Getting Lost Last Year

I got lost in the details of travel and the hassle of finding places to work on the blog/sort pictures and talk about the travels. The massive environmental upheaval caused by global warming in the pine and spruce forest of Idaho and Montana is stunning. The forest is dieing. Pine Beetle and Spruce Moths are unchecked by the long frosts of winter. The result is hundreds perhaps thousands square miles of dead and dieing forests. There is the loss of the wood and timber...the water holding of the trees, the air purification, the oxygen generation but, more.... The millions of pine and spruce needles in the waters have changed the PH of the lakes and streams. The water born insect life is gone. Three different streams, three hoops set out for three days each ... less than 20 insects collected where there should have been thousands. Breeding salmon seen but no fry, no first or second year fish, no trout, no white fish, no suckers...the streams are dead.

Sorry my mind is still struggling with the facts and unsure as to how I will deal with those who say my truth is lies. Will they come walk the streams, roll the rocks, hang the hoops, count the insects, float the rivers and prove me wrong or will they simply move their mouths in denial? I was unable to write this last summer and do not know what I can do this year.

The big news is the big bad wolf we had in camp Monday Night and Tuesday Morning of this. We were above a place called Bergdorf which is a large primitive developed hot springs north of Mc Call, ID. We had heard the wolves all night on the ridges on both sides of the valley but nothing had come into the camp area. Got up and about just after sun up and having coffee and watching the morning working it's way down the mountain to the valley floor when my eye caught motion back in the woods. At first he was hard to see because it was still dark in there and he is jet black. He got braver as the light came up and began doing false charges into the clearing the rushing back, circling and charging out again. He got within about 30 feet and peed on a tree that close to camp. I am sorry I forgot about the camera and grabed the .45 and loaded up Mr. Burg. I drove him back into the wood with the boat horn but he continued to circle about 40 yards out. I reported his behavior to the Forest Service here in McCall but, it will take someo ne getting hurt to have them do anything about it. He is about 120 to 140 pounds and very well put together. The word is they are getting greater in number all through Idaho and the deer, elk and moose populations are taking a real beating. I have never seen so many hooved critters feeding in the middle of meadows in the middle of the day light.

Hell's Canyon is the deepest canyon on the continent and it is really something to see. I will include several pictures here and try to set up a web photo site for those who want to see more of my pictures.

I stood on Sheep Rock on the Idaho side and looked straight down on the Hell's Canyon Dam (you can not see the Dam just slack water to your left and roaring water to the right) where it is over 6,000 feet from where you stand down to the surface of the water.

On the Oregon side I took some great hikes and caught some decent fish. At Hat Point I watched over 25 Mountain Goats; 2 Billys and many Nannys and Kids with one out of three Nanny's having two kids.

I am going to take a different method of writing this ... I will do notes daily and then compile them when I get to a place to send them up on line. I see so much everyday that my mind runs over and only the big chunks are left to share and many of you will be interested in the little stuff.

Now headed for Stanley, ID

Third night out with about 4 inches of snow in the morning back where we parked. We had traveled from Olympia over White Pass spending two nights in that area then over the Columbia and into the Blue Mountains of Oregon where this was taken. That morning JazDog rounded up about 15 head of cattle and wanted to bring them with us.

We spent several days bouncing along above the John Day River system and enjoying the country but it was cold and windy the entire time.

















This is the grave overlooking the Grand Rounde River Valley at La Grand Oregon. It is a wonderful sight and an interesting place. I am working on learning how to past the photos separate and keep this more text...this is looking just to the left of the grave site.

We took this road on the way from La Grand to Troy, Oregon. A three day trip with now towns in between and all on gravel road. It is just east of here where JazDog saw her first bear and wanted to get out and chase it. Two nights later when one visited us in camp she crawled under my legs and very quietly growled.

This is Gunnery Sargent Chavez who is a returned and retired wounded Vet living in Troy and participating in the 4th of July Parade. I spent a very enjoyable morning with he and his lady the last day in Troy. I was an honor to meet him and spend the time. Thank You for your service Gunny.

The fishing was great, the parade, BBQ, and Street Dance were fun and the pie and cake sale was eye opening...top price for pie was $420.00 and a beautiful pie it was. The band at the dance was outstanding and the woman singing has a stunning country blues voice.
















One of the residents of the Grand Rounde River canyon who Jaz wanted to get to know much better. She felt she could handle him better than a 300 pound bear. This is the place I made my sunday calls from until a huge thunderstorm blew in.

I have been through the Hells Canyon country and have just finished a R&R here in La Grande and will head out this afternoon for Idaho. I do not know what route I will be taking but look at he GPS Reporter and follow me. I am going to have more frequent posts...I hope.

We Are Out of Here

Buttoned up and rolling. JazDog is putting on her goggles and getting ready for the long haul. We will be doing a short shot to Olympia this morning/afternoon and spend the evening with Mover T and the Donna Lynn.

I feel a sense of dislocation; with all the things going on in the world today I am just turning it off and walking away. I guess, in my self view, there is no longer anything I can do about the Affairs of Men -- no white papers to write, no candidate to advise, no organization to develop, no march to walk, not even the old men to sit and grouse with...I have done all the damage to be done...now it is just me and the dog chasing the horizon from dawn to dusk. I here by abandon my place on the Wheel to those with vision, energy and a thirst for vain power/glory...it is yours do as you may.

As is appropriate at these times, it is raining hard...the soft wet had of Washington pushing me out the door to a new solo adventure.

The End Is Near

Finishing up all the prep work. Cleaning up the lot and washing the Trailer at Gold Bar. Putting everything away and winterizing the trailer. Will line out everything tomorrow morning and head out.

I know it is not right but I have zero interest in seeing anything or going anywhere in Washington State. It has to do with the crowds and the lack of space. Trying to find a place to dry camp is very difficult and there is competition for these places. The crowding creates an undertow of anger and frustration which I don't react to well.

I will visit friends outside of Olympia then over the mountain, through the woods and a quick sprint over the desert to the Oregon line. I will be camping in the Blues and slide over to Hells Canyon. From there Idaho...I do not know which end of the Canyon I will cross over until I get there.

Names: Everyone knows that The Dog's name is Jaz, JazDog or Jasmin. I am thinking about calling the little 4x4 (Suzuki Samaria) "Rock" and the Camper Van will be Roll. That will make all of my traveling crew musical. For those of you who know my musical skills the humor of this is blatent. Size wise Rock is more of a Pebble.

This is the learning phase of blogging for me and I want to point out that Jaz is no help what so ever. The above picture is this morning's run. She is ready to hit the road.

The Blog is a major undertaking for me. Learning new things is not as easy as it was in the past. The next thing on the agenda for the Blog is to set up the links to my GPS Spot.

I am down to the baseline details of leaving for over a year. I have to tamp down the desire to just throw the last of the stuff in, button everything down and hit the road.

JazDog morning run