[Jerry]

After laying out some prospective routes on an Owyhee Country BLM map I decided to run the plans by the BLM office in Vale, Oregon. I talked with a couple of rangers who informed me that (1) by late May virtually all snow should be melted and it would probably be a good time to enter the area, (2) we should watch out for gumbo mud after heavy rains, (3) all roads depicted on their maps are open as far as he knows, (4) one of the river crossings (fords) on the main river will probably have too high a water level to cross safely plus they are thinking of permanently closing that crossing for ecological reasons, and (5) only one of the routes I selected may have to be altered due to high water.



The ranger with the most knowledge of the area told me there are very few people who live south of Rome, Oregon and we may not see another person out there for days. We talked about raising help in case of an emergency and he said even their BLM radios don't work from the river canyons. He suggested that if we feel the need for emergency contact with the outside world we should consider renting a satellite phone.



So all in all the conversation went well and unless we encounter several days of downpour we should have a fun and interesting trip.
Jerry

PS Photos are borrowed from the Desert Explorers web site from a trip report titled "The John's Southeast Oregon Trip, 2001" by Marian Johns
http://www.desertexplorers.org/tr-SE...SEOregon01.htm