Oregon: Ochoco Challenge, June 6-8, 2014

[Bill Beers]

Day One

Portland to Whistler Campground: Map

I started planning this third annual trip to the Ochocos last winter. Last year's challenge was a hoot in my '83 Tercel, but for this year's trek into the Ochoco NF, two motorcyclists joined, and I didn't have the room for gear and gas in that little wagon, so I took the Landcruiser. Last year, I took 20 gallons of fuel, which ended up being more than necessary, so I brought 15 gallons, (and only used five!) I had plenty of room on the roof rack for the bike's high-octane stuff, and plenty of room in the cab for all our gear, coolers and what not.

I made plans to meet with the moto-guys in Madras sometime after noon on Friday. From there we'd head due east. The last part of our group, Rod and Dave in Rod's new Dakota, would be leaving Portland until after work. The guys brought the bikes over to Madras in a trailer, Dan on a Husaberg dirt bike, and Doug on a Husqvarna dual sport he borrowed from Dan. I was surprised to see my friend Patrick get out of the van after them. I invited him, but never hear a word from him! He'd brought his 650 BMW and was going to use this weekend as a shakedown for his upcoming AK highway trip.

Click on any of the pictures in this thread to make them bigger.

Patrick and Doug:


After we got the 'cruiser packed, I waited for the guys to saddle up:


We headed east on B Street, and continued straight at the prison, where the road turns to gravel.

Dan got some nice shots of us on Ashwood and Haycreek roads, on our way to Ashwood.




It was easy for Dan to range ahead on the Husaberg, and gave him to opportunity to get some video of us as we passed him:

Taking advantage of some shade in Ashwood.


On to Trout Creek Road.


I've head it can get pretty slick on this road when it rains, but we had good weather all weekend, very dry and sunny. Though there was the opportunity for getting wet on this road.

We got into Whistler CG around 5 and set up camp for the night.





We talked to a couple rockhounds that were in the area looking for thundereggs, and before too long, Dave and Rod arrived. After a good campfire, we turned in for the night.

Next: Fire towers, lava fields, one more year with me on my back fixing something.

 

[Bill Beers]

Oregon: Ochoco Challenge, June 6-8, 2014 Day 2

Day 2: Whistler CG to Frazier CG

Map

I got up early Saturday morning and got the campfire going. I was surprised enough to have 4G coverage that I posted a picture of my fine fire! Biscuits, gravy, and coffee were on the menu: My wife, (what a dear!) pre-made the gravy and the biscuits. While I was heating the gravy up on one burner, I placed a colander full of biscuits, covered by a hand towel, over another pot of boiling water to heat them. I'm pretty sure we ate it all!

As I was pouring in some gas, I noticed that the rear end of the Toyota was sitting lower than it had when I left Portland.


I jacked up the rear, blocking it up with a Ponderosa round, and crawled underneath, suspecting what I might find.


After our first trip out in 2012, I installed some air-lift springs in the rear coils. The really helped to keep things level, especially when towing, and had successfully completed a trip out here the previous summer. Maybe a zip-tie let go, I don't know, but something caused a part of the air line to fall on the exhaust, where it promptly melted in half. I had enough slack in the system to cut that part out and re-plumb it. I refilled it with my little compressor, and was disheartened to hear a steady hiss coming from the side opposite that I'd been working on. I threw in the towel, deciding to fix it when I got back.

We loaded up and got ready to head out, first to HWY 26, then onto FS 2630, which we would stay on for a goodly part of the day.

Rod's truck looked pretty clean when we started, but would soon be eating the dust of the lumbering Toyota.


As we headed east, the bikes ranged way out in front of us, often far enough ahead that I couldn't even see their dust. Climbing up the back side of Mount Pisgah, through an old burn, I was convinced they had gone the wrong way.


I was wrong. I knew they would be much faster than our cars, but I really didn't realize how much faster! They had plenty of time to stop for pictures along the way.






We met them on top, at the fire lookout tower, which was still boarded up for the season.





While we were up here, we discovered that Rod had picked up a nail in his LF tire. We poured some water on it, but couldn't find any bubbles, so we left it, fingers crossed that we wouldn't have to break out the plug kit.



Continued on next post.

 

[Bill Beers]

Day 2, continued.

Day 2, continued.

Patrick and I reviewed the map, and we pressed on eastward.


The bikes were off on a good clip again, and we caught up to them on the Broadway Lava field.




We stopped at a quarry for lunch: sandwiches and shooting!


Once again, we tried to drive to the top of Spanish Peak. We'd skipped it in 2013, and were stopped by snow in 2012. I crossed my fingers that this would be the year.

It wasn't. Patrick is grinning like that because that ~12" of "road" was enough for him to squeak by. Dan was long gone, headed to the summit.


I was feeling good as we climbed that rough-as-hell road: I hadn't seen the telltale stream running down the road announcing a snow drift ahead. It turns out it was there, but had made a convenient turn down slope, very near the drift.



I shifted the Toyota in to 4-Low, and eased up to the edge of the bank, expecting to sink in. It was like a rock, and slick to boot. I briefly considered flooring it, but flashes of me sliding off the side, and not a winch to be had curbed my enthusiasm. Though undoubtedly the wisest choice, it did earn me some chastisement from my friend Ben, (an acolyte of the "hammer down" church,) when we returned.



Dan, Doug, and Patrick made it to the top however, and got to enjoy the view.





Waiting below, one of the moto guys called us on the radio that Patrick was having some trouble with his FS650 cutting out every time he hit a bump. When he got back down to where we were waiting with the trucks, he busted out his tool kit and dove in. Though I felt bad, I was really glad it wasn't me this time!



Once that was sorted out, we had a group huddle: Head straight to camp, or swing by Wolf Mountain lookout tower. Though those of us in the cars had been there last year, none of the bike guys had ever been, and it was on our way, so to the tower we went.

Continued below.

 

[Bill Beers]

Day 2, continued.

Day 2, continued.

Wolf Mountain Lookout is tall, almost 110". I suggest wearing gloves for the railings, or at least being really careful on splinters!

Our convoy parked at the base of the tower.



Dave, looking down on Rod, Doug, and I.



Doug, taking a sip from his Camel back.



Patrick



Our shadows started to grow long, so we loaded up for the last time and headed to our camp ground.

On the menu was steak, potato salad, corn on the cob, and whatever else might be left in my cooler. We gather up firewood, set up our camp, then got down to the serious business of relaxing.









Continued below.

 

[Bill Beers]

Day Three: Frazier Campground to Portland.

Map.

Morning found me cooking eggs for breakfast. I'm sure there was some kind of breakfast meat involved as well, but can't remember. After a final load up, Patrick set up his camera to preserve the moment for posterity.



We headed north, following the south fork of the John Day River to Dayville. There, all the bikes gassed up. Rod and Dave split company with us, as we were opting for a lunch stop at the Painted Hills. As it turns out, there is a very nice picnic area there, and the Hills themselves were as beautiful as ever.

Seeing them was not without consequence however, at least for Dan. Dan's Husaberg has something like a 1.2 gallon fuel tank. That may be charitable. He figured he had enough for the Dayville to Prineville section of US 26. None of us thought about the round trip jaunt to the Hills however. Some five-ish miles east of Prineville, Doug calls me on the radio that Dan is out of fuel, and for me to please stop.

Dan isn't keen on dumping my proletariat 87 octane into his finely tuned Swedish machine, and I'm equally not keen on climbing up there to get it down, (note to self, you need a rack ladder.) Fortunately, there is about a combined cup of 93 in the dregs of the two moto gas cans. This is enough to get Dan to the gas station on the edge of town. Though the conveniently co-located Taco Time's Crisp Meat Burrito attempts to lure me in, I say goodbye to the bikes and push on to Madras. I'm about half-way through unloading their gear when they arrive. We shake hands, and I head back for Portland.

I'm already thinking about next year's trip. On the drive home, my internal route-planning software is cooking up a route that will take us further south, to Oregon's outback!

 

[IceCap4runnerORP]

Very cool, looks like fun. Oregon is one of the three CONUS states I have yet to visit...

 

[unkamonkey]

Yep, bikes can cover the terrain 3 to 4 times faster than a stockish 4X4. On my XT 550's, only had about a 150 mile range. The hail and snow made things a bit more intersting too when we were in the La Garita area here in CO. The last time I drove to Holy
Cross City there was one guy on a dirt bike, he did know how how to ride it. The Jeeps were slower but carried inportant things like camping suplies, food and beer.

 

[mkitchen]

Good looking trip

I have wondered how a trip mixed with 4X4 and moto's. You seem to have worked out the system. I may make a stab at it. Mo could go along with the Tacoma and AT Horizon and I could ride the bike. It might just work.
Mikey

 

[Bill Beers]

I anticipate getting a chance to try again this year. One of the changes I'm planning is giving out GPS routes to the bike guys ahead of time, as well as highlighting the route on our Benchmark Atlases. If I can pass the route far enough in advance, it should give the bike guys enough time to find any alternate, single-track ways to get to where we're going!

 

[PirateMcGee]

Thanks for taking the time to share!