Southeast Oregon photos

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High Desert

High Desert

Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Threads
100
Messages
1,225
Location
Central Oregon
I trek out to southeastern Oregon every 6 months or so. Not a stump jumping, mud bogging, winching out type of trip. Just a back road tour with some unimproved BLM, State, and National Monument road travels.

I've posted up photos before on the 60 forum. This trip was made Oct 24-26 2007. I live in central Oregon, this kind of country starts at the end of my driveway. I'm showing photos starting about 120 miles SE of here in some of the finest country I've ever been in.

I'm Driving in a pristine fj60, that of course makes the trip that much more enjoyable. These photos are not all of the 60, there are landscapes and rock gardens, meadows and line cabins.

There is more wildlife out there then any where else I've ever spent any time. Raptors, Antelope, Deer, if you sit still you'll see all kinds of activity, However, I don't have the lense to capture the action out any further than about 50 feet,most of the animals out there are camouflaged so a long shot is not gonna show much and the country is so open anything alert (and everything is) sees me coming and skeedaddles way before I can take a photo.

..so take a look, if you've seen my photos before you'll see some familiar landscapes..but you gotta appreciate how beautiful this country is..and how can you tire of it, if you live in the east where I was born and raised..I remember feeling your pain..the west is just so fine...

Here is the link, just do the "slide show" deal:

www.picasaweb.com/deserthigh

If you want more info let me know..i'll try to help you out..
PA250209.webp
 
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Great shots! My favorite part of the state for sure.

Were you camping on Hart by those hot springs, or were those further East?
 
Camped at Hart near the springs. Short trip this time..just needed some desert time. It's only 400 miles round trip but that includes hours of rough road time, meaning unimproved two track over lava flows etc. Spent most of the 2nd day coming home out west of the "town" of Wagontire. Between there and Glass Butte. A very long, rough mostly BLM land road that goes West/Northwest from Wagontire up to Glass Butte and there you catch HWY 20 back to Bend. This is A area that the now unofficial "OREGON BACK COUNTRY DISCOVERY ROUTE" cuts though kinda in the junction of "section 1" to "section 2" on the Route 5 trail that goes south to north from CA up to WA...nice country..and unless it's hunting season..your alone. don't go back in there if it is wet..gumbo mud..mixture of vocanic rock, pumice and a clay like dirt (for lack of better word, it ain't soil) it can be bottomless and the locals don't go if wet. Not much to winch to, two vehicles is the norm for the ranchers..it was "damp" when I went not much dust but not muddy..pretty near perfect traction...

Here is a link to the Back Country Discovery Route...It's not marked on the BLM roads so the maps have GPS routing, It is unofficial now due to misuses by the Go Fast Motorheads that ripped through the area right after it was begun, so-they-tell-me..I dunno, just what I heard..but it is still mostly BLM so it's open for travel...

http://www.oohva.org/
 
I went out there last spring. The goal for that trip was sunstone prospecting.

Good times. Beautiful coutry. It's amazing how remote one can still get. I think I learned a new understanding of silence.
 
You've got some cool pics there. I love the ones with the fog and that bright red of the brush out there. Thanks for sharing those. I haven't ever thought about Oregon desert.
 
Awesome Pics! My dad grew up in Lakeview so I have been out that way quite a few times. About 15 years ago my dad took me on a similar journey in his FJ60 I am planning on doing a big trip next fall!

barrypt5
 
Great Pix!

What kind of Camera did you shoot that with?


Btw, my FJ60 looks just like yours;same color....minus the ARB bumper and Lift! One day though.
 
Thanks all...

Camera is a 4 year old Olympus, "Stylus" 410 I think was the designation. It's just a 4meg. Basically a point and shoot. But Olympus uses glass lenses in most of their cameras which makes a difference over plastic optics. Then you just gotta work the available light..I've been real pleased with this camera. I think it cost $400. new..it's even "Water Resistant"
Don't know if they still make the line.

I let the flash go off most of the time even in bright light situations, that fills the wheel wells with light, takes out shadows on the rig.. makes for a more complete composition..Yeah..I do art, working on some Cruiser Paintings.. maybe get it done..uh, sooner or later..

HD
 
E-train said:
You've got some cool pics there. I love the ones with the fog and that bright red of the brush out there. Thanks for sharing those. I haven't ever thought about Oregon desert.
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I grew up in North Carolina, I thought up till about 11 years ago that all of Oregon was a Rain Forest..Oregon is about 2/3 desert and high desert..most everything East of the Cascades is just that, except a few pockets of "green" here and there in the alpine regions..Out here if it is green and it's not a pine or a Juniper..it's probably been irrigated.
 
inthewall said:
I know some of the country southeast of there. It is unbelievable. Im going to have to haul more gas and head a little further northwest.
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Yes south east of Hart..Next trip down I'm going on past Adel on 140 and check out a couple of fire towers down in that area. Also you can go North off of 140 through some tuff country up to the Hart Mt area.

I have read a little about north Nevada...need to get down there..but geez..there is soooo much country and so little time...
 
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I've been to the Owyhee area but have not heard of Blackrock. Where is that in relationship to the Three Forks area?
 
inthewall said:
The owyhee and blackrock deserts are unbelievable. You can explore that country for a lifetime and not see it all.
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Yeh, there is a road that leaves the Jordan Valley area and then goes into Idaho...100+ miles of open desert and rolling hills..sounds great to me..Also heard and read about lots of "roads" that go down to the Owyhee river and some of the Hot Spings down there...There's a lot of country out there..
 
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