Crumb's time in eastern Oregon

[Crumb]

It is kind of annoying to put the pictures in without telling you about things. So I will write this while I put the pictures in.

First, some background information. My Dad and his family have been hunting, camping, fishing, riding, driving and hiking around this area for about the last 40 years. I have been there a few times over the years and have some familiarity with the area. Specifically a the hunting unit called North side. I have camped there many times, most recently last summer when I went on a quadding trip up there, but my camera wasn't working for that excursion. :(

I see that as my father and his brothers get older their accommodations in the wilderness become more and more luxurious. Culminating this year in the joint purchase of a small house in Prairie City, a short drive from North side where some of them have tags to go hunting this fall. This is where I have spent the last week. Using the house as a base of operations for exploring the surrounding countryside, mostly the Strawberry Mountain wilderness and North side. This time I also had my new digital camera, which is much better than my old one that broke down last year, albeit with a smaller memory card.

As I post the pictures I'll have more to write. No need to read it if it is as boring as it sounds. :giggle:

[Crumb]

Ok the first day was all about the driving. We went over Mt. Hood and through Warm Springs where we stopped at a museum for a bit. I didn't take any pictures the first day, but it was mostly driving.

Day two, we drove around Prairie City a bit and then up to Northside to show my niece around look for some deer. Our first stop was on a hill overlooking Prairie City where there is a small historical exhibit shaped like a covered wagon. I didn't get a very good picture of the wagon, but here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1031&c=41) is a view of the city and Strawberry Mt. from the covered wagon.

The rest of the day we drove around Northside a lot saw some deer, ate some lunch, and saw the sites. Like spring rock (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1032&c=41) which is very cool to see and very easy to drive by without seeing. We drove past it and we were looking for it! My dad stopped the truck saying that it should be in that area somewhere when I spied it in the rearview mirror. Here is another shot looking down into the crack. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1033&c=41)

[livius drusus]

I didn't get a very good picture of the wagon, but here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1031&c=41) is a view of the city and Strawberry Mt. from the covered wagon.

There's a city in that pic? :chin:

Oh well, either way it's a spectacular view. Is the grass as dry as it looks?

[Crumb]

Well the outskirts of the city is that little stretch of green grass and trees on the valley floor.

It was very dry. The fire danger was 'extreme' or 'very high' the entire time we were there and there was a water shortage. As a result we were not able to do any quad riding this trip. :(

[godfry n. glad]

Here is another shot looking down into the crack. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1033&c=41)

Does that need to rotate 90 degrees clockwise?

[Ymir's blood]

I didn't get a very good picture of the wagon, but here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1031&c=41) is a view of the city and Strawberry Mt. from the covered wagon.

There's a city in that pic? :chin:
I think it's just below and to the right of that mountain that looks like a skull.

[livius drusus]

:giggle:

[Crumb]

Does that need to rotate 90 degrees clockwise?
It could be, but I don't think it needs to be. I will and you can tell me if it is better.

ETA: when I try and rotate the image all it seems to do is distort it. :(
I think it's just below and to the right of that mountain that looks like a skull.
I'm trying to see the skull YB, but I can't. :(

[Ymir's blood]

I think it's just below and to the right of that mountain that looks like a skull.
I'm trying to see the skull YB, but I can't. :(
I've attached a picture of what I see. Mostly the dome of the skull and left eye are visible in the original. The other eye and the lower details are imaginary.


Does that need to rotate 90 degrees clockwise?
It could be, but I don't think it needs to be. I will and you can tell me if it is better.

ETA: when I try and rotate the image all it seems to do is distort it. :(
I've attached a rotated version. I think that is the way it should go though it may be upside down.

[godfry n. glad]

I've attached a picture of what I see. Mostly the dome of the skull and left eye are visible in the original. The other eye and the lower details are imaginary.

I think that's a pattern on the mountainside formed by forested and unforested areas.





I've attached a rotated version. I think that is the way it should go though it may be upside down.

Judging by the grass, I'd say you got it right.

Pretty yonic, isn't it?

[Crumb]

I can sort of see a skull there now. :1thumbup:

I don't think the orientation of the spring rock is important as that picture was taken looking straight down on it. But whichever way makes it look better will work.

[livius drusus]

Pretty yonic, isn't it?

:yup:

[Crumb]

Pretty yonic, isn't it?
:scratch: huh? Can you translate for us slow ones?

[livius drusus]

It looks like a vagina, Crumbles honey. That's why I giggled in my gallery comment. And why I'm giggling right now. :giggle:

[The Lone Ranger]

Is the grass as dry as it looks?

When people think of Oregon and Washington, most imagine the lush, green western sides of the states, but central and eastern Oregon/Washington are quite dry. Most of the precipitation we get comes in the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring -- Summers are hot and very dry.

The Cascade Mountains tend to intercept most of the moisture coming from the Pacific and dump it on the western sides of the states, leaving the central and eastern sides quite a lot drier. It's actually quite an impressive thing to cross the Cascades because within the space of just a few miles you go from lush, wet and green forests to dry forests to dry grasslands and sagebrush. (Or vice versa, depending on which direction you're going.)

Cheers,

Michael

[Crumb]

Well I got that, but I guess it just doesn't look as obvious to me, oh well, on to the next part.

TLR: Very true. I hope I didn't imply that brown grass is unusual there or something. In the summer it is very dry there. Most of the precipitation comes to eastern Oregon in the form of snow in the winter. I will post a pic of a snow covered Strawberry Mt. in a few.

[Ymir's blood]

It looks like a vagina, Crumbles honey. That's why I giggled in my gallery comment. And why I'm giggling right now. :giggle:
Now that's one thing I never see.

[Godwhacker]

One of my former students lives in Eastern Oregon. He says that he is the only Psychologist in a 100 mile radius. I don't recall exactly what town he lives in. Looks like interesting country!

[Crumb]

Looks like interesting country!
I'm just getting started! :wink:

Here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1054&c=41) is a picture of Strawberry Mountain with some snow. My dad took this in June.

[wei yau]

I'm really enjoying the travelogue, Crumb.

Looks like beautiful country, I'll have to add it to my list of places I want to visit.

[Ymir's blood]

Looks like interesting country!
I'm just getting started! :wink:

Here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1054&c=41) is a picture of Strawberry Mountain with some snow. My dad took this in June.
Very nice. It looks as if the mountain is floating on the clouds. :peace1:

[Crumb]

Ok, on to part III

The next day we didn't do much and I only have one picture. A wagon (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1034&c=41) that was in front of the Depot Museum in Prairie City.

The next day (Saturday) was more interesting. We went on a drive around Strawberry Mountain. Through the cities of John Day (pop. 1821) and Canyon City (pop. 669) on the west side of the mountain. In canyon city we stopped at the Grant county museum. This area was a little more well populated in 1860s when gold was discovered in Canyon City. There are a lot of artifacts laying around from this booming time, as well as abandoned buildings and mines. Now the countryside is all cattle ranches. At the museum I saw a cool calculator (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1035&c=41) and some mutant calves. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1036&c=41) I didn't want to waste too many pictures in museums though, I wanted to save them for the great outdoors.

Then we continued on through Logan Valley (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1037&c=41) to the south. Through Summit Prairie, which looked much like Logan Valley and down again to Prairie City (pop. 1080). Along the way we stopped and took a walk at Trout Farm (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1038&c=41) camp ground.

Here are some local wildlife that we only got to see from the comfort of the house: cougar (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1039&c=41) and bobcat (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1040&c=41) both shot by my uncle a few years ago. He also has bagged a moose a few antelope and countless deer and grouse and maybe a few others I am unaware of. He had a bear tag one year, but was unsuccessful.

Stay tuned for the hike to Strawberry Lake.

[Crumb]

We got the great idea of doing a strawberry mountain hike during our trip around the mountain. The hike to Strawberry lake was only 1.4 miles, each way. If I had not been with my dad and niece I would have wanted to go much farther. Strawberry falls was 2.5 miles and the peak of the mountain was a 6.1 mile climb. Eventually I want to do the climb to the summit. From looking at the maps there may be a shorter climb (about 4 miles) to the top if one starts from the south side of the mountain.

Anyway, late on Sunday morning we headed up to the lake. Early on we got this cool picture (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1058&c=41) of the secondary peak of the mountain. Strawberry is an uplift mountain and one can see the different strata laid down by the rivers and the lava flows before this rock was thrusted into the sky. But if you like visible strata and seeing geological history writ large, you ain't seen nothing yet. Wait 'til our trip home. :wink:

Back to the trail where it was hot and dusty (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1057&c=41). My niece is quite the little trooper (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1060&c=41) and I don't doubt that she could have made the hike to the falls. Next time there will be no point at turning around at the lake. About one mile into our hike we find a reassuring sign. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1059&c=41) After about an hour hike up the mountain with frequent breaks we find water. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1061&c=41)

A beautiful little lake with fish jumping, hawks and an eagle circling overhead set in a deep steep-sided bowl on the side of the mountain. The surrounding cliffs include this ridge (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1064&c=41) seen earlier, this steep wall (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1062&c=41) which shaded a small patch of snow even this late in the summer, and other (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1065&c=41) interesting features. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1063&c=41)

It was an excellent hike. I regret only not going farther. But I will climb again in the future.

Sunday night we also choose as our night to go out and eat and take in some local atmosphere. It was a poor choice. There was only a single establishment open on Sundays in Prairie City. It was packed and the service was slow. It was well and impressively decorated though with trophies of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, and even a moose which was probably taken in Idaho.

Stay tuned for our next episode: "Deer and Quail"

ETA: Thanks for the encouragement everyone. It really helps motivate me to write more.

[JoeP]

The pictures are great, crumbs, and the travelogue even better.

What's that? You think I should be doing the same? I have no idea what you mean...

[livius drusus]

At the museum I saw a cool calculator and some mutant calves.

That calculator kicks ass. I totally want one. Legs is going to be thrilled to see what you got her on your trip.


Here are some local wildlife that we only got to see from the comfort of the house: cougar and bobcat both shot by my uncle a few years ago.

They're so cute. I would have loved and cuddled and patted that bobcat. :sobbing:

My niece is quite the little trooper

I can't even believe the size of the backpack she's sporting for this hike. She's like a grunt in Vietnam or something.

After about an hour hike up the mountain with frequent breaks we find water.

A beautiful little lake with fish jumping, hawks and an eagle circling overhead set in a deep steep-sided bowl on the side of the mountain. The surrounding cliffs include this ridge seen earlier, this steep wall which shaded a small patch of snow even this late in the summer, and other interesting features.

Gorgeousness everywhere. I'm reminded of Sauron's pics of Washington. Not surprising, I know.

Thank you for this great travelogue. Here's hoping it'll be an inspiration. ;)

[SharonDee]

What's that? You think I should be doing the same? I have no idea what you mean...Go ahead, twist his arm, why doncha? :giggle:

[Crumb]

The pictures are great, crumbs, and the travelogue even better.
Thanks.
What's that? You think I should be doing the same? I have no idea what you mean...
I certainly don't. It is not easy. I am practicing for when I finally get some DC pictures though. That'll be a big job, but it is something you can look forward to.
That calculator kicks ass. I totally want one. Legs is going to be thrilled to see what you got her on your trip.
I thought those were the most interesting things in the museum as far as objects go. They were full of interesting historical tidbits. It seemed like almost every little town you drove through had one or two little museums which like the two we went to were probably nothing more than an old building filled with local artifacts from the last 150 years or so. It would get old going to too many of them, but a visitor should certainly check out one or two.
They're so cute. I would have loved and cuddled and patted that bobcat. :sobbing:
It would have bit you.
I can't even believe the size of the backpack she's sporting for this hike. She's like a grunt in Vietnam or something.
I know, it is as big as her. She insisted on taking it though, and I warned her ahead of time that if she packed it she would have to carry it the whole way and not ask us to take it. She didn't complain a bit and wished we had gone all the way to the falls too. She's great. :cheerful:

[Crumb]

One of the best things about being in the wilderness, obviously, is getting to see the wildlife. Seeing so many cows gets a little boring. Here are some of the wild animals we saw: deer, quail, hawks, turkey vulture, trout, eagle, osprey, turkeys, sage grouse, an unidentified aquatic mammal (I do believe this was an otter in camp creek! How cool is that?), and we heard whip-poor-wills every night, but never saw one.

We spent the first couple days driving around the wilderness showing my niece around and looking for deer or other wildlife. We saw about 10 deer the first drive and a few less the second. I got a few pictures: here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1068&c=41) and here (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1069&c=41) .

A cool thing happened the evening we got back from the second drive. While we were out enjoying the cool air of the evening (the days were quite hot) my niece spotted a pair of deer on the hill behind the house. We broke out the binoculars and my dad his camera and we spent the next hour watching a parade of deer walk across the hillside past the house. (I didn't get any pictures, but I will add one when I get them from my dad.) We saw thirteen deer walk by that night all does and fawns. The next night around the same time we saw ten or so, including a 3x2 buck. When we left in the truck about a half hour later the buck crossed the street behind us heading into the small neighborhood that the house is on the edge of. Apparently they go in the city every night to munch on the tasty gardens and trees of Prairie City. We saw most of our deer right behind the house.

Quail were much the same way. My dad spotted a small group one day. The next day I spotted some and took this picture (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1066&c=41) from the kitchen window. That guy was accompanied by a small group that was mostly young ones, some the size of golf balls. Then that evening driving out of the neighbor we passed literally hundreds of quail by the side of the road. There were three large groups of 50+ and uncountable smaller groups all over the place. Just when we were amazed at the number of quail we would see a whole bunch more. Unfortunately we got no pictures of this, but I did get a picture (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1067&c=41) of a small group a few days later.

Of stargazing I have no pictures, but I want to mention it because it was one of the cool parts of the trip. I never skip the opportunity to check out the dark night sky when I am so far from city lights; Seeing countless stars, swift satellites, the shimmering milky way, its all good. The cool part was my niece loved it too. She wanted to stay up every night. One night we drove up to the covered wagon after dark and had a great view of the night sky. The cool thing is we saw a bunch of meteors too, about one or two every ten minutes. It was great to see her enthusiasm for the night sky, the animals, and the landscape. She is a budding astronomer and naturalist. :pleased: And it was cool to share the wonder and knowledge that I have for the universe with her. :wriggle:

Well if you've come this far there is no point in stopping now.

Stay tuned for "Arch Rock" and the big surprise ending. :cheer:

[livius drusus]

He he... Deer have funny asses. What's a 3x2 buck? I assume it's some kind of size designation?

Your niece sounds like a badass already and I totally agree with you both about the wonder of a dark night sky. Even though I am a devoted city girl, seeing the stars blanket the sky is something I miss a great deal. The most magnificent instance in my experience was cruising up the Nile in February ages ago (15 years at least). You can barely believe it's real.

[Crumb]

He he... Deer have funny asses.
Well I think that particular deer's ass might be a little blurred from moving. It looks more like a tailess horse's ass, which is not what they look like.
What's a 3x2 buck? I assume it's some kind of size designation?
It refers to the size of the rack: three points on one side, two on the other.
The most magnificent instance in my experience was cruising up the Nile in February ages ago (15 years at least). You can barely believe it's real.
Very cool.

[godfry n. glad]

As a city dweller, I too, derive great pleasure from watching the night sky far from the intrusions of the light wells of urban settlements.

My problem is that I'm so myopic, I have to keep my glasses on. I love to fall asleep while staring at the night sky (y'know, snuggled in a toasty sleeping bag under the vault of the night sky), but I end up with nasty impressions on my face and twisted frames that I have to fuss with for days before they resume their proper shape.

My favorite recent night sky view was from Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan, on the north flank of the Tian Shan mountain range. Even though there were a few electric lights in the community, the elevation so high, the air so thin, and real urbanization far, far away, that the light show was ever so gorgeous.

Hey, Crumb... If your niece is to into the stars, maybe you should take her to the observatory outside of Goldendale, Washington.

[Crumb]

Hey, Crumb... If your niece is to into the stars, maybe you should take her to the observatory outside of Goldendale, Washington.
That might be cool. Where is Goldendale?

[godfry n. glad]

Hey, Crumb... If your niece is to into the stars, maybe you should take her to the observatory outside of Goldendale, Washington.
That might be cool. Where is Goldendale?

Goldendale is on Hwy 97, about 15 miles north of Maryhill (where the Maryhill Museum, formerly the palatial estate of Sam Hill - of "what in Sam Hill?" fame - serves as a unique art museum in the middle of nowhere). Maryhill sits in the Columbia Gorge across the river from beautiful Biggs Junction, which is about 20 miles east of The Dalles.

The observatory is a state park (which I did not know until I Googled it). This is their website (http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Goldendale%20Observatory&pageno=1).

It's pretty cool if you get a nice clear night that ain't too damned cold and windy. It's like watching the stars on A Deck.

[Dingfod]

Is the grass as dry as it looks?

When people think of Oregon and Washington, most imagine the lush, green western sides of the states, but central and eastern Oregon/Washington are quite dry. Most of the precipitation we get comes in the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring -- Summers are hot and very dry.

The Cascade Mountains tend to intercept most of the moisture coming from the Pacific and dump it on the western sides of the states, leaving the central and eastern sides quite a lot drier. It's actually quite an impressive thing to cross the Cascades because within the space of just a few miles you go from lush, wet and green forests to dry forests to dry grasslands and sagebrush. (Or vice versa, depending on which direction you're going.)

Cheers,

Michael
Yeah, even Bend, which is right at the foot of the Cascades gets only about 12" of precipitation per year, very close to the classic definition of desert. Compare that to Eugene, only roughly 90 miles to the west, which gets nearly 50" of precipitation per year.

[godfry n. glad]

Is the grass as dry as it looks?

When people think of Oregon and Washington, most imagine the lush, green western sides of the states, but central and eastern Oregon/Washington are quite dry. Most of the precipitation we get comes in the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring -- Summers are hot and very dry.

The Cascade Mountains tend to intercept most of the moisture coming from the Pacific and dump it on the western sides of the states, leaving the central and eastern sides quite a lot drier. It's actually quite an impressive thing to cross the Cascades because within the space of just a few miles you go from lush, wet and green forests to dry forests to dry grasslands and sagebrush. (Or vice versa, depending on which direction you're going.)

Cheers,

Michael
Yeah, even Bend, which is right at the foot of the Cascades gets only about 12" of precipitation per year, very close to the classic definition of desert. Compare that to Eugene, only roughly 90 miles to the west, which gets nearly 50" of precipitation per year.

Yep, that's the difference, all right. The crest of the Cascade Mountains forms a barrier that creates a rain shadow for most of eastern Oregon and Washington. Just south of Bend is a neat little museum, called the High Desert Museum. So, they...and we...consider Bend to be in the high desert. It's not the barren desert most are accustomed to, but with lots of scrub brush and occasional pines. It's arid, for sure.

West of Eugene is the Coast Range that separates it from the Pacific Ocean by about 60 miles. The Coast Range qualifies as "temperate rain forest". Newport, on the coast, averages 72" of rain a year. It's between Newport and the Willamette Valley, at the crest of the Coast Range, that gets the most rain.

None of this quite measures up to the 104" annual rain total of the Olympic National Park on the Olympic peninsula of Washington state. It's just up the coast a hundred fifty miles are so from cloudy Astoria, Oregon, home to what must be the largest collection of Finns in North America. (I thought Moose might like to know that...)

[Crumb]

Goldendale is on Hwy 97, about 15 miles north of Maryhill (where the Maryhill Museum, formerly the palatial estate of Sam Hill - of "what in Sam Hill?" fame - serves as a unique art museum in the middle of nowhere). Maryhill sits in the Columbia Gorge across the river from beautiful Biggs Junction, which is about 20 miles east of The Dalles.

Well damn I was just in Biggs two days ago. :wink: Just passing through though. The observatory sounds really cool, I will have to check it out some day. It will go on my to do list.

[godfry n. glad]

Goldendale is on Hwy 97, about 15 miles north of Maryhill (where the Maryhill Museum, formerly the palatial estate of Sam Hill - of "what in Sam Hill?" fame - serves as a unique art museum in the middle of nowhere). Maryhill sits in the Columbia Gorge across the river from beautiful Biggs Junction, which is about 20 miles east of The Dalles.

Well damn I was just in Biggs two days ago. :wink: Just passing through though. The observatory sounds really cool, I will have to check it out some day. It will go on my to do list.

Sorry to derail slightly, Crumb, but I just gotta post up this link to a bOregonian article on Maryhill (http://www.oregonlive.com/living/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/living/112081701695000.xml&coll=7). I think it's one of the more...hmmm..."engaging" roadside attractions in the immediate area. The manse sits alone atop high cliffs in the Gorge, the nearest thing being a replica of the complete Stonehenge and the nearest population center being Biggs Junction, home of six gas stations, two motels and a truck repair shop, across the river.

As for "passing through" Biggs, that's about all anybody does.

[Dingfod]

I've been to the Stonehenge replica. In fact, Maryhill is the only place in Washington state that I've ever been in.

[Crumb]

I'm so going there.

[Crumb]

Our last full day in Prairie City found us wandering around the northside unit. (The area north of John Day and Prairie City on this map (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Prairie+City+Oregon&ll=44.515114,-118.762207&spn=0.650269,0.831047&t=h&hl=en). Strawberry moutain is south of Prairie City on that map.) We were driving around Ragged Rocks (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1075&c=41). I was looking at a map book of Oregon. It has much more detail than Google does.

I noticed just off 36 (which is the main drag through northside) was something called Arch Rock. There were two things on the map, Arch Rock and Arch Rock trailhead. The trailhead looked to be about a mile from the rock and I didn't think we wanted to hike another mile, but the rock looked like it wasn't too far away from the road, so I guessed (correctly it turns out) that we could see and access the rock from the road without walking the trail.

The cool thing is that despite the fact that he has been hunting Northside for about 40 years my dad has never seen or heard of this rock, so we are about to discover something new. We turn off 36 to 3650 and sure enough we see an Arch Rock trailhead sign and the trail itself is little more than a horizontal scratch on the steep hillside. Confirming my suspiscion that the trail is just access to the rock without having to climb a steep hill.

We drive on up the road craning our necks to see the hillside above us. We see many rocks up there, but none of them looks like an arch. It occurrs to me however that even if we could see the rock from the road, we may not be able to see the opening. After about a mile and a half driving up we knew we had passed the rock and turned around. We continued the search on the way down with a better vantage point not needing to kink our necks to see the hillside.

Again, none of the rocks was an arch. We were discussing whether we wanted to go ahead and take the trail up to the rock when I spied this (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1070&c=41) on the hillside. It may not be apparent from that picture, but there is a slight indent evident in the rock. I thought this could be it! We jumped out of the truck and me and my niece raced up the hill. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1071&c=41) We got half way up and sure enough, we saw blue sky through the rock! (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1072&c=41) We were very excited we crossed through the arch and I got a shot of the other side. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1073&c=41)

It was a very cool thing to find on our last day up there, and now something to show off to everyone else who goes up there as my discovery. :yup: :giggle:


Miscellaneous stuff that I found in my dad's pictures:

Me and my niece stargazing (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1076&c=41) , or at least we were until my dad snapped this picture and blinded us with the flash.

Deer (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/showimage.php?i=1077&c=41) on the hill behind the Prairie City house. Check out her ass, liv! :wink:

Coming up next: "The Trip Home"

[Dingfod]

Cool beans. I love that part of Oregon.

[livius drusus]

Oh c'mon... You call that an ass shot? I can barely see it. :butt:

I love the exciting saga of Arch rock, including the action shot of you and your niece racing against time. :chase: