Owyhee June 2010

[DirtyDog]

I spent 3 nights and 4 days In the Owyhee area on the Oregon/Idaho border. This is how it went down:

Notice: this is an area that straddles the Oregon/Idaho border. Since the wtw area system can only have one gallery per area, photos end up in the Idaho gallery. Sorry for any confusion this may cause.

I made plans to meet Home Skillet at the Succor Creek State Natural Area (or Succor Creek State Park depending on what map you are looking at). I arrived early to secure a spot and get dinner started in my new dutch oven.

Entering Succor Creek Canyon:

Snagged a good spot right on the creek:

Home Skillet arrives and the dutch oven and fire are well under way. You can check the results of my dutch oven work in my dutch oven thread.

 

[DirtyDog]

With the help of a little beer and a little whiskey, we had a great night:

The next morning Home Skillet tries his luck in the creek:

 

[DirtyDog]

There is a lot of rockhounding in this area. Here's a shot of the campground at Succor Creek from a talas slope where we were hunting thundereggs:

Heading south, looking back at the campground:

 

[DirtyDog]

Wild clouds:

Next stop, Leslie Gulch. Heading into the gulch:

 

[DirtyDog]

I was blown away by Leslie Gulch and I could post a hundred photos and not even begin to capture it so I'll post some here but I encourage readers to check out additional photos in the Owyhee gallery. The fabulous Leslie Gulch:

 

[DirtyDog]

I love this shot so here's some more free advertising for our favorite camper company:

We setup at Slocum Creek Campground which was one of the most scenic campgrounds I've ever stayed at:

 

[DirtyDog]

Slocum Creek aerial view:

Inspired by Ted I picked up a video camera and did some initial messing around with it:
[media]

 

[DirtyDog]

We took the dogs to the lake but I wasn't too impressed. Typical reservoir stuff: garbage, dead fish, and enough thorns and stickers to literally render Diego immobile with crap jammed up between his toes.

What I was impressed with were the opportunities to take some cross country routes up some of the adjacent mountains. The views up here are some of the best I have ever seen anywhere. Climbing the mountain:

 

[DirtyDog]

At the top:

Looking back at the gulch:

 

[DirtyDog]

View of Lake Owyhee:

Another with different polarization:

 

[DirtyDog]

However we did pay for these views in one way - this is likely the foxtail capitol of the world:

 

[DirtyDog]

Next we headed east into the mountains and drove to Silver City. The road from Jordan Valley, Oregon to Silver City is a narrow rough road with a lot of great primitive camping:

Lunch at the historic Idaho Hotel:

 

[DirtyDog]

Silver City was HOPPING on this weekend day - the town was packed with four wheelers and 4wd vehicles of all sorts:

Silver City is an amazing place - check out more photos at Western Mining History if you are interested: Silver City.

We found a great spot on the creek that night:

 

[DirtyDog]

I parted ways with Home Skillet and headed out to drive the Owyhee Uplands Scenic Byway. This is a very remote drive through a lot of ranch land and some occasional canyons. An indicator of good times ahead:

Lots of flowers all over:

After the loop I hit some pretty nasty weather and rather than setup in the rain I headed home a day early. Another great trip!

 

[Ted]

Good stuff as usual. Too bad we rushed by that area on our way home last week.

Inspired by Ted I picked up a video camera and did some initial messing around with it:

A good start, but we need to see you in it.

 

[SunMan]

Enjoyed the reports DD and HomeSkillet. Silver City looks sweet, the foxtails not so much.

 

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

Damn, another place I haven't been . . .

 

[Silvertip47]

GEEZ!!!! I JUST missed you guys!!! I spent Sunday night at Slocum campground. Some of those rigs in your pics were still there!!! I did get to meet GSBfree and his wonderful family!!!! Also got my FIRST look at a FWC HAWK!!!!! Funny, I saw his rig at Sportsman's Warehouse in Meridian Friday before I left. Wondered whose rig it was an if they were associated with WTW!!!! Small World!!!

I then went on to Northfork campground and Juniper Mtn. Just got home today so will be working on a TR the next day or two.

Sure sorry I missed you guys!!!!

 

[ski3pin]

DD, thanks for the great travel report on a very special place!

 

[gsbfree]

GEEZ!!!! I JUST missed you guys!!! I spent Sunday night at Slocum campground. Some of those rigs in your pics were still there!!! I did get to meet GSBfree and his wonderful family!!!! Also got my FIRST look at a FWC HAWK!!!!! Funny, I saw his rig at Sportsman's Warehouse in Meridian Friday before I left. Wondered whose rig it was an if they were associated with WTW!!!! Small World!!!

I then went on to Northfork campground and Juniper Mtn. Just got home today so will be working on a TR the next day or two.

Sure sorry I missed you guys!!!!



SilverTip....We enjoyed meeting you and chatting.....you're right, it's a small world. Hope to see you around and out exploring! G