Where did you take YOUR Jeep Commander on the 4th of July weekend?

My buddy Mike and I headed out Friday night. We refueled in Yakima, then headed to Tieton. (Population about 200) From there, we headed west on French road, which becomes USFS road 1301. The 1st night was on top of a ridge, overlooking the Yakima valley. The sunrise pictures was a ''view from the bag'' as in my sleeping bag.

After that, we dropped down the hill, ran highway 12 until Packwood, then ducked back into the woods onto USFS 21. That was the last of the freeways/highways we saw for days.

We hiked the lower end of Ape Cave. The photos in the cave are of the ''Meatball'' which is a roand chunk of lava about 4 feet across that rolled to a stop and solidified in a section that almost became two levels.

The tree casts were on the way to Ape Cave. Lava flowed over the trees, leaving pits and tunnels.

We then hiked Lava Canyon. THe suspension bridge is a bit nerve racking.

A couple more nights in the woods, a few old roads got explored, and we refueled in Goldendale. We ducked under the very busy US 97, and headed east to Bickleton. The Blue Bird tavern was open, and we both had a Blue Bird Burger. Three patties, ham, bacon, fried egg, several cheese slices, and I can't remember what else. The middle of the sandwich alone, is 3 inches thick!!

More backroads across the top of the Horse Heavon Hills, then down Weber canyon to Benton City for the last 15 miles home on the freeway. What holiday traffic?!? :cool:

Photo album link: http://picasaweb.google.com/CSUeltzen/4thOfJuly2010#

Spot satellite messenger locations: http://www.spotadventures.com/trip/view/?trip_id=210906

That's cool Adondo!

My Commander had the please of driving up my driveway onto a pair of jackstands for the weekend while I went through my checklist on the other thread, but I'm already for the Camp Commander cross country extravaganza!

On the 4th it was all pavement went to the anual free concert and fireworks show on Ft Bragg. But I was wheeling on the 3rd

Aww, come on, you could have done that one all day!!! JK!! Were you able to try it out? It looks like there was a bit of access on the left side, but you know that pics don't always show the true dimension of things. Was it that bad? :p:p:p:D:D:D

I'll never understand why everyone refers to it as "4th of july" rather than independance day. we call it christmas, not 25th of december. it's new year's day, not 1st of january... blah.

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Originally Posted by powerslave1966

Aww, come on, you could have done that one all day!!! JK!! Were you able to try it out? It looks like there was a bit of access on the left side, but you know that pics don't always show the true dimension of things. Was it that bad? :p:p:p:D:D:D

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The photos don't really show it that well. Maybe a horse could make it across on the left side, but that is a deep stream cut there. The left side is against the bank, and the stream bed ground between is very unstable rocks. The right is a couple hundred feet of air. :) I wouldn't even try my motorcycle there. If you lost it, it's a death ride to the bottom.

The culvert got washed out too, and pieces are laying down on the right, out of the photo. The gap is about two Jeep lengths wide.

That is how USFS road 4610 ends.

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Originally Posted by Doc in AZ

I'll never understand why everyone refers to it as "4th of july" rather than independance day. we call it christmas, not 25th of december. it's new year's day, not 1st of january... blah.

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Oh, I don't know why...

For one thing, we never saw any fireworks. We were many, many miles for the the nearest town. And, we took off Friday the 2nd, and got home on Monday the 5th.

How about Mexico's Independance day... what's it called? Cinco De Mayo, which means ''May 5th" so they do the very same thing as we do. :)

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Originally Posted by Adondo

Cinco De Mayo, which means ''May 5th" so they do the very same thing as we do. :)

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Some in this country consider " they " and " we " as two of the same. Maybe we will just inherit the holidays from everyone else. Quatro de Julio

We took our Commander on a 2,200 mi. round trip to Southern Iowa to visit family and friends. RC lift was completed just one week prior, so it was also a test drive of the lift project. Smooth sailing up I-35.

For Independence Day (nodding to Doc), I drove on concrete to Muskegon, Michigan and then sailed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and back after spending a few days in Beer Town. But I left the Jeep at the pier. However, after the sailing vacation, I did drive to the cabin on the Ausable River, near Grayling.

I just finished looking at your pictures and the Spot Satellite Adventure post. Great pictures. Super trip from the looks of it. I've been thinking of getting the Spot for sailing the Great Lakes.

So did you plan your route ahead of time or just drive and decide on the go?

I missed this thread... My Commander sat in the driveway as I was in Sacramento California with the P.T. Cruiser.

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Originally Posted by Knappster

I missed this thread... My Commander sat in the driveway as I was in Sacramento California with the P.T. Cruiser.

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I own two XJ's that I drive a lot. I need a bumper sticker that says "my other ride is a Commander". I drove my 97 XJ to the fireworks display as it had poured rain and I knew I would park in a field..I didn't want to get the Commander all mudded up and knew the old Cherokee would take me anywhere.
HT

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Originally Posted by redrockv8

I didn't want to get the Commander all mudded up

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???

Myself, the wife and daughter took a little adventure trip on our way home from Lake Charles. I'd been dying to get off the pavement and there is this old highway on the gulf coast that is shut down. Texas highway 87 see this link for info http://www.texasfreeway.com/statewid...7_eroded.shtml
There is a 20 mile section of this highway that in just washed out road bed or 4x4 trail. I have to say the 15 or so miles that we were alone out there was wonderful, fresh air, brown pelicans, Alvin and the Chipmunks playin on the DVD for the little one didn't even ruin it for me. However the erosion to that section of coast is terrible. Most of the maintained beaches on either side of the closure had lots of ground left between the coast and the water, but the "natural" beach was eroded pretty bad. Our navi said the road should have been a good 50 or 60 feet south of us (guestimation) when the water was less than 10 feet from the tires.

Oh and there are some "nudists" out on the High Island side...they are NEVER young and hot, always old and creepy.

J

Thought I would get some flack about not wanting to get the Commander mudded up..haha...I love offroading just hate mud..Too hard to clean out from underneath..gets everywhere, hardens up and causes problems if not cleaned out.

PS
I'm old and creepy but keep my clothes on when out in public...haha