Past Activity

Canceled: Camp Bell – Strawberry Mountains

Start date: 08/01/2014
Start time: 12:00 AM
End date: 08/06/2014
End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

The camp is based at Lake Creek Youth Camp (www.lakecreekcamp.com) in the Strawberry Mountains, approximately 35 miles southeast of John Day, OR. All meals are included, starting with dinner on August 1 and ending with breakfast on August 6. We will be doing day hikes of various distances. For additional information, see the Summer Camp section and Registration Form at www.obsidians.org. Within 5 days of signing up, mail the registration form and a check for the full amount to Obsidians, PO Box 51510, Eugene 97405. Limited to 100 participants.

Cost: members- $270. Non-members- $300.

Event Leader: Lana Lindstrom
Event Leader Phone: 541-683-1409
Event Leader Email: lana_lindstrom@hotmail.com
Assistant Leader:
Event category: Summer Camp
Area Type:
Departure Location: See Trip Description
Rating:
Roundtrip total drive miles: 600
Season: 2014
Permits Required:
- Wilderness Area
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: Tent (or stay in shared rooms), sleeping bag, personal clothes and toiletries. Hiking equipment. A Camp Booklet which includes a suggested list of what to bring and some of the hikes will be provided at the Camp Rally on April 25.
participant prerequisites:
Conditions:
Total Distance:
Member Fees: 270
Elevation Gain:
Non-Member Fees: 300
Committee: Summer Camp
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Ninety-four campers participated at Camp Bell in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area from August 1-6, 2014. We were based at Lake Creek Lodge, about 35 miles southeast of John Day. It was a lovely setting; the tents were very dispersed among the trees and a nearby stream cooled hot feet. About 25 people stayed in one of 10 cabins. And we had flush toilets, hot showers, and a lodge to hang out in when the showers rumbled through. The staff was very accommodating, transporting our gear when we first arrived, having ice water and lemonade in the afternoon, and doing their best to prepare food for and serve hungry hikers.

The most popular hikes were High Lake and the ridge above it, Strawberry Mountain, and Strawberry Lake. Almost everyone descended down to High Lake, admiring the stunning lupines, monkeyflowers, and paintbrush along the way. Several folks swam in the lake; others just relaxed. Many hiked up to the far ridge, where the crags of Rabbit Ears and Strawberry Mountain were very visible. And a number of folks were able to spot goats on the opposite rim, one group seeing 24 of them! An impressive sixty hikers walked to the top of 9,038’ Strawberry Mountain. And most campers drove to Prairie City and then continued to Strawberry Lake, Falls and/or Slide Lake, many enjoying the relatively warm waters of Strawberry Lake.

Others hikes were the E. Fork Canyon Creek Trail, Canyon Mountain Trail, Malheur River (key swap), Wildcat Basin (hard to find trail), Buckhorn Meadows Trail (much more strenuous than expected), Monument Rock, Little Strawberry Lake, and Arch Rock.

Hikes which did not quite pan out as expected included the N. Fork Malheur River which was closed due to fire, Reynolds Creek, and Lake Creek Trails. The latter had at least 110 down trees in the first three miles which precipitated a song entitled “We can’t see clearly now; the trail is gone.”

The evening campfires included trip reports, a bona fide fire for s’mores, and of course, the President’s Tea. President Matt Bell who had never attended camp before and therefore, had no idea what to expect, was honored by a procession bearing laurels and a crown, several poems and songs, and many creative gifts. As part of the ritual, an organic necklace worn by many previous presidents was presented to him.