After sunrise at Steliko, we headed back to Ardenvoir and up Mud Creek Canyon to follow the route. Hit pavement again by 25 mile creek state park, lunch in Chelan, and started the trek up the east side of the lake. I had read about a washout north of Cooper Mountain, but the published detour to Black Canyon had a road closed sign. Drove up to the site of the washout, and one of the workers there aid the detour was NOT closed, so drove back again. Detour took me back to pavement south of Methow.

After getting back on dirt again, I started to notice more and more burned areas. Some more recent, other places it's been longer since the fires ravaged through the area. This particular area (a bit further north) had a mix of black and silver colored trunks still standing.

Stayed at Leader Lake campground (DNR) on Thursday night, and kept going from there on Friday morning. Took a detour at China Wall at Loup Loup to see if I could find remnants of the old mining camp. Didn't find any sign of the camp, but the view was amazing, like many other places along the way.

The trail towards the Arlington Mine site was a bit dicey, but made it through. Almost lost my ham antenna on the trail after having it hit so many trees during that detour... When I came to the end of the detour I found this sign. Yeah, I probably shouldn't have gone there.

We made it to the border near Nighthawk earlier than I expected, by 4:30 on Friday. Here's what the Canadian border station looks like.

After that, I decided to take SR20 home. Spent one final night in tent by by the side off a forest service road off SR20 west of Winthrop and came home this morning. Tomorrow it will be time to take the truck to the car wash!

Nice!

Thanks for the recon Guy! With that info I decided to save this section for later. Maybe safer when I go with a group.

This morning I’m at the Steliko lookout up by Ardenvoir. Beautiful sunrise over the ridgeline!

Hmm I didn't hear about that. When we pre ran over Memorial Day the sign said the road was impassable but we found no evidence of a washout or anything that looked recently repaired...

I thought I had heard that one of the trail rides at the rally was shortened because of a locked gate, I believe it was Dan's Ruby Creek run and it would have been there at Camas Meadows. Could be wrong...

Footnote that Camas Meadows says that the road is impassable but it isn't.

As an alternative... Consider driving up to Lion Rock from Ellensburg as usual, then exit to Hwy 97 at Blewett Pass. From 97, take Ruby Creek, go through Camas Meadows, and drop down into Cashmere!

Ole & All, this morning I took a little drive from Wenatchee up to the Beehive-Liberty road, which is also NF-9712. This road is part of WABDR Section 3, between Ellensburg and Cashmere.

For years a washout has closed the WABDR along Mission Creek, which is a real shame as it's a particularly nice drive through lush greenery along the creek. A popular alternative has been to just continue past Beehive Reservoir, into Wenatchee. From there, take Number Two Canyon Road, back west, to join the Mission Creek road below the closed section. From there it's but a few miles to Cashmere.

There is now another washout which closed the popular Beehive-Liberty road last year. There has been much confusion about the actual status of this road. I decided to take a look, as it's a short drive from my home in Wenatchee.

Summary: It's dangerous!

Now, onto the details. Here's the open gate, above Beehive Reservoir:

And an interesting sign next to the open gate:

Part of the washout. There are actually several trouble spots all within about a quarter mile of each other:

This is tight, a bit off-camber and I think the "repair" is of dubious strength:

This was driven by a NWOL member in a late-model Suburban just two years ago. It's now "sketchy" for even a well set-up Jeep. I eased through in low-range, first gear, with the rear locker engaged. I was still concerned. The consequences of slipping off to the downhill side would be severe. A long rollover. After this was another rough area, that has been partially cleared. Due to the conditions and the danger of rolling, I cannot recommend this route, at this time. Sad, because it was a popular drive here in Chelan County, which until recently could be driven by a stock 2wd vehicle.

Approaching Hwy 97, Blewett Pass:

My Jeep did well, but it was still touchy. The Jeep has a 2.5" Teraflex suspension, 285/75 (33") tires, 4:10 gears, air lockers, and very deliberately no top-heavy roof rack. I wouldn't want to try the route in anything less capable, and frankly I'm not driving that washout again until it has been repaired.

Regards, Guy

How about I take a driver up there in a couple of hours and find out?

It does look like it's open.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD543593

Ole do you have reliable info about section 3 trying to figure out if the washout is passable byby 4x4. I'm bring conflicting info. some say yes it can be done and has been fixed others say it hasn't

Guy, I bet you could do it blindfolded :-)

Sounds fun and a lot more scenic than what we'll be doing. That'll be about the time we're enjoying the beauty and splendor of West Texas (lovely in summer). At least we'll get to wave at Moab as we drive through...

That's a good route Ole. I've done it several times. Might be able to do it again. :)