Roads closed !

[coachcw]

This whole road closure really pisses me off ! I cant believr that the state cant get a couple off these roads into 340-346 opened up . Are You kidding me ! the way the close hwys and piss money around they cant come up with a couple off pieces off equiptment and a few guys ? There's gonna be a cluster F off guys showing up to hunt there normal area's then having no clue where to go . We are gonna be over run with unprepaired hunters looking for a new place to camp ! Come on Christene how about a bit of help here ?

[wayner]

Good luck getting any help out of her I hope things work out for everyone down there

[elkcane]

Ihear that, I've personally been down the roads and such that are in question. Piece of cake, nothing more than some equip and some man hrs. There gonna try to squeeze 100% of the hunters into 50% of the space( as far as camping wise) alota guys wont hike into said areas much.

[stickbuck]

I spoke with the Cle Elum Ranger District today and asked about the three main roads still closed that access the upper Manastash. She told me that they are not anticipating those three roads being fixed until spring of 2012. Pretty screwed up!

[dscubame]

That is great news for those who drew a preferred tag!

[mazama]

I don't believe road closures have any thing to do with state all forest service problem.

[Recurve-Elk]

This is killing me, I don't want it to be a zoo.  One of the huge reasons I go hunting is to get away from the hustle and bustle.

The stupid thing is, i know people who have biked through the roads and they are an easy easy fix.  They could even be open to trucks jeeps etc in most cases.

[William B.]

For all you road hunters and forum scouts, suck it up and go for a
Real scout trip and you may find that access to most areas are within
easy reach. There are so many trails in these areas I can't believe you
you are complaining. It will be some of the best hunting opportunities in
these areas for the real hunter that gets off there ass and does some
leg work.

[runamuk]

For all you road hunters and forum scouts, suck it up and go for a
Real scout trip and you may find that access to most areas are within
easy reach. There are so many trails in these areas I can't believe you
you are complaining. It will be some of the best hunting opportunities in
these areas for the real hunter that gets off there ass and does some
leg work.

If you cant take the roads to the trail heads it kinda sucks....back in the day the jeep/wheeling groups used to blow in and fix roads etc but those days are long gone....for those who dont like those who prefer to drive on the miles and miles of roads you can feel free to walk them just like I used to...

something not being considered is labor day weekend is gonna be a giant cluster...... that area is not only final weekend of summer camping blow out land its also opening archery and that area affected by these closures is gonna effect far more than hunters that weekend.....anyone who hasnt seen the backup at the end of that weekend has really missed out on some fun  snoqualmie pass to eburg bumper to bumper.....this isnt just about road hunters 

[SniperDanWA]

I just returned from Umtanum and Manastash.  Drove in from 410 side on 1701, Maloy RD, Barber Springs, Manastash Ridge, Hudson, Mitchell, NF 31, Manastash, etc.  Made it to within 6-8 miles of Ellensburg and the road was gated shut from that direction.  The road was washed out but passable.  Walked around to see if I could bypass gate, but FS pushed rock and log against passable routes.  Turned around and went West on Manastash to NF 3104 and washed out again.  Thought about Kloss RD, but saw a 5x7 signed posted by FS that it was washed out 3 miles in.  New no other route out, so backtracked up to 1701 to get out.  Wasn't too bad in most places.  Can't recall right now if it was Barber Springs or Manastash Ridge/Hudson, but one had a pretty gnarly washout that I did not attempt with the Suburban.  Took some pretty good dips today and glassed the valleys, hills, etc. No elk, three deer, lots of sheep and some cows (domestic), and a bunch of wood cutters.  After I got on 410, I saw several cows, spikes, a 4 by bull and some more deer.  Everything working it's way to the water for the night drink.  Good day though.

[stickbuck]

Hey SniperDan, thanks for the detailed report!! When you came over barber springs and went down to the S Fk. Manastash, did you head towards Buck Meadows at all? I know it had been washed out at Buck Meadows but wasn't sure about anything between there and where the barber springs rd dumps out on the S. Fk Manastash Rd?

[SniperDanWA]

I tried to get to Buck Meadows, but nothing doing.  No way through.  I was using my GPS on every route I took too, just to try routes for any option through.  I took a lot of trails that had not had access for what appeared years.  I could not find one that went through.

[stickbuck]

Hey SniperDan. I just sent you a PM.

[PlateauNDN]

I just returned from Umtanum and Manastash.  Drove in from 410 side on 1701, Maloy RD, Barber Springs, Manastash Ridge, Hudson, Mitchell, NF 31, Manastash, etc.  Made it to within 6-8 miles of Ellensburg and the road was gated shut from that direction.  The road was washed out but passable.  Walked around to see if I could bypass gate, but FS pushed rock and log against passable routes.  Turned around and went West on Manastash to NF 3104 and washed out again.  Thought about Kloss RD, but saw a 5x7 signed posted by FS that it was washed out 3 miles in.  New no other route out, so backtracked up to 1701 to get out.  Wasn't too bad in most places.  Can't recall right now if it was Barber Springs or Manastash Ridge/Hudson, but one had a pretty gnarly washout that I did not attempt with the Suburban.  Took some pretty good dips today and glassed the valleys, hills, etc. No elk, three deer, lots of sheep and some cows (domestic), and a bunch of wood cutters.  After I got on 410, I saw several cows, spikes, a 4 by bull and some more deer.  Everything working it's way to the water for the night drink.  Good day though.

I don't know how far you attempted Manastash Ridge road but I and my family were riding around up there and we came in throught the Wenas and headed west on the Observatory Rd and made it up to the Observatory just fine and then proceeded west on Manastash Ridge Rd (aka mud flats rd) and went west for quite a few miles and it connected with Barber Springs and Manastash rd ok after quite a few miles.  I don't know for sure how many miles because I wasn't keeping track but we had driven about 200-250 miles that weekend.  I posted a pic on another thread about this area and what we had seen so far but this area is always good to drive.  Good luck and hope you get a shooter.

[SniperDanWA]

Yeah, I put a little under 70 miles on in Umtanum and Manastash this Saturday.  I saw at least twenty vehicles parked in various locations.  Lots of campers, bikes, jeeps, atvs, and even a tractor.  I'm sure most parked rigs were the guys hiking.  I would have hiked too, but with an 8 year old I drove mostly.  I did not make it too far down the mud flats.  Time got away from me.  Looking forward to the hunt this year. 

Thanks for all your posts PlateauNDN.  I've enjoyed reading them and got mad too, as you and others are, about some of the abuses.