Alvord Desert/Steens Mtn. Trip July 10 thru July 13, 2009

[lcsodiver]

count me in on that james, always ready for a little challenge. pistols will be along also. i might need a new hat band skin or two

Yep both sound good to me too. Can't wait to see you guys again.

[nightfoam]

I'm most interested in:



I can't wait to just get out and take pictures. Since I won't be driving (for the most part) I hope to really step up my phototaking, hopefully quality over quantity..

(just to clarify. I did not take this picture)

[roller bear]

Yep both sound good to me too. Can't wait to see you guys again.

bob, have you heard from rupe lately, is he and the mrs going to make this one ?

[nightfoam]

Anybody interested in the back route from Fields to Plush? I can get directions if there is interest...

[lcsodiver]

bob, have you heard from rupe lately, is he and the mrs going to make this one ?

Last I heard from him a couple of days ago they can't make it. They are in the middle of building their cabin. I am going to leave Eugene a few days early to go hang out with them before meeting up with everyone else on Friday.

[Toy Man]

Anybody interested in the back route from Fields to Plush?

Yes.

I can remember driving into the Hart Mtn. refuge from the north MANY years ago in a VW Karman Ghia. Wasn't the smartest thing I have ever done but finally made it thru.

Toy Man

[Sprocket3]

Anybody interested in the back route from Fields to Plush? I can get directions if there is interest...

That would be a cool trip and worth checking out. What day are you thinking about doing this and what is the route like. Does it go over the Pueblo Mountains at Domingo Pass?

Looking at my map it seems like you could cross the Pueblos and then head West towards Plush and Hart Mountain area. I found a route on TOPO a year ago that might work though TOPO does not tell you road conditions or if that road is still open.

[nightfoam]

I'm not sure. I'll try to meet up with the guy this weekend. He says its two track all the way and you WILL NOT see anybody on the road.

[RidgeRunner]

Anybody interested in the back route from Fields to Plush? I can get directions if there is interest...

A number of years ago I explored a very old road that had a sign "Old Military Road" on it. It ran east from the east side of Hart Mountain, toward Mahogany Butte. Later, I read a history book of the area and in the 1860's the US Army had a fort located for a short time on the east side of Hart Mountain just south of the present campground. They froze out the first winter and moved the fort to lower ground west and north of Hart Mountain in the Warner lakes basin, where it was used for several years.

This road I was on ran to Winnemucca or Boise, I can't remember which right now but I snapped a pic of the old sign. It's probably the road you're speaking of.



Mick

[BlueCrow]

Well, crud. This has been on my calendar for months, but I'm going to have to back out. I'm helping my brother move from Seattle to the Bay Area the weekend of the 4th. I tried to string the two events together, but things aren't working out. I'm hoping to take the long way home up 395, and might even try for a solo detour to the Steens summit, but it's still up in the air. If nothing else, I might be able to do some last minute scouting for y'all just before you take off.

Happy exploring,
Kent