Oregon loop - May

[paulj]

Here's a web page with road conditions report for Silver City, Idaho
http://www.historicsilvercityidaho.com/roadconditions.html

Looks like they had some major storm damage a couple of winters ago, but most of that got repaired by last fall. Now it's a question of snow melt timing.

I suspect by mid May I shouldn't have problems driving to the town site from the Jordan Valley side. I don't know about the pass to the east. Roads around the main mining area, War Eagle?, may be out of my league regardless of snow, but I may take a look. A nice thing about my Element is that I can turn around on a dime, if the route starts to look too tough.

paulj

 

[HenryJ]

Update

Met Paul , his wife and their little terrier today. Their journey is going well so far.
Really nice to meet another member from here.

Their Honda Element is really set up nicely for the journey. Much more capable than I had thought.

Their plan is to camp tonight near Lake Owyhee. I called ahead and talked with the Dam tender. Hopefully they will get a little tour of the museum and a nice place to camp for the night.

Our schedule didn't work out as I had hoped , so we will not be able to join them along succor creek as we had hoped.

I wished them safe journey and thanked them for taking the time to stop and visit.

 

[BlueHZT60]

I'm a little late for this trip, but anyone wanting to know about Eastern Oregon - 20+ years of work, exploring and play - loving every minute on no cell phone coverage.

Basically - get off the pavement and there is a whole lot to see. A lot more than a bunch of sage brush and juniper.

Happy to help for the next trip, just ask.

Bob
South Lake Tahoe Now
Bend, OR then

 

[paulj]

Just got back, after 3200 miles. I'll start a thread on the complete expeditions section. The route was much as planned except for a detour north to La Pine for groceries and a flat tire, and a modified loop to the south coast. Bagged 17 major waterfalls.

paulj

 

[HenryJ]

Glad to hear you're back safe and sound!

 

[Railvan]

Oregon trip route

Just got back, after 3200 miles. I'll start a thread on the complete expeditions section. The route was much as planned except for a detour north to La Pine for groceries and a flat tire, and a modified loop to the south coast. Bagged 17 major waterfalls.

paulj

I'm looking forward to hearing about the trip. We are headed to either Hells Canyon or the greater John Day area in late June. Trip route depends on the weather and snow melt on the roads. The Hells Canyon area is hard to judge road conditions due to the large elevation spread from the river to the ridge tops.

Regards,

Brian Rutherford
http://www.pbase.com/railbat

 

[paulj]

When we were there in the middle of May, Hat Point road was snow free up to Mamaloose, and trucks with more clearance than mine were driving the last 2 miles to the overlook. Lots of spring bear hunters were out on ATVs. There were just a few patches of snow at the Saddle Ck campground just south of Hat Point. FS 39 from Joseph to Halfway had been open for a week.

Meltout at Steens Mtn was a slower, not because the total snow fall, but because of drifting. BLM hadn't opened the gate at Page Springs. In the Cascades I couldn't get a clear answer as to whether FS roads between OR 138 (Steamboat) and 58 (Oakridge) were open, so I opted for going 'over the hill' (138 north of Crater Lake). The lowest snow I saw this trip was on the east side of Mt Saint Helens today on the way home (about 4000').

paulj