SEPTEMBER 25, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9
Ride the rails – at your own pace
Submitted
Riders take in the scenery on the Joseph Branch Railroad along the Wallowa River. The historic
railroad is one of only two places in the country for such tours.
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©1986
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crossword
Something big…
Interested in experiencing
the pristine Wallowa River
country in Northeastern Or-
egon? Have an opportunity to
see elk, deer, bear, fox, coyotes,
river otters, and bald eagles,
to mention just some of the
more exciting critters in the
area? Maybe stop and fi sh for
trout or steelhead? By rail, at
your own pace, with you pro-
viding the power?
We are talking about you
and a partner, on a guided tour
in a 100-pound bicycle-type
cart on a railroad track. This
is a simple framed cart with
seats for two, with bike pedal-
ing technology. It is 26 miles
(marathon distance) through
some spectacular scenery on
the historic Joseph Branch
Railroad.
Don’t let the marathon bit
tune you out. My wife, Jo, and
her four Sweet Adeline friends
(Jean, Joyce, Kathy and Marty)
did it and had a ball. These la-
dies are not runners or gym
rats. They all qualify for 10
percent off at Fred Meyer on
the fi rst Tuesday of the month.
The Joseph Branch Rail-
riders is the only place in the
country - except Maine - for
such an experience on the
rails.
Railriders offer two op-
tions: Joseph to Enterprise, 10
miles round trip, or Minam to
Wallowa, 26 miles round trip.
Our Sweet Ads opt for
the 26-mile round trip, from
Minam to Wallowa, with a 1
percent incline. Keep in mind,
these ladies are not bikers.
Some don’t even own a bicy-
cle. It’s August of the hottest,
driest year in Oregon’s history.
This could be a challenge.
VOLLEY,
continued from Page A8
The Keizer team swept
their pool play opponents –
Foot Hill, North Medford and
Churchill high schools – to
take fi rst headed into bracket
play.
“We started off in the fi rst
game with a different rotation,
but we adapted really well.
I think we had really good
communication and support-
ed each other really well,” said
Montano.
In the fi rst match of bracket
play, McNary battled hard with
Bend High School and even-
tually emerged the victors. Set
scores were 30-28 and 25-
17. That win pitted the team
against Roseburg High School
and the long drive and longer
day began to take its toll.
“We were talking a lot in
the morning, but we got a lit-
tle tired by the end of the day,”
said Gilmour.
The Lady Celts lost to Indi-
ans in sets of 25-15 and 25-22.
“Reina had a great tour-
nament, she hit and blocked
extremely well for us. Sydney
Hunter also played well of-
fensively. Both setters, Sam
Van Voorhis and Madi Cloyd,
did a great job distributing the
ball to all our hitters. Shaylee
Williams also had a very nice
tournament,” said Scholl.
Montano said she wanted
to see the team focus on be-
ing more consistent with op-
ponents North Salem and
Sprague high schools who
were next in line. Gilmour
said the team still had room to
grow.
“I think we’re playing as
a team, but we always have
room to improve. I think we’ll
do fi ne against both teams,”
Gilmour said.
by G.I. Wilson
“We met our guide, Hailey,
at Minam at 9 a.m. Minam is
the site of a former town, at
the confl uence of the Wallowa
and Minam rivers,” Jo Wilson
explains. We are prepared for
our 26-mile challenge with
backpacks, water, sun screen,
and energy bars.
Hailey fi ts us with bicycle
helmets and adjusts our seats
for proper leg length.
Jean and Marty are in the
fi rst cart, Jo and Joyce in the
next, and Kathy, with the
guide, in the third cart. Be-
hind them are four more carts
with a group of folks that are
there for fi shing and a picnic
as much as the ride. Five miles
down the line is the fi rst stop,
the “blue box” (a.k.a. port-a-
potty). This is the only “facil-
ity” until the turn around in
Wallowa. At one point, two
carts stopped on the Wal-
lowa River to fi sh. They will
turn their carts around for the
return trip. The other two
carts continue on the 26-mile
round trip.
The fi rst leg through the
canyon is cool and comfort-
able, passing steep cliffs, tim-
ber, sounds of the river, and
the serenade of clickity-clack
wheels crossing rail joints.
After the canyon, the coun-
tryside opens up into cattle
country. Lush summer growth
is turning to late summer/fall
colors. Wildlife abounds here.
Deer are enjoying the shade
near the cool Wallowa waters.
Temperatures rise signifi cantly.
Crossroads are now part of
the challenge. Carts must stop
at all roads. Two paved roads
require peddlers to get off and
push the cart across. Along the
route there are three barbed
wire gates that need to be laid
down and rolled over. Be-
tween the gates, horses and
mules graze along the right-
of-way.
At the turn around in Wal-
lowa, it is a short, two-block
walk to the main street. Jo-
seph Branch Railriders pro-
vide a map with restaurants to
choose from, or if you bring
your lunch, the city park is
nearby. “We walk into town
for lunch,” Jo explains. “The
other two carts leave immedi-
ately to join the fi shermen for
lunch.” When you return to
your cart, it is turned around,
ready for your return trip.
It is nice to have the 1 per-
cent downgrade on the re-
turn, unless you experience an
afternoon canyon headwind.
They arrive back at Minam at
4 p.m.
They are exhausted. Sleep
will come easy with minds
and lungs renewed by the high
mountain air.
Joseph Branch Railrid-
ers is the brainchild of Kim
and Anita Metlin, of Imbler.
They saw a railroad run-
ning through beautiful scen-
ery with minimal use. Why
not come up with a use that
is healthy, beautiful and fun.
They researched the technol-
ogy and the cart concept was
developed. A Tualatin com-
pany built polymer tires that
fi t directly on the rails. A La-
Grande company built the ax-
les and frames.
The County Board of
Commissioners approved a
permit.
Kim says it’s just plain fun.
“We’ve been told all our lives
that you can’t play on the rail-
road. Well, now you can.”
The 2015 season runs May
16 through Oct. 4. For reser-
vations, call, 541-910-0089,
541-910-0981 or email jbrail-
riders@gmail.com. Tickets
may be purchased during the
operating season at 304 North
Main Street, Joseph, Oregon.
Reservations are encouraged
for large groups.