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Mystery Creek Wheeling (56k warning)


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

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

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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,

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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:
Great pics!
How do the claws on the explorer do?Are they worth the bucks?
 
Great pics!
How do the claws on the explorer do?Are they worth the bucks?

My buddy says he really likes them. Previously he ran 33 BFG's and says he likes these better. Although the jury is still out on how well they handle the snow. The melt conditions here have really played havoc with regards to getting anywhere in the snow.
 
Looks really fun. Where exactly in WA is this?
 
oh it's close, only about 180 miles to the north of Washington, I think the place is called Canada! :icon_rofl:
Oh when you said Chehalis I thought it was Chehalis WA lol
 
Same Here.


Good shots. Fix the hub and get back out there.

Hub was fixed the next day. I always have spares, just not in the truck with me that day, but it happened at the end of our day so no biggie. I'm thinking of doing the dana44 knuckle swap so I have stronger hubs.

I guess it's my bad, didn't know there was a Chehalis in WA as well as British Columbia.:icon_cheers:
 
Mike! thats place is un-real!

I quickly checked, my GPS (Hale Creek and Mytery are waypoints for me) and then tried referencing my backroads maps and i'm pretty sure u hit that lake right on the money!

I've always wanted to check that lake out (Lookout)!

Looks good Man!!!
Ry
 

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