Naches Pass Trail

Aug 24th, 02

Presidents Run

This was my first official group trail run.  Previous to this all my offroading consisted of light trails that I knew wouldn't get me into trouble.  It always bummed me out that I would have to turn around on a trail because I was unsure of what was ahead.

As my interest grew I decided that I needed to hook up with people with the same need to leave the pavement.  I happened to frequent WATTORA's website and found that they had an up coming Trail 101 class.  This was just the thing I was looking for.  I immediately signed up and found that Gene Hobbs, better known as DREAD was also attending.   He is an Honorary member of WATTORA.  It was he who convinced me  that I should go on this run.  

I have to say this was just the type of trail I was looking for.  Technical enough to keep your mind focused at all times (or at least mine).

The trail starts off in pretty open terrain and quickly changes into the woods.  Nice light terrain with only mild hills and corners.  The farther we traveled in the woods the tighter the trail got.  Since this was my first group trail run I was so concerned that I was slowing people down that I was not focusing as I should have.  I think we were only on the trail for no more than an hour when I encountered my first body damage.   

After our first stop I finally started to relax as some of the guys were assuring me that all is fine.  This is when I started to enjoy what lie ahead of me.  

Our trail master was Rob Perin (President of WATTORA).  He advised that the trail will only get tighter as we moved on.  Boy he was not kidding.  See , the trails are maintained and created mostly by the Jeeper clubs.  So the trails are designed mainly for shorter  wheelbase rigs.  This makes it a little more interesting for Tacos and 4Runners but very do-able. 

As we continued on the trails the hills got steeper and the terrain got pretty hairy at times.  For me there were cool off camber stuff, really tight turns that you would have to anticipate two or three trees ahead to maneuver through just to make one turn.  There were so many places that only gave us an inch or less to pass.   Man it was intense.  

Before I knew it we were heading out the trails.  

Some of us camped over night.  It was a good thing cause I was exhausted from all the fun.

All in all I think I did ok.  I'm not sure this would be a trail I would do during or after rainfall.  It would definitely guarantee body damage.  

I don't have to many action shots as I was too busy driving. 

Enjoy.

Back