Question for Pacific N.W. Riders...

[Vincent WR400F]

Hi all, my wife and I moved away from our original home of Washington State 17 years ago when I joined the Air Force.

I had been riding dirt bikes all my life up to that point and have continued to do so. Now, we've been living in the southwest for the last ten years.

Anyways, let me get to the point...
I'm coming to the point in my military career where I'm going to retire and we're considering moving back up to the northwest to be closer to family.

One big thing sticks out in my mind that is keeping me from wanting to move back...the rain! I remember always wearing my riding gear and having to wash tons of clay off after every ride. Yuck!

I've been spoiled by our deserts and mountains down here to say the least.
I remember we used to head north toward Olympia (I'm from Centralia) and we'd ride were it was more of a gravelly base instead of the typical clay near home. This gravel let lots of the standing water drain out of the soil and it wasnt always so dang sloppy.

My question is...where do you folks go riding up there in the winter time? I know there are a bunch of you on this board and I'd like to hear from you. It just may help me feel reassured that Im not nuts for moving back up that way. :)

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Vincent   "He who dies with the most toys wins!"
99 WR400F
84 V65 Magna
56 Triumph 650(Hillclimber)
92 TW200
84 KX80
81 XR80
81 PW50

 

[JAJ]

Hey Vincent. I guess its ok for you to come back since you already have roots here :)

I ride all over the west side during the winter and unfortunately they are all very wet... Personally I love it. I love riding in these nasty conditions! FUN, FUN, FUN!

You know I deal with that statement alot, "It's always so rainy in Seattle". You know I don’t necessarily agree. Yes we have our far share of rain, but by no means is it too much. We're GREEN! Green, takes alot of water! :)

I've travel all over the country and I can say without hesitation. Washington is the most beautiful, spectacular, outdoor friendly, nice place to live in the country.

Good luck with your decision!

JJ

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JJ - "Family 'O' Yamaha"
99 WR400 (KTM 520EXC/MXC?)
00 TTR125L
99 PW80 (KTM 65?)
99 PW50 (KTM 50JR?)

 

[fishhead]

For winter riding Tahauya (Belfair) is hard to beat. Its got good drainage,good variety of trails. Capitol Forest (Olympia) is good when it dries out a bit after June. Cle Elum offers a couple of areas the Teanaway and Taneum which also have winter snomobileing.The Lake Wenatchee and Nachess area do also. Farther east there are dunes at Moses Lake Check out NMAoffroad.org If you have been gone 17 years you may not recognize the place now.

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[MXP1MP]

Depends on where in the state you move, not alot of ridding area's close to the seattle metro area. Most area's are in central/eastern washington. Check out this website the info is kinda old but still holds true www.nmaoffroad.org this is the northwest motorcycle assiocation website. Hey JAJ you wouldn't of happened to of been up at reiters pit like 2 weeks ago with like a big trailer of bikes with a few kids & wife? the bikes you have listed in your tag line is what they had of course parked up under the power lines.

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[firecracker22]

If you prefer desert riding conditions, my hometown of Wenatchee offers a LOT of riding areas. Not a lot of snow lately--I was riding in early January in Crescent Bar, near Quincy. There's lots of year round riding in Moses Lake and Juniper Dunes areas if you like sand. North of Spokane there is tons of gorgeous scenery and great technical trails in the Little Pend Oreille and Batey Bould areas. I'm new to the western side of the state so I'm not the expert over here.

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Had we but worlds enough, and time . . .

http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/flyin_firecracker22

E-mail me at [email protected]

 

[endoquest]

Vincent, all of your responses have mentioned Washington but not Oregon. The Tillamook State Forest west of Portland is not very far from Centralia, maybe less than two hours. There are hundreds of miles of gnarly, technical trails there that only get snowed out in the heart of the winter. The OMRA has quite a few races and enduros staging out of there every year. Don't leave out Gifford Pinchot/Mt. Adams area. There are also a few riding areas down here in Eugene and Oakridge.

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President,ETRA.
'01 KTM520E,
'99 KTM200E,
'93 CR500R
enee,menee,minee,mo

 

[JAJ]

Nope MXP, wasn't me. I've been there most Sundays lately but with my buddies.

I can't seem to get my wife or my little girl out unless is 75 degrees :). My boy will ride any time but he needs a new bike. I'm shopping for a KTM 65 as we speak.

I'll see ya out there!

JJ

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JJ - "Family 'O' Yamaha"
99 WR400 (KTM 520EXC/MXC?)
00 TTR125L
99 PW80 (KTM 65?)
99 PW50 (KTM 50JR?)

 

[Vincent WR400F]

Hey Endoqwest,
I used to ride all over the Gifford Pinchot with my dad and his buddies. We used to ride Bishop Ridge, Blue Lake trail, etc...had a lot of great times.

The only Oregon riding I really ever did was in the dunes area between Florence all the way down to Coos Bay. We used to go in the winter when the crowds were thinner and the dunes firm and damp. I sure do miss that!!

I appreciate everyones responses...hope to see more. I guess I'm looking for someone to talk me into moving back up that way ;) It's hard to beat all this sunshine I've gotten used to.

 

[scouringpad]

I agree with Endoqwest - the Tillamook Forest is great riding. Almost all of my riding is done in the Trask. It is usually a mud bath in the winter, but I've gotten used to it. Some of the lower elevations have had almost no snow at all this year, and there is usually somewhere without snow, unless it is snowed in at sea level as well (almost never). My WR426 is beating the crap out of me on some of these tight trails, and I would sometimes like to be in more desert like areas, but trade? Not a chance!

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[MXP1MP]

JAJ: Well maybe i'll see ya up at reiters this weekend it should be decent weather. I'll be park up by the power lines, i usually get there by about 11am. I drive a red ford ranger just look for my '01 CR #439 hopefully i'll see ya up there.

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[dirtbikedad]

Vincent,
Have you thought about Idaho? There is a high desert county in the SW, Owyhee. Its about 150 x 100, miles that is. It has two paved roads and about 4 that are dirt. Lots of room to ride and thaws early. Then you have the mountains. Everything from easy riding like the rolling hill of Colorado to serious rocks. Trees everywhere in the mountains.

Jerry

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Old guy who putts around on a '00 WR400F behind the KX_kid

 

[bbbom]

Where do we ride in the winter? On the snow of course!!!! Okay, so we aren't really in the Pacific NW. ;)

Or we load up & drive 3 hours to Moses Lake or Juniper or go a little further (18 hours) to RENO!!!

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Bbbom’s Picture Page

 

[Vincent WR400F]

Hey D.B.Dad,
I've been to Boise a few times and I have to agree with you. I have often considered moving there one of these days. Three major rivers running through town with good fishing, a nearby national forest and good weather...hmmm.
Yeah, its mighty attractive looking.
Never been riding there yet...one of these days I'll make a point of it.

 

[MACE]

Hey Vincent, thankyou for serving our country!

I'm an Oregon native. I was exiled to Southern California for a few years. I'm so happy to be back in the land of roots, ruts, rocks and mud!

The key to wet weather riding is to just bomb through the first big puddle and get it over with. Immediately get soaked through and through so you don't have to worry about staying dry. Now stay on the super tight trails - the ones so tight all you can see is your own back fender. Keep working hard and you won't get cold.

I love Tahuya in the winter. The whoops fill with water. If you hit them fast you just hydro across. It's a cool feeling. Hydro-whoops can be kind of weird in turns though - no rudder. It's all fun (except the road transit sections where those without Moose jackets turn Reflex Blue (even the KTM riders).

Vincent, I'm sure we would be better off as a state if you came back. Seriously, you need to consider if you have been warped as you dehydrated and what about the kids? They will probably freak if all they've known is tumble weeds and beef jerkey skinned adults.

 

[stpatrik16]

For great riding year around check out China hat 20 miles east of bend on highway 20. Almost 500 miles of marked mapped trails. The east fort rock area gets some snow in the winter but just across the Highway to the north is North Millican valley where you'll find 189 miles of open desert riding. The china hat/East fort rock area is a mix of open desert and tree hugging. For oregon riding check this site www.oohva.org its got it all. Happy trails

kx 125

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[ochster]

Vincent, Born and raised in WA. You say it's been 17 yr's? well weve lost alot. This is not the state you remember. I'm actually going to be relocating to Oregon to continue to have good riding. It would be my advice to schedule a couple of rides. Seems there are plenty of members here that would enetertain you, myself included. Lot's would depend on what kind of riding you like, and how far your willing to drive. Maybe if you post a certain area your likely to live, we could norrow down some specifics. My .02

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[Vincent WR400F]

Ochster,
Specifically we will probably relocate back to the Lewis or Thurston County areas. Centralia/Chehalis, or Rochester. Thats where all the family is at.

I know the east end of the county has still got lots of good riding up in the Gifford Pinchot National forest but that pretty much shuts down in the winter due to snow.

 

[ochster]

Vincent, I don't believe that far south, to be much affected. You are certainly with in reasonable driving distance to some good riding even farther south. You get with in 75 miles of Seattle, and it is an entirely different story. Then there is moto-X scene, or lack of it. That too is actually good down where your talking, as well as some new facilities. Good choice from my perspective.

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[MXP1MP]

This isn't really a legit place to ride but the sheriff won't bust ya for it. There's a small sand area thats about 56 acre's just south of longview right next to I-5 and i mean that you can see it from I-5. But it's mostly just flat loose sand not alot of fun. There's a couple of MX tracks close by, Trulson's in onalaska, but they don't seem to hold that many races? And there's Woodland close by which seems to have a race like every week or two rain or shine.

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[firecracker22]

Trulson is closed, mxp1mp. There will be no more races there. Sad to lose another park. I haven't been able to get in touch with the owners to find out why--they're not returning calls.

There are many other places if tracks are your style! Dairyland MX park in Monroe was great, I rode there last Saturday. There were kind of a lot of singles with flat-landings that should be tabletops (IMO) but all in all it was a fun place with more than one track. http://members.tripod.com/sonicbeal/ for more information. There is also Ward Creek and Uncle Willy's Flyin Farms south of Seattle, and Hannegan to the north, and Olympic Peninsula Motorcycle Club's track in Port Angeles, Thurston Co. ORV, Castle Rock MX Park and SIR in Kent. For trail-riding bliss, Shelton Valley, Belfair and Capitol Forest are places I hear about all the time but haven't ridden there yet. Those are just a few. And...my mom owns 120 acres of timber in Carnation! She is getting permission from my aunt for me to go in and cut some trails. I remember hiking there as a kid and it's really cool. E-mail me for contact #s!

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Between bikes at the moment--but a pumpkin is looming on the horizon!
http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/flyin_firecracker22
E-mail me at [email protected]

 

[Tulio]

Hey Vincent, I sure hope you don't move before I get a chance to make a loop with you at Cloudcroft. I was down there about 3 weeks ago ( in a Jeep) , and fell in love with the place. That would be hard to leave! good luck either way. thanks, Vince (Tulio)

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[Vincent WR400F]

No need to worry yet Tulio...
I have a couple years yet till retirement. Im just trying to kind of plan ahead and decide if its even a feasable option to move back up there. I still have lots of riding time/opportunities down here, if we even do leave. Come on by any time...I'd enjoy showing you around.
By the way...I have a pretty cool Jeep myself, an 81 CJ-7. I've added lots of off road goodies to it (air lockers, granny low tranny, winch, spring over lift, etc...).

 

[vern#19]

Blue lake,cat creek etc. are all still there and the ash has made it even better p.S. there was a ride called the Mount ST. Helens 100 a few years back that gave a good tour that whole area.

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