Hey all!
I am planning a trip from Spokane, up to Preist Lake to FR 302, to Metaline Falls WA, then over to Northport, WA. Hopefully we will be able to camp on the lookout above Northport. I have some calls in on this. We'll take Sheep Creek Rd over to Orient, then Little Boulder Creek to Boulder Creek. We'll turn south 6113, cross over Hwy 20 on Sherman Pass, then take 2014 to the second nights camp. Inchelium and the Inchelium/Gifford ferry then back to Spokane. There is plenty of dispersed camping spots along the way, but snowpack could slow things down enough that planning on camping at certain places may not be possible. I have tried to go across Pass Creek pass at the same time a couple years ago, and it had a good amount of snow in one shaded area. I didn't try to cross it alone, but I thought it was do able. So, turning around could come into play on this trip with the amount of snow this year. At present time the snowpack is still waist deep in the northern counties.
Along the way we will see the shoe tree, gorgeous views along Pass Creek, Sullivan Lake, Boundry dam, Gardner Caves, the Flagstaff Mountain overlook, (I hope we can camp there, the sunrise would be epic I think!) the towns of Republic and Northport, and much more. There is fuel along the way in multiple places, and stock rigs should have no troubles (unless snowpack hinders road, we'll make that call if we encounter it). This is Grizzly country though, few and far between, but Grizzlies nonetheless. I've seen wolf track and mountain lion tracks along the route, as well as elk, deer, and moose.
I will be taking shovels, straps and chains with, (both tire and binder) a couple rock bars too. Small rock slides are a possibility, the one that turned us around last year could have been cleared with some time and equipment, but wasn't real bad. I'm working on my ham license, but I have a cb and cell service is spotty but decent. A chainsaw or 6 wouldn't hurt, as the roads will most likely need some cleaning. The Border Patrol will most likely check us out every once and a while also as the route is close to Canada.
I'm thinking of meeting at the old northbound scale on Hwy 2 north of Spokane (just past Elk Chattaroy Rd) at 9 am. For those coming from the east, we could meet up in Preist River before we turn north. And I'm thinking about 10 rigs.
I'm going to gauge interest before going into much further detail. I'm also going to tag some member who I think may have interest, please feel free to do the same.
@timberwolf_120
@Dustin S. Godtfring
@Sandpoint Steve
I am planning a trip from Spokane, up to Preist Lake to FR 302, to Metaline Falls WA, then over to Northport, WA. Hopefully we will be able to camp on the lookout above Northport. I have some calls in on this. We'll take Sheep Creek Rd over to Orient, then Little Boulder Creek to Boulder Creek. We'll turn south 6113, cross over Hwy 20 on Sherman Pass, then take 2014 to the second nights camp. Inchelium and the Inchelium/Gifford ferry then back to Spokane. There is plenty of dispersed camping spots along the way, but snowpack could slow things down enough that planning on camping at certain places may not be possible. I have tried to go across Pass Creek pass at the same time a couple years ago, and it had a good amount of snow in one shaded area. I didn't try to cross it alone, but I thought it was do able. So, turning around could come into play on this trip with the amount of snow this year. At present time the snowpack is still waist deep in the northern counties.
Along the way we will see the shoe tree, gorgeous views along Pass Creek, Sullivan Lake, Boundry dam, Gardner Caves, the Flagstaff Mountain overlook, (I hope we can camp there, the sunrise would be epic I think!) the towns of Republic and Northport, and much more. There is fuel along the way in multiple places, and stock rigs should have no troubles (unless snowpack hinders road, we'll make that call if we encounter it). This is Grizzly country though, few and far between, but Grizzlies nonetheless. I've seen wolf track and mountain lion tracks along the route, as well as elk, deer, and moose.
I will be taking shovels, straps and chains with, (both tire and binder) a couple rock bars too. Small rock slides are a possibility, the one that turned us around last year could have been cleared with some time and equipment, but wasn't real bad. I'm working on my ham license, but I have a cb and cell service is spotty but decent. A chainsaw or 6 wouldn't hurt, as the roads will most likely need some cleaning. The Border Patrol will most likely check us out every once and a while also as the route is close to Canada.
I'm thinking of meeting at the old northbound scale on Hwy 2 north of Spokane (just past Elk Chattaroy Rd) at 9 am. For those coming from the east, we could meet up in Preist River before we turn north. And I'm thinking about 10 rigs.
I'm going to gauge interest before going into much further detail. I'm also going to tag some member who I think may have interest, please feel free to do the same.
@timberwolf_120
@Dustin S. Godtfring
@Sandpoint Steve
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