In the past alot of us (including myself) have kinda poked fun at the "cleanups." Mostly because they just seem strange to us. They guys in my normal wheeling group were all taught to pick up garbage in the mts at an early age. It just kinda seemed like people wanted some kinda special treatment or reward for doing something they should be doing anyway.

The truth though is that time's are changing and we need to change our way of thinking with it. The fact of the matter is that organized cleanups are needed for mainly two very important reasons. The first of which is, for lack of a better term, political. The mainstream cleanups let the orginizations that are trying to close our lands know that there are people out there willing to do what it takes to keep them open. Even if it means donating thier own time and energy. It shows that people do use and care about the areas. That they won't let them go away without a fight.
The second reason is that there is just way more garbage that gets cleaned up when a group heads into the hills with a sole purpose in mind. Things that you may normally just drive by. For example, Jeepscum worked his ass off dragging a 50' or so logging cable out the brush. That just wouldn't have been feasible on a normal trail run.

With all of this in mind, I jumped in with Roller Bear on Sat to lend a hand in the Ahtanum State Forest. We were there along with Hair, and BigJeeper representing InsanityFab.Com and The Outlaws Jeep Club. There were also members there from the RidgeRunners, Jeeping Nomads, and the AWORC.

We ended up having a great time and picking up a fair amount of garbage. Our group consisted of the some of the "rejects" that Ahtanum Trail Watch has tried to falsley condemn. Hair, BigJeeper, Blue Balls (RidgeRunner,) Roller and myself. We also invited Joe, an old aquaintance of mine, and his son to help us cleanup Doe Pocket. I felt kinda bad when Joe said later that he was trying to get Ceg to invite him into his club. Sorry Joe, we probably ruined you chances

On the way up Jackass, Blue Balls blew a heater core. He was able to bypass it but scalded his hand in the process. He's a tough ol bastard but decided afterwards to head back down.



We cleaned up alot of the slash piles above Doe Pocket and then jetted to the bottom at Nasty Crick and headed back up to do the cleaning.




Hair let the lovely, young Mrs. Hair drive while he kept an eye out for trash.



He even strapped a pallet to the top of the buggy to haul garbage in.



BigJeeper (Outlaw and InsanityFab member)






Nice, sunny day.



The "rock crawler" became the rock.




All in all it was a very productive day. Several trailer loads of garbage were hauled out, but in reality alot of that was larger items that had been up there a while. The area actually seemed pretty clean compared to what I've seen in years past. Our group carried out several sacks, some fender flares, and a couple of burnt up seat frames.

Can I get my Gold Star now?

well done guys and gals

Ill give ya 2 gold stars! I wanted to thank everyone in all groups that were able to help with the clean up(Phantom, Hair, BigJeeper, Blue Balls, Roller Bear, 4-dig"Joe",my trail partner Papa Chuck, AWORC, Ahtanum Trail Watch) This was a large success by all groups, and the DNR hours sheet will speek in Olympia. Not only has the Ahtanum seen the clean up this past few week but has also had work parties from some less known groups with the Cascade Quad Squad removing the narrow bridges on the Gray Rock, The dozen or more Dust Dodgers last weekend that also helped to further the progress on the Gray Rock Trail conversion.

Thanks for looking out for our sport!

Phantom thanks for the tip on the recycling the cable which the proceeds will be donated back. It weighed in at 820lbs Wow didnt fell that heavy.

good work gang...820 lbs....the price of steal...good money...get the tweakers to go yard old riggen and stay away from catt converters and help clean

I thought the price would have been a little better but only got 28.17 for the 820lbs. but I dont care. The tweek idea struck me when i saw them all at the recycler getting every bit possible. Cause DNR has a truck and a car that they need removed in very crappy places but I may commit to a recovery party soon anyways.

Where did you take it? I got that much for 250 lbs about 6 months ago.

pacific steel has the best prices in town.

Centerstock?

Awesome write-up. I'll have to give Blue Balls shit this weekend. Yesterday he told me that he still had blisters between his fingers.....just couldn't get the leather gloves off fast enough.

I was suppose to be there....but the wifey got her way and we had a much needed family weekend.

Pacific it was the first time ive taken in steel so I didnt know what to expect for price the invoice says .035 . Does it matter that it was cable and not steel stock?

The truck is the toy up S. Fork and the car Greg discribed up middle fork and over a ledge to the left. Ill have him show me the car next tme Im up on a Trail Watch.

Nice write up

We had fun, but dam I'm getting old because on sunday I had nothing left in the tank. I just wanted to sleep all day.

Mari had fun doing most of the driving.

There's another one for ya now. The squatters up Jackass burnt down thier dually last week and just left it in the middle of the road.