Hi Tweeters:
Here are some directions to Wenas that some of us folks received from Helen
Engle. I've added a bit more info.
They JUST NOW opened CHINOOK PASS, probably this Noon. I called 511 to
confirm that. If you are concerned about the weather and snows up on that
5400 ft pass, you might prefer taking I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass (elev, 3000
ft) to Ellensburg, before turning off of the freeway onto back roads which
are lower elevations than the high passes. Cayuse Pass, between Chinook and
White Pass will be closed until mid-June due to rock slides.
The book, A Birder's Guide to Washington has really good directions and two
good maps on pgs 297-300.
Also, a warning about ticks. It's May, and they are out now in the sage
brush country. Take insect repellent. Tuck in your long pants into your
socks, and rub or spray a little insect repellent on your boots, socks, and
pants.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines, WA
----- Original Message -----
From: Helen Engle
To: Wenas Campaign J-Z
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 11:09 AM
Subject: Directions to Campout


DIRECTIONS TO WENAS -- HAZEL WOLF BIRD SANCTUARY,
FOR AUDUBON'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CAMPOUT MAY 26-29, 2006


FROM SNOQUALMIE PASS:
Drive east on I-90 just past Ellensburg. Take Exit #109 (signed
Canyon Road, SR 821). Go north (right) on Canyon Rd past all the gas
stations 0.5 mile. Turn left (west) at the light onto Umtanum Road. The
road crosses the Yakima River (1.0 mile), and turns south, evertually
becoming a gravel road. Continue on this good, but dusty, gravel road up
Shushuskin Canyon, over Manastash and Umptanum Ridges, past part of the L.
T. Murray Wildlife Recreation Area (WA Dept. of Game), about 15 miles from
Ellensburg. Along this drive through sagebrush country watch for bluebird
boxes on fence posts. There are wonderful numbers of both Mountain and
Western Bluebirds along here. Also watch along the road in the brown, rocky
earth for Bitteroot's rose-pink flowers hugging the ground.
Umptanum Road turns into Wenas Road. When you come to blacktop
road surface stop, look for Audubon signs, turn up the gravel road to the NW
(your hard right). Follow this road up Wenas Valley about 6 miles, more or
less, to a the branch of the road that crosses Wenas Creek (left turn).
After crossing the Wenas Creek low bridge into the camping area you keep
driving, bearing right, straight past the horse people and the off-road
vehicle people into the Audubon area which will be at the end of the road.
Drive around camp and find the "Headquarters Tree" where there'll be
information handouts about field trips, campfire programs, a display of
identified wildflowers, and a sign-up sheet.

=================================================
HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, PASSES OPEN?
http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/
If Chinook Pass is not open by Memorial day don't plan to use SR 123,
Cayuse Pass through Ohanapecosh to Hiway 12. SR 123 will be closed till
mid-June as huge rock slides are repaired.
=================================================

CHINOOK PASS, Hiway 410 and WHITE PASS, Hiway 12
Go over Chinook Pass almost to Naches where SR 12 merges with 410..
Look at your speedometer at the junction of 410 and SR 12. You are about 18
miles to the campground at this intersection.

Go three miles past that junction to W Naches Road (I think there's a signal
light here.) and turn left.
Follow W Naches Road about 1 mile to Old Naches Road SW and follow it about
1 mile. Turn onto Simmons "cutoff" (short distance) to sharp turn onto
Clemans Road.
Turn right onto Clemans Road and follow it easterly to Wenas Road.
Turn left onto Wenas Road and follow it to Longmire Road.
Bear left onto Longmire road and drive N about 2+ miles where you will
intercept Wenas Road again. driving NW. You are about 12 miles from camp
here.

Follow this road past Wenas Lake, Hardy Canyon etc. to Maloy Road and
Audubon Road intersection. Bear left onto Audubon Road and follow it to
the campground, about 3 miles.
After crossing the Wenas Creek low bridge into the camping area you keep
driving, bearing right, straight past the horse people and the off-road
vehicle people into the Audubon area.
===============================================

FOR DETAILED OR TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS OF AREA:
You will need both Yakima and Kittitas County maps to cover the areas around
Wenas Creek. The campsite is located in Yakima County just below the
Kittitas County line, on acres owned by Boise-Cascade Corporation, private
land. Some of our field trips go on public land -- U.S. Forest Service
Wenatchee NF, WA Department of Fish & Wildlife, Department of Natural
Resources and to the University of Washington Astronomical Observatory on
Manastash Ridge.

Thanks to Helen Engle for this detailed information. Yours, Carol Schulz,
DesMoines, WA. mail to: linusq at att.net