Owyhee Headwater Expedition

Saturday – June 25, 2011. Meet at Rome – 7:30 am:

42° 50′ 21.01″ N, 117° 37′ 37.99″ W

42.83917, -117.62722

We awoke early. Curt met us about 5:am MST and we headed to the fire station for ice. After that we were on the road as planned.

First stop for a break was the Shell station on Jordan Valley, OR. Across the lot at the motel we see...

A Nissan Xterra with Campinglabs awning, Tacoma double cab with swing out tire carrier, and a Ford F150 sporting a set of sandladders on the rear tire rack. This must be the group. They are just rolling out and we jump in behind the double cab as two of the three leave.

In the distance you can see ample snow still on the Steens. The winter was good and water is plentiful.

Rolling into Rome, OR we see a green Tacoma sitting at the store. Steve and Kira made it! Greeting the group we meet our organizer Dick and introduce ourselves to everyone. One is missing though. The white Ford F150 of Jerry's. Dick relates that Jerry arrived very late and remained at the motel to rest. We were told that perhaps he would catch up later.

So Jerry was left to fend for himself. Next piece of information was that we were going to take alternate route "D". Up the highway to Crowley instead of taking Tub springs road to Chalk Basin on our way to Watson.

Curt said when we left, I am FBT. Following BLT's Truck.

We were following our leader too.

When in Rome you need to check out the Pillars of Rome, right? Yes. So we did.

At the end of this little farm road there lies a sign:

It must be a good way to keep people from trespassing. On a previous trip Dick said he asked the farmer what you could do in there for $1000, per person , per day. He was told, "pretty much anything you want." We took a few pictures and moved on.

Off the farm road, on Tub Springs Road back to the highway and a long drive north to the Crowley cut-off.

The weather was perfect. Calm and 61F this morning.

Finally arrive to the Crowley road. Periodically calling to see if Jerry would make contact. No luck. Onward ahead full.

Late June would not usually be this green , nor the water as plentiful. This year all the small reservoirs are full and all the streams flowing. A very happy healthy desert.

Around a corner this Badger seemed content to check us out. It stayed for a while until it heard the rattle of the veggie burning diesel Chevy behind us. Then in its hole it went.

The roads were very good on this stretch even though the entrance had a sign saying Road Closed to Thru Traffic. Off to the side an old grader sat shoeless. One step above horse drawn iron.

Next we approach the Crowley Ranch

Very quiet and lacking any activity for what looks like quite a while. A short stop for our leader to head count and off we go again.

A Halo around the sun. Sun Dog. A little talk about what it means. Related to the solstice solar flare event and the wave that should have reached us today? I think the consensus was it means good weather.

Onward and upward. You can just see a tiny spot on the far ridge as the Xterra zings ahead.

I was pleased to see that the review camera shows my hitch and also both tires very well. It should work great for spotting the trailer tire over and obstacle.

Lots of beautiful vistas as we come across the top

We have now stopped for an early lunch and made it to the section north of Page ranch. From here we descend into the valley toward the river.

Lots of side roads in this area and even a little indecision on the correct route.

Without good maps one could easily get off route out here.

Now on Deadman's Gulch road we are on the last leg to Watson and on schedule for a 3:00pm arrival.

This spot had a washed out crossing and we took the bypass.

Red Butte. Red Butte Canyon leads down to the head of the lake. What would normally be a flowing river running close to 500 CFS this time of year, is a full reservoir at an elevation of 2670ft.

No trees out of the water here.

Dick has run far ahead and we have lost contact.

It turns out he had bumped a channel and could not reach us on the 2m. He returned to report about the trail ahead and we turned back for better camping at an abandoned homestead.

Pelicans swim by as Tach catches a nice little bass. We set up camp for the night, prepare Brazilian BBQ, pork fried noodles. The day went so fast. Crack a cold one and try to relax a little.

We set camp at what my maps had marked as the old Morcum homestead. A lean to shed that had a fireplace and imported couch with chairs and a picnic table inside. Pack rats inhabited the Cedars outside. A makeshift out house with no walls sits outside. Kind of a quirky, fish camp sort of place. Someone said it looked like they loaded up granny and moved to Cally-forny.

This night Dick, Sandy , Art and Mike talked. They decided to push far north the next day as they needed to be home early Monday. Word about the Wildhorse Casino in Pendelton, OR seemed to be the catalyst. They bedded early to leave early the next morning. Their plan was to stay at the casino that night and return home early Monday.

Day Two:

BLT, Kira, Steve, and Curt were all up for a leisurely run north and camp at Twin Springs.

We packed up and left soon after our other companions disappeared over the hill.

We set a much slower pace on this leg as we knew we were only an hour or so from twin springs.

Lots of flowers

Back at the wash bypass I stop for a photo.

Now you can see why the bypass is there. That cut is probably three feet deep.

A shot of the old school water cooler.

Back on the road to this days destination.

This poor kangaroo rat was determined to have died by a heart attack, by Steve our traveling paramedic. Rigor had set so no resuscitation was conducted.

We later saw at least three more along the route in exactly the same posture lying in the road. I'm not sure what was up with that. I think this is where L saw the antelope run over the ridge?

Another flower stop.

Nice of the ant to step into the picture for me.

There had been quite a rain here. Enough to was sage brush across the road. Impressive. I expect it in the valleys and gullies, but this was the knob on the hill. It must have been a very hard storm event.

The hitch rubbed twice on this trip. No harm, no foul. Articulation was good and no rubbing.

These looked like tiny peonies?

Side of the hills were pink with these tiny one inch tall flowers through here.

On we go...

More pinks from the blooms of the salt cedar.

Another shot of the hitch in the twisties. It sure feels like that should look more exciting.

Now we drop down into a wonderful little oasis of a canyon.

The gate keeper here was strongly protesting our entrance with very vocal report.

Moving off to the left we were watched closely as we entered. Smells of moisture, blooms of flowers and cedar filled the air. It was wonderful.

More road traffic. This fellow was kind enough to stay still for a photo. Hopefully some one will know the variety or species of lizard.

Castle in the sun. A few rocks in the road at this point. Nothing technical, but a nice pace breaker.

At this water crossing we stopped for Tach to cool his feet and watch the others cross.

Vehicles approaching spurred us ahead to find a wide spot for them to pass.

They hung back for a time. We had hoped to watch the trophy truck make that water crossing, but either we were not patient enough, or they were shy.

It did not take long for that prerunner to catch us down the trail.

We arrived at Twin Springs before lunch time. and set camp.

Cottonwood, Poplar, ash and elm. Even an old fruit tree in this little desert oasis. Out house, fire rings and tables too.

This day was pent relaxing, napping , walking, riding bikes, playing games and simple fun.

Scrap limbs were plentiful so we had a nice fire this night.

Nighttime brought the Goatsuckers (Nighthawks), gray owls and barn owls. I was unsucessful in taking a decent picture even by spot light

The night was filled with the yip of coyotes, hoots of owls and the call of snipe hunters with bags and flashlights seeking to catch their first snipe.

Day three:

Morning was time to pack up with a quick breakfast. An easy trail home from here. Less than forty mile remain to home. Two thirds of that offroad.

A group shot.

And off we go for a leisurely ride out. We are told that these yellow roses were brought in by the settlers.

Very beautiful and hearty I an sure. We leave the yellow roses of Twin Springs and venture home.

Tach picks out a number nine.

Another badger watching out for us. This one was a little more shy.

Not far from here is where my auto routing confused me a little. They road seemed to loop back on itself and there appeared to be a short cut. I turned all around and we headed back for that "short cut". It did not take long to figure out that this road was less traveled. Not long after that to figure out that it was not the road I had expected. Instead of cutting back to Twin Springs road, we were on Rock canyon road. They parallel each other on opposite sides of the ridge.

We had lots of time and it does head the right direction. An adventure!

I have not seen a plate do that. We were not too sure when it happened. Kinda funny.

The road had been travelled. Well at least by cattle. signs of wheel travel had not been for a very long time. We had lots of day ahead, so no worries, right?

This was the last traveller on this road..

Bones and quill from a long deceased porcupine.

The road was pretty good. Full of the extremes. Fogging silt behind us between muddy watered sections. Still headed the right way, no worries.

Only a few more miles offroad now.

Back to asphalt. Greeted by an old caboose. The end of the train...

...and the end of our trip.