Thanks to everyone that helped make the First Annual Vine Maple Run a success. As usual, I had a great time and hope everyone else did as well.

Why we went.We met at Buzzy's Greenwater Cafe and while we waited for everyone to show up, Bret van Ostrom came walking across the highway to see us off. It was great to see Bret. He was in fine spirits and his usual jovial self. Present were: Janet, Rylie and Bill (Wimpy); Rocky (red Rubicon Unlimited); Hal (multi-colored Toyota LC); Kat and Rhonda (JK); Dave and Jeanie (chameleon TJ); Dave (Buster) and McKenzie (white YJ); Warren (copper CJ-7); Ralph and Lynsey (Yellow TJ); Lee (white Rubicon); and Skip (green TJ).  

The crewWe left Buzzy's about 9:15 and headed up the 70 Road until we got to the rest area at the end of the pavement where we aired-down and disconnected sway bars. When we stopped at the trailhead to throw hubs, Ralph, who'd made a long night of it, did some searching in the underbrush for Ralph.

 Not much to tell about the day. There was no real breakage or any exciting "stucks" ... but we had a good time.

Your hostWe climbed up through the old-growth and onto the knife-edge ridge. It was too foggy to see much, but I did see the first squirrel on a stump. It was apparently too cold for most critters, as no one spotted a frog-on-a-rock, or a bird-on-a-log.

We ran into a fair number of other wheelers, including our share of folks that didn't really belong in the woods ... but we didn't have to haul them out so I won't complain.

We stopped at the cabin for a while and when we got ready to go again, Ralph and Lynsey (still green behind the gills) decided to call it a day. With them went Buster (frustrated trying to break-in some new springs) and Lee, leaving our bunch with seven rigs.

At the end of the meadows we decided to jump on the road and run all the way down to the rabbit holes and run the trail back up. Again, nothing particularly exciting, just good times had by all.

 We climbed back up the hill, through Government Meadows, past the cabin and when we hit the road, were ready to call it a day. We were done airing up about 4-4:15 p.m. and were back in Puyallup by 6 having dinner at Don's Drive In next to the fairgrounds. (Don's Drive In)

Again, thanks to everyone that attended.

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