The Outer Banks of North Carolina are about to be restricted and even some places fenced off, so this is the last year you will be able to get out on the beach there and explore your transfer case on the sand.... The National Park Service and the state of North Carolina are slapping more paper and words around than ever before and are threatening to make it a residential and NON-ORV area....
Enjoy it while you can

Fred, I really don't know many trails around here aside from Brown's Camp and some stuff up in the Mt. Hood National forest. The Willys should be built in two months, and then I'd like to really go out and discover some new trails in the area.

Damon, I lived in Longview, WA and Gresham, OR for a few years. The forest and mountains there always bring great memories of fun times I had in the past. It seems like a life time ago. My job kept me very busy back then, and had little time to get out on the trails with my 79 CJ V8 w/ quadratrac & posi-lock, I had back then. I was extremely in-experienced and it probably was a good thing I didn't get out on the trails very much; I probably would've gotten into a lot of trouble & way over my head. I did go over to longbeach, WA frequently. Back then, we could drive on the beach. You'll have to write about your trail rides; I sure the four wheeling there is a bit different from most places.

I'll have to put any thought of getting back to the West Coast on the back burner, for now, anyway. My plan will be to attempt to get out as many weekends as I can this coming season; mostly in Colorado, and over to Moab in May and/or September.

Problem in Colorado is that the snow melt lasts into July, and even August for a few trails I'd like to do this season. Tomorrow may be interesting if my buddies can get over their passion for doing some snow-bashing. I'd like to head down to Penrose and do Independence or Patriot. I'm just waiting on a call from Andy to see what all the guys decided to do. If it's snow-bashing, I think I will pass on the invitation. I'm getting too old for trail repairs and recoveries in the snow at high elevations! Independence is a lot more interesting and fun, anyway; at least there a good chance that there will be no snow.

one of my favorites is just northeast of washougal. you head east on sr14 into the gorge. just past cape horn, salmon falls road will be on the left. you go north on that a mile or 2 and maybe mines rd will be on the right. just follow that out 'til it turns to gravel. it's a fun area in the snow and there's a good power line road with lots of hillclimbs and fun little obstacles year 'round.

i also suggest checking out the rock crawling event in goldendale when they go up there. i know rock crawling isn't that big up there but man, it's a rush. pictures in magazines don't do it justice. i heard they opened a rock field at brown's? anyway, here's a rock pic on one of the easiest trails in az.




this guy was stuck pretty good. he was also kind of a rookie. we recovered him with me standing in the bed of his truck for ballast and telling him where to steer his front tires to escape the crack. as soon as the front right tire cleared the crack, the back set down and i stepped out.