St. Helens Tree Farm - Access Pass

[nickrj11]

Well went in on Saturday and heard quite a few gunshots in the morning but our hunting day was cut short. Came across a gentleman named Bruce who had gotten a flat tire and did not have a spare because he had gotten a flat a day prior in the Winston unit. So we headed up to get a cell signal so we could call his family and get him the help he needed so they would make it out safely. Thats what we hunters do for each other. Now, normally a flat tire in the woods is just one of those risks we take. On this particular location, however, I disagree. Weyerhaeuser has laid very large and sharp shale rock on the 1100 mainline that is a nightmare for tires. I have only gone into Winston 3 times this year, we have seen 4 people with flats on this same section of road. Bruce was on the corner of the 1100 and the 2568. Ridiculous! Used to be such a great area with so many elk but now I'm afraid to even drive it! Any other recreation access pass holders for the St. Helens Tree Farm experience this in the Winston unit?

[2labs]

Sell you a pass then make it suck to use said pass. Genius.

[bobcat]

Need to buy better tires. Don't blame Weyerhaeuser for flat tires. 

[nickrj11]

One guy had Toyo All terrains, the other had BF Goodrich all terrains and the other had Nitto mud grapplers. I have the BFG KO2 tires.

[nickrj11]

Need to buy better tires. Don't blame Weyerhaeuser for flat tires.

So what would you suggest? I had BF Goodrich KO2's put on over the summer. Seen three different brands all with flats. 2 still had really good tread. You think that 4 flat tires on 3 different rigs in less than 2 weeks on the same stretch of road is just because of bad tires?

[Jonathan_S]

Getcha some Wrangler Duratracs.  I have beat the absolute daylights out of them on rocks without any flats 

Weyco builds roads for their operations not ours 

Kind of surprised to hear about the Nittos.  Must have had them soft    As far as the Toyos and BFGs...yeah we'll just say I am not surprised haha.

[Jonathan_S]

Also, bringing two full-size spares so you don't ruin a hunt over a flat is good practice. 

[headshot5]

Weyco builds roads for their operations not ours

 

[nickrj11]

I have never seen someone with a flat up in the woods. I just think that it goes to show how bad the road is in this particular area with so many flats on one stretch of road.

[2labs]

Need to buy better tires. Don't blame Weyerhaeuser for flat tires.

Your like baiting kittens.  Could of wrote that post for ya.

[nickrj11]

I guess I'm alone with this topic. I understand and agree that they do roads for their operations and not the hunters but when you have customers paying for a certain service or product, you also cater to their needs or atleast meet them half way. This road used to just be normal gravel and dirt but they laid this awful rock down. I contacted them 2 months ago and asked about it and they told me they knew of the problem and needed to grate the rock to fix it.

[bobcat]

Need to buy better tires. Don't blame Weyerhaeuser for flat tires.

So what would you suggest? I had BF Goodrich KO2's put on over the summer. Seen three different brands all with flats. 2 still had really good tread. You think that 4 flat tires on 3 different rigs in less than 2 weeks on the same stretch of road is just because of bad tires?

I've got about 35,000 miles on my Cooper Discoverer ATR tires, which I've had on my Silverado for 6 years. Many of those miles were on Weyerhaeuser roads. These tires were relatively inexpensive, if I remember correctly, $540 out the door at Discount Tire. Never once have I had a flat with these tires. However, they are a Load Range E, and I believe that's why they have done so well.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I had brand new tires and got a flat as well.  *censored*ty rock they layed down

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Jonathan_S]

I had brand new tires and got a flat as well.  *censored*ty rock they layed down

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

That's unfortunate, what kind of tires?  I'd be more interested in what kind they were than how new they were.

[bobcat]

Unbelievable!  All my life I've been driving on Weyerhaeuser and other timber company lands, and many times their roads will have the same large type of rock that was mentioned in the original post.

Yes I have been concerned when driving on that kind of rock, never got a flat but it always makes me nervous. But still, I'd never think about blaming the timber company if I did get a flat tire. If you don't think your tires can handle it, stay off those roads!

This is one of the reasons the free access is going away.

[Bob33]

Doesn't Weyerhaeuser drive more vehicles on these roads than recreationalists?  Why would they deliberately make the roads more prone to flat tires, which would increase their operating costs?

[2labs]

This just in breaking news:  free access going away because of flat tires!

[2labs]

If I was one of the pay to play sheep oops I mean crowd. I would appreciate that heads up on the road condition.

[nocken n notchen]

 watch the roads you drive on not sides of the roads and stay in the hard pack of the road if you cant do both

[bobcat]

Fine to warn others but don't try to blame the timber company. This is not an uncommon type of road on any of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms, or any other timber company, and even DNR land.

[billythekidrock]

Fine to warn others but don't try to blame the timber company. This is not an uncommon type of road on any of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms, or any other timber company, and even DNR land.

 I agree.
Lots of tire poppers in the CF when they make new roads or improve old ones.

[steelhead13]

Road Lizards!

[lamrith]

No dog in this fight as I am not pay to play..
I am sure there is a typical "weyerhauser road" that is made up of rock as many have mentioned and they require a tire in decent condition.  Maybe this one road or section is worse than others and hence the issue given that we have now had numerous people post that they had an issue there some with tires <1yr old?  Makes me think it is more than a tire condition issue is all.  We could all have driven thousands of miles on weye roads and no issue, but have not driven that specific section which has a problem...

[Bullkllr]

I have found Weyco roads to be way better than DNR and NFS roads.

Did have a couple blowouts on the same daya few years ago on the DNR part of Toutle. Used my spare and then like 4 cans of Fix-A-Flat to get home. Fun day.

Deflating tires a bit from proper highway psi might help.

[nickrj11]

Fine to warn others but don't try to blame the timber company. This is not an uncommon type of road on any of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms, or any other timber company, and even DNR land.

I think you might think differently when you saw the road I was mentioning. However, as stated earlier this was more of a warning to others hunting the area because I have assisted multiple people with flats on this one section of road. And as you have said, I have hunted Weyco land since I was 9 years old and have never seen someone with a flat. I know they will usually put this large rock down on roads but this road is a whole other monster. No one is blaming Weyco. It is frustrating yes but I am not scolding Weyco for it. Also, I think that the amount of folks getting flats in this one area is a very alarming amount for it to just be bad tires or Weyerhaeuser's "typical" or "common" road.

[nickrj11]

No dog in this fight as I am not pay to play..
I am sure there is a typical "weyerhauser road" that is made up of rock as many have mentioned and they require a tire in decent condition.  Maybe this one road or section is worse than others and hence the issue given that we have now had numerous people post that they had an issue there some with tires <1yr old?  Makes me think it is more than a tire condition issue is all.  We could all have driven thousands of miles on weye roads and no issue, but have not driven that specific section which has a problem...

[Bob33]

No one is blaming Weyco.

Yes, they are.  Read the other posts.

[eldplanko]

Big chunk crushed rock is pretty standard on a landing, not sure I've seen it much on the the mainlines… remember it's all about getting a truck of logs in and out as fast as possible.

I was in about 15 miles one day, drove to a landing to the top of a ridge. My kid hops out and says "dad what's that hissing sound." Sure enough big crushed rock (think 4"-) had cut a puncture in the tire. I had just taken the jack out they day before and forgot to it back in. No cell service, I had a ham radio just in case, but didn't use it. We hopped back in the rig, and hauled out of there as fast as I've ever done so (40+ down to the mainline, 70+ back to the gate). I figured I had to get out of the locked gate before the tire got down to the rim). Finally got to a county road with cell service, parked it and called AAA.

Moral of the story, we're usually well prepared when out walking around with our pack and stuff… don't forget the same goes fore driving into where we want to go. Now I always carry jack, spare, cb radio, ham radio programmed for repeater towers in the area, chainsaw, chains, winch.

[Mike450r]

It's all about the tire ply number.   Once I started paying attention to that number and put on tires up around 10 ply I haven't gotten any flat tires caused by logging road rocks.  Prior to that it was happening fairly often,  usually on the stock tires that came with the truck.

[rackattack]

 

Get yourself some 10 ply tires and you'll be good to go.

[bobcat]

Or Load Range E, like mine.

[PolarBear]

I got a flat while hunting Pe Ell South last year.  The though never crossed my mind to blame Weyco.   

[Screaminreelz]

Well went in on Saturday and heard quite a few gunshots in the morning but our hunting day was cut short. Came across a gentleman named Bruce who had gotten a flat tire and did not have a spare because he had gotten a flat a day prior in the Winston unit. So we headed up to get a cell signal so we could call his family and get him the help he needed so they would make it out safely. Thats what we hunters do for each other. Now, normally a flat tire in the woods is just one of those risks we take. On this particular location, however, I disagree. Weyerhaeuser has laid very large and sharp shale rock on the 1100 mainline that is a nightmare for tires. I have only gone into Winston 3 times this year, we have seen 4 people with flats on this same section of road. Bruce was on the corner of the 1100 and the 2568. Ridiculous! Used to be such a great area with so many elk but now I'm afraid to even drive it! Any other recreation access pass holders for the St. Helens Tree Farm experience this in the Winston unit?

That was my father in law and I was the one headed up with the new tire. I really want to thank you guys for stopping in and offering help. I got to him at about 12:15 and had him back on the road by 12:45 with the help of another couple guys who just happened to have a floor jack. Makes a world of difference using one of those instead of them bottle jacks. Gentleman thank you and best wishes for a successful season!

[nickrj11]

Well went in on Saturday and heard quite a few gunshots in the morning but our hunting day was cut short. Came across a gentleman named Bruce who had gotten a flat tire and did not have a spare because he had gotten a flat a day prior in the Winston unit. So we headed up to get a cell signal so we could call his family and get him the help he needed so they would make it out safely. Thats what we hunters do for each other. Now, normally a flat tire in the woods is just one of those risks we take. On this particular location, however, I disagree. Weyerhaeuser has laid very large and sharp shale rock on the 1100 mainline that is a nightmare for tires. I have only gone into Winston 3 times this year, we have seen 4 people with flats on this same section of road. Bruce was on the corner of the 1100 and the 2568. Ridiculous! Used to be such a great area with so many elk but now I'm afraid to even drive it! Any other recreation access pass holders for the St. Helens Tree Farm experience this in the Winston unit?

That was my father in law and I was the one headed up with the new tire. I really want to thank you guys for stopping in and offering help. I got to him at about 12:15 and had him back on the road by 12:45 with the help of another couple guys who just happened to have a floor jack. Makes a world of difference using one of those instead of them bottle jacks. Gentleman thank you and best wishes for a successful season!

Awesome! Glad to hear they got out ok. My girlfriend and I were the folks in the blue chevy Colorado. We got a cell signal down the road and called I believe her name was Marcy?

[Screaminreelz]

Yep thats his mother inlaw. Cant thank you enough. I will for sure pay it forward.

[Stump]

Ok so he guy with the fat off 2568 did not fix the flat from the day before and his tires had 98,000 mile on the BFG's. You just don't go out without a spare tire.  I talked to the next day and he was backl on the 1100 above 2568.

[Screaminreelz]

Ya thats him lol. 

[Screaminreelz]

I do have to give a shout out to the fellas at Scwabs in Centralia who pulled a new rim and tire off the rack for me so i could get him home. You guys are awesome. I will add the ol man did buy 5 new tires that evening lol

[Thehowler]

For anyone who cares. Calling around to all tire shops in Seattle area. I was looking for a set of 31x10.5x15 Goodyear duratracs. I didn't have another season left driving  on the roads described, without risking flats.
820.10 at all discount tires. Called 4 of the shops, one offered me a 50.00 visa card if I purchased my last set of tires from them. Bought my tires from that shop.
Les Swabb was 198.00 more for the set. I called two stores.

[Thehowler]

Forgot to mention, Les schwabby boys sell on commission.

[Heavyfoot]

Interesting post; same issue occurred for me at Vail. Weyerhauser laid down new rock. It sliced the rear tire on my truck. Decided I needed a new set anyway so I purchased 4 new tires. 1st day back the following week bam sliced rear tire again. Luckily Goodyear honored the tire. The following day, 2 logging trucks on the side of the road both had sliced tires. Since then I've seen at least a 1/2 dozen hunters replacing flat tires on the main road. It happens, but it does seem the aggregate was much larger than what they usually laid down. 

[lamrith]

Forgot to mention, Les schwabby boys sell on commission.

That explains allot, I always though it was funny how a simple brake job always requires new calipers and rotors...

[Chesapeake]

Grew up in logging camps. "Pit run", or "4" minus" if you want is very common logging road surface material. Its also very common to get flats from it running less than 8 or 10 ply tires that don't have a good steel ply if driving on it before they haul across it and the big rigs crush the sharp edges off.
Very often we'd run around with 2 to 4 spares, a pug kit, and compressor in the rig. And that was running 10ply Coopers with a steel ply. Now days its hard to find a good 10 ply tire with a steel ply. All the tires say "x ply rated" and they class them by Load Range and don't like to tell you the details about the plies and construction and use fabric rather than steel.







 

 

[HntnFsh]

Forgot to mention, Les schwabby boys sell on commission.

That explains allot, I always though it was funny how a simple brake job always requires new calipers and rotors...

No that doesn't explain it all. What explains that is our sue happy society and this thing called liability.

[shadowless_nite]

When I first got my dodge I had the stock street tires on and would get a flat every season. I got real good at changing a flat! Luckily I worked at a shop with tire machine and could patch my own stuff. Eventually I ponied up and bought some big all terrains in load range E and never got a flat again. But I still carry a plug kit, soapy water spray and harbor freight compressor just in case me or a fellow hunter have the unfortunate event of a flat. I've been the guy on the side of the trail with a flat and know how it can make or break a hunt/trip/day for anyone.

I never once blamed or thought to blame whoever said road it was. Just assumed the risks of being off-road. Part of it was my lack of knowledge since I just started hunting and driving off-road. I grew up with parents that never left the pavement and didn't know any better. I didn't pay close attention to road type and would drive on the loose packed new gravel, spin tires up a hill,run right over pot holes etc.... Needless to say I flip the 4wd switch up grades with loose rock so I don't chew up the tires or slice one, avoid pot holes means no spilled drinks and try and stay on the well packed stuff.