Trippin to the Alvord

[Mr Dual Sport]

I've been to the Alvord a few times and knew it was a special place but have never camped there. I am now forever attached to the playa and it's surroundings.

Day 1 of 4
I leave Bend around 10am and head out Ford road. Silt hell. Oh yea I've slept less than 4 hours the night before and worked from 1am to 4:30am.
Back to the RR.

The Cows are out




Rode out behind Pine Mountain and headed toward Frederick Butte.

The pumice is always sweet




Took the power lines down to Frederick Butte Road



Then a road and some sweet 2track to Alkali Lake.







Hogback Road to Plush for fuel and a Baco Cheese Burger.



That was the last photo of the day. I left Plush at 3pm and had a lot of unknown terrain to cover. I pieced together a sweet ride over Domingo pass without looking at maps or GPS with some vague directions that wachs gave me the night before.
(turn at the green rock ) BUT, I went home the same way and took LOTS of pics!
370ish miles the first day and an awesome ride!
Alvord is my home tonight. I have company.

[kurtw]

I was the first one into camp and was soon joined by the rest of the Central Oregon crew, including MrDS.

Many of the rest of us hauled out there, so the first order of business was unloading all the toys.



More to come...

[kurtw]

AROUND CAMP

With so many campers, it became easier to refer to the camps geographically. With the center of the world being Redmond, that put me somewhere in Washington:



And here's Alaska:



Redmond, of course, where all the late night action is (disco light and all...):



The Professor down south in Nevada:

[Mr Dual Sport]

Lots of fun to be had in camp, and lots of riding too.

kurtw

[kurtw]

"AND LOTS OF RIDING TOO!"

Naturally, lots of people were riding all over the place

MrDS and I found a cistern of crystal clear cold water in the middle of nowhere on the way to Coyote Lake



MrDS at Coyote Lake








The 690 makes a great 2-up DS - on the way to Mickey Hot Springs



Cooling off in Pike Creek



Luckily, BeRad put some gear on before crashing out of the fun later on and messing up his leg



And then there's Wachs, "Hey get your own damn crutches!"

[kurtw]

What else to do in the middle of nowhere?

Land-sailing when the wind wasn't TOTALLY shunning us.





Soaking



It's always fun to see what vehicles people pull up in at the hot springs. Bikes, quads, cars..



...also...Airplanes !!







There were three planes camped out on the playa just below the hotsprings. But why walk to the springs when you can take off in your dual-sport airplane and fly there. After soaking for a while, the bush plane took off to fly the 1/4 mile back to camp to grab food, then flew back up again.

They had been up in the Steens chasing antelope earlier.



Moving on with things to do...

Contemplating Bigger Things



And last but certainly not least... drinking (see Camp Redmond)

[Mr Dual Sport]

Day 2

Kurtw and I headed out for a Coyote lake loop.

Kurt




When we got to Trout Creek Kurt had to continue back to camp to meet his wife and some friends that were arriving. I went up to check out the burn.

My old camping spot. Fried.



But you could already see new growth.




Some groves were completely wasted others seemed untouched

[Mr Dual Sport]

Day 3

killurtv made it down the night before and we talked about riding out to Propeller Meadows, but late nights and riding down after working graveyard had me spent. Cocktail day.
At some point I saw Uncle Teabag getting ready to go out so I asked where he was going. Our ice supply was running low so he was riding to Fields to get more. Ice run!

We ran into killurtv coming back from his ride.

Uncle Teabag and Kent


We had Cheeseburgers at Fields and were getting ready to load up with 9 bags of ice when we overheard there was a plane landing.
Gotta stay for this!
Uncle Teabag goes out and flags down a car that's coming just as the plane is coming in. I think the guy got freaked out and thought UTB was a Power Ranger all dressed in his moto gear and stopped like 50ft from him.

[MasterMarine]

Nice! Sweet pics on the playa!

[Mr Dual Sport]

Day 4

Saying goodbye was hard. I didn't want to leave.

Headed back home the same way I came. Lots of great riding, I wanted to explore some of the stuff I passed up due to time the first day.

Went back over Domingo Pass




Then 40 miles or so of this stuff









Cool little cabin





I hauled ass back into Plush for fuel and went to lube my chain. WTF why is it bound up?!
The clip had fallen off the master link and the plate shifted to one side causing the master to bind.
I'm a dumbass and didn't bring a spare clip.
Oh well it's holding, lets see how far it makes it.
Rode up Hogback and 395 and finally had cell service again. Called rescue3(?) and left a message hoping they were in route from the playa and I could catch them in Riley.
A call back and it all works out! Headed to Riley!

Rescue3 pulls up!






That worked out perfect! I literally arrived in Riley 10 minutes before Kurt and Georgeanne pulled up.
Thanks again for the ride back and the great company! All of you!

The End.

[kurtw]

Saying goodbye is hard.

But it's easier when your friend just tore all the muscles and tendons in his leg in a lowside while showing off on the moto.

It's also easier from 20 feet off the deck.







Some parting shots just because I love shooting out there:







Good times!

[larryboy]

Nice pics, big thanks for sharing!!!

[killurtv]

It was so much fun out there, the Alvord is truly an amazing place. For all those that frequent the area here is the scoop on the Hot Springs. The land owner is constructing a new parking area that will have a vault toilet and a full time caretaker on sight, there will be a small fee to use the Hot Springs. The cost will go for up keep of the springs and to cover the land owners liability insurance. This is certainly better than the other alternative, filling the springs with gravel and closing it down for good. Thanks for all the great pictures and good times!!!!

[Mr Dual Sport]

Originally Posted by killurtv

It was so much fun out there, the Alvord is truly an amazing place. For all those that frequent the area here is the scoop on the Hot Springs. The land owner is constructing a new parking area that will have a vault toilet and a full time caretaker on sight, there will be a small fee to use the Hot Springs. The cost will go for up keep of the springs and to cover the land owners liability insurance. This is certainly better than the other alternative, filling the springs with gravel and closing it down for good. Thanks for all the great pictures and good times!!!!

Good seeing you there! Did you make it up to Propeller? Sorry I didn't get a chance to ride with you.

[killurtv]

Originally Posted by Mr Dual Sport

Good seeing you there! Did you make it up to Propeller? Sorry I didn't get a chance to ride with you.

I did not make it up there, I ended up having a "cocktail day" on Sunday. Rode around to Mickey Hot Springs and played on the Playa. Next time I will get up there and we will ride together one day, you just need to slow down a bit!!