Well the time has come. It was a inevitable that eventually i would have to leave the PNW. Luckily I am leaving on my own terms and will be moving up in the world. I have been accepted to flight school and will be leaving for the beautiful state of Alabama In August. I wont be able to make it to the Overland Rally (still working on getting up there for Saturday and Sunday though) due to the amount of stuff i have to get done in the few weeks between getting home and when i sign out on leave. But on the up side I should be able to get one of two weekends free after i sign out on leave to take one last tour of Washington. I am wanting to do a 3-4 day trip either August 13-15, or August 19-22. My plan right now is to run a route between Wenatchee and Naches, possibly running the Naches Wagon Trail. The route between Wenatchee and 90 will follow the route that we took on the infamous Colokum Pass attempt. South of 90, i am not entirely sure, but will probably include the Umtanum Ridge Rd, then on to the Naches Wagon Trail. If any one has some good ideas for additional places to go let me know, this is just a base plan right now. Which direction we travel will be up to the group. If some one knows a good route south on Naches that stays on the east side of the mountains i would be interested to hear about it. Let me know how much interest there is. As i come up with routes i will post GPX files Terrance

Where's you school, and what are you looking at for final career?

Good idea for a farewell tour.

The school will be at Ft Rucker Alabama, which is near Enterprise Al. My first preference will be Blackhawks, and i am going to try and get stationed back in Washington but no guarantees on that. Great to hear Benny. I wont be 100% sure which set of days i can do but i should know in a week or two.

Thanks Jay. The weekend has been set. August 20th-22nd. Depending on how much of the house i get prepped i may head out on the 19th and camp an extra night. I will be working on the route and will post it when i can.

I'm a strong maybe, depending on work, new alternator and more road friendly tires. Where/when would the jumping off point be?

Congrats on your flight school Terrance! Big step and big move. Are you going Warrant or straight up O? Blackhawks are great and I hope you get them. If not, I know Kiowa and Chinook pilots who love their aircraft too.

Well things have been quite crazy since i got home. But tomorrow i should be signed out of Ft Lewis and ready to move on. I have a rough draft of our route finally. on the south end of the route i plan to go from Umtanum ridge over to the national forests, google maps doesnt have the connecting roads. cant wait to get out on the trail with every one.

Caleb, I think camping on the ridge its self wouldn't work very well, but if you know of other better camping spots i am game. Also, i am planning to go from the Umtanum Ridge straight into the NF and follow the Naches trail. I was using google maps to make the .gpx and they dont have the connecting roads listed. Benny, as Caleb said, the weather will probably allow the top coming off but the dust would probably be brutal. Also looking at the weather it has been dropping down to the mid 40's at night, so bring something warm.

Is there going to be any wheeling on Sat/Sun or will those days just be F.S. roads?