North Wash

[blueshade]

Was wondering if anyone knows what the road conditions are like going toward the Forks of West Butler. Is 4x4 mandatory or can it be done carefully in a car (with moderate clearance)?

Also wondering if it's true that Slideanide can be done without raps for a good climber (bypassing the first rap).

Any other good options for DCs instead of raps? Merry Piglet?

Thanks!

[CarpeyBiggs]

normally can be done in a car... but @ratagonia says the road is pretty rough, probably need HC at the very least.

[nonot]

Tom Jones recently posted this within about the last week:


"The road up above the Leprechauns was worse than I had ever seen it - chewed up
by recent storms it seems. Slow going even for fully-capable vehicles."

[ratagonia]

Tom Jones recently posted this within about the last week:


"The road up above the Leprechauns was worse than I had ever seen it - chewed up
by recent storms it seems. Slow going even for fully-capable vehicles."

And as Dan said, it would be more of a clearance problem than a traction problem.

Constrychnine has a really good high-stem downclimb problem, just after one of the rappels. Most will rappel it from slings under a boulder. Got my heart pumping!

The Last part of Slideanide can be downclimbed, though the jump at the end is a bit much for centenarians like myself.

Merry Piglet is said to be a downclimbing testpiece... haven't done it that way, yet.

You can always go in the bottom of Sandthrax part way, see how far you get.

Tom

[blueshade]

Thanks for the info guys, especially Tom. Sounds fun, I'll have to check my options for what I can get to. Merry Piglet sounds like it would be a blast.

How hard are the potholes to avoid/surpass on Hogwarts?

[ratagonia]

Thanks for the info guys, especially Tom. Sounds fun, I'll have to check my options for what I can get to. Merry Piglet sounds like it would be a blast.

How hard are the potholes to avoid/surpass on Hogwarts?

We brought wetsuits in Hogwarts but did not put them on. There is one stemming problem in Hogwarts that is a bit high, not too hard, and very intimidating. There is a rap anchor there, which would put you into a pool of unknown depth that might be hard to get out of. I stemmed across, then we set up a guided rappel to keep Rachel and Paul out of the water.

The next section looks like it will end in the pool, but there is a convenient ledge that allows you to stay dry, not visible from above.

Also, please note the Sand Trap between the two parts of the campsite. Way longer, way softer than I have ever seen it. Probably best to avoid.

Tom

[shae]

Made it up in a civic last weekend to the four way. Bumpy but doable.

[blueshade]

Made it up in a civic last weekend to the four way. Bumpy but doable.

Really? Good to know. About as pleasant as going out to Chambers?

[ratagonia]

Really? Good to know. About as pleasant as going out to Chambers?

Just a guess, but no, the drive out to Chambers is WAY more difficult. That hill below the camping spot - real HC 4WD stuff.

If you took your 2WD Civic down there, I can only say and Good On Ya.

T

[blueshade]

Just a guess, but no, the drive out to Chambers is WAY more difficult. That hill below the camping spot - real HC 4WD stuff.

If you took your 2WD Civic down there, I can only say and Good On Ya.

T

I wasn't real happy about it, but I actually had my 2WD Pontiac Vibe out at Chambers while we were there. Did the hill fine, but was dragging on all of the sage brush between the ruts. Heard there was a Prius out there before that...