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

[RidgeRunner]

Well, folks, it’s finally evolved into an official, real trip. And from the sound of the members during Ryan’s Poll phase (Thank you Ryan), we’ll probably have some pretty good participation for this one.

Friday:
July 10, 2009, meet about 10:00 am at the park in Hines, it's on the highway (north side) as you go into Burns eastbound. Breakfast at 8:00 am or so at RJ's Restaurant (395 Hwy 20 in Hines) for those inclined. It’s conveniently located close to the park.

We’ll leave Burns and Head south on Hwy 78 for about 35 miles, then turn right and follow Lava Bed Rd to Pete French round barn and visitor's center. Leave there and go on to Diamond Craters area for a short visit. We’ll leave there and go on south to Frenchglen. Fuel is usually available there. I’ll check as we get closer to July. When we leave Frenchglen, we’ll go up north Steens Loop Rd. We'll take the entire loop (assuming it's open), coming back to Hwy 205 then on to Fields. It would pretty well take a whole book to describe this 50 mile stretch of scenery adequately. So I won’t even try.

People can go on to Alvord for camping or stay at Fields. We should get to Fields late afternoon or early evening. If some folks have driven the scenic route and would rather beeline straight down to Fields from burns they could be there in about three hours. But there is a lot of great scenery going the scenic route. Keep visions of world famous burgers and shakes in your brain all afternoon.

Saturday:
We need some input for ideas on a trip for Saturday. Rupe, I think you have some ideas for things to do? If we have enough people and some folks would like to do something else that will work. Ideas folks? The Alvord Desert is fun and there is a lot to see and explore there.

Ryan suggested fishing. Fresh trout and camping go real well together. Yes, there is the Donner und Blitzen river near Frenchglen that should have decent fishing. And in the early spring, when the water’s high, it even has very good paddling. Tom, did you hear that? It’s a very pretty stream. Also, Mann Lake is full of Lahontan cutthroat trout for you lake fisherpeople.

Sunday:
Mick and Joey will head south into the Trout Creek Mtns, east across the top and onto the Oregon Canyon Mtns. This is a high (7,000 to 8,000 ft) drive with great views east and south into Nevada. We'll come down out of the Oregon Canyon Mtns. near Hwy 95 but we can take a cutoff north to Whitehorse Ranch Rd. then west back to Fields area arriving mid-afternoon. Here again, if some folks wanted to do more exploring near Alvord or the Pueblos they could choose to do so instead of Trout Mtns.

Monday, Mick and Joey might head back toward the west side through the John Day Fossil Beds on the way home.

Communications: 2-meter ham freq. 146.580, CB channel 22.

Does anyone remember Jerry’s Challenge! Well, winter’s almost half over so how many of you mic jockeys out there are about ready to take the amateur exam and move up a notch? Let’s make this the first Pacific Northwest Backroads trip using amateur radio as primary communications. You wouldn’t want to be left out would you?

The ball is rolling!

Mick

[nightfoam]

I'm so psyched.
My plan for Monday is probably to head towards Christmas Valley without much stopping then explore that area and possibly stay there or up along Willamette Pass that night. Just have to wait and see...

[lgrt]

This trip sounds very interesting. I'll have to see about keeping the calendar open in July.

[Jerry]

This trip sounds very interesting. I'll have to see about keeping the calendar open in July.

I hope you can make it on the Alvord trip, Paul, it would be good seeing you again.

[RidgeRunner]

I received an email regarding things to do & see at the Alvord area:

>A trip east into the Sheepsheads might be
interesting. Micky Hot Springs is fairly close,
and quite interesting with it's boiling mud pots.
There used to be a huge mandella carved into a
lakebed out that way.. don't know exactly where or
if it's still visible.

. . . Kurt


Thanks to Kurt for the info. Maybe someone knows about these areas. We'll have to get the Burns South BLM map spread all over the floor and check out some of these.

Mick

[RidgeRunner]

Following is a list of what I have so far of who is IN and who is on the FENCE for attending this trip. July is still a ways out and I know you're all woking hard on your ham license...So as soon as you get around to it, let me know and I'll add you to the appropriate list. Hopefully, the IN list.

IN
"Jerry" Jerry & Evelyn
"Weisergeiser" Randy & Annette
"RidgeRunner" Mick & Joey
"Briam" Brian & Dee
"richardattek" Rich, Jan & 6 year old granddaughter
"kpherzog" Kurt
"Toy Man" Dick and his wife
"Art Geschrey" Art & Mike
"chado"
"roller bear"
"Oregon" James
"icsodiver@yahoo.com" Bob
"nightfoam" Ryan with Linner & Keegan
"Sprocket3" Mat




FENCE
"lgrt" Paul
"Rupe" & Mrs. Rupe
"Binford" Tim, Mrs. Binford & both boys, 11 & 8
"backwoods3" Mark, Vicki & Jared

[lcsodiver]

I'm very interested in this trip... its been years since I did the Steens loop! I'm tentatively planning on joining you guys on this trip..... My parents are hiking the PCT this year and july is when they will be coming through Oregon... so it is going to be a bit dependent on that, I will try to get a better time frame from them soon. as this is a trip I would love to be on!


Bob in Eugene, OR
KC7GTQ

[Rupe]

RidgeRunner- Well you can move Mrs. Rupe and I over to the fence list. Mrs. Rupe got laid off last Friday, so we have no idea what our cash flow will be come July. If we can we will be there, if we can't, we can't. Man this economy is killing everyone. Rupe

[nightfoam]

I suppose you can add Casey and my Mom & Keegan to the "fence" list. They both sounded interested but its still a ways out for them.

As for me, I'm so sure I've already started a list of things I need to do before the trip

[richardattek]

On Monday I am thinking about Denio, Adel, stopping at Three Corners, (Or, NV, CA) Fort Bidwell, to Lakeview. Home on Tuesday.