So I have some new found freedom, a lot of it unfortunately (Fortunately) Next week, August 6th-11th-ish I'm thinking of heading down to the Alvord Desert and Steens to do a little exploring. I've never been there, I've read the ride reports, and I've got a benchmark map. I'm open to whatever. Anyone want to join me? For those that think I'm crazy, yes, I am aware that it is the middle of the summer and its a desert.
Work sucks. I'd love to get lost down there about now. It can be hot during the daytime but nights cool down nicely. Fields is a good base camp if you're not camping. Distances are huge - 25 miles to the playa and Alvord Springs and 50 or so to Frenchglen. There's decent camping with shade on the hill above the springs. An au natural ride on the playa (I wear boots) is a hoot. Whitehorse Hot Springs is cool (well, warm), has a vault toilet and spots for camping. Great escape!
I would go through Leslie Gulch, Succor Creek on my way to the Alvord if I were you. Beautiful area to explore on a bike. Then go to Burns jct and take the dirt road that goes out to Mickey Hot springs then onto the Alvord. The Alvord will most likely be scorching hot. Domingo Pass, just south of Feilds gets you up to 6000 feet, so a little cooler. Bog Hot hot springs is on the other side of Domingo in Long Draw. There was a huge fire in the South East part of the state, looks as though it came close to Willow Creek hot springs (just off White Horse ranch road). You are so close to Nevada, so I would highly recommend going into the Pine Forest Range, just south of Denio jct. Knott reservoir Blue lake and Onion Valley reservoir. All these spots have great camping and are up high in the mountains so much cooler. Have fun, get a Nevada and Oregon Bench Mark map and explore some of the nicest terrain around.
It's going to be Antelope season that week. I'll be down there trying to help a buddy fill his tag. It took him 13 years of trying to draw that tag which is about the average. Don't expect any warm greetings from hunters that have waited that long to draw the unit if you spook a herd of Antelope that they've been stalking... The good news is that there is only around 100 tags for the whole area so it's not going to be swarming with hunters. If you see a guy on a blue DRZ carrying a spotting scope come on over and say hey.
Thanks for the input. We'll just have to see where the wind takes me. I'll be careful not to scare the antelope or the hunters with my fire breathing KLR.
I can't tell you how to find this, but if you ask around, some rancher might be able to help. We got directions and a phone number to call for permission from the manager of the Diamond Hotel. It's about 40 miles North of the Alvord Desert. You can ride all the way in. I hope KLR headlights are better than BMW /2 headlights!