• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

Elbe Hills: 8-22-15

TORX

NAXJA Forum User
NAXJA Member
Location
NWC
I wanted to wheel this weekend, and with most of Oregon's trail systems closed due to the fact that their state is on fire, I looked at other options. Elbe Hills being one of them. Elbe is located about two and a half hours north of Vancouver, and just southwest of Mt. Rainier.

I checked fluids on the Jeep, respooled the winch, and put a few pounds of air in the tires Friday night. It hasn't really moved since returning from Naches, but all seemed okay.

Left Vancouver 0700, set the cruise, and hopped on I5. Fueled up in Morton, bought my Discover Pass, and continued onto Elbe. I pulled into the campground around 0920 to find the Piston's Wild and Evergreen Crawlers just staging to leave, perfect timing. Pulled the cores, dropped a few pounds, and joined the group.

Started with Sunrise Trail just outside the staging area.
DSCN1936.jpg


DSCN1939.jpg


We had a good variety of rigs in the group from JK's, TJ's, Zuk's, and an FJ.
DSCN1940.jpg


Tony making his way down the trail, the tree line to the right was a fun optional line.
DSCN1941.jpg


DSCN1942.jpg


Heading into the Busy.
DSCN1943.jpg


DSCN1945.jpg


It's pretty impressive just how dug out some portions of the trail area. Doug's cage barely above ground level.
DSCN1947.jpg


JK got high-centered on one of the many stumps you had to watch out for.
DSCN1950.jpg


Tate in the other XJ.
DSCN1954.jpg


Dropping in.
DSCN1958.jpg


Threading the needle in a few spots with the JK's.
DSCN1960.jpg


DSCN1962.jpg


DSCN1966.jpg
 
DSCN1970.jpg


There's been some work done on the Busy since the last time I ran it. Some fun optional rock crawl areas along the trail have been added.
DSCN1971.jpg


Another optional play area.
DSCN1975.jpg


DSCN1980.jpg


I'm always good to do something stupid. Managed to roll this behemoth under the front end when realigning.
DSCN1981.jpg


That's the line.
DSCN1984.jpg


DSCN1986.jpg


Continuing on the Busy.
DSCN1988.jpg


Paul got a little detained between a stump and a log.
DSCN1992.jpg


DSCN1996.jpg


DSCN2000.jpg


DSCN2004.jpg


DSCN2006.jpg


DSCN2008.jpg
 
Done with the Busy.
DSCN2011.jpg


Continuing onto the Gotcha log crawl.
DSCN2017.jpg


DSCN2020.jpg


DSCN2025.jpg


DSCN2027.jpg


Tweaked steering, nothing a quick winch pull could fix.
DSCN2028.jpg


Rainier Vista hill climb.
DSCN2030.jpg


Finished up Rainier Vista with a fun rock crawl at the end, and then played around in the rock pit while the others finished the trail.
DSCN2033.jpg


Darel's tweaked steering finally gave out and sheared a TRE at the end of the trail. Luckily he had a trailer waiting for him at the staging area.
DSCN2035.jpg


I aired up, and then proceeded to make the drive back home, no bubbles no troubles.
 
Looks like fun! I wouldn't mind making a trip up there before the rains come!
 
Back
Top