WORN Washington Offroad Recovery Network

05/24/2026

🗺️ Google Maps Has No Idea Chinook Pass is Open (And It’s Routing Cars on to FS70....Again)

Hey PNW wheelers, voulunteers, and campers! We have a public safety announcement for anyone heading out towards the Greenwater / Little Naches area.

As we all know, WSDOT officially opened Chinook Pass (SR 410) on Friday morning. Great news, right? Well, someone forgot to tell Google. Right now, Google Maps is suffering from total seasonal amnesia and still shows two "Do Not Pass" stop markers on SR 410 near Crystal Mountain. Because Google thinks the highway is physically blocked, it is actively routing ANYONE traveling from Enumclaw to the Little Naches side straight up Forest Road 70 and onto the Naches Trail (Jeep Trail 684). You don't even have to click "avoid highways"—it's doing it automatically. Here is why this is a recipe for disaster this weekend:

1. The Naches Trail is Legally Closed 🛑

Despite the low snow, the USFS seasonal motorized closure is in full effect until July 15th to prevent early-season trail erosion. Unless you want a hefty federal ticket as a holiday souvenir, stay off it. More importantly, it's a rugged 4x4 trail meant for built rigs, not a stock AWD crossover or a family sedan.

2. There is Literally No Road Left on FS70 📉

Even if a vehicle ignores the gates, Google is sending them directly toward a massive, catastrophic washout on the main Forest Road 70 shelf. A massive chunk of the cliffside has completely sloughed off into the canyon. Boots-on-the-ground reports from folks with legal access say the remaining "road" is saturated mud and fill-dirt with zero bedrock underneath. One wheeler reported that just idling on it caused visible clumps of mud to actively slide down the cliff into the abyss beneath his tires. If a tourist tries to navigate Google’s "shortcut" right now, they are going to need a crane, a heavy wrecker, and a miracle.

— Your friends at the Washington Off-Road Recovery Network (WORN) See less

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand with the volunteers of WORN. With about 100 recoveries every year, every call is more than a stuck vehicle; it’s someone’s adventure, family trip, or safe return home. Together, we can make sure no one is left behind.

We’re raising $4,000 to fund the tools that keep our statewide network running strong. Every dollar fuels off-roaders helping off-roaders.

Donate today and share to spread the word!

10/12/2025

The Snow is HERE! Get ready for deep drifts and epic recoveries—Washington Off-Road Recovery Network is geared up and ready to roll! We've got the straps, the winches, and the know-how to pull you out of the worst winter mess. Adventure calls, and we answer!

06/21/2025

Happy Summer, Washington! We celebrated the longest day of the year yesterday by getting snow on the mountains. Classic. That’s right, we’ve officially entered “summer” and the peaks are getting a fresh coat of snow. Who had “June powder day” on their bingo card? Good thing the we live for these “four seasons in one day” shenanigans.

03/27/2025

Just a friendly reminder to our fellow hams: With the storm rolling in, now's a good time to disconnect those antennas! Lightning can cause serious damage. What other storm prep tips do you have? Share them below!
Let's keep our gear (and ourselves!) safe. 73!

03/25/2025

🌦️➡️☀️➡️🌨️➡️🌈➡️🌪️ (Probably)

Tomorrow's forecast is brought to you by a squirrel who's hoarding all the weather patterns and can't decide which one to drop on us! 🐿️💨

We have seen forecasts from everything from avalanche to tornadoes and everything in between.

Remember that time you packed for a sunny trail run and ended up building an igloo? Yeah, tomorrow's gonna be like that, but on steroids.

So, pack for ALL the seasons, bring your sense of humor, and maybe a boat, just in case. 🛶

If you see a weather pattern you've never seen before, snap a pic and share it! Let's document this meteorological madness together. We are very curious to see what actually happens. 📸

Stay safe, stay adventurous, and remember, in Washington, the only predictable thing about the weather is its unpredictability. 😉

03/01/2025

Late last night, and well into the early hours of the morning, WORN was called to assist a vehicle with a mechanical failure. One of the unique aspects of this recovery was the crucial role that radio service played.

The stranded vehicle was located in a remote area on the Kitsap Peninsula, where cell service was spotty at best. Fortunately, the owner had a GMRS radio and access to a popular repeater situated high above Issaquah. This repeater provides excellent coverage of the Puget Sound and the Seattle Metro area, reaching as far east as North Bend and west of the Hood Canal. There's nearly always someone monitoring this repeater.

A group of dedicated radio operators quickly gathered information and alerted WORN about the person in distress. One of our administrators managed to connect to the repeater, establishing direct communication with the stranded individual 50 miles away to coordinate the recovery efforts.

At around midnight, a local volunteer stepped up and headed out to assist, bringing a welder along to try and fix the vehicle. Although that plan didn't succeed, the volunteer went above and beyond. They secured a trailer and successfully towed the disabled vehicle out of the forest.

The image below shows the coverage area for the Oly-Comm3 (East Tiger) GMRS repeater. WORN is a strong advocate for radio use, be it amateur or GMRS. Both services have repeaters statewide that can help a person who has a problem outside of cellular range, and the radios are excellent tools for our teams as they coordinate recovery efforts.

02/20/2025

02/19/2025

Update: Owner found! Thanks for sharing.

Do you recognize me? One of our volunteers found this stuck vehicle in Snohomish County, and we'd like to help the owner get it back!