Hells Canyon

[drm]

After backing off of the Wallowas, I headed out here, to what I think is the best maintained of the trails in Hells Canyon. Still fairly brushy at times but generally easy to follow and in good shape. I went over Freezeout Saddle to the High Trail and then followed it another 8.5 miles or so to the Hat Creek area, where I stayed for two nights. On the middle day I hiked the trail up to Hat Point in the morning and way out the long grassy ridge later that afternoon.

The weather was warm (70s) and sunny and generally with a nice breeze, so it wasn't so hellish despite most people choosing to do a hike like this a month or two earlier. Almost all the creeks were still running so water was frequently available and pleasantly cool. Sunrise was at 5am and the sun came over the ridge at 5:15 so it got warm quickly each morning.

Hells Canyon is also famous for poison oak - I got none, and for ticks: I pulled many of them off me and out of my clothes, but got no bites. Mostly they were on the Hat Creek trail, not the main High Trail, for some reason, nor around camp. And they were not the small deer tick species that carries lyme disease, they were much larger.

My full 40 picture report is at http://deanmyerson.org/hells-canyon-2019, but here are some highlights

Near the Freezeout trailhead - looking down Freezeout Canyon into the Imnaha River canyon


Hiking along the High Trail


The large grassy meadow near where I was camped


On the hike up to Hat Point, my camp was in the trees where those two grass ridges meet


Part of Hells Canyon from Hat Point


Hiking out the right-hand grass ridge


Looking back towards camp


An amazing evening

[Born2BBrad]

That is my favorite area to go. Beautiful and uncrowded.

Thanks for the reminder.

[woodswalker]

I've been out to Hells Canyon once. it was amazing.
Colette Grace