Springtime Solitude In S.E. Oregon

[trailrider383]

Yeah I like the solo rides sometimes. It gives you a chance to think about things and clear your head.

[av_mech]

Nice ride Ed! Glad you made it over the Sheepshead mountains. That sure was a wet and muddy ride last year! Looks like the Alvord is really dry right now too. I was there in February and there was a ton of water. I'd really like to get out on the playa and ride it one of these times. Thanks for posting!

[effensteve]

Thanks for the report Ed, I'm hoping to get down that way soon. Kinda bummed I missed it

[Special Ed_65]

where did the water go

Last year it was like this...

[trailrider383]

I went back out Friday to camp one night and cross the river to the hot springs since the river flow has dropped way off.

My first sighting of something picture worthy. About 3 foot long.





Camp for tonight is down there.





The start of the descent into the canyon.





Looky what I found. A couple of guys from Boise that are walking up out of the canyon.(not by choice).



They were surprised to see me. Their Bronco had a broken axle down by the river 5 miles away. I told them there was cell service a quarter of mile ahead as I had just called my wife minutes before. I gave the guy on the left with the phone a ride the last quarter of a mile out of the canyon and made sure he got through and had a ride coming to get them. I just got a call from them and they got picked up by Jordan Craters about 10:00 that night. So they had about a 10 mile hike. They went out today and put a new axle in and got the rig home.

Found On Road Dead




A good example of why semi floating axles suck. With a full floater he could have drove home with the front axle pulling.



To be continued...

[larryboy]

Nice report!!!

[Special Ed_65]

Loving you pictures and RR....tough luck with the Bronco.

can the HS across the river from where we camped last spring be gotten to with the river high (from the South side)? I was heading that way next week and thought I might go down there.

[trailrider383]

Originally Posted by ruger65

Loving you pictures and RR....tough luck with the Bronco.

can the HS across the river from where we camped last spring be gotten to with the river high (from the South side)? I was heading that way next week and thought I might go down there.

The reservoir is too high to get to it now. Probably sometime around August I would guess this year. The reservoir is going to be dropping fast now because the river is down to a trickle already. Way earlier than normal. It's running 232 cfs right now and normal is 2600 cfs.

Check your pm's. I sent you one earlier about your trip.

[trailrider383]

Just about to camp.



Someone left a bunch of firewood! Life is good!



And a pile of kindling left over from high water. See the plywood hanging on the tree to the left?





That will do nicely.





To be continued.......

[trailrider383]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Nice report!!!

Thanks, there is a little bit more to come.

[dave6253]

Originally Posted by trailrider383

Someone left a bunch of firewood! Life is good!

That's living! Nice place to spend a night.

[Special Ed_65]

Originally Posted by trailrider383

Thanks, there is a little bit more to come.

[conchscooter]

These kinds of ride reports inspire me every time I read about real adventurers wandering miles off the beaten path in places that would make my hair stand on end. A flat? Heaven help me, hours of cursing and irritation...a broken axle...er?? The ease of travel is as enjoyable as the photography. That a rider helped a cage just adds icing to the cake of my pleasure.

[trailrider383]

Originally Posted by conchscooter

These kinds of ride reports inspire me every time I read about real adventurers wandering miles off the beaten path in places that would make my hair stand on end. A flat? Heaven help me, hours of cursing and irritation...a broken axle...er?? The ease of travel is as enjoyable as the photography. That a rider helped a cage just adds icing to the cake of my pleasure.

It's good to hear you are enjoying my report. Thanks.

[trailrider383]

Saturday morning I spot some Indian Paintbrush.



And some indian doodling. Petroglyphs.











Steens Mountain in the background again. You can usually see it from just about anywhere in this desert. This was a really scenic spot. The picture doesn't do it justice.







Iron Point. I saw a bunch of bighorn sheep here a few years back. I was hoping to spot them again, but they never showed on this trip.





To be continued...