[lupinsea]

Reiter Trails
Autumn GPS Mapping Excusion

1 Hr NE of Seattle, WA

October 13, 2007

With fall arriving in the Northwest and the leaves starting to turn color it was a good time to hit the trails to enjoy some of that autumn foliage. Of all of Washington's wheel'n areas the prime place for this is the Reiter Trails area, a bit of a no-man's land of left over terrain that has been enjoyed by local Jeepers for decades. While the other ORV areas happen in the shade of evergreen trees, Reiter's lower forest is populated by giant maple trees, smaller vine maples, and other deciduous trees. As the terrain climbs the mountainous backdrop to the north the forests transition to tall evergreens. Various creeks and rivers cut down through the woods making fun water crossings through out the offroading area.

Saturday morning I met up with Jim, a fellow Jeeper, and we drove north and east, through Monroe and out Hwy 2 east bound . A ground hugging fog follwed us much of the way and it was looking like we'd be Jeep'n in the mist. But when we reached Sultan, stopping at the Sultan Bakery for some great pastries, the skies were clearing. And by the time we pulled into the Reiter staging area we were under balmy, sunny, blue skies. Seizing the rare sunny fall day we both took down our tops while waiting for our tires to air down.

As already mentioned, Reiter Trails ins't a terribly well organized trail network, although things are starting to happen. Until they do there are no maps availbe for the trails. So the second impetus for this particular excusion was a GPS mapping exercise to start recording the trails for personal use. Once the Jeeps were ready to go the GPS receiver was turned on and set to track and we started out. Unlike other outtings, the point here was to run trails not previously recorded, and to be thorough. Meaning to try going on all the trails we can, fun, chanellenging . . . or not.

Fortunately, the series of short trail segments we mapped out that day all had their challenges. Within 2 minutes we found a trecherous obstacle of sharply angled rock outcropping on the main powerline trail. Both of our Jeeps needed help getting through here using the winches to suck down the front ends to keep from flipping up and backwards. Jim and I took turns as spotters, camera men, and winch runners hooking up rigging for eachother. And to think the rock buggie that preceeded us made it look so easy.

Next was a trail that took us north of the main gravel road. One branch of the trail lead on for several hundred feet until it necked down to a motor bike only route and we had to back up. Which is difficult on slippery, muddy offcamber trail. Jim's rig was sucked to th edge of the trail and into some trees before he was able to back into a pocket and get turned around. The trees crunched his front plastic fender and the pocket required some winching to get out of.

Back on the main trail route we had our second winching operation when trying to work our way around another off-camber corner set precipitously above a 5-6 ft drop off. My Jeep made it, barely, and with difficulty. But Jim wasn't so lucky as we think his lockers were causing him to slide sideways on the trails this morning. Taking no chances here we rigged up both of our winches. One line from my Jeep to a snatch block on a tree then back to Jim's roll-cage to keep him from tipping over sideways. The other line from his rig, crossing my cable, to a tree off to his 2 o'clock to pull him forward. The scene looked odd with winch cables running all over the place. But we both made it through with out problem.

After completing this last trail we were ready for lunch. What better place than at the edge of Index Wall, a 500+ ft shear granite cliff. After a short detour to scope out a radio facility we entered the watery Index Wall trail. The trail leaves Deer Creek Flats and enters the woods. From the start of the trail there are a series of deep puddles that stretch for hundreds of yards. Then a water crossing at a washed out bridge. On the other side of the bridge the trail splits at a fork. The left side runs in to DEEP water, the right side, not-as-deep water. We took the right side and worked our way toward the Wall. About 150 yards from the overlook the State DNR has bolted down a steel fence keeping Jeepers from the edge. We parked here and hoofed it the last little bit.

The view from the over look is stunning, looking out over a vast valley and the small town of Index below. Orange and yellow trees dot the mountain valley and punctuate the evergreen forests. A set of railroad tracks sweeps through a big curve and crosses a river on an old steel bridge. There were a surprising number of people who also had parked their Jeeps and hiked in and we met a lot of friendly smiles and hellos on our way to the edge.

The day was getting on after lunch and we opted to do mapping on the trails around sand hill under the power lines. Nothing complicated, technical or long. Just trying to be thorough. We passed an old Toyota FJ40 on one trail and I caught a whiff of musty, old machinery, god it smelled great, just like a rig is supposed to smell in the Northwest: a bit of steel, some old pain, dry rubber, musty wood, and a hint of moss some where.

We did run a couple new trails I hadn't been on before, one cutting through some tight trees and turns. Our final stop was scoping out a rock garden too difficult for either of us and one better left to more built-up and dedicated rigs. Before long the end of the day was upon us as we aired up the tires and got things buttoned down again for the drive home under a beautiful setting sun. What a great day!

More Photos!



3D Model of the Reiter Trails area showing the zones we GPS mapped this trip




Rock buggy walking over the first rock obtacle. No sweat.




Woops! Where's that winch cable? My attempt didn't go as smoothly as the buggy's.




Jim right after he got through the rock obstacle. Gorgous fall colors
on the maple trees in the background.




Some of the trails stretch out under the powerlines where smaller trees grow.
The weekend was probably the last good weather we'll have for a long while.




Rigging up some precautionary crazy winching to avoid a 5-6 ft drop.
Better safe than sorry.




My dog Zoe standing at the edge of Index Wall watching us eat lunch.




At the top of Index Wall looking over the small town of Index in the valley below.

[lupinsea]

On the way back we were spectators watching some Toyotas attempt the
"DEEP" water route on the Index Wall trail.




The Toyotas make for some good trail rigs up here. Very stout running gear.
After getting winched backwards, this is attemped #5. He never made it.




Heading back through the "shallow" puddles near the entrance to the Index Wall Trail.




Jim in amongst the trees at the top of sand hill under the power lines.




The short trench trail is a fun one to drop into near the top of sand hill.

[Tj_Justin]

Good trail report. I can really appreciate someone reporting a real trail and experience and not just mud bogging in the back yard

[GrimJeeper91]

Great pictures as usual...

[CBlakeNS]

Wow awesome pictures!

[wjb4000]

Thanks for the great pictures and trail report. I love reading these kinds of trail rides!

Josh

[Incadude]

"At the top of Index Wall looking over the small town of Index in the valley below"

Really an awesome pic!!

[apexkw]

man i love looking at the trails you guys run and the pics you take.

[Mr.Crowley]

Awesome pics..I would love to head out west for a week of exploring..

[mkuzmukerau]

Always love reading your writeups, and your pics are the best... Keep up the good work!

[kcphilaflyer]

Originally Posted by lupinsea

[B]Reiter Trails
Autumn GPS Mapping Excusion



At the top of Index Wall looking over the small town of Index in the valley below.

I think that's one of the coolest pictures I've ever seen!

[yyoon]

As usual, great job on the write up and pics!