Any one watching? It will closest to the earth on July 22 and won't be back for more than 6,000 years.

More Access Opened in Ahtanum State Forest!As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the DNR has restored full access to green dot roads in Ahtanum...here's their latest update: Early Progress in Repair, Restoration Work Expands Recreation Opportunities The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has expanded access to areas of the Ahtanum State Forest after temporary closures for repair and restoration work. Several access points to the forest had been closed recently to allow for staff to begin repair work to facilities damaged by vandalism during the closure of state lands due to COVID-19. “Our recreation team has made substantial progress in addressing issues with damage to infrastructure and resource protection. We are determined to safeguard the health and safety of the public and our natural resources while encouraging responsible recreation,” said Todd Welker, region manager for the DNR’s Southeast Region. “We thank the public for their patience as we did the repairs and assessments of conditions to open up more recreation opportunities in the forest.” DNR lands were temporarily closed on March 26 to support the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. During the closure damage and vandalism occurred to some infrastructure, particularly in the Ahtanum State Forest. Damage to restroom facilities, gates and roads is currently being repaired. All state lands began to reopen on a limited basis on May 5. Currently, all regular Green Dot roads in the Ahtanum State Forest are open to travel. Recreation may still be difficult in areas with remaining snow and caution is advised especially while traveling in wet, muddy or snowy conditions. Travel around Darland Mountain is not advised due to significant snow levels. Camping on all DNR land remains closed under the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. Campgrounds in the Ahtanum State Forest are indicated as closed either with signage or temporary barriers. Some toilet facilities are currently open, however sanitation may not be available. The public is encouraged to bring personal sanitation supplies, including toilet paper and hand sanitizer and practice Leave No Trace principles. Recreation status of DNR lands, including roads and recreation sites, can be found at http://dnr.wa.gov/open. Please be good stewards of the land.  Stay on roads & trails!  Go prepared...and post those snow wheeling pics!  We will continue to work with the DNR and share any additional updates with you as they become available.

Oregon Dept of Forestry closures of all backwoods camping in Oregon State Forests.  Not due to Covid-19 issues but campers literally trashing the place. http://www.wweek.com/outdoors/2020/05/12/oregon-department-of-forestry-land-is-temporarily-off-limits-to-campers-because-of-a-massive-accumulation-of-waste/

My wife and I just returned from a 23 day trip to Mongolia. It was an amazing trip. We drove a diesel 2009 Nissan Patrol DX for 5100 kilometers. We had a guide vehicle in the lead as road signs are almost non existent or written only in Cyrillic. Many tracks that lead in the general direction of your next destination sometimes converge again or diverge into parts unknown or a herder's Ger. We brought along a GPS with roads of Mongolia loaded. Most tracks were shown but several were not. The Patrol is very capable truck, however I did not like the long hood and front over hang when dropping into dry washes,streams/rivers or cresting steep hills. We started in Ulaanbaatar (UB) driving west visiting Hustai National Park and several lakes on the way to the mountains of Altan Bogd on border with Russia and Kazakhstan. You need a special permit from the Mongolian Border Patrol to be in the area. From there we drove to the Jargalant Mountains, then on to Kherman Tsav a paleontological site in southern Mongolia, from there on to Khongoryn Els the dunes of the Gobi, on to the Flaming Cliffs, White Stupas and back to UB. Driving in UB is an experience all its own. Very aggressive drivers in a very traffic congested city. The major roads connecting the Provincial Capitals may start out as paved roads then turn into dirt tracks then back to pavement again. The roads may be paved but are often pockmarked with craters in the pavement and herds of goats, sheep, horses, cows, yaks or camels randomly crossing the road. Off road tracks between towns can be rough and rutted or smooth as you cross the steppe, We drove in sandy dry washes, deep sand, a little mud and had many stream/river crossings Other than on the paved main roads Mongolians do not believe in culverts for streams or rivers and at times their roads make our roughest Forest Service roads seem like the interstate but somehow Mongolians in Toyota Prius's, Hyundai's, buses. trucks and tractor trailers negotiate the roads. Land Cruiser, the Russian UAZ 452 Van and UAZ 469 Hunter dominate the 4x4 market. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia the cars and Hyundai the small work trucks Along the way we were able to see ancient burial mounds (Balbals). Tugricks ( carved stone human figures) and Deerstones. Visited a couple of museums. We visited a Kazak who hunts with Golden Eagles and explored a couple of petroglyph sites. We saw camels, Mongolian Gazelles, Ibex, Red Deer and the Prezwalski Horse as well as many new bird species. There are few people outside of UB mostly nomadic herders living in Gers.