Okay guys so I've been thinking. I'm getting a little bored with Walker Valley, Tahuya is a real yawner, Reiter hasn't been opened back up yet and Evans Creek is closed for the winter. That pretty much leaves Elbe for a place I can still get to for a day wheeling run. I would probably go down to my hometown (Chehalis) and stay overnight with the folks. It would be a much shorter trip for me from there. About an hour vs. 4 hours driving all the way from Whidbey Island. SO.....this leads me to the main subject of this thread. I need ideas from all of you guys as to when would be a good time for you to go on an Elbe Hills Run. I want everybody who looks at this thread to post up with a date. PLEASE IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREAD POST A RESPONSE. I get so frustrated when I post a thread trying to get a run together and it gets 50 looks and like 2 posts. I don't care if it is a month or more from now. I will let this thread run for 2-3 weeks or until I get a sizable number of responses. I was thinking like maybe the weekend after Valentines Day. That way we can all spoil our sweeties for that weekend and make mad cool points so we can all go wheeling the next weekend...lol....and it is far enough in the future that nobody already has plans for that weekend and you can clear that weekend with anybody you would need to. Once I get a good sized group of responses and I will post the top 3 dates that most of you pick. Lets see if we can do a first for the Northwest Chapter of Cherokeeforum and get more than 10 XJs at one location on one run on the same day.

 

you know im only posting a response cause i know how that is, post a thread 200 views 3 posts.

Id set a date on when i can go but who know when that is (need a liscense and tires + new rear axle first) Although i REALLY want to go wheeling im not gonna risk getting arrested to go

 

Chris,

Just stay in contact. Let me know when you're coming home. I cruise right by Everett on my way down to wheel Evans Creek one of my favorite spots on the north side of Mt. Ranier and Elbe Hills I think soon to be another of my favorite spots on the south side. I've always got and open shotgun seat in my XJ as my best wheeling partner (my son) now has his own XJ that is bigger than mine.

 

Here we go again up to 29 looks already and just one post besides myself. C'mon guys...REALLY? Why be a member of such an awesome forum that that gives us the ability to makes friends with other people with the two most awesome common interests there are...Jeep Cherokees and 4wheeling. Stop being a "Lurker" today. Let's get a group together of the veterans who have been around for awhile and become the regulars (you know who you are) and let's also meet some of you newbies. I'm not placing any stipulations or expectations on this run at all. Open or locked, lift or no lift, stock tires or bigger tires. All I ask is you have some kind of tow point front and rear so we can give anybody a tug who might need it. Also, I have never wheeled Elbe but I hear that at least a couple of the trails are pretty nasty. No whining if your rig happens to get a dent or two in it.....BUT, don't let that keep you from coming. Drive your XJ to the trail head so we can all get a look at it and then lock it up and jump in with somebody who has an empty seat. I always have empty seats and love the company and extra people to take pictures. So, c'mon post up with some probable dates.

 

hey ill go and yeah im tired of that millions of views and few responses. look at the couple trips i tried to put up. tho they may have been a few days in advance but anyway. umm i could possibly do a day run on the 15th or possibly 16th. 29th weekend. i get payed every two weeks. so any of those days. i can get just about anyday off, soo keep me updated. i really wanago. count me in.
the 15th would be perfect. if ya wana do one just to have some fun. plus i might be able to get some other jeeps out there as well.

 

Ok, I'll bite. I have no kids and no wife so I can go anytime. I would prefer to head out to Elbe within the next couple of weeks, but if you wanna go on Feb 19th I would go then too. If you just want to feel out when people are available to go try picking several dates and starting a poll thread. In my experience the best way to make it happen is to pick a date where nothing else is going on and set up a trip. Then post a tread about your trip and include some details about trails you want to run and any restriction for vehicles included in the run. For example on your trip if you want to let just anyone come you will want to let people know we are not running the busywild as an open open rig would not do well there. Once you have your wheeling trip thread started make sure to bump it occasionally to move it to the top if other people are not responing. If you plan it they will come. There is no guanantee that you will get more than 10, I have gotten anywhere from 2 to 12 people to come on a run, just keep trying and eventually you will get a good run together.

 

I would be down to go! weres elbe at? and I am not scared of a little body damage! just ask that tree that push my left rear door handle in this weekend! lol

 

i have been wanting to hit up elbe for a while but havent had the chance to. that date might be hard for me because as soon as i get my tax return check my jeep will be out of commision for a little while. building a cage in it and some other miscellanious mods. but i will keep you informed if i will be able to make it or not. make sure you get ahold of one of the locals Brian. tim and bill are the two besides me that know the trails around here pretty damn well as i know you have never been to elbe.

 

Hey so I am new to the form and well looking to go on a trail run. I have been up to Tahauha state forest. And have wanted to go to elbe hills. But don't wanna do that one solo. Anyways if you could give me some details on like how the trails are and also what kinda of rig will make it through.

I have a 96 xj with around 5.25" lift and 33x13.50r15 Toyo M/T no lockers and a CD9000I warn winch. Think it can make it?

 

There is the Snow-Jam coming up this month at Elbe. Its the 22nd...why dont we try to get a good group together for that event? From what I have heard that run is a pretty good time. Should be an enjoyable day for those that have never been to Elbe. I am going to try and make this run.

 

Id love to hit up somewhere new. Its hard when walker is only 25 minutes away. I'll be watching this thread to see when its going to happen. That way i can start buttering up the sweetie!

 

I gotta go to NTC for the month of February so some time this month would work for me and also go again in March. Kinda curious just how deep some of the spots in Elbe can get in the wet season.

 

unless your sweetie also likes wheeling

 

Wow! Awesome responses guys! Thanks!! Now this is more like how a planning thread should go. So far Im thinking the Snow Jam run at Elbe on Saturday, 22 January 2011, that JosefXJ97 mentioned is the best time to go to Elbe. As many of you know I LOVE playing in the snow on snow runs. So tell me more about this Snow Jam event at Elbe. What club puts it on? Will they mind us crashing their event or would be be on our own? I'd like to contact whoever puts it on to see what trails they will be running. I've heard lots of horror stories about the infamous Busy Wild Trail. One guy even told me nothing on less than 35" tires should even try. This guy as some of you know, obviously doesnt know me very well. I regularly wheel with guys on anywhere from 35s all the way up to 40s....and my XJ has always held its own on 33s. I guess when you're at the point like I am that one more dent really doesnt matter then you can relax and just have fun wheeling the tuff stuff. So, Branden would this run be before your planned date of ripping the big green beast apart? Bobby would this weekend work for you since you dont leave for training until 1 Feb? I would definitely be down with heading back up to Elbe in March for another run. I believe March is also when Evans Creek opens back up. You two guys and Tim have no choice in the matter. I want my regular Cherokeeforum wheeling buds to all come on this run....and then everybody else who wants to is invited as well. I have looked at maps of the Elbe Hills Trail system. I've also read a lot of trail reports about the trails. Im sure there are trails mild all the way up to the busy "wild" for us to run. Heck with enough snow the forest access roads are fun. I wanted to keep the run stipulation free but you guys who have run Elbe before please chime in. Should we make a tire size limit? or a 1 or 2 locker requirement? I say a guy who has a winch and is open/open should be able to run whatever trail he wants so long as he is lifted and has say 33s. He should be able to winch himself out of any stuck he gets in. I have 33" tires, 6" lift, locked and locked, rock sliders, a winch and tow hooks front and rear. I will try anything Elbe has to throw at me with this set up except deep water that will hydro lock my motor. That is the one limit I have as I do drive my Jeep to and back from everywhere I go wheeling...and my trip home to Oak Harbor from Elbe will be about 200 miles. So please answer my questions guys I have asked questions to. Guys keep on posting other prospective dates to head out to Elbe.

 

hey, think 32s could make it.