WABDR (Washington Backcountry Discovery Route) 2015

A buddy and I are planning to do sections 3 and 4 the last weekend in June. Thanks for the section 3 update! @thirsty 1

Nice ride,,, The cut-off looks fun! Might have to give that a go next time we make that run,,,
side note, after looking at your tracks, pretty sure we saw you guys ride by the house, before you started up Reecer,,,

I wanna say there was a spit to get out of the creek but I’m not 100% on that. With a little work anything is possible.

As for a day ride, yes. We fiddle f’ed around and had some beers and hammered a box back into shape so it was a full 12 hrs.

Looks like a great adventure. Hoping for some challenges when we do WABDR sections 2-4/5 this weekend. Avid single track rider on my Beta rr but will be taking a DR650 which isn't as nimble as I'm used to.

That dr would be perfect! The part where the gs is still along the River is the worst of it all and not really that bad. Just sketchy

That was me and @robdogg coming from a test ride in NB with his new R/G tower for the 701. You were flying in the right lane, right?

No, not really - once you "drop" into the last creek crossing (south to north) or the first one the other way you re pretty much committed. I always ride in the water when crossing there. Depending on the time of the year you will get your feet/legs wet, but never above the intake.

Yup that was me. I was hungry and it was getting late . I was wondering how deep that water was? I figured I’d ride around it and come back another day for a stab at it. Those towers look nice! And I’ll give you commends on getting all the over to hwy 20 a couple weeks ago. That’s a long day!

I'm working my ride plan for next week. Hoping to head out Monday from Seattle and bypass section 1 and start out of Packwood late Monday morning.
I will be solo on a Tiger 800. I see there is a bypass on Bethel Ridge, but I have no frame of reference for what the "normal" route is like. Any recommendations on the difficulty? I have driven Umtanum in a truck and have no desire to do that section solo on the big bike so I will be using the bypass there. I'm sure i'll bump into some of you along the way!

That sounds pretty good. I'll have to take a run at the sections north of Ellensburg in the near future. Thanks again there mister!

My intel on this is a bit old (July of 2019), but when I rode the "official" Jungle bypass (going south to north) last year, it was very nice. Easy, but with beautiful scenery descending into Lake Chelan. It didn't feel like a "penalty" to take that bypass to me. So, unless something has changed since then, I'd say do it!

Has anyone made it through section 1 OR-Packwood? Thanks.

I also would love to know if section 1 is passable (sounds like snow was the issue a few weeks ago). Going to attempt section 1 this weekend if weather and conditions cooperate.

From a FB post from this past weekend there was still snow just past Takhlakh Lake. Bypass is to go back a bit and take NF-23 which will come out near Randle, then take Hwy 12 east until you get to Packwood.

If someone makes it through section 1 without a bypass, please report.

I heard the road was closed in the area of Takhlakh Lake as well; I am aware of the ride around on FS23. Hoping it's melted out a little more this week and I will attempt section 1 this weekend and report back.

But it is a penalty. At least go towards the Jungle at the top of the ridge - on the right side you will see an open area with a solar panel - take some pictures from there. Go a bit further to the sharp corner and take pictures/enjoy the views there. Then you can turn around and go the back way. About 7 minutes and it's 1000% worth it.

That view over Manson is awesome!

Damn, that's a beautiful view! I thought the view of Chelan we got without going through the Jungle was good .... but I stand corrected.

Looking forward to hearing the report after this snow storm moves through on Section 1. I'm hoping that coming up from San Diego I don't have to miss section1.