Dean Johnston
Mapping Crew - Oregon
Trail Reviews: 2300 points
Questions Answered: 150 points
Off-Road Experience:
6+ years
Off-Road Style:
Jeep trails and Overlanding
My Garage:
- 1998 Jeep Wrangler (2 door) (4" lift, 33" tires)
Dean has lived in Oregon for over 9 years - having spent most of his adult life in Southern California where his love for exploring the outdoors was born. Over the years Dean has hiked to remote fishing holes, mountain biked red-dirt trails of AZ, and backpacked the trails of the Eastern Sierras. As an avid off-road explorer driving a Jeep Wrangler, Dean can often be found traversing the back-roads and trails of Oregon and Washington, or overlanding in Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. Dean is also a Trail Guide for Jeep Jamboree USA, guiding jamboree participants in and around the 4x4 trails of Tillamook State Forest in Oregon.
Dean's day-job is Business Development for a local aerospace company, but he also owns & operates a number of small businesses. Dean is a retired Police Officer, an Army veteran, and airplane pilot.
My Garage (1)
1998 Jeep Wrangler (2 door)
Lift Size: 4"
Tire Size: 33"
This is a pretty tame build as jeeps go. I'm running a simple Rancho lift, plus 1-inch body lift making room for the 33x12.5x15 BFG KM2 tires. The rear differential has a Detroit locker, the front is open - all geared at 4:10. I've got JKS front sway-bar disconnects - which combined with the Detroit locker... lets me get up and over stuff...surprisingly easy. Although, future upgrades will certainly include a selectable front locker and Currie Anti-Rock front sway-bar.
I'm also equipped with a Warn winch, Uniden CB and Baofeng UV-82 UHF/VHF (ham) radio. Trail armor isn't much - Smittybilt bumpers, sliders, swing-away rear tire carrier, and Bushwacker fender flares. Future upgrades include metal flat fenders and rear corner armor and flares.
My Trail Reviews (11)
(within last 6 months)Powerline #4B / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Powerline Trail (all sections) is Open and in great shape. There are some narrow spots that could prove challenging for vehicles wider/longer than a Jeep Wrangler, but certainly nothing too crazy. I find this is a perfect trail for "newbies" or someone getting used to wheeling a new vehicle.
Powerline #4C / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Powerline Trail (all sections) is Open and in great shape. There are some narrow spots that could prove challenging for vehicles wider/longer than a Jeep Wrangler, but certainly nothing too crazy. I find this is a perfect trail for "newbies" or someone getting used to wheeling a new vehicle.
Powerline #4D / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Powerline Trail (all sections) is Open and in great shape. There are some narrow spots that could prove challenging for vehicles wider/longer than a Jeep Wrangler, but certainly nothing too crazy. I find this is a perfect trail for "newbies" or someone getting used to wheeling a new vehicle.
University Firepower Part 2 / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Univ Firepower Trail is Open and in great shape. There are some narrow spots that could prove challenging for vehicles wider/longer than a Jeep Wrangler, but certainly nothing too crazy. I find this is a perfect trail for "newbies" or someone getting used to wheeling a new vehicle.
Cedar Tree / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Cedar Tree trail is open between waypoints 1-3. The remainder of the trail is signed "temporarily closed". This is due to logging activity. ODF is working to get it reopened by June.
Hoodraiser / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Hoodraiser is open and in great shape. This is an easy, scenic trail that is perfect for "newbies" or people getting used to wheelin' a new vehicle.
Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest (03/12/2021)
Firebreak 5 is open and in moderate condition right now due to a LOT of snow on the upper sections. This is a challenging trail on a warm, dry day. The snow adds a extra level of "fun" getting over obstacles and around trees without getting stuck or doing body damage. However, I expect the snow will be gone in the next couple weeks. There is a lot of logging activity going on right now as well - so if you are in TSF on a weekday, be sure to monitor the CB channels. (the CB channel you should monitor is written on signs along the roads they are operating on) Getting hit by a loaded logging truck could ruin your day!
The Jeep Trail (03/05/2021)
Jeep Trail is closed due to logging activity. Although the timber harvest appears to be completed, the trail is signed as closed. According to ODF there is no ETA to have the trail repaired and open again.
Hood River OHV Trail 199 (12/02/2020)
The gates into this area, and the OHV trails are now closed for the winter season.
Mt. Defiance (12/02/2020)
Winter is here, and the road up to Mt Defiance is snowed-in.
Hood River OHV Trail 199 (10/09/2020)
Motorized Trails will be open to Motorized Use on the Westside of the County Forest (NW Area) effective Friday, October 9th.
Middle Mt. and Eastside Trails will remain closed due to the ODF Regulated Use Closure.