July-August, 2024
Boy did I screw up! I don’t do that often. I bet you don’t either. 🙂
I went for what I thought was a little drive in the hills and mountains today and ended up on an extremely narrow ATV-only road with no place to turn around, hair-pin corners too tight to back the truck in reverse, a road barely wide enough for the truck, and a straight down drop-off that scared me almost to death. I don’t blame myself too much tho, because the forest service map that I was given did NOT label the road an ATV-only road. I have since emailed them and asked them to post a sign at the bottom of that road, and/or make proper notation on their maps.
On the other hand, even without a sign posted, even just a few hundred feet up that road, I knew I might be in trouble, and I should have backed down (in reverse) backed down the road while I still could, but I didn’t.
No, I didn’t do that, I kept going. I had faith in myself and in my big white truck. In the end, we lived, both of us … me and the big white truck. But the big white truck got banged up, and I got really seriously scared at one point (ok, actually at two points). In the end, we got out ok, but I have since spent some money on repairs to the truck. And I think I had an extra glass of wine that evening to calm my nerves.
So … what happened? Ok here’s the story.
It started out so simple … stories like this usually do start out simple don’t they? Before the trip, I’d read online about a place nearby called “China Wall”, and I wanted to go see it. The morning was absolutely beautiful! How could anything go wrong?
Photo above is the view across the lower reservoir, taken from the edge of the campground, just a few feet from my campsite.
HERE is a really good website about the China Wall. Be sure to click on “More about the Arlington mill” at the bottom of that webpage.
And here is a very good video about the China Wall. Early on in the video he shows a map … notice the town of Ruby off to the right.
So, to start the day, I left my campsite in the big white truck, drove out of Conconully, drove a mile or so down the small highway, then turned right onto a lovely, very well maintained gravel/dirt road that ran along waterways and into the valley between two hills. Here’s a map of where I was, and where I was headed.
The LONG yellow arrow is the peaceful drive up through the valley. Here’s my video of that 6-minute drive.
You’ll see I ended up at the location of what used to be the town of Ruby. There’s nothing there now except the sign.
Here’s a map image that shows more detail.
The three yellow arrows point to hair-pin curves above Ruby. That’s where I was going. That entire road above Ruby was a single track road, no place to turn around, and VERY few places to pull over to let an on-coming truck or ATV pass by in the other direction. Here’s my video of the first hundred yards or so on the road immediately after leaving Ruby and heading up the hill towards the yellow arrows. Just ahead, around the first curve, after I stopped taking the video below, the road actually NARROWS, and the drop off on the passenger side of the truck starts. I should have backed out, but I didn’t.
This next video will give you a really good clue about the road that I got into trouble on. The video below actually starts a good long way AFTER the worst of the road. The road in the video below is WIDE and SMOOTH compared to those hair-pin curves and that road from Ruby up to the red arrows. Keep that in mind while you watch this video. You don’t need to watch the whole video if you don’t want to. The guys do eventually get to China Wall. Mostly I want to show the “good” road that these guys were on, so you might have some idea how bad the road was from Ruby and up to the red arrow section. This video below starts in the trees, up above the hair-pin curves.
I don’t have photos of the road I was on where the hair-pin turns and drop-offs were and where I was so scared.
At one point, part way up the hill, I was so blasted scared by the tight turns and the narrow road and the drop-off on the passenger side (that I couldn’t judge real well from the driver’s seat), that I decided to get out of the truck, WALK back down the two or three miles to town, and then ask someone to come drive my truck out for me, and if THEY fell off the cliff then I wouldn’t be responsible and I would not have died.
But when I stopped, and where I stopped in order to get out and walk back … I stopped and opened the driver’s window and could touch the solid rock wall on my left. The wall was about 12 inches from the side of my truck. Ok, can’t get out there, couldn’t even climb out the window. So I’ll get out the passenger side. I set every brake in the truck, then climbed over the center console in my truck, sweating profusely from fear, then opened the passenger door and looked straight out into thin air. I looked down thinking there would be 2-3 feet of ground such that I could sneak back along the truck and get out. There was about 12 inches! Yes, 12 inches from the edge of the tires to the edge of the drop-off. And the drop-off was a LONG way down. I couldn’t even get out and walk! I had to drive … either forward or in reverse. Well, right behind me was a hair-pin turn, right along that drop-off (that scared me so much that I decided to walk out). But there was no way I could back, in reverse, back the truck around that corner. And I couldn’t get out of the truck. So I had to keep going forward. Breathe, pray, sweat, wonder who will find me if and when my truck went over the edge (it was a LONG way down), etc.
I put the truck in compound low 4-wheel-drive (it already was, but I sure kept it there … not just 4-wheel-drive, and not just LOW 4-wheel-drive, but COMPOUND low, I swear this truck could climb a mountain almost 90 degrees straight up in that gear) … and I truly INCHED around the next tight curve … and then around the next curve … and the next.
I did get up that hill, the truck didn’t fall off the cliff. But I swear I almost got out of the truck to kiss the flat ground and trees once I got up that hill. I still had one more bad time. I got on the wrong road (again, BAD directions on the forest service map!). That road, the wrong road, eventually got so tight that the tree limbs were slamming my mirrors against the truck. I kept thinking there would be a spot to turn around, or another road. I finally gave up “thinking” and backed out that 3/4 mile long road, often with my side mirrors slammed against the truck. This is where the damage to the truck happened. One running board was almost completely ripped off, the other had major damage. There were dents and dings in the body, the paint. After I got home, all of it got fixed. I installed new running boards, and a body shop fixed the dents and dings. I think the big white truck has forgiven me.
In the end, I did get on the right road that headed to China Wall. By then, I was so exhausted and so worried about possible damage to running gear under the truck that I just kept driving so I would get closer to civilization in case the truck stopped running. (It didn’t, she was ok.) And no, I did NOT go back down that hair-pin road to get out. I took the long way around, down another lovely well maintained gravel/dirt road similar to the valley road I took in to Ruby on the first part of this adventure.
Just before I turned off the final (very well maintained) dirt road, where it joins major highway 20 and then the town of Okanogan … just a few feet from that stop sign, I looked to my left …
Right in the middle of the photo above, close to the road, was a buck, staring right at me! He moved a little, but mostly he just kept staring at me.
“Wow, lady, you drove THAT road and lived to tell the tale? Wow.”
I took that road into Ruby, then up the hair-pin hill from Ruby, because that road was a “short cut” to get to China Wall. Next time I’m here, I’ll take the LONG way around!
Wow, did you have an adventure! Not what you had in mind when you started out but, when does a real adventure ever start out with what you/we have in mind? What a great adventure. 🙂 Glad the big white truck is ok. And you too.
Oh, good thought J&J … a really good adventure doesn’t really start out the way we planned, eh? The big white truck is A-Ok, and me too. Thank you. 🙂
The big white truck is a hero! And you made the right decisions too, but that truck is grand! 🙂
She is! She’s my hero. 🙂
China Wall looks fascinating, hubby wants to drive up there from where we are in Arizona! It’s so refreshing when someone admits a mistake. So many people cover them up, lie about them, etc. You’re just right out there with it, you learned from it, and hopefully other people will learn too. How wonderful! That was a great adventure riding along with you, thank you. If you’d gone over the edge, we all would have gone with you. Glad we all lived. 🙂
Oh my that would be a long drive up here from AZ, Wanda, but I bet you’ve already got that hubby of yours corralled. 🙂 I suspect most of us learn early on in life that mistakes are made by everyone … and the best recourse is to admit them and then to learn. Yes, like you, I hope/wish other people would too. Ack! no don’t go over the edge with me. Hmmm, but I like the sentiment. 🙂
I read all about the China Wall in the first link you sent, along with the link there too to more information. The Chinese have lived and worked all over western USA for hundreds of years. They worked and helped and supported the white people, and mostly just got critized and erased. But here they are included. After all of your troubles on this drive today, that buck at the end, he was watching over you all along, he just wanted you to know that. He said, listen to earth and to life, you are safe with me.
Thank you Mary, I will continue to listen to the best of my ability, and remember to listen some more beyond that.
That was so scary I couldn’t breathe while reading it. I don’t know what I would have done, but probably, in the end, what you did. But I’d have been crying. It’s a good reminder to back away before it gets so bad, especially when we’re traveling alone. And maybe somehow avoid forest logging roads. At least when we’re in the mountains. So so scary. I’m really glad you’re OK.
Yes, traveling alone. Choices/decisions get made differently when we’re alone. And yes, “back away before it gets so bad”, that would have been a really good thing for me to have done. As it was, it turned out ok, but there were TWO more hair pin curves I had to navigate after this first one. I really should have turned back, put the truck in reverse and backed down that road when I could. Thanks Dawn. Thanks for being here.
What an experience! Sure, maybe you should have backed down the road before the hair pin turn, or as soon as you saw the hair pin turn, but I suspect we all make decisions in life that we later realize that it might have been better to have made a different decision. But, wow, what a great adventure you had. I bet the views from up there, before you got on the road into the trees, I bet that view was glorious. Do you remember it? Were you even aware of it? I’m sorry about the big white truck, but I bet she forgives you. She had an adventure too after all. 🙂
I was NOT impressed with that guy and how he slammed his truck around on those roads. No wonder his windshield was cracked. I AM impressed with how you, Ann, take care of your truck and your trailer and yourself. I was scared reading your story here, you bet, but it was an adventure for me too. I don’t do much adventuring these days any more, so I love yours. Keep on!!
Oh, Bill, what a great question about the views from those hair pin curves where there were no trees, no obstructions to a fantastic view across many mountain tops. Well, my answer is … no, I didn’t pay any attention to the view. I had no clue about the view. I was too scared. I sure wish I HAD paid attention. I didn’t even think about that until your comment here.
Yes, I think the big white truck actually LIKED the adventure. She knows exactly where her feet (tires) are and knows how to handle herself. Thank you for reminding me. I sure trust her.
I didn’t like how that guy smashed his truck around either. Slow down!!
Thanks Bill. I will “keep on”! Thanks for your comments and your presence.
Wow, scary stuff! Especially with your truck so close to the edge. While I was reading, I think I said “holy shit” a number of times! I’m so proud of you for doing the right thing and continuing, INCHING the truck along. You are so good. 🙂 I also enjoyed the info about China Wall, fascinating, and troubling that the Chinese were not given credit for all they did here in the USA. I hope you do go see it. But yes please take the long way in. 🙂
Ha! “holy shit” was not the only that I said!! But I won’t share here what the words were that I said. But I appreciate the support. 🙂 I’m hoping to get back there so I can see the China Wall. Yes, I will take the long way in. 🙂
Good Grief, Ann!! What a scary experience! Did you have nightmares for days afterwards? I’ve done similar things, but nothing nearly as bad as that. in fact, weren’t you with me when we decided to take the shortcut to Dayton? We were camping in the mountains in the southeastern corner of the state, and we needed to get gas for my little white ’62 Chevy II. We. were driving along the nice, paved, forest road when we saw a white board wih an arrow pointing up a dirt road that said “Dayton”. That being the only town that we had heard of, we decided to take it. It must have started out ok (I don’t really remember) but as we got further up, it deteriorated, until it was a just narrow, rutted track with rain running down the ruts like minature rivers. There was a steep drop off on the passenger side. I was so nervous that I asked you to get out and walk and act as spotter, which I am sure you were glad to do. We eventually made it over that ridge, filled up the tank and headed back to the campground and Maryann. Along paved roads! It pretty much cured me of takng dirt road shortcuts. No damage to car or people. Not nearly so frightening as yours, but I do understand the emotions involved. I’m awefully glad you made it safely back.
Actually, no, I didn’t have nightmares. But later that day I did think about my choices and how I make them, and how I might do that differently in the future. This time, I was fine, everything went OK (and the truck got fixed), but next time might not be so good. Gosh, I have no memory of Dayton or even where that is, Fritzi, and I’d bet I would not have gotten out and walked on such a narrow road since I’m super afraid of heights and drop offs. But it’s a good story. 🙂
That buck at the end is great. 🙂
He was wonderful!
Wow. And, thank you for the info about the Chinese. Glad you lived. 🙂 Love your maps, and all of that. This was fascinating!!
Chinese people contributed so much to the western parts of our country, with such little credit given to them. So many people did! And so much has been erased. Thanks Sesapa.
So, gold-mining and silver-mining here, that’s what these towns were built on (Ruby and the others), but not logging. Is that right? That ATV road with the hair pin curves you were on would not be used as logging roads. If it was that tight for a standard size pickup truck like yours, then larger, wider, longer, logging trucks would never be able to drive those roads. So … why were these ATV roads created in the first place? Super blog post. Thank you. 🙂
That’s right … not much logging has ever been done in the Conconully area. You bet, those hair pin turns would NOT have held a logging truck! As far as the ATV roads are concerned, I don’t know the history of them. But I do know that Conconully is one of few towns in Washington that allow ATV’s to drive inside the town … and that there are ATV roads that connect to several towns in the area, over the mountains and through the woods. It seems to be a way of life, a way to travel to and connect with people in surrounding towns. It’s also a huge draw for people to come and bring their ATVs and just drive around in the wilderness here. So I’d bet those ATV roads have been here for as long as ATVs have been in existence, maybe even before as roads traveled by horses. Maybe other people reading here know more than I do? (not hard to do) Thanks Babe. 🙂
Gorgeous opening, morning photo of the sunrise over the lake from your campsite. And what a sweet photo of that buck at the end of your journey today.
Thanks Olivia. 🙂
Let’s go to China Wall. It’ll be fun! NOT!
Glad you are ok and survived the fear. Glad that your truck is fine now too.
Ha! 🙂 Next time I go camping here, it WILL be fun. I’ll take the long way in, and the long way out, not that scary hair pin curve hill. Thanks Marif.
I haven’t read your blog for 3 or 4 weeks, just caught up with them, and just now read this blog. Wow! I best read them every week. I don’t want to miss out on the “fun”. 🙂 Glad you’re ok, you made the right decisions, all of them.
Oh my, good blog post to catch up on! 🙂 Yep, I’m ok. And … thank you for that thought, Lisa, that I DID make the right decisions, including the decision to keep going. If I had decided to put the truck in reverse and back down that tight road, the result could have been worse. Yes, in the end, all of it was the right thing/s to do. Thank you, I really appreciate that.