Mad River/\Devils Backbone/\Foggy Dew

Double H · 09-05-2011, 01:13 PM

I have been trying to get the nads to go forth on my own and do a solo adventure ride here in Washington. So over a period time this summer, I peiced together in my head what I thought would be fun, at least for me. I wanted to make a loop, not just an out and back ride. I also wanted a lot of single track, my butt gets sore sitting in the saddle for any length of time. Since I would be riding this loop on a DRZ400, I wanted to get offroad as quick as posssible.

I came up with a plan to tie three of the best single track areas I know of in Eastern Washington, and eventually meet up with K7MDL, Master Marine, and Shrub at Foggy Dew.

Leaving my house at 8am Thursday, I made a B line for Stevens Pass, were I could quickly get on the pegs and cross the little foot bridge on Old Cascade Highway.

From there I jumped out onto hwy 2 for a couple of miles, and then dove right back onto some logging road at Smith Brook Rd. I went around Lake Wenatchee, and hit the general store for supplies for the night. I was trying to travel as light as possible, for I knew there was going to be some burly single track ahead.
Driving up Chiwawa River Rd. I ducked into the Alder Ridge trailhead, only to find mlyamkaw had parked his truck, and gone for a ride, heading up the Alder Ridge trail, I soon ran into him, and we chatted for a spell.

The lookout on Alder Ridge.

Up on the Mad River trail I ran into two guys doing some trail maintenance with a small trackhoe. I thanked them, and enjoyed the smooth ride over towards Cougar Mountain.

From there it was South Tommy Creek trail down into the Entiat Valley, what a ride it was.
I stopped to gaze at the falls, and I was amazed at the size of the trout in Tommy Creek, but I did not have room to carry any fishing gear. Maybe next time.

Just a little ways from Tommy is the Entiat River.

A short break at the trailhead, and I jumped on the Lake creek trail. This would turn out to be one of my favorites.

Once I reached the top of the trailhead, I chose to go down Lone Peak trail, which would carry me down toward Lake Chelan.

The trail fallowed a burned out ridge, and proved to be a tough choice on the DRZ.

Some wind had arrived ahead of an impending storm front, and some deadfall had blown across the trail in several spots.

I had my lucky saw with me.

My saw would not cut this one, so I had to huck over it.

I finally made it out to a FS road, and then a short ride down to Twenty Five Mile Creek. It was 7pm and I was dead tired, so I found a spot on the creek, off in the brush, were I was able to make camp and wash some of the funk of my body.

More later.

guns_equal_freedom · 09-05-2011, 01:29 PM

Mmmmm, bear taco!

Looks and sounds like you had a great time HH.

markwoodlief · 09-05-2011, 02:37 PM

bad ass HH

although I would be scared shitless to sleep in your lean to..

crazybrit · 09-05-2011, 04:00 PM

Nice

kwisn · 09-05-2011, 04:29 PM

We missed you at Tronsen Ridge.

Looks like you had a great ride.
Thanks for the pics. Looking forward to the story in person over an adult beverage or three.

Send me a copy of your track, please.

Jackazz · 09-05-2011, 04:33 PM

Awesome HH, I really wanted to meet you guys at the Dew but my son asked if we could go boating and I spent yesterday on Lake Washing Machine with 5 teenagers.

I'm looking forward to the rest of your report.
JA

kwisn · 09-05-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackazz

Awesome HH, I really wanted to meet you guys at the Dew but my son asked if we could go boating and I spent yesterday on Lake Washing Machine with 5 teenagers.

I'm looking forward to the rest of your report.
JA

I was wondering how rough it was going to be. Looking forward to your pics of Saturday.

Double H · 09-05-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackazz

Awesome HH, I really wanted to meet you guys at the Dew but my son asked if we could go boating and I spent yesterday on Lake Washing Machine with 5 teenagers.

I'm looking forward to the rest of your report.
JA

Yes we missed you, your name came up several times.
But being on the lake in the middle of summer is nothing short of a great time. In fact our mantra for our camp fire story telling was "boats and ho's"

Double H · 09-05-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwisn

We missed you at Tronsen Ridge.

Looks like you had a great ride.
Thanks for the pics. Looking forward to the story in person over an adult beverage or three.

Send me a copy of your track, please.

Tracks.
I got tracks.

I just have to figure out how to edit them, and then actually send them.

sirloynz · 09-05-2011, 06:20 PM

Holy deja vu, H2! We were there last weekend. Me, PB, DB and Dusty talked about you many times during the weekend. You've got BIG balls, dude! Thanks for the ride report.

Your pics.....

My pics......

Did I show you the vid of PB's Entiat nut shot?

Double H · 09-05-2011, 06:31 PM

^^^ wow, now that is a coicedence^^^ same pics, I am really flattered. You and your camera do way more justice to that area.

I saw that video of pb, he is the man, and his bike still keeps on truckin.

crazybrit · 09-05-2011, 09:51 PM

Did I hear that this area only just opened due to snow? I camped near Maverick Saddle maybe 3 years ago and ran into heavy snow on the trail upto Mad Lake. They closed the trails that day, I thought it was mid October but maybe it was end of October. I forget. Thinking of trying to go up there this year but booked until late October.

kwisn · 09-06-2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazybrit

Did I hear that this area only just opened due to snow? I camped near Maverick Saddle maybe 3 years ago and ran into heavy snow on the trail upto Mad Lake. They closed the trails that day, I thought it was mid October but maybe it was end of October. I forget. Thinking of trying to go up there this year but booked until late October.

Yep, just opened. Mad Lake and Chikamin Tie still closed, too wet.

Double H · 09-06-2011, 07:51 AM

Anyone who lives on the wet side of the Cascades appreciates camping on the East side and waking up to cool dry air. Such was the case Friday when I awoke. Jammin down the highway with the cool air in my face, and the sun shining across Lake Chelan, I could not bring myself to stop and take any photos until I got to town some 45 minutes away.
Looking North to my next destination Manson, and then from there some 27 miles of dirt road.

I quickly stop for food and fuel, my next stop will be at Foggy Dew tonight, 21 miles away from the nearest store.
I drive around to Manson,, turn north into the hills and make a photo stop at Wapato Lake.

I jump on the dirt road that paralells Lake Chelan.

Jammin down an empty dirt road at 40+ mph on the pegs with the sun at my back and a big dust cloud behind me.

You know this is where you want to be.

Someone's homemade fire pit.

I make it up to the Navarre horse camp, and put the yellow bike into the corral for lunch.

The trailhead is just across the road.

Things get heavy quickly, the growth is in full bloom covering hidden dangers on the edges of the trail. More distracting is the gorgeous scenery on either side.

If you look close at the peak, you can see the switchbacks of Angels Staircase.

I finally make it Deadmans Pass, some 6500' and my own set of switchbacks to deal with. I find it easier to climb these than decend them, so I poke along at a reasonable pace with my fully loaded bike.

Twenty or thirty switchbacks later I arrive in this beautiful valley with wild flowers in full bloom.

I take a few minutes and try and repair some ruts a motorcycle made trying to bypass a creek crossing. I don't know why anyone would disrespect such a beautiful place.

pb317 · 09-06-2011, 08:32 AM

Awesome stuff HH. I have been dreaming of doing a similar ride. Perhaps in late Sept we could go scout and ride some of the route. I think i might need a different steed for a ride of that magnitude, mine is all scratched up. Sure wish I could have rode Angels Staircase and Pyramid MT back in the day.

09-05-2011, 01:13 PM	#1
Double H ^OP Hurricane Harry Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 866	Mad River/\Devils Backbone/\Foggy Dew I have been trying to get the nads to go forth on my own and do a solo adventure ride here in Washington. So over a period time this summer, I peiced together in my head what I thought would be fun, at least for me. I wanted to make a loop, not just an out and back ride. I also wanted a lot of single track, my butt gets sore sitting in the saddle for any length of time. Since I would be riding this loop on a DRZ400, I wanted to get offroad as quick as posssible. I came up with a plan to tie three of the best single track areas I know of in Eastern Washington, and eventually meet up with K7MDL, Master Marine, and Shrub at Foggy Dew. Leaving my house at 8am Thursday, I made a B line for Stevens Pass, were I could quickly get on the pegs and cross the little foot bridge on Old Cascade Highway. From there I jumped out onto hwy 2 for a couple of miles, and then dove right back onto some logging road at Smith Brook Rd. I went around Lake Wenatchee, and hit the general store for supplies for the night. I was trying to travel as light as possible, for I knew there was going to be some burly single track ahead. Driving up Chiwawa River Rd. I ducked into the Alder Ridge trailhead, only to find mlyamkaw had parked his truck, and gone for a ride, heading up the Alder Ridge trail, I soon ran into him, and we chatted for a spell. The lookout on Alder Ridge. Up on the Mad River trail I ran into two guys doing some trail maintenance with a small trackhoe. I thanked them, and enjoyed the smooth ride over towards Cougar Mountain. From there it was South Tommy Creek trail down into the Entiat Valley, what a ride it was. I stopped to gaze at the falls, and I was amazed at the size of the trout in Tommy Creek, but I did not have room to carry any fishing gear. Maybe next time. Just a little ways from Tommy is the Entiat River. A short break at the trailhead, and I jumped on the Lake creek trail. This would turn out to be one of my favorites. Once I reached the top of the trailhead, I chose to go down Lone Peak trail, which would carry me down toward Lake Chelan. The trail fallowed a burned out ridge, and proved to be a tough choice on the DRZ. Some wind had arrived ahead of an impending storm front, and some deadfall had blown across the trail in several spots. I had my lucky saw with me. My saw would not cut this one, so I had to huck over it. I finally made it out to a FS road, and then a short ride down to Twenty Five Mile Creek. It was 7pm and I was dead tired, so I found a spot on the creek, off in the brush, were I was able to make camp and wash some of the funk of my body. More later. Double H screwed with this post 09-05-2011 at 04:48 PM

09-05-2011, 04:29 PM	#5
kwisn One Happy Dog Joined: May 2008 Location: Griffonderosa Dog Ranch Oddometer: 6,743	We missed you at Tronsen Ridge. Looks like you had a great ride. Thanks for the pics. Looking forward to the story in person over an adult beverage or three. Send me a copy of your track, please. __________________ kwisn

09-05-2011, 06:20 PM	#10
sirloynz Puny Human Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Anacortes, WA Oddometer: 1,045	Holy deja vu, H2! We were there last weekend. Me, PB, DB and Dusty talked about you many times during the weekend. You've got BIG balls, dude! Thanks for the ride report. Your pics..... My pics...... Did I show you the vid of PB's Entiat nut shot? __________________ 2006 KTM 525 EXC sirloynz screwed with this post 09-06-2011 at 07:06 AM

09-06-2011, 07:51 AM	#14
Double H ^OP Hurricane Harry Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 866	Anyone who lives on the wet side of the Cascades appreciates camping on the East side and waking up to cool dry air. Such was the case Friday when I awoke. Jammin down the highway with the cool air in my face, and the sun shining across Lake Chelan, I could not bring myself to stop and take any photos until I got to town some 45 minutes away. Looking North to my next destination Manson, and then from there some 27 miles of dirt road. I quickly stop for food and fuel, my next stop will be at Foggy Dew tonight, 21 miles away from the nearest store. I drive around to Manson,, turn north into the hills and make a photo stop at Wapato Lake. I jump on the dirt road that paralells Lake Chelan. Jammin down an empty dirt road at 40+ mph on the pegs with the sun at my back and a big dust cloud behind me. You know this is where you want to be. Someone's homemade fire pit. I make it up to the Navarre horse camp, and put the yellow bike into the corral for lunch. The trailhead is just across the road. Things get heavy quickly, the growth is in full bloom covering hidden dangers on the edges of the trail. More distracting is the gorgeous scenery on either side. If you look close at the peak, you can see the switchbacks of Angels Staircase. I finally make it Deadmans Pass, some 6500' and my own set of switchbacks to deal with. I find it easier to climb these than decend them, so I poke along at a reasonable pace with my fully loaded bike. Twenty or thirty switchbacks later I arrive in this beautiful valley with wild flowers in full bloom. I take a few minutes and try and repair some ruts a motorcycle made trying to bypass a creek crossing. I don't know why anyone would disrespect such a beautiful place. Double H screwed with this post 09-07-2011 at 01:10 PM

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09-05-2011, 01:29 PM	#2
guns_equal_freedom Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Oddometer: 5,049	Mmmmm, bear taco! Looks and sounds like you had a great time HH.

09-05-2011, 02:37 PM	#3
markwoodlief Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Mount Vernon, WA Oddometer: 3,561	bad ass HH although I would be scared shitless to sleep in your lean to..

09-05-2011, 04:00 PM	#4
crazybrit Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Oddometer: 8,040	Nice

09-05-2011, 04:33 PM	#6
Jackazz Studly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Western Wa Oddometer: 785	Awesome HH, I really wanted to meet you guys at the Dew but my son asked if we could go boating and I spent yesterday on Lake Washing Machine with 5 teenagers. I'm looking forward to the rest of your report. JA

09-05-2011, 06:31 PM	#11
Double H ^OP Hurricane Harry Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 866	^^^ wow, now that is a coicedence^^^ same pics, I am really flattered. You and your camera do way more justice to that area. I saw that video of pb, he is the man, and his bike still keeps on truckin.

09-05-2011, 09:51 PM	#12
crazybrit Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Oddometer: 8,040	Did I hear that this area only just opened due to snow? I camped near Maverick Saddle maybe 3 years ago and ran into heavy snow on the trail upto Mad Lake. They closed the trails that day, I thought it was mid October but maybe it was end of October. I forget. Thinking of trying to go up there this year but booked until late October.

09-06-2011, 08:32 AM	#15
pb317 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: N Everett Oddometer: 108	Awesome stuff HH. I have been dreaming of doing a similar ride. Perhaps in late Sept we could go scout and ride some of the route. I think i might need a different steed for a ride of that magnitude, mine is all scratched up. Sure wish I could have rode Angels Staircase and Pyramid MT back in the day.