How difficult are the trails at elbe now?

slideshow86 · Dec 5, 2009

Ive havent been to elbe hills yet but live too close not to check it out. I dont have a very capable rig and neither do my friend and were all fairly new to wheeling. None of us have winches :looser:

I want to go out there but dont want to go down a trail that my truck obviously couldnt make it down. I notice on the map it shows a "trail rating system". How accurate is it? Is there anything out there passable with out a winch? What are some of the easier trails this time of year?

Sorry guys, Sounds like such a noob question...

Fordzuki · Dec 5, 2009

Mainline (watch out for the hole:redneck

, gotcha, and rainier vista are all easy, with a couple spots you can have fun with. Easywild isn't bad but a few tight spots/body damage. :awesomework:

slideshow86 · Dec 5, 2009

I dont mind a dent here and there but I know a few guys that I go with will wine like no other. Is there anything out there that wont serve up any body damage?

cherokeefever · Dec 6, 2009

Fordzuki said:
Mainline (watch out for the hole:redneck, gotcha, and rainier vista are all easy, with a couple spots you can have fun with. Easywild isn't bad but a few tight spots/body damage. :awesomework:

All these are easy enough, Depands on the:redneck: driver 4 damage

jeepdarinx · Dec 6, 2009

Busywild one of the easiest out there!:haha:

Gibby1 · Dec 6, 2009

It partly depends on your definition of body damage...

We ran Sunrise, Mainline, Mainline extension, Gotcha, Rainer Vista, Alder Loop, Inner Alder Loop and the easywild with the only body damage being a broken side veiw mirror. We had 6 rigs.

If you stay off the busy and take a minute to look at the various options that are presented to you, you can get through all of though without much trouble.

If no body damage is the concern (been there done that), don't go to Elbe. You're going to kiss a tree or rub a stump on most trails.

slideshow86 · Dec 6, 2009

Ok OK OK....

Depending on who I talk to (im assuming by what they drive) depends on what they say is easy or difficult. A few people I know that have fully built trail rigs say they wouldnt take my no winch having, IFS with open diff running any where near the busy if I didnt want it beat to hell. They said most difficult stuff has bypass routes around the difficult part, but I was also told they get worse than the main trail? Plus they were saying somthing about a few places required to winch through (I must sack up and buy prezents this year before I buy myself a winch :eeek

.

THEN I get some people that say, Yea no worries, you can make it....:corn:...... I swear peole say stuff like this just to get someone stuck out of cell service.

Doesnt the trail systems change each year ON TOP of changing between summer (dry) and wither (wet) months. Most times the winter months bring out the nasty-est of conditions.

Sort of what im looking for would be like what they have over at PNW4WDA,

Location: 6.3 miles East of Elbe, WA off SR 706

Description: This trail system has about 8 miles of trails and was built by volunteers.

Trails

The Busywild Trail is the most well known trail. Named after the Busy Wild Creek that runs through part of it, this trail lives up to its name also. People say it

jprcrpr94 · Dec 6, 2009

Dude, I think you're thinking too hard about this. Just get out there and wheel and take it slowly. If you feel you're getting in over your head, then stop and turn around. If I was you I would post up when you are going and see if you can get some guys to meet up with and show you around. Don't believe everything you read on the internet, one guys definition of hard may be totally different than the next guys.

P.S. For what it's worth, I've done most of Elbe (minus the busy) in an ifs open open rig on 33" a/ts in the spring. You just have to take it easy and pick your lines.

grant1 · Dec 6, 2009

We installed signs that let you know what gear you need on your rig, for that trail.

pokey · Dec 6, 2009

Gibbys post is pretty accurate (short weekend Dale :eeek

Elbe can change from day to day and yes its real easy to get body damage there. Summer is going to be the best time to run the trails with the least damage and most ease but it can most definitely be done in the winter with some thinking and some good friends to help you along. Don't go without a winch or two in your group though.

jprcrpr94 · Dec 6, 2009

slideshow86 said:
Ok OK OK....

Depending on who I talk to (im assuming by what they drive) depends on what they say is easy or difficult. A few people I know that have fully built trail rigs say they wouldnt take my no winch having, IFS with open diff running any where near the busy if I didnt want it beat to hell. They said most difficult stuff has bypass routes around the difficult part, but I was also told they get worse than the main trail? Plus they were saying somthing about a few places required to winch through (I must sack up and buy prezents this year before I buy myself a winch :eeek.

THEN I get some people that say, Yea no worries, you can make it....:corn:...... I swear peole say stuff like this just to get someone stuck out of cell service.

Doesnt the trail systems change each year ON TOP of changing between summer (dry) and wither (wet) months. Most times the winter months bring out the nasty-est of conditions.

Sort of what im looking for would be like what they have over at PNW4WDA,

Location: 6.3 miles East of Elbe, WA off SR 706

Description: This trail system has about 8 miles of trails and was built by volunteers.

Trails

The Busywild Trail is the most well known trail. Named after the Busy Wild Creek that runs through part of it, this trail lives up to its name also. People say it

Fordzuki · Dec 6, 2009

I hear the 9 trail is a good one if you don't want damage. :redneck:

Brian H · Dec 6, 2009

Fordzuki said:
I hear the 9 trail is a good one if you don't want damage. :redneck:

Yeah but its got a few big holes that are iced over.:;

slideshow86 · Dec 6, 2009

The main reason I posted this is because if I were to go up there, I would probably end up going up going with less capable rigs that I am (not on the forum). Only people i know with trucks either have full out wheelers or non lifted trucks on 31's and only the only ones with winches are the fully built ones. I dont think they get out much as they have to trailer there trucks there.

I just joined the forum and dont want to get out there and hold a bunch of people up. Just kinda getting a feel for the area.

jprcrpr94 said:
Dude, I think you're thinking too hard about this. Just get out there and wheel and take it slowly.

P.S. For what it's worth, I've done most of Elbe (minus the busy) in an ifs open open rig on 33" a/ts in the spring. You just have to take it easy and pick your lines.

I was going to try to plan a day to take a few friends up there and wheel. A few people I know dont want any damage and would turn around at the first sign of possible damage and dont want to spend a day going up there to have one or two of them leave due to some random occurance. I would rather take them on some easy trails or not take them at all.

I have been told by people I know that I just need to go up there durring the summer and check it all out. I just got my truck though and already been to tahuya. Plus elbe is 40 mins from my house and I dont think I can wait till summer.

pokey said:
Gibbys post is pretty accurate

Don't go without a winch or two in your group though.

This is part of why I like that I posted this. It also tells me where to spend my money first. A winch and some under carriage armor

jprcrpr94 said:
If it's too bad, then stop and turn around.

I will do a lot more of this type exploring once I get my winch... Hell I just locked up the rear end yesterday.

slideshow86 · Dec 6, 2009

Fordzuki said:
I hear the 9 trail is a good one if you don't want damage. :redneck:

Yes I agree. Most the people I go up with should stick to gravel roads. :awesomework:

Jaydog · Dec 6, 2009

If you have less capable rigs then just run everything but the Busy and Swamp trail, most are pretty short and we ran most of the trails yesterday with a sammy that was open on both ends, as long as you have a couple good winch vehicles then you won't run into any problems, You can get through everything with a winch at Elbe.

boardbysled · Dec 6, 2009

Here is some pictures for ya to look at:awesomework:
http://www.the4x4network.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2099

nate8887 · Dec 6, 2009

Straight up dude you will be fine if you stay off the busy bring a come along and be prepared to turn around or back out if you cant make it.

TrikeKid · Dec 6, 2009

We took a stock '85 Toyota on 31's and a '97 Ranger on 31's through the Gotcha this summer.. The more careless/impatient you are, the more body damage you will end up with. The kid with the Ranger is really impatient and had the longest/lowest rig in our group (We had a CJ-5 on 34's with us as well), he managed to smack both rockers and back into a stump denting his bed. He would have been fine had he not gotten impatient and paid more attention in the corners where he had to back up to get around stumps and trees.

Gibby1 · Dec 6, 2009

pokey said:
Gibbys post is pretty accurate (short weekend Dale :eeek Elbe can change from day to day and yes its real easy to get body damage there. Summer is going to be the best time to run the trails with the least damage and most ease but it can most definitely be done in the winter with some thinking and some good friends to help you along. Don't go without a winch or two in your group though.

Friday night camping and Saturday wheeling was all. We spend a couple hours of the day with a winch cable for a couple of rigs on Sunrise and then fixing a broken center pin at the end of mainline. I was working on getting the GPS mapping project completed.