Joseph, Oregon
 

Just because I can't get enough Northwestern mountains I flew to Joseph, Oregon with a good friend to get lunch, hike, and a (very) cool dip in Wallowa Lake.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pswwwjov7n.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pscigavgfb.jpg

Beautiful area. I've spent a lot of time in the area riding trail bikes and flying PPCs. Our annual Trail 90 gathering will be at the pond behind Salt Creek Snow Park about 18 miles from Joseph on FR39 7/15 to 7/30. Forum members are welcome to join us.

Fastdoc pics...my god, there really is a god

Indeed there is, and He is quite the artist.

PPC=Powered ParaChute? If so VERY interesting!

I've seen people jump off Mt. Howard and land at the lake and I've heard of people gliding from Mt. Howard all the way to McCay Bar ID in the Snake River Canyon! I've landed a Maule at McCay Bar and it's a challenge not soon forgotten.

Closest thing I have to a trail 90 is an XR100 so that won't work ;-)

We've also flown our PPCs (yes powered parachutes) from Memaloose USFS strip, next to Hat Point which overlooks Hells Canyon. Highest strip in Oregon at 6800'. Some of the guys flew down to the bottom for a touch and go next to the river but I kept thinking how much it was going to cost me to get my PPC out of there should I have a problem.

While flying have you seen the huge herds of elk on Zumwalt Prairie just north of enterprise?

I was there yesterday, I missed out on seeing the herd. Memalose is a hell of an airstrip. I have landed there before, but don't think I will be going back in my plane. It is pretty rough, and even with best technique, a very high density altitude leads to a long takeoff roll. Fortunately, all you have to do is turn left, and there's nowhere to go but down, but it was just too rough on my landing gear.

Doc, that lake looks as if it was created using bottled water.

It's as pure and pristine as many of the lakes I saw when I last visited BC and AB :-)

That was three years ago. Time for another visit?

Indeed!

This summer we are headed south to California to hike Lassen and Shasta and visit Yosemite and my friends in Sonora. Next year is BC/AB!