Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4382
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
Above: Hole-in-the-Ground, August, 1969
Above: July, 2020
Back in 1969 I took a few days off work and explored Central Oregon, visiting Hole-in–the-Ground and Fort Rock. Crack-in-the-ground was on my list but the effects of the five miles of extremely rocky and dusty dirt roads leading to it deterred me. The 8 miles it would have taken to get to Crack-in–the-Ground would have been horrible. (1950’s cars didn’t have very good weather sealing!) Thus, a return trip has been in order for over 50 years and last weekend the stars aligned just right so off we went. (Hager Mt. and Yamsay Mt. were also on the list for this past weekend but we had to scratch both – more on that later.)
Hole in the ground is much easier to find now with the advent of GPS, I don’t remember how long it took to find in ’69 but I remember it wasn’t easy given the maze of dirt roads in the area and the total lack of signage.
The road into the Hole:
A few pics:
A different road back out:
It was 93 degrees when we started our hike and the dust down there is the consistency of talc and anywhere from a couple inches to over six inches deep. We both needed a complete change of clothes after the hike!
The real adventure started on the way back to the highway when I got a flat. Boy, is that a miserable job in 93 degree heat and in inches of dust! I’d never had a flat in this car so was very happy to find everything I needed was there and the spare had air in it. Note to self – don’t take a car with low profile tires on rocky roads.
Picture of wussy spare.
The next morning, the spare was flat. Bummer! That took care of our plans for Yamsay Mt. and Hager Mt. as I didn’t dare tackle any more back roads with my almost-a-tire excuse for a spare.
The lone tire shop guy in Christmas Valley came to the motel and aired up the spare enough to drive to their shop. He only wanted $12.50 for the service truck call and fixing the spare and advised me not to drive to Crack-in-the-Ground on such a tire. When I gave the guy a 50 and said keep the change he offered me his brand new ATV to make the trip!! What a deal!
A few photos of Crack in the Ground.
All-in-all we only managed 7.5 miles of hiking on the trip but it was a trip to remember forever.
dn
PS: A real treat was the sunrise view from the motel the day we started back:
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
- sheilakpdx
- Posts: 70
- Joined: June 3rd, 2017, 6:05 pm
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
What a story! The pictures compel me to put this on my To Do list (with new tires on the car). Great pictures as well. Generosity on your part brought a very beneficial reward!
- BurnsideBob
- Posts: 539
- Joined: May 6th, 2014, 3:15 pm
- Location: Mount Angel, Oregon
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
Is that a mountain lion in that first photo?
Thanks for the retrospective.
Burnside
Thanks for the retrospective.
Burnside
I keep making protein shakes but they always turn out like margaritas.
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
That road to crack-in-the-ground is definitely rocky. I took it super slow in my car with low profile tires, and I mean super slow. It's such a gorgeous area out there, if you can find a way to beat the heat.
instagram: @remyodyssey
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4382
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
A would-be mountain lion, for sure! Always looking for another chipmunk to chase, though I don't think she ever caught one.BurnsideBob wrote: ↑August 1st, 2020, 9:11 pmIs that a mountain lion in that first photo?
Thanks for the retrospective.
Burnside
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4382
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
No kidding - beating the heat is the key. We originally planned this trip for April but the virus delayed everything. Thanks for the comment.
dn
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4382
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Hole-in-the-Ground & Crack-in-the-Ground 0719 & 0720 2020
Here's a map with our track on it. Blue is where we drove and red is the hike:sheilakpdx wrote: ↑August 1st, 2020, 6:14 pmWhat a story! The pictures compel me to put this on my To Do list (with new tires on the car). Great pictures as well. Generosity on your part brought a very beneficial reward!
Crack in the Ground:
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller