Hell's Canyon 2010

Great Ride!  Here are some highlight pix by oldnut and steelhead:

After a windy, cold Thursday evening this was the view from our "front door" Friday Morning, cold but crystal clear, frost on the bike seats.

After a quick tour of Joseph, steelhead had not been there before, we headed to the Lake.

The Old Chief Joseph  grave site is at the foot of Wallowa Lake.  After a brief tour of the southern end of the lake to watch the kokanee fishermen we travelled east to Sheep Creek and onto FS 39.  The southern end of that highway was closed so we went to Hell's Canyon Overlook near the road closure area.  The views of the 7 Devils from here are spectacular.  Below are views of the Mountains and the Hell's Canyon.  Sorry no Lake shots.

Lots of snow left for mid-June!

We then travelled down the Imnaha River to the town of Imnaha.  along the way we passed through the Pallettte Ranch where the lawn and trees were inhabited by a troup of at least 30 peacocks!  What a sight!  Sorry, no pictures,  you'll have to see 'em for yourself.

We stopped in Imnaha for a Mtn. Dew and shots of our site collection for the Challenge.

  steelhead on "Tippy" @ post office

  Lil' Kawkroach gettin' pix of post office

On the way up to Hat Point Lookout I stopped for a shot of steelhead chuggin' up the grade.  That tiny dark thing lower left is him.

While on the up hill grade we stopped for photo ops of Imnaha River Canyon.

Below is shot of the Imnaha river meeting Sheep Creek

Near the top we had a great view of Eagle Cap Wilderness.

On the trip to Hat Point Lookout an "incident" occured just as steelhead entered a small snowy obstacle.  oldnut was in the right place to get a shot of the impending "incident".

After picking up the pieces we continued on to the Lookout, no harm done.  The elevation at Hat Point Lookout is 7,000'.

The elevation at the Snake River at the bottom of Hell's canyon is 1,750'!

Count seven of 'em.

And the view of Eagle Cap?  Fantastic!  The weather was amazing!

The area around the Lookout had been ravaged by a forest fire in 1989 and most of the charred snags still remain.

This "survivor" was right next to the lookout and was only just spared.

On the way down the mountain I stopped to photo this sign ...

...and steelhead incurred the "major incident".  OUCH!

  I think I could hurl.

We picked up the pieces, made it back to camp, incident-less.  Mileage: 200.

Ate Chinese in Enterprise at The Happy Garden and after fill-up, hot shower and a brew we crashed for the night.   Saturday morning showed us high thin clouds.  I took a few candid shots of the RV park, a great place to stay with nice accomodations and obliging hosts.

"Trail talk."

Tent City.

We headed out to Zumwalt Road and north toward Buckhorn Lookout.  I took this shot looking back to Eagle Cap over the fields of Alphalpha.

oldnut pausing for a "break"

This is steelhead coming to the turnoff to Buckhorn Lookout.

The view of the Imnaha from Buckhorn is the section below or east of Imnaha (town).

We scored the site and headed back to catch the 2 track on Cesnimnus (sp?) Creek. 

steelhead scores Buckhorn.

  "Tippy" survived trashing.

  oldnut "stripping" for challenge camera.

  Lil' Kawkroach restin' after easy climb to Buckhorn.

This is the view of Devil's Run from the Bridge at the confluence with Chesnimnus Creek.

We rode out on Elk Creek Road to the Lewiston Highway and down Rattlesnake Grade To Bogan's for a cool one, a nice chat with 2 guys on cool Beemers with KLRs at home and then on to Troy.  (Sorry no more pix)   We crossed the Grande Ronde Bridge at Wildcat Creek, up Wallupa Creek to Maxville, and down Raegan Gulch to the Highway west of Wallowa, then back to camp in Enterprise.  (200 miles)   No time to stop for pix as a major storm was brewing in the west valley and we did not wishing to spoil the weekend with a soaker.  Though the ride up from Troy was fun and interesting it was not particularly photogenic.  FYI the FKA Shilo Inn in Troy is open and under new ownership.  Looks like a great place to eat, drink.

Sherri (Ladybug) and her "gang" threw a great bash and we grilled our steaks and slurpped lasagna as the thunder storms broke around us.  Though it was a wet party we all had a super time and sat around the bonfire and listened to trail tales.   Sunday morning we lingered in the bags hoping the drizzle would end but I finally threw our soaked gear in the truck (old guys rule) trailered the bikes and beat cheeks for Boise.

What a spectacular weekend!  We could see at least 5 mountain ranges, 4 major rivers, countless deer, turkeys, grouse, rattlers, peacocks(!) and profuse wildflowers of all description.  In spite of the lingering snow fields (the most snow I've seen there in mid-June) the weather was supreme.  We had no flats or serious get-offs and that is always a bonus. 

Thanks again to ladybug and her minions for hosting... Us 2 old farts had a great ride.  This did not suck!