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2008 -- Aug -- Steens Trip

In May of 2008, I took a 900 mile dual-sport motorcycle trip through SE Oregon and NW Nevada. The apex of the trip was the Black Rock Playa in Nevada. However, before I was able to complete the trip, I ran into a severe weather change (80 to 42 degrees in an hour) and had to head for shelter. Since this was my fourth time down into this area, my wife (Rose)and I decided to take a driving and hiking vacation into the same area. All total, we drove 2000 miles round trip from Seattle, of which about 400 was off-road. Believe it or not, Suburu Outbacks really do well off-road (though they could use some better dust infiltration control).

This is really an amazing area of the country. Incredibly remote and incredibly scenic.
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  • Here is a quick highlight of our core route.  After driving from Seattle, we departed on Sunday, 8/3, from Bend, turning off-road at Pauline Peak.  Our last day of exploring was Friday, 8/8, arriving in Prineville.

    Here is a quick highlight of our core route. After driving from Seattle, we departed on Sunday, 8/3, from Bend, turning off-road at Pauline Peak. Our last day of exploring was Friday, 8/8, arriving in Prineville.

  • Here is the view from Paulina Peak, looking back toward Bachelor and some of the other volcanic peaks.

    Here is the view from Paulina Peak, looking back toward Bachelor and some of the other volcanic peaks.

  • Wierdly flattened water weeds at the obsidian flow in Paulina National Monument.

    Wierdly flattened water weeds at the obsidian flow in Paulina National Monument.

  • Big 'ol chunk of obsidian.

    Big 'ol chunk of obsidian.

  • Obsidian.

    Obsidian.

  • Driving south from Paulina to Fort Rock.

    Driving south from Paulina to Fort Rock.

  • Fort Rock cemetery.

    Fort Rock cemetery.

  • More Fort Rock cemetery.

    More Fort Rock cemetery.

  • "Crack in the Ground" -- a slot canyon outside of Christmas valley.  It was caused by the collapse of a lava tube.

    "Crack in the Ground" -- a slot canyon outside of Christmas valley. It was caused by the collapse of a lava tube.

  • More of the "crack"

    More of the "crack"

  • Hogback road from highway 395 over to the Warner Valley and Hart Mountain.

    Hogback road from highway 395 over to the Warner Valley and Hart Mountain.

  • The Warner valley from the Hart Mountain grade.

    The Warner valley from the Hart Mountain grade.

  • A hike in Hart Mountain Antelope Reserve.

    A hike in Hart Mountain Antelope Reserve.

  • A very remote cabin in the reserve.

    A very remote cabin in the reserve.

  • The off-road Suburu on a very long and rough back road in the reserve.

    The off-road Suburu on a very long and rough back road in the reserve.

  • Rose after one of our hikes.

    Rose after one of our hikes.

  • Early morning in the Antelope reserve.

    Early morning in the Antelope reserve.

  • Daybreak shot back over the Warner Valley.

    Daybreak shot back over the Warner Valley.

  • More antelope herds in the early am.

    More antelope herds in the early am.

  • The Hart Mountain Hot Springs camp ground at daybreak.

    The Hart Mountain Hot Springs camp ground at daybreak.

  • A dry river bed in the Warner valley.

    A dry river bed in the Warner valley.

  • Each of the scales is about 10 inches across and about 10 inches high.

    Each of the scales is about 10 inches across and about 10 inches high.

  • On the road between Hart Mountain and Frenchglen.

    On the road between Hart Mountain and Frenchglen.

  • The road to the top of the Steens.  Spring comes late at 9000 feet.

    The road to the top of the Steens. Spring comes late at 9000 feet.

  • Kiger gorge in the Steens.

    Kiger gorge in the Steens.

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