Contributor I
We are planning to do the entire WA BDR in August and have started planning now. Anybody done it and have any insights to share? 589.9 miles here we come!
WA BDR Planning
- Thread starter Takingthefunroad
- Start date
Member III
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- Jim
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- covey sr
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Do you have a list requirements you could post. Maybe the rules of some sort that must be followed. Please post them.
US Northwest - June 2020 WABDR - Washington Backcountry Discovery Route
I have been working like crazy to finish all the last minute things to be ready. I think I am there. Packing today and just food in the morning. See you all there. We will leave early in the morning to meet you there by 8:00am
These guys are on it now.
Contributor I
Just looking for any tips or insights from those who have Done it before. We have run parts of it before but hoping we can complete in 8 days from south to north.
Contributor I
Thank you!!US Northwest - June 2020 WABDR - Washington Backcountry Discovery Route
I have been working like crazy to finish all the last minute things to be ready. I think I am there. Packing today and just food in the morning. See you all there. We will leave early in the morning to meet you there by 8:00amwww.overlandbound.com
These guys are on it now.
Advocate III
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@Greg Eigsti can fill you in
Explorer I
Fantastic trip, awesome group! EPIC! That said it was brutal at points and the going was slow overall. We made 4 miles one day (Top of Bethel Ridge) winching and cutting our way through the worst mud I have ever been through. I think August, when dryer, and 8 days are reasonable. My family decided to bail at Wenatchee; we were exhausted, overloaded and had some stuff going on back home. It was VERY sad to leave but right for us at the time.
My Achilles heel was packing/organization in the JKU. At the last minute our son decided to attend and that meant less room and more gear, the Jeep was a packed puzzle. It was not fun unpacking/re-packing to get at anything. Make sure you are well organized and can get at your gear, this is a run and gun trip that may put you into camp late or require you to get at a saw or recovery gear on the trail.
What a fantastic trip and group! Everybody was really great! @mtn, @armyRN, @SCS, @Hogman, @Joshua Buss, @oldmopars - you all are the best and it was great riding with you!
I‘ll post some pics and thoughts to the other WABDR thread so keep an eye out over there.
Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Jim
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- covey sr
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16986
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I'm exhausted just reading about the trip. Anxious to see pictures especially at Bethel ridge.
I have run WABDR north from Cashmere a couple of times. The last time I learned two things that are important. The first is in summer that valley gets hot very hot. We had a solid week of 40C plus temps and it cooked us. We climbed endlessly it seemed and the loaded rigs were taxed with the temps. We began a strange technique of scouting out shade locations so the oldest rig could cool down. We would climb for 20 to 30 minutes and then locate shade to rest the rigs.
The second thing I discovered occured after running WABDR. When you pass by Carleton take a detour to visit Twisp. Our friends who are on motor cycles visit Twisp and showed me photos from past trips. I had no idea such cool town was just up the road.
One other tip is we found a campground called Foggy Dew and it was great in fact empty. NIce cool stream flowing through the site which on our hot trip was fantastic.
The second thing I discovered occured after running WABDR. When you pass by Carleton take a detour to visit Twisp. Our friends who are on motor cycles visit Twisp and showed me photos from past trips. I had no idea such cool town was just up the road.
One other tip is we found a campground called Foggy Dew and it was great in fact empty. NIce cool stream flowing through the site which on our hot trip was fantastic.
Contributor I
Thank you so much!!! This is great info and will really help in my planning
Contributor I
Than
I’m curious what the northern most section looks like since the elevations appear to be really high. I’ll keep an eye out for info on the other thread.
Thank you! We ran the bethel ridge section a few weeks ago from north to south and the mud was insane. We had to winch once and were considering turning around but ended up being just about out of it, so pushed up the last slog. It will be interesting to see in August!
I’m curious what the northern most section looks like since the elevations appear to be really high. I’ll keep an eye out for info on the other thread.
Enthusiast I
Love the WABDR. We run different section and tried the entire length but never made it all the way. Think all the stops to enjoy the views may have something to do with it. That and sleeping in and having a full breakfast every morning. We did see a cool mine just south of Concully I believe. There are small signs for it but it was worth stopping and checking out. Best camp spot we found was on the south end of Lake Chelan. It is where the original trail meets up with the modified trail on the top of the ridge. Spot overlooks the lake and on the 4th you have the best spot in the woods!
Attachments
Explorer I
I kept thinking that Sept would be a GREAT time for the WABDR; dry down South and cooler up North.
Explorer I
I drug my DSLR and a couple lenses along and never once pulled them out. Partially due to my packing/organization and partially because there were a LOT of miles to cover and it would have killed the trip if I stopped for every photo :)
Contributor I
Section 3 ( im pretty sure it was 3) has a rough spot towards the end when i went last year. Its a small steep hill and the left side sits low (cliff side) and the right side sits high. i was top heavy and nervous of flipping. The moment you level out you have a steep incline right back up.
Enthusiast II
Explorer I
A lot of it would be ok, a bunch would be pinstripey, and a few places probably impassable due to mud pits and ruts. That was in June and July/August in a dry summer would be a different story. The “bad” section where we made 4 miles one day was easy for others a month or two later. There are lots of bypasses so you can pick and choose and avoid bad sections. I believe the slow day was departing Bethel Ridge. A long wheel base would be my concern there.
Enthusiast II
Makes sense. Hard to imagine any WA trails that wouldn’t leave new paint decals or give the roof a buzz cut. I’ve heard the section between Oregon and Wenatchee may be my best bet for easy going, open BDR trail. Now, if I can time the trip for NWOR 2021.. that would be a hoot.
Explorer I
Bethel Ridge and Baby Head Hill are between OR and Wenatchee. Baby Head hill is known to have rocks the size of baby heads but was unimpressive to us; we asked ourselves exactly where it was because we were a bit nervous about it and passed its vicinity without any challenges that lived up to the hype (on four wheels anyway).
