While I have been 4-wheeling in my various pickups over the years (like 33 years), I have never tried the finer art of exploring the Jeep's capabilities and would like to do so the first time with someone experienced in those abilities.

My Sahara will not be used for serious rock crawling, and I have played with some rocks and banks to get a feel for what this new toy will do, but now that I have a lift and disconnects (still have not bought tires), I would like to catch up with a group next time they are headed out just to have a voice of experience show me the ropes.

I have not installed my CB yet, but will be working on that over the next couple of weeks.

Anyway, I am in Hermiston, so checking to see if there are any other forum members in the Hermiston/Pendleton/Tri-Cities area's that get together at all.

Thanks.

 

Jeff,

I haven't forgotten you -- I'm trying to stir up interest in a run near your area some time in the next couple of months. That Hells Canyon trip sounded interesting if we can get in there in the late spring?

I'm open to other ideas for a run in the Eastern WA, OR or even the Idaho panhandle if we can get a group together with someone who knows the area and is willing to lead.

-meljr

 

I'm in Hermiston, Tri-Cities, LaGrande...quite a bit for business. I'd be happy to come out that way sometime.

 

Also there are some great guys in another group I belong to that live near you and wheel qutie a bit.
Hutch, is one local guy that you might want to talk to as well, an "older" guy like us.. lol
links4jeeps.com/forum

Good luck, and look forward to seeing and wheeling with you on the JK list too.

 

I live near La Grande and go wheeling at Virtue Flat OHV Area from time to time. VF is only 10 minutes off the freeway just east of Baker City.

Virtue Flat is The PERFECT place to learn what your rig will and will not do. There are all types of trails from mild to wild, and bypasses through the sagebrush for almost everything.

Since I just recently got my JK, I will eventually be going out to Virtue Flat to experiment, and you'd be welcome to join in.

For more VF info check out my page here and don't let all the rockcrawling pics scare ya away. There are a lot more trails out there that are perfect for a stock JK.

Virtue Flat OHV Area

 

Wow, I never heard of Virtue Flats before -- seems like something to check out -- soon!

How much snow, if any, is out there now do you think?

-meljr

 

Not much, and what is there is melting or has already melted. Snow is not usually a factor at Virtue- it rarely gets over a foot or so deep, and generally just makes the trails more fun. There might be a foot of snow in places where it drifted. All that melting snow makes for some slippery trails, which can be very fun if you don't mind the carwash at the end of the day. Cool thing about VF is that you can select your level of challenge based on the terrain features and current conditions.

I hope to be out there again in March. If someone decides to go let me know and I can try to join you or at least give you some directions.


(And just a FYI to anyone wondering- this is a designated OHV area where cross-country travel is permitted year round except during fire season closures)

 

Keep us in the loop on this. I would certainly make the drive out there to wheel with you and can usually go on short notice. About the only thing going on in March that might present a conflict for me is my folks 60th anniversary.

-meljr

 

I did check out the VF stuff after your post on the "other site". Does look interesting. I probably need to just take a Saturday and "do it" since Baker City isn't that far away by Jeep.

I am in the process of selling a guitar and if that happens, I will be upgrading tires, so need to try them out.

There is also the ORV park South of Heppner Oregon (Morrow Country OHV park) that I would like to explore. Did it a little with my kids using their dirt bikes, but it was a muddy mess and before I had bought my Jeep. I guess there is a LOT of Jeep trails in there and I have explored some of this country in my pickup and it is drop dead gorgeous up there. Better after Memorial day though.

 

I was at Morrow Co. OHV Park when it first opened and they had big plans of building some Class II (4x4) trails, but the last I heard, that never happened. At the time all there was were a bunch of gravel roads. Some friends of mine took their Jeeps up there not long ago and were basically told there aren't any Jeep trails there and discouraged from playing, which isn't right, given that Class II permit receipts and gas receipts help fund Morrow Co.