River

North Fork John Day, 2017

A mere three days passed between pulling off the Owyhee and our next river trip of the spring, a three-day float down the North Fork John Day.

North Fork John Day

 

We attempted this trip last year but the flows dropped too low just days before the launch.  With the deep snow pack this year flows weren’t an issue.  The North Fork is a different setting than the main John Day.  For most of the 41 mile float you are in ponderosa pine and even some Douglas-fir.  It’s almost more of a Grande Ronde feel than the dry country of the main John Day.

 

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Down the Wild Owyhee, 2017

It’s been on the river list for years.  Finally the stars aligned, the flows held up and we were Owyhee bound.  We arrived at the put in about 1 a.m. to find an overflowing parking lot.  We found a spot off the road to spend the night and before we knew it the sun was up and it was time to get on the water.  We made our way through the usual antics and congestion that is the put in without too much pain and agony and got on the water.

Rome Launch

After the first few miles we started to get into the scenery.

Pillars of Rome, Oregon

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Hello Spring

Don’t let the reports of a never-ending winter fool you.  Spring has arrived in central Oregon.  The snowpack around town finally melted.  With longer days and buds ready to burst at any moment, it was time to get the camper back on the truck and head out for a quick weekend hike and some time around the campfire.  We headed north to the Cove Palisades State Park and hit the Tam-a-lau trail.  The trail starts in a climb from the level of the reservoir to a plateau called The Peninsula offering great views of the cascades and a portion of Lake Billy Chinook.

Three Sisters

 

Mt. Jefferson

 

Tam-a-lau views above Lake Billy Chinook

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