MikeWild
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2007
- Messages
- 312
- City
- Vancouver BC Canada
- Vehicle Year
- 1991 Ranger
- Transmission
- Automatic
Well Indir and I decided to head up Mystery Creek FSR to see if we could get into Chehalis, but after a long dusty drive up Harrison and finally onto the Mystery Creek FSR, we ran into snow
We thought it was all easy stuff, so we played around in it a bit,
But we didn't manage to get much farther up as the snow was just getting deeper and really made it a work out to get anywhere,
So we did what we normally do, and decided to explore all the off shoot trails to see where they'd lead. There were some really interesting wash outs and cross ditches
Which lead to trees that had gone down over the road during the winter. Time for the chainsaw
After trying a few different trails, we found one that after clearing another tree lead to a wide open area which had a spectacular view of the valley. We could even see Harrison lake off in the distance
We decided that it was the perfect spot to stop and have lunch. Now this is my idea of a tailgate party!
After that it was off to do some more exploring. One of the wash outs made it rather interesting for me. I wound up digging in to the bank in front and couldn't gain enough traction to carry me up and over
I did however manage to dig in the rears pretty good.... and stuck!
Hanging my head in shame as Indir hooks me up to a strap
After cleaning out the front loader on my truck, we carried on
We found an interesting trail that looked fairly over grown. There were bare spots on the trail, but also long stretches of snow.
There were also a few rocky parts that made it interesting. I just love this flex shot
We eventually followed a trail that took us down to a lake. Checking out the trusty backroads map book, we figured it was lookout lake
Upon further review of the map book, it sort of gave us the idea that if we carried on down that trail, it might lead us to Sunrise. We eventually came to a creek that we assumed was Hale, and the trail branched off in three directions, one way was washed out by the creek, the branch to the right was covered in snow and created difficulties, and lastly the branch to the left lead down hill, but was totally snow covered and about hip deep. We figured if we headed down it, and it lead nowhere, we'd have a hell of a time trying to get back up.
We admitted defeat (for now) and headed back down the trail we took in. Everything was going great until I high centered my front diff on a boulder and was lodged pretty good.
Hmmm maybe if I really lay on the skinny pedal and shock load my front end I'll get out!
The sound of my hub blowing up into several pieces and bouncing off the trees lead me to believe that it wasn't such a good idea afterall.
can you say 'KerPow'?
after Indir was kind enough to drag me off the rock I limped the rest of the way out in 2WD.
Airing up at the end of the day, I think I earned a new sticker
I had a really great day and can't wait to do that trail again in a month or so after the snow is gone. It'll be interesting to see where it actually leads to.

We thought it was all easy stuff, so we played around in it a bit,

But we didn't manage to get much farther up as the snow was just getting deeper and really made it a work out to get anywhere,

So we did what we normally do, and decided to explore all the off shoot trails to see where they'd lead. There were some really interesting wash outs and cross ditches




Which lead to trees that had gone down over the road during the winter. Time for the chainsaw

After trying a few different trails, we found one that after clearing another tree lead to a wide open area which had a spectacular view of the valley. We could even see Harrison lake off in the distance


We decided that it was the perfect spot to stop and have lunch. Now this is my idea of a tailgate party!

After that it was off to do some more exploring. One of the wash outs made it rather interesting for me. I wound up digging in to the bank in front and couldn't gain enough traction to carry me up and over

I did however manage to dig in the rears pretty good.... and stuck!

Hanging my head in shame as Indir hooks me up to a strap

After cleaning out the front loader on my truck, we carried on

We found an interesting trail that looked fairly over grown. There were bare spots on the trail, but also long stretches of snow.

There were also a few rocky parts that made it interesting. I just love this flex shot

We eventually followed a trail that took us down to a lake. Checking out the trusty backroads map book, we figured it was lookout lake

Upon further review of the map book, it sort of gave us the idea that if we carried on down that trail, it might lead us to Sunrise. We eventually came to a creek that we assumed was Hale, and the trail branched off in three directions, one way was washed out by the creek, the branch to the right was covered in snow and created difficulties, and lastly the branch to the left lead down hill, but was totally snow covered and about hip deep. We figured if we headed down it, and it lead nowhere, we'd have a hell of a time trying to get back up.

We admitted defeat (for now) and headed back down the trail we took in. Everything was going great until I high centered my front diff on a boulder and was lodged pretty good.

Hmmm maybe if I really lay on the skinny pedal and shock load my front end I'll get out!

can you say 'KerPow'?

after Indir was kind enough to drag me off the rock I limped the rest of the way out in 2WD.
Airing up at the end of the day, I think I earned a new sticker

I had a really great day and can't wait to do that trail again in a month or so after the snow is gone. It'll be interesting to see where it actually leads to.
Last edited: