Oregon Back Country Discovery Route 5 finished

[VidereStudios]

Just an update...bought the GPS tracks for the entire OBDR from Treknow and am plotting the course in Google Earth. Already have the WBDR GPS tracks (free download on their site). California has several California Back Country Discovery Trails throughout the state and found out that there is one in the Modoc National Forest and connects right to the bottom of Route 5 of the OBDR. So I am plotting that into Google Earth as well.

CowboyUp, you said you did Route 5 in 5 days. How many miles (average) did you travel in day? Where were your overnight stops? I saw pics from Crack-in-the-Ground...looks like you saw some sights along the trip. How much time did you spend driving versus seeing things during your driving day? What time did you stop, on average, for the night?

 

[yohavos]

Did you run this in September?



We're looking at running from Cle Elum, WA down to Paisley, OR to meet up with the CODRA guys in late June and are wondering about snow levels in the mountains.


I was with a group that ran the WABDR last year in late July and we had to find a bypass south of Packwood due to snow. Wasn't a big deal, but having good maps helps.


Mike

 

[Dini]

Nice pictures of your journey. I'm glad to see there are people that like to explore our own back yard, The Great Northwest, in lieu of getting on a plane and traveling abroad. There are so many things to see and do here.

 

[Itchy Sides]

This is on my list of things to do now. Looks fantastic. Any must have items/ gear for the trip?

That. Luckily we're not too far and do have family & friends in/near OR.

I haven't read the whole thread. How hardcore/technical do the roads get? Camping availability?

Thanks!

 

[yohavos]

How hardcore/technical do the roads get?

Not at all, the worst you might see is a moderate water crossing, provided you go once the snow has melted. Stock rig with good tires could do this. (tires aren't so much for traction as durability... jagged rocks in some sections)


Camping availability?

Very abundant, especially in the NF land.





The PNW is an amazing area that provides a lot more in the back country touring department than most people imagine. These BDR's are only single examples of ways to navigate around these states off road. The possibilities are damn near limitless up here.

 

[CowboyUp]

Just an update...bought the GPS tracks for the entire OBDR from Treknow and am plotting the course in Google Earth. Already have the WBDR GPS tracks (free download on their site). California has several California Back Country Discovery Trails throughout the state and found out that there is one in the Modoc National Forest and connects right to the bottom of Route 5 of the OBDR. So I am plotting that into Google Earth as well.

CowboyUp, you said you did Route 5 in 5 days. How many miles (average) did you travel in day? Where were your overnight stops? I saw pics from Crack-in-the-Ground...looks like you saw some sights along the trip. How much time did you spend driving versus seeing things during your driving day? What time did you stop, on average, for the night?

Howdy

That GPS tracks are great if you are using them beside a map too.
I am looking to transfer soon all the GPS track from WABDR on the maps to be ready for my next trip.
Some of this routes, I all ready did and definitely will be a great trip.
I never heard about California, BCDR and definitely I will check out that too. Modoc NFS is a beautiful forest with lots of lakes by the border with Oregon on OBCDR5. Also, are a lots of Fire lockout on that area too.
I did OBCDR 5 in 9 days, PDX to PDX and average I did around to 60 miles per day, faster the OBCDR 3.
My style of driving its, if I see something to see, I will stop and enjoy the view, take a short hike or get out my camping chair ( maybe a cold coke or beer too )and forget the time. This is one of the reason way I am travel alone too.
Usually, I am stopping for overnight stop one hour before getting dark and my camp sites most of the time are outside the main rd or in the end to the end to a abandoned logging rd. I don't like the NFS campsites to expend my night, are not free and sometime are noisy too.
Yes, I saw a lots of sights along to my way and Crack in the Ground was a extra add to my trip.

 

[CowboyUp]

Did you run this in September?



We're looking at running from Cle Elum, WA down to Paisley, OR to meet up with the CODRA guys in late June and are wondering about snow levels in the mountains.


I was with a group that ran the WABDR last year in late July and we had to find a bypass south of Packwood due to snow. Wasn't a big deal, but having good maps helps.


Mike

Mike

Yes, I did the trip in first weeks of September and was OK, but was nice to starting in August and not do the trip on the same time with the hunting season just for reason that many rds where closed for this reason.
It's hard to say how will be the snow level in June this year because of this unpredictable weather, but definitely on last years in June and July was snow up on Oregon and Washington cascades enough for major detours. I found snow at the border with California on September when I did the OBCDR 5.
Around to Packwood the snow level is staying late almost every year and definitely like you said a good map helps.
Last year, I had been there on late of November and all the rds that I had been on my plan to take where washed out and closed and in the end I decide to take 52 to get on Mt Rainer.Who knows what will be this year there.

Good luck

 

[CowboyUp]

Nice pictures of your journey. I'm glad to see there are people that like to explore our own back yard, The Great Northwest, in lieu of getting on a plane and traveling abroad. There are so many things to see and do here.

Dini

Yes, our back yard are a great and rewarding to see before to expend so much money to see something abroad.

 

[CowboyUp]

That. Luckily we're not too far and do have family & friends in/near OR.

I haven't read the whole thread. How hardcore/technical do the roads get? Camping availability?

Thanks!

Like Yohavos said, not very difficult, but are few trails when is wet will be some fun. Is a trail that is going down to John Day River near with Fremont Power House that definitely you need to think twice before to use when is wet season. The trail is most likely a 6 down grade narrow trail with washout along the trail and on the trail. Most likely NFS will close that trail if they don't have money to fix. Also, on Christmas Valley the BLM rd/s are very bad when are wet and near and on Lost Forest area too.
Malheur river can be fun to cross early in June when all the snow is starting to melt. You need to cross this river in two spots and no bridge are near too.
And about camping, almost anywhere you want on public land.

 

[VidereStudios]

Like Yohavos said, not very difficult, but are few trails when is wet will be some fun. Is a trail that is going down to John Day River near with Fremont Power House that definitely you need to think twice before to use when is wet season. The trail is most likely a 6 down grade narrow trail with washout along the trail and on the trail. Most likely NFS will close that trail if they don't have money to fix. Also, on Christmas Valley the BLM rd/s are very bad when are wet and near and on Lost Forest area too.Malheur river can be fun to cross early in June when all the snow is starting to melt. You need to cross this river in two spots and no bridge are near too.

Great post, CowboyUp! It's the little tips like this that make this forum great!

I am taking three weeks to do most of the Backcountry Discovery Routes this year. August 10th through September 3rd...hope to see some of you guys out there! I'll be in a light bluegreen LX470...

 

[CowboyUp]

Great post, CowboyUp! It's the little tips like this that make this forum great!

I am taking three weeks to do most of the Backcountry Discovery Routes this year. August 10th through September 3rd...hope to see some of you guys out there! I'll be in a light bluegreen LX470...

Thanks !

Three weeks will be just perfect and the date also is a good choice too. Get two jerry cans with you, gasoline is gold on this trip.
Good luck and if I am lucky, maybe I will be somewhere along the trail too.

 

[BlueHZT60]

Please realize: The BLM purposefully left many roads off of their new version of the Burns District, South Half map. It equates to a very slippery way for BLM to close roads.

 

[CowboyUp]

Please realize: The BLM purposefully left many roads off of their new version of the Burns District, South Half map. It equates to a very slippery way for BLM to close roads.

I had been there to their headquarter in Burns and they said that parts of the roads of south are not maintain by them the long time and the rd sign and some rd/s are gone too.
Only the main rd/s used by locals for ranching still be in better shape and most thanks to locals who are taking care of them.
Is a nice way to let the public to enjoy the country beauty and our public land by closing this roads.

 

[Zjsheller]

You are welcome!
Driving a diesel definitively haves advantage on fuel economy.
Most of the roads that are closed are completed blocked or the rd numbers are removed. Some of them are just temporary and some of them definitely ( look definitely from my view of point because of the big number of logs that are one them, unmaintain the long time or washed out ). I had rd/s that where completed gone, I drove up and down on the rd that will give access to this rd and I don't found any signs of the rd that I was looking.
You will be in that situation and you will have choice to be there where are less tire track or no tracks at all, just be prepare for lots scratches on the cruiser

This is great!! I've had all sections of the OBRDR on my list for a couple years now and this write up is just fueling the fire!!

PS- Love the sagebrush pinstriping!!
Thanks!
Brian

 

[CowboyUp]

This is great!! I've had all sections of the OBRDR on my list for a couple years now and this write up is just fueling the fire!!

PS- Love the sagebrush pinstriping!!
Thanks!
Brian

Brian

Check my post about https://forum.ih8mud.com/expedition...-back-country-discovery-route-3-finished.html too, more fueling for your fire !
If you get some time, just get in the truck and do, the time is not stay in standbay.
That pinstriping are scars for forever for my cruiser. You need to see how was looking the cruiser when I bought her, 100% mall cruiser

 

[OrygunCruiser]

Great stuff cowboy, thanks for posting. I need to pack up the rig this summer and make this happen

 

[CowboyUp]

Great stuff cowboy, thanks for posting. I need to pack up the rig this summer and make this happen

You are welcome OrygunCruiser
Don't forget the

 

[CowboyUp]

Howdy

Just I want to pass a sad news, most likely some parts of OBCDR 5 and I believe 4 too, will not be possible to be done anymore on Wallowa Whitman National Forest very soon because of Wallowa Whitman travel management plan that need to be finalize ( started on 2007 )...
Time to hit the rd for one more time. The last drive trip for some parts of that great part of Oregon .

 

[BlueHZT60]

Wallowa Whitman USFS has recalled the road closure order due to the level of upheaval from people. It's not gone, but its stalled for a bit I guess.

 

[thetrekkerguy]

This looks like a great back country trail. Any advise for someone that would like to check it out? I'm going on a road trip in July and Oregon is on my to do list. This looks like a great way to stay off the pavement.
Thanks