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View Full Version : Godman snow trip of 2011 (Skyline road in the Blue Mountains of WA/OR)



Adondo
12-27-2011, 05:48 PM
Mike and I ate breakfast at our usual Andy's restaurant, then headed to Kennewick to meet with pjmjr508 (http://www.theultimatejeep.com/member.php/1655-pjmjr508), his brother, and nephew on Christmas Eve. (Pjmjr508 came across the Cascades to visit family) Off we go east to the Blue mountains. It was 31 degrees when we went through Dayton WA, then started heading up Mustard Hollow road. The temperature climbed as fast as we did. It was, in fact about 15 degrees WARMER at 5,000' and was shirtsleeve weather complete with sunshine.

I can tell you that the high 40's is NOT your friend when there's a foot and a half of snow. Pjmjr508 was the first to get frame buried in the soft sherbert. As you can see in the photos, score was being kept. :) The Silverado pulled out the XK, which then got stuck only about 50 feet later. On a steep hill at an old quarry, his nephew tried skiing down a 30 degree slope on the lid of a recovery box. He never got any faster than about 5 MPH. The video looks like slow motion. Had it been 20 degrees up there, the lid/sled/boy would've traveled at mach 1.8 to the bottom.

We decided to turn around at a road junction a few miles this side of Godman, and I almost got stuck. The Chevy's front end dropped in, so Pjmjr508 got redemption. I was going to try out my new winch, but... :) We all got turned around via a 53 point turn. We got back down without dropping either into the ditch or down the ravine, so all was well.

We went east at a T, and headed down to the Toucannon River. We popped out about 30 miles from highway 12. We decided (on a radio conversation) that we didn't want to backtrack thru Dayton again, so we headed north to Palouse Falls. We got there within 10 minutes of sundown, and looked at the mostly frozen falls... in 26 degree temps, after dropping a mile in elevation and about 20 degree temp. Go figure.

On the way back to town, Mike and I noticed a HUGE white owl on a fence post. His head was the size of a softball, and he was looking out into a farm field. We're guessing he flew off, and into a circle around, because Pjmjr508 got him full in the windshield. Fortunately, it hit the passenger side, or it couldn't been real BAD. As it was, a shower of glass was everywhere in the XK, but Pjmjr508 kept in on the road okay.

All in all, a very fun day except for the sour note of the owl impact.

Oops.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2235-1.jpg

Double oops. It should be the other way 'round. :)
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2234-1.jpg

Close to the top. Here's where the sledding attempts were made.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2239-1.jpg

More...

Adondo
12-27-2011, 05:52 PM
Keeping score.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2247-1.jpg

As far as we can go. Hey! It ain't a 4x4 trip, 'til you get to where you can't go anymore without winching work!
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2249-1.jpg

On the way back down. Pjmjr508 parked on a stump.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2261-1.jpg

From the other direction.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2262-1.jpg

The snow thinned out as we dropped elevation.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2263-1.jpg

The white barn owl damage.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/12/DSCF2264-1.jpg

criket
12-27-2011, 06:24 PM
Friggin sweet pictures man!!! I usually hate snow but this year, I'm looking forward to it.

That owl did some damage!!! It could have been a lot worse though. Insurance cover that?

pjmjr508
12-27-2011, 06:47 PM
It was a sweet day all in all.

I am waiting for copies of photos & pictures from my brother on this trip. Once I have them I will post them up.

Adondo thank you so much for the guided tour, it was so much fun besides getting pulled twice lol.

Can't wait to go out again.

No the insurance has a 500 duct & the replacement is $456.
It was a trip when it hit. One sec I was talking to wife on the phone via BT & the next is I see a set of wing opening up to full wing span that fills the entire windshield. Then Crash!!!!!! It did shower the interior cabin with glass. Just very happy it was on the passenger side so I was able to drive home (4 hrs) because no one was open to repair until today because of the holiday.

Sal-XK
12-27-2011, 08:23 PM
Looked like fun. You sure the window has a deductible? My wife went threw two in two months cost me nothing and they came to us.

Matt
12-27-2011, 08:29 PM
Awesome trip.

How'd the owl turn out? Pics or it didn't happen ;)

DetroitMarauder
12-27-2011, 08:43 PM
Great pics. Looked like fun. Did you guys ever even the score with the chevy?

$456 for a windshield?? You must have the rain sensing thingy. I got one for $150 last year.

pjmjr508
12-28-2011, 05:38 AM
I called & confirmed with my insurance & yes there is a duct for a replacement.

Did not go looking for the owl because it was pitch black on the hwy & we didn't stop right away, we waited to where there was a clearing to check the damage.

Yes I have the rain sensing, the XK has every option available except DVD.

BonesWK
12-28-2011, 06:39 AM
sweet pics man, thanks for sharing.

sorry bout the windshield, sounds like it will all work out :)

hoaxci5
12-28-2011, 09:01 PM
If you haven't gotten the windshield installed call around, I got one installed for around $250 in CA where I assume prices are higher.. and I have rain sensing wipers also.

pjmjr508
12-29-2011, 05:38 AM
If you haven't gotten the windshield installed call around, I got one installed for around $250 in CA where I assume prices are higher.. and I have rain sensing wipers also.


Will do thx for the heads up

Holaday07 4.7
12-29-2011, 07:10 AM
Wheres the rest of the pics!

Looks like fun, I am hoping for snow on my next trip

pjmjr508
12-29-2011, 07:20 AM
I haven't got a copy of the pics from my brother yet.

It was a blast & want to do again (With out the Owl Attack lol)

Holaday07 4.7
12-29-2011, 07:22 AM
I haven't got a copy of the pics from my brother yet.

It was a blast & want to do again (With out the Owl Attack lol)

You better be getting that owl mounted for your Garage!

AJeepZJ
01-02-2012, 06:14 AM
That looked like a pretty awesome trip - Glad you guys had fun.

pjmjr508
01-02-2012, 12:49 PM
You better be getting that owl mounted for your Garage!



LOL never went back to find it. It was pitch black out & we went for a bit before stopping so we were not in the road.