back to the outdoors. Barring any recommendations, I was thinking of doing a section of WABDR closer to home.Thanks all for any suggestions.
Dave
That looks right
OK gents, thanks so much for the help. I am hitting Stampede Pass and just wanted to get a thumbs up on the route. I think I have it right where we will drop in off of I-90, do dispersed camping up high and then the next day drop down and hit Chinook Pass hwy back to civilization. Does that sound right? Here is the route, see what you think. ROUTE (for some reason I can't change the font color, just click in that white space before this sentence, it will take you to GaiaGPS)
Blewett Pass/Hwy 97 is going to be closed Sept 9 -14, but... you can get up to Lion Rock and Haney Meadows via a backroad from Ellensburg. That is part of the WABDR. Some of it, a surprising amount is paved from E-Burg, north towards Lion Rock. There are awesome views and quite a few places for "dispersed" camping. Or, check out free campsites at Haney Meadows. There's a good chance of seeing elk early in the morning, out in the meadow! The "rut" is also coming on and some of the bull elk are already bugling, screaming challenges at each other. It's pretty cool.
That road can be followed all the way to Beehive Lake and then pavement down into Wenatchee if you wish, BUT, there was one heck of a washout last year. I've taken my Jeep across, but not sure I'd risk a fullsize rig on it yet.
Expect pretty cool temps, and fire restrictions are still in place. The forest east of the Cascade Crest is still Very Dry.
Enjoy!
OK great, that is the plan. Any cool camping location suggestions or places to avoid?
Costco is great for overloading.
Stampede is good one. Plenty of easier roads up by Liberty to hit too...head up towards Lion Rock for a great view.
Doh! autocorrect strikes again.
My first "Overland" trip was a quick weekend over Stampede pass. from Greenwater to I90. Really easy but it was fun. For Overloading though I'd probably just hit up costco...always come out of there with more than I need.