Day 1, Hart and Steens Mountain
Where to get gas is a thing you have to pay attention to in SE Oregon. Our first destination was Lakeview for gas then the gravel roads began. 15 miles of gravel through the Antelope Reserve and on to Hart Mountain hot springs campground, where we planned on spending our firs couple days. We even found the perfect private campsite at the end of a spur road with a nearby creek. All seemed fine until we tried to hike and found the trails were just dusty roads, it was way too hot for the hot springs, and the best part... There were so many crickets and they were so loud around the campsite that we couldn't even talk. And that was mid afternoon, after sitting in the car just to get away from the noise we realized we had to push on. So 50 miles of gravel to Steens Mountain and three chances of awesome campgrounds as we head to the summit!
Page Springs, mosquitoes. Fish Lake, mosquitoes. Jackman Park, mosquitoes mosquitoes mosquitoes! SO we visited Kiger Gorge and on to the top for East Rim and the Summit overlooks. Then it was down the road a few miles from the summit to a big pull off on the side of the gravel road to spend the night between Little Indian and Little Blitzen Gorges. It was a gorgeous sunset as we sat on the back of the car eating hummus and enjoying the crazy views at our 8000ft high love-nest. And since the moon went down and we as far away from light pollution as you can possibly be it was a star show like few people have ever seen... just indescribable. Laying in the car looking through all of the windows was like snuggling in the OMSI Planetarium. Ah, the befits of the plan-less advenure.
Page Springs, mosquitoes. Fish Lake, mosquitoes. Jackman Park, mosquitoes mosquitoes mosquitoes! SO we visited Kiger Gorge and on to the top for East Rim and the Summit overlooks. Then it was down the road a few miles from the summit to a big pull off on the side of the gravel road to spend the night between Little Indian and Little Blitzen Gorges. It was a gorgeous sunset as we sat on the back of the car eating hummus and enjoying the crazy views at our 8000ft high love-nest. And since the moon went down and we as far away from light pollution as you can possibly be it was a star show like few people have ever seen... just indescribable. Laying in the car looking through all of the windows was like snuggling in the OMSI Planetarium. Ah, the befits of the plan-less advenure.