Here is my full trip report:

I'd like to give out a HUGE thanks to the entire WatchThisFourwheelerz (WTF) crew for putting on this event! It looked to be a great turn out and a success!!

I had a GREAT time visiting the great state of Washington and meeting all the crazy mud & snow love'n people!! We originally planned to have Marlin and myself tow up the Red Crawler Truck, but because this event is too close to the King Of The Hammers we couldn't get away for more than a day. It worked out really great as I was able to drive 2.5 hrs from Fresno to my wife who works and lives in San Jose, and get a nice same day round trip ticket to the Seattle airport and back.

I landed in Seattle at 9am, picked up my rental car with full off road mud, snow, rollover, and rock crawling insurance, and made my way to Ashford.

I knew the weather was gonna be cold but I should have paid more attention. The only Marlin Crawler apparel I brought was a short sleeved button up shirt which was fortunately strong enough to prevent my nipples from cutting straight through it. It gets over 110-degrees F every summer here so I was out of my element a bit. My face got so cold I caught myself slurring my speech a few times! Hahahahaha

I met a few people at the door of the Lodge and was lucky enough to jump in Anthony's black 1987 4Runner with Chad who both ran me up and all around the trails. They have so many great areas to get so hugely stuck, flipped over, and broken down out in the middle of nowhere left to be eaten by a Sasquatch family it was just AWESOME!!

After seeing how much throttle those guys need for these types of trails its no wonder Longfields are so popular. The only time I risk breaking an axle is when I've got too much traction and gearing. Sure there are (in my opinion) idiots in Cali who abuse the skinny pedal but the trails up there in Washington absolutely require it!

There was a man made rock garden at the top of the mountain which was definitely refreshing to see hahahaha

I posted almost 80 photos to our online gallery here:
Photo Gallery: http://www.marlincrawler.com/gallery/2013/jan/wtfs-bobby-long-memorial-event

If they decide to make this an annual memorial event then we may just have to make it part of our annual schedule!

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...and here is our post from Facebook:

I was fortunate to head up to Washington State last weekend for the WatchThisFourwheelerz' tribute to our friend, the late "mister" Bobby Long of Longfield Super Axles.

I got to meet a lot of wheelers from the north and checked out many snow covered muddy trails of the Elbe Hills Offroad Park near Ashford, WA and Mount Rainier, the Day Four location of last year's Ultimate Adventure. Bobby's wife Tina and their son Chris were on hand with Bobby's rock buggy and it was great being able to hang out and share our condolences with them at this fundraising event. The entire community up there is very close and regardless of what rig you drive, people came out in numbers to show their respect and support for the Long family.

The way I describe Bobby is as follows: The number of people responsible for bringing their unique, innovative product that elevated the Toyota Rock Crawling World can be counted on one hand, and Bobby is one of these. Our hobby has truly lost an icon.

I want to thank Anthony and Chad for showing me around! Here come a few pics!














Please see our full gallery with 76 images here:
http://www.marlincrawler.com/gallery/2013/jan/wtfs-bobby-long-memorial-event

Regards,
BigMike

the wheeling up north is nothing like down in Cali im sure. glad you got to experience it and share.


R.I.P. Bobby

Thanks for the event recap Mike. I never met Bobby but I hands down love his stuff. RIP.

Any chance of getting one of the decal/badges?

Thanks for sharing 

Hey Cheesy, I heard we have to go wheeling in the Tillamook State Forest. So looks like we'll be making a trip up there again for sure

I updated my opening post with a full trip report

Yes, the wheeling up there is definitely different than anything I'm used to! I dislike mud very much Ten years after a mud trip, you're under your rig, tired, after a long days work, stressed out because you can't get a bolt out, and then finally, after beating on your junk with a hammer for three hours a bracket comes of and then fifty pounds of petrified dirt falls all over your face, in your mouth, eyes, and both nostrils, and when you react and turn your face away you get your exposed ear filled up with more sand.

That is what mud wheeling is to me. Not something I want to do every day, but man oh man it is sure fun to watch those guys trying to get around through that muck!

BigMike

I dislike mud too... for that exact reason!!
its the worst and tears vehicles up, FAST.
Sure fun to watch!!

What's up with the link not working for the pictures?

I dislike mud too... for that exact reason!!

X3!!!!

All I can say is that we are fortunate that we have places to wheel where there is no mud. They get nearly 40 inches of rain a year, which is 10 times more than the Barstow / Hammers area. I asked them if it dries out in July/Aug/Sep and they said no, it is wet and muddy all year long. 

Mike you live in a Desert.  And we live in a Rainforest.  It does get dry around here.  But some mud holes never dry out.  They just get crusty.

I hate mud too, but I have to deal with it.  I try to avoid it at best.  The worst thing about mud, is you can't see whats under/in it.  Where as in rocks, you can see every obstacle.  Seen many guys hit a small puddle, only to sink to their frame in mud.  And I'm not even going to discuss clay!!!     Its worse than ice. 

I always carry a shovel in my truck, and rubber boots.  I will get out and check the depth of mud first, before I attempt it.  Most of the time, I'm out in the woods alone.  So, I can't risk getting stuck and having to walk 10+ miles of gravel roads just to get help.  I play it smart, even though everybody says not to go out alone in the hills.  I do it all the time. 

I rarely wheel in WA because after growing up in CO I am a snob when it comes to mud.  I like the technical challenge that rocks provide.

BigMike, you didn't visit me while in WA?  I thought we were best friends after my one trip to the roundup!  You didn't even tell me you were coming!