Calendar

Past Activity

NE Oregon, SE Washington

  • Start date: 08/05/2013

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 08/10/2013

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Spectacular scenery, Oregon Trail history and thrilling adventure await on this six day/five night trip to the Wallowa Mountains and Snake River areas. Our trip begins traveling the McKenzie Highway and across central Oregon to Baker City, where we spend the first night. In Baker City we will visit the impressive Oregon Trail Interpretative Center with full size displays of life on the trail. Other places of interest in Baker City will be: The Baker Heritage Museum, housing a 2,000 piece rock, fossil & mineral collection plus period clothing; the fully renovated and restored 1889 Italianate Adler House; US Bank, home of the 80.4 ounce Armstrong gold nugget. Leaving Baker City, we travel back roads to Enterprise, pausing in Union to see the stately Victorian homes along Main Street. After a night in Enterprise, we will visit Wallowa Lake; take the Tram ride 3,700 ft. to top of Mt. Howard for views of the Eagle Cap Wilderness; spend some time exploring the shops and viewing bronze sculptures in Joseph. Heading north on scenic Hwy. 3, there will be amazing views of Joseph Canyon before arriving in Clarkston, WA, where we spend the next two nights. Our hotel here is located on the banks of the Snake River. There will be early morning and evening time for leisurely walks along the river. On day four we take a five hour, narrated jet boat tour into Hells Canyon via the Snake River. We will stop along the way for wildlife viewing and see the 2000 year old petroglyphs. At Heller Bar Lodge we will enjoy a BBQ chicken buffet lunch (included) before returning to Clarkston. Following our second night in Clarkston we will travel west on Hwy 12 with stops along the way. One will be at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla. Our last night will be in Pendleton. Here we tour the Pendleton Underground and visit the Pendleton Round Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. Travel home via I-84, Hwys 97 & 126, arriving around 7 pm. Complete itinerary available upon request. Questions- call Sharon 541-746-4929. Bring: Interagency Pass (Golden Eagle/Senior Pass); layered clothing, camera, binoculars, sunscreen, sun glasses, water bottle, sturdy walking shoes.

Cost Members $730; Non-members $742; DEPOSIT DUE NOW: $150; $300 DUE MAY 15; BAL DUE JULY 1
RESERVATIONS AND CHECKS TO: BARBARA PAYNE

  • Event Leader: Cutsforth Sharon

  • Assistant Leader: Payne Don

  • Event category: Bus Trips

  • Area Type:

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating:

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2013

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance:

  • Member Fees: 730

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 742

  • Committee: Bus Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Wow again! This six day trip was a follow up to last year’s fantastic John Day bus trip. We traveled farther east and north into new territory. The loop we drove introduced us to the vast diversity of landscape and history “over east”. Some highlights were: viewing a section of the Oregon trail at the Interpretative Center; the green oasis at Clyde Holliday State Park along the full flowing Powder River; seeing three young raccoons playing in middle of the road (they did make it safely across); a grand tour of the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City; riding the tram to top of Mt. Howard to see the Eagle Cap Wilderness area; breakfast donuts at Cloud 9 Bakery in Enterprise; traveling by bus down into the Grand Ronde River canyon and back up again; a jet boat ride on the Snake River into Hell’s Canyon; watching baby Killdeer birds run around the putting green at Quality Inn, Clarkston; touring the Pendleton Underground with a very entertaining tour guide. Many of our stops allowed time for the hikers to get out and go!
It was interesting to learn about how the interactions of Native Americans, missionaries, Chinese, sheep and cattle ranchers, gold miners fit in with economic interests and prejudice. There were many themes in this trip, including a brewery interest where we heard names like “Terminal Gravity” and “Mutiny Brewing”. Victorian homes, lovely old brick buildings, a variety of museums, and bronze statuary all added interest to the trip.
The scenery was spectacular, sometimes soft and green - many times harsh, barren and so rugged. The basalt rock formations in the Snake River Canyon are awesome. We saw large herds of beef cattle and ranch horses, goats and sheep, even a herd of Alpacas near Redmond. A few deer, big horn sheep, eagles, blue heron, other birds and of course the large population of pocket gophers on top of Mt. Howard. Thousands of acres of wheat fields in the Palouse region of Washington and hundreds of bright white wind turbines against the blue sky contrasted with the rugged mountains and many rivers.
Great activities, great scenery, great travelers and the skill of an excellent bus driver made for a very enjoyable trip.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Cutsforth, Sharon 541-735-4703 N 730
2 Signed-Up Payne, Don 541-452-3617 N 730
3 Signed-Up Payne, Barbara 541-746-1964 N 742
4 Signed-Up Baldwin, Don 541-513-3501 N 730
5 Signed-Up Kocken, Verna 541-513-3501 N 730
6 Signed-Up Jacobsen, John 541-914-1132 N 730
7 Signed-Up Jacobsen, Janet 541-206-1251 N 730
8 Signed-Up Sanazaro, Susan 505-906-7327 N 742
9 Signed-Up West, Mary Ellen 541-342-8672 N 742
10 Signed-Up Arthur, Bill 541-844-5156 N 742
11 Signed-Up Odom, Walt — N 742
12 Signed-Up Odom, Mary Jane — N 742
13 Signed-Up Krentz, Holger 541-868-7792 N 730
14 Signed-Up Krentz, Alice 541-221-4898 N 742
15 Signed-Up Dickerman, Betty 541-689-1462 N 742
16 Signed-Up Hawkes, Mary 541-746-7208 N 742
17 Signed-Up Phelps, Judy 541-726-0118 N 742
18 Signed-Up Flanders, Dennis 541-747-9803 N 742
19 Signed-Up Flanders, Barbara 541-747-9803 N 742
20 Signed-Up Beard, Barbara 541-994-2337 N 730
21 Signed-Up Beard, Paul 541-994-2337 N 730
22 Signed-Up Beard, Paula 541-968-0013 N 730
23 Signed-Up Ledet, Joanne 541-914-6586 N 742
24 Signed-Up Prentice, Margaret 541-556-6596 N 730