Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2019)
C6 OUTSIDE East Oregonian Saturday, August 10, 2019 Hard to be hidden IF YOU GO From Interstate 84 in Pendleton, head east to Baker City (Exit 302), take Highway 86 east toward Rich- land. Just beyond Milepost 23, turn left (uphill) on Sparta Lane. Follow this steep, winding gravel road for about 4.7 miles to the junction with Road 70, East Eagle Lane. Turn left (north). Follow this road, also gravel, for about 5.5 miles, passing through Forshey Meadows, and then entering the Wal- lowa-Whitman National Forest. At a spot locals call “Five Corners” because of the roads that come together here, turn right onto Empire Gulch Road, No. 7015. This road descends to Eagle Creek, crossing the stream at about 4.6 miles from Five Corners. On the far side of Eagle Creek turn left onto well-traveled gravel Road 77, the Main Eagle Road. Drive upstream for 2.8 miles, then turn right on East Eagle Creek Road No. 7745. Follow Road 7745 for about 6 miles to the East Eagle Trailhead. Along the way you’ll pass the meadows along the creek where many scenes from the musical “Paint Your Wagon” were fi lmed in 1968. Parking passes are not required at the trailhead. Hikers should fi ll out a free wilderness permit. Lisa Britton for EO Media Group Late evening sunshine still illuminates the west slopes of Eagle Cap while Hidden Lake is in shadow. Hidden Lake is an alpine gem in the Eagle Cap Wilderness By LISA BRITTON For the EO Media Group BAKER CITY — We looked at the map, but didn’t really study the map. My friend Meggan Hills and I always plan a backpacking trip for the last weekend of July. It’s become our tradi- tion — a 30-hour leave from our respon- sibilities as mothers. This year we both turned 40. We con- templated a 40-mile hike to celebrate, but knew we would need more than one night to accomplish that adventure. Instead, we chose Hidden Lake. We started out on a morning that was already warm. The map indicated a hike of about 8.5 miles. The fi rst 7 are on the East Eagle Trail; the last mile and a half is a side trail that leads to Moon Lake and Hidden Lake. I traversed this trail about 15 years ago and remembered several good patches of huckleberries a couple miles into the hike. This year did not disap- point, and we paused several times (OK, a lot) to pluck plump purple berries from the bushes lining the trail. Backpacking is not conducive to carrying heavy fresh fruit, so we relished this sweet treat. We met a few groups of hikers head- ing down to the trailhead. Upon hearing our destination, they gave us a few tips on fi nding Hidden Lake (there’s a reason for its name) and also told us they didn’t see very many mosquitoes (more on this later). The hike up East Eagle is one of my favorites. The trail isn’t quite as dusty as the well-used trails on the north side of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, and we crossed stream after stream that bubbled across our path. The wildfl owers were a bouquet of color — the red of Indian paintbrush, the purple of penstemon, the bright pink of skyrocket gilia, the pink- ish-purple of fi reweed. Backpacking is a fairly slow business when you hike uphill with packs that weigh between 25 and 30 pounds. The fi rst 7 miles is a fairly gentle grade that rises 2,000 feet. As the sun beat down in the after- noon, we grinned when we saw the big rock cairn with a post that indicated our trail to Hidden Lake (there is no sign). We walked down to East Eagle Creek and swapped our hiking boots for san- dals. A sturdy stick lay nearby, perhaps left by previous hikers who used it to cross the water. Here’s the thing about the high moun- tains: The water comes from snowmelt and icy springs. The fi rst few steps were refreshing on my tired, hot feet. Then, as I neared the other bank, the sensation turned more to an ache and I nearly lost feeling in my toes. Safe on the other side, we again donned our boots and hitched our packs back on sweaty backs. This was the part where we didn’t really study the map. The mileage sounds nice: 1.6 miles. The elevation? Not so nice at nearly 1,000 feet. We started up, and kept going up. The trail tends to loose rock and a pitch that more resembles a trail in the Elk- horn Mountains, rather than the gentle switchbacks of the Eagle Cap. We stopped every so often to catch our breath and give our burning legs a break. We were very happy to see Moon Lake, which is small and shallow but still pretty against its backdrop of cliffs. The trail led gently around the lake, then headed uphill again. This time, as we picked our way around granite rocks that wanted to roll under our boots, we couldn’t help but worry about the next day when we had to come down the same trail. But all our aches were momentarily forgotten when we saw Hidden Lake. (Again, there is no sign. The trail fades out and you hike over a rise to the right to fi nd the lake.) Looking east across the lake we could see Eagle Cap, although it’s not quite as impressive as it’s seen from Mirror Lake in the Lake Basin. We fi ltered water from a cold stream, then took off our shoes and waded into the lake. Although we were hot and sweaty, we knew the sun would soon set and decided against a quick dip that would result in wet clothes. But soaking our feet and legs was a nice compromise. (Remember the hiker who claimed he didn’t see any mosquitoes? Perhaps they moved in after he left, but we used nearly a full bottle of repellent to ward off the annoying bugs. Even then we still ended up with itchy bites.) Our campsite sat in a space fairly far from trees, which meant we had a pan- oramic view of the starry sky. The sliver of waning moon didn’t rise until early Get your intro to fl y fi shing in John Day East Oregonian JOHN DAY — Come to John Day to experience the joys of fl y fi shing with an introductory lesson. The North Fork John Day Watershed Council hosts the event Saturday, Aug. 17, 10-11:30 a.m., in John Day at the Seventh Street Complex (near the pond). “On land, you’ll learn the fl y fi shing basics,” according to the council, “including an introduc- tion to fl y casting with a fl y rod, and techniques and fl ies used to catch different species.” The class also gets to put what it learns to the test, with a cast- ing competition and the chance to win hand-tied fl ies for the next fl y fi shing experience. The event is open to ages 10 and up, and children up to age 17 can attend for free. Tickets for adults are $12 each. The watershed council sug- gests participants wear sturdy water shoes, hats with brims, sunglasses, sunscreen and bring refi llable water bottles. The event will provide the fl y fi shing gear. For more information, please contact Genevieve Perdue at genevieve@bmlt.org or 541- 620-5754 or visit https://bmlt. org/events/fl y-fi shing-john-day- 2019-yn299 . morning, so whenever I opened my eyes at night (which is quite often, as camp- ing is not nearly as comfortable as my bed back home) I marveled at billions of stars. Although it’s quite quiet in the wilder- ness, we did awaken to an eerie chirping sound, which we later learned was a cow elk calling to her calf. Near dawn, a rus- tling woke us up as a doe licked the salt off our backpacks. Morning in the mountains is often a chilly time, and this was no exception. Hot coffee tastes especially nice on a camping trip, and the cups warmed our hands. After cleaning up camp and fi nding a couple of sturdy sticks, we slowly made our way back down the steep trail. Although loop hikes are my favorite for seeing a lot of country, an out-and- back route allows you to see the scenery that was at your back on the way up. We met a few hikers on the way down, mostly locals who knew the trail well. We swapped stories, which was a nice break from the walking that seems harder the second day with tired legs and sore shoulders. As happens, the trail seemed longer on the way down — but the huckleber- ries seemed sweeter. Back at the rig, we sunk into the soft seats and broke out the icy watermelon I stashed in a cooler. Although my calf muscles are still sore as I write this, I know that feeling will fade soon. The memories of a week- end adventure with my friend, however, will stay vivid for a long time. Kayak trips feature interpretive guides East Oregonian BURBANK, Wash. — Interpre- tive kayaking trips on the Columbia River offer a chance to get out and enjoy nature while learning about local resources. Coordinated through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, space is limited and registration is required for the popular outings. Registration for a Wednesday, Sept. 11 trip at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge opens Monday, Aug. 12 at 8 a.m. The trips are open to ages 12 and up and cost $15 per person. To register, leave a message at 509-546-8330. All equipment is provided, including a shuttle service. The trip’s departure time is at 10 a.m. from the Casey Pond Boat Launch. The Class 0 fl at water trip is mod- erately strenuous for novices. No experience is necessary. Participants will need to bring water, sunscreen and sunglasses. People should expect to get wet, so dress for the activity. For more information, visit www. fws.gov/refuge/hanford_reach. For questions, contact 509-546-8333 or mcriver@fws.gov.
