When: 7/8/20-7/9/20
Who: Just Me (Born2BBrad)
Opening picture, view from LeBlanc Point:
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General Information
WARNING!!! Lots of pictures. Nature’s eye candy
Route: Parked 2 miles north of Warnock TH (6580’), followed Western Rim National Recreation Trail (aka Lord Flat Road) all the way to Lord Flat airstrip (5577’), backtracked to Mikes Cabin Trail, then over to Kneeland Trail, over to Somers Point (5675’), back to Western Rim National Recreation Trail all the way to the car
Miles: 40.4 (GPS)
EG: 5581’ (GPS)
People encountered while hiking: 6
Number of mosquito bites: 0
Number of elk seen: 50+
Google Earth overview:
Elevation profile:
Google Earth video tour of trip (4:16 minutes):
Link to video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uahg1VHCCRM
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Trip Narrative and Pictures
Looking for a social distancing trip, I looked to NE OR once again. The goal was to repeat this trip. That and to locate some more springs.
My own personal trailhead:
The previous night I slept at Hotel Subaru at the Warnock Corral trailhead. An older couple in a Jeep Rubicon drove by, continuing on Lord Flat Road. The next morning, while slowly driving two more miles, I came across the couple walking on the road. Apparently their car broke down 1/3 of a mile down the road. They were surprised to see a Subaru make it that far, but I knew that was as far as my car could safely make it. We had a nice conversation, and they both were very familiar with the area, with the man mentioning he comes out there 10-12 times a year. He also mentioned living in Enterprise. After parting ways, I got to thinking that he may have been hiking book author Fred Barstad. That will only mean something to a handful of people reading this. Oh yeah, in case you were wondering, they had called their son who was coming to render aid. I did not abandon them.
Broken down Jeep:
After only hiking 30 minutes I spooked a herd of elk:
You’ll be seeing lots of pictures of the Seven Devils on the Idaho side:
No surprise, Grassy Knoll is covered in grass:
The Snake River is over 5000’ down there:
LeBlanc Point in the middle of the picture:
View from LeBlanc Point:
Spring just before LeBlanc Point. Most springs are like this:
Somebody does road maintenance way out here every year. Thank you!
Stich pic of one of the drainages:
Run down hunters shack:
I think I’d rather sleep outside in a tent:
At least there is a spring nearby:
The spring source is in a metal box with this written on the lid:
Bear scratches on a tree maybe?
This area is called Parliament. It is noted as a historical site. Not sure why:
Lots of cool old trail marker cairns:
OK experts out there, what kind of print is this?
OK bird nerds, what kind of bird feather is this?
On the way to Lord Flat:
One beautiful meadow after another on the way to Lord Flat:
One meadow after another:
There was a meadow full of spent balsamroot where a chipmunk had gathered balsamroot seeds:
Dorrance Cow Camp was not reserved this year. Probably because of Covid-19:
The main house at the camp:
No one was there, the door was unlocked, so I checked it out:
Steps to take to close up the main house. They missed the “lock up” step:
There were 3M masks there! Probably so cow punchers and their guests can be safe:
At the camp were amenities such as a piped spring, stove, fire pit, tables and even a stage:
Now on the way to Lord Flat the view is almost all open meadow:
When I was nearing Lord Flat, I heard something behind me. It was 6 people in 3 Polaris OHVs. Yes, motorized vehicles are allowed all the way to Lord Flat. They were nice people that had camped at the Imnaha RV campground and driven their OHVs from there up to Lord Flat.
OHVs on Lord Flat Road:
Sign at Lord Flat airstrip:
Someday I may camp at Lord Flat, so one goal was to find the nearby spring, which I did:
The rocks next to the airstrip are painted white. At first I thought it was bird poop:
It is one rough airstrip. The takeoff and landing must be bumpy:
Someone left a sled there:
Stitch pic on the way back:
Campsite along the way to Somers Point:
One of the most wonderful things ever is the sun hitting your tent on a cold morning:
Somers Point is way over on the other side of that far hill:
Nearing Somers Point I started seeing dozens of elk bed down spots:
Then suddenly there they were:
View from Somers Point, looking down at Pittsburg Landing:
Finding the spring at Somers Point was another completed goal:
Who’s that good looking guy? Whoever he is he needs a shave:
On Somers Point there is a great campsite in those trees:
I think this tree looks cool:
What a great resting spot on the way back:
Wow! If this were black and white, it could be an Ansel Adams picture:
Rough road pic #1:
Rough road pic #2:
Grassy Knoll again:
That’s it for the pics!
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Final Notes
• The road after the turnoff to Hat Point should not be attempted by a standard passenger car. I barely made it to Warnock Corral in my Subaru Outback. Two miles after Warnock Corral, only high clearance 4WD vehicles with 10 ply tires should continue.
• 4G cell signal at Warnock Corral and on Somers Point. No signal at Lord Flat. Signal seemed to be only on the side facing Idaho.
• Took a few pics with my smart phone. Way better that my old point and shoot camera.
• NE OR got much more snow than average and it shows. The Minam and Wallowa Rivers were higher than I’ve ever seen. The inner peaks of the Wallowas look to have a lot of snow still.
• An 8 hour drive from The Dalles to Warnock Corral.
• The flowers were abundant and everywhere. Too many to identify or post pictures of. Check out the Google Photos link if you are curious.
• The section of Mikes Cabin Trail where is crosses Deep Creek is a route finding nightmare. Much of that trail is difficult to find.
• The section of Lord Flat Road from Mikes Cabin Trail to Lord Flat is one of the most beautifully scenic places I have ever been to. It’s a good thing it’s hard to get to.
Link to lots more pictures on Google Photos:
Link 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bCWVRTPsDcDcfoJg6
Link 2: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... NlOXlwSDRB
Keep on hiking,
Brad
