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On my trip to see the Dead and Allman Brothers at the

Published 7:00 am Monday, September 24, 2012

Martin will serve you some serious tacos.
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Martin will serve you some serious tacos.
Martin will serve you some serious tacos.
You'll need your strength for a long day at the Gorge. Sasquatch 2008 seen here.
Crack in at least a couple eggs and scramble away.
Toss in some sliced/diced onions and potatoes and saute until they're soft.
You'll want a good breakfast before your day begins, and here's what I suggest. Cook some bacon on your campstove first and leave the grease in the pan after it's done.
Home sweet home. The Gorge camping pre-sale is sold our for Sasquatch, but some tickets are available at the gate. If you're denied entry, head back to the gas station at Vantage and ask them to point you toward the nearest free campground.
At this point you're almost there. The Gorge really is just past Vantage, across the Columbia.
There are worse places in the world to be during sunset.
Across the river, you can get one hell of a look at the Columbia and Vantage from the Wild Horses Monument.
As you get close to Vantage, the windmills start to come into focus. I know it doesn't appear that way in this photo, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
And if you're still thirsty, head over to the Iron Horse Brewery before you leave town. Try the Brass Ass Brown.
Stop into the Super 1 on your way back to I-90 for any last-minute provisions. (Sunscreen, people!)
His sister, Ana, serves all kinds of drinks, including this watermelon water, which tastes exactly like you wish a Jolly Rancher would.
See!
Every time I leave town on the way to the Gorge, I have to make at least one pit stop.
Take Exit 109 past all the fast food restaurants and hotels and look for Taqueria Martin. It's on the east side of the street at Main and Tacoma.
Ellensburg is home to one of the finest Dairy Queens on earth, but I've discovered another treat slightly off the beaten path.
But, the cherries should improve as the summer progresses.
I've never tried the poker ride.
The Thorp fruit stand, just west of Ellensburg on I-90, is great when apples and cherries are in season.
Just east of the Cascades ... I've been watching this outbuilding fall apart for 20 years. One of them has finally been reduced to rubble.
This is as close to the lake as we got. But, I highly recommend it. The campground is scheduled to open again on June 5.
Speaking of planning ... we had to learn the hard way that our Friday evening destination, Lake Kachess, was closed. Do yourself a favor and check first.
Yeah, the weather's turning down here, but Snoqualmie still has some snow. So, if you're planning on camping on the way over, plan for it.
I also learned that cigarettes cost $7 now. I don't know how you serious smokers do it. I only smoke occasionally at outdoor concerts, but even that's getting about as expensive as drinking inside the Gorge ($9 beers!!!).
And this growler of Imperial Pilsner cost me $20. Never spent that on a growler. And the case of Bud for $16 at the Shell station started lookin' pretty good.
Rogue's Issaquah Brewhouse isn't a bad place to stop. But the barkeep on my last visit turned out to be one of the most unpleasant men I've ever met.
I've literally spent hours on the streets of Issaquah stocking up on last-minute provisions.

On my trip to see the Dead and Allman Brothers at the Gorge last weekend, I picked up a few tips for those of you making the trip to Sasquatch over Memorial Day Weekend. Photos and notes by Chris Kornelis.Published on May 19, 2009

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