Harris Park Walla Walla River Ride/Camp - Lots of Pics

[Hodakaguy]

A small group of us are planning on riding the OBDR later this summer and we've been talking about doing a couple overnight trips to test out our gear ect. We have never ridden the Harris Park area and thought that would be a great place for the overnight test run of our gear.

Anyways here are a few pics of the ride. Inmate YamWOW! and Kevin will post up their pics also.




We cheated and trailered the bikes to the start at Harris Park. (yeah I know I know)....Here we are just getting ready to unload the bikes. XR650R, DRZ400, WR250R. We are all using Giant Loop bags for luggage and have our complete set of camping gear for the OBDR loaded onto the bikes. Can't wait to hit the trails.




This is just a little ways in on the start of the south fork trail. Not much left of it, the roof is completely caved in. Still makes a cool stop though.




After turning North onto another single track trail you come out at a small medow. Here there are a couple trails to take. There is whats left of a small plane crash here. It looks like its a older Cessna 150 by the looks of whats left. We hiked around a bit and found the wings, flaps, aielrons, fuel tank and whats left of the Fuse. The rest must have been salvaged at one time. On the way down we met a few other riders who said this plane crashed here in the 70's while trying to make an emergency landing, he said both people in the plane were killed. It's not much of a clearing for a emergency landing attempt, I feel for the people that were in the plane. (Anyone know more about this plane wreck?)




From the plane crash site we took the single track trail that went strait ahead. It is more great tight single track with just enough obsticles to keep it interesting. Here I stopped to get a self shot on the trail.




This was taken from the same spot as the pic above, just looking forward. We really lucked out on the weather for this trip, just the right temp, no rain and perfect traction conditions.




Here Kevin is coming up the trail. He's riding his converted super moto DRZ400. Looks sweet in all black




Further up the trail you come to this bridge, after the bridge the trail turns to a wider ATV trail. You pass a Elk camp just a little ways past the bridge, if you hang a right into the elk camp there is another great single track that you can take.




We worked our way up to skyline road and decided to make the trip into Tollgate for some lunch and fuel. Along the way we came across this jeep that was VERY stuck in the mud. They had already got ahold of someone that was coming to help pull them out so we continued on our way. On the way back from Tollgate we talked to the toyota that was coming to get them out, I hope it all worked out for them....that was some nasty mud!




Here YamWOW! poses for a pic near the stuck jeep, we are on the way back from Tollgate and heading to find a camp spot for the night.




Not a great shot of camp but it will do. We ended up camping at the elk camp that was by the ATV trail. Here Kevin is collecting some wood for the fire. The next moring we took the single track out from the elk camp.




Taken the next morning out of my tent. YamWOW! and Kevin finishing up breakfast. You can see YamWOW! taking a picture of a deer that wondered into camp, it wasn't afraid of people at it came in pretty close.




Taking the single track out of elk camp you run into this tree that has fallen on the trail. It wasn't to hard to ride up the hill and around the tree to keep going. We didn't get any pictures of the best sections of the trails, they are more technical and you are just to focused on watching the trail and enjoying the scenery.





This picture was taken the next morning on our way up to Table Rock fire lookout. Pictures really fail to capture the beauty on these roads and trails. You can see our gear packed on the bike in this pic, the Giant Loop bags worked great! They held everything super secure and nothing shifted on the entire trip, even during jumps, pot holes ect. to Giant Loop!




This shot was taken from the same spot as the one above, I just liked how it came out so I threw it in.




Here we made it up to Table Rock fire lookout. The view was amazing! The camera really sucks at capturing the shot. YamWOW!'s WRR is ready to make the killer jump




Miss Piggy parked at Table Rock. All the bikes performed great on the trip, This was the first time that I had Miss Piggy on tight single track and I loved it. I've read where some people say its to big for single track but I found it worked great. I love the instant stump pulling torque on the trails.




Taken from the top of the lookout station.




This was a neat little cabin hidden in the trees not to far from the Fire lookout. It was in really good cond, had a wood stove inside. It looked like it hadn't been visited for quite some time.




Another sweet single track. On the way back to Harris Park we took another single track that would bring us out at the airplane crash site again. This was a really nice trail, tight and rocky in spots and absolutely gorgeous scenery.




Another shot of the sweet single track.




YamWOW! and Kevin on the way back to Harris Park.




Took this shot while sitting on the bike. These small flowers were everywhere on the way down. Very cool!


Well it was a great ride. We'll get some more pics posted up soon. Everything worked out great on our test but a few minor equipment items that will be changed before the OBDR (and that's why you need to test all your gear out in the field).

Hodakaguy

[Mr. Fisherman]

Sweet!

[Backwoods Boogie]

Great report and excellent pictures.

Thanks!

When is the OBDR trip?

[stuckinmud]

Another nice report. Whooohoooo

[Hodakaguy]

Originally Posted by Backwoods Boogie

Great report and excellent pictures.

Thanks!

When is the OBDR trip?

We're planning on doing the trip the first part of September. Should be favorable weather then.

Hodakaguy

[sirloynz]

Great ride report!

[abm77]

Great pics, looks really nice!

[dhally]

I love those trails, looks like you hit the weather and trail conditions perfect. Didn't even have to carry your bikes over any logs!

[richard.bessey]

Ah, nice ride report!

Did you hit any snow, at all?

[YamWOW!]

Here are a few more pics.



Fire look out on top of table Rock.





Camp

[Chadx]

Very cool. Looked like great trails. Interesting plane wreckage. Great scenery and trails. That flowering plant is Columbine, by the way.

[YamWOW!]

OK you can show the Giant Loop wreck tested.

[southforkspeedster]

One of my favorite places.................hence............SOUTHFORKs peedster..............







The cabin...............early this spring..........................



Not trying to hijack, just happy to see some ADVriders on my playground My Southfork of the Walla Walla roots are very deep. I have many many good memories and stories about those trails and things that have happened up there.

Thank you for sharing