Category: Journeys

On Friday, I left my campsite outside of Bend, OR, and I headed to Southeast Oregon. I found myself driving through the recently newsworthy Malheur National Wildlife Refuge before finding a campsite at the Western base of Steens Mountain. I woke up in the morning Saturday to explore the mountain and then head down to Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. Finally, Sunday, I headed into Winnemucca and founding camping in Water Canyon just outside of town.

After boondocking in Snoqualmie Pass and visiting Seattle, I ended up deciding to move to just outside of Hanford Reach National Monument. I spent a good week and a half there before moving on to visit John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, which I absolutely fell in love with spending the day there. However, as there is no cell service there, I had to move on to Bend, where I also dropped by Newberry National Volcanic Monument today.

On Tuesday, I woke up in my hotel room in Walla Walla, and set off to the local tire shop. After getting the tire repaired, I set off to a campsite for the week, finally ending up on the Western side of Snoqualmie Pass, at a free boondocking spot in the National Forest.

On Friday, I set off from my spot at Hayspur Fish Hatchery, headed West towards Oregon. I spent one night on the Snake River outside of Huntington, Oregon, before spending all of Saturday exploring Hells Canyon. Saturday night, I camped on the West Rim of the canyon before heading towards Washington on Sunday. Due to a flat tire, the weekend got cut short, ending with me in a hotel room in Walla Walla for a couple of nights, waiting to get replacement tires.

Late Wednesday night, a wildfire started up on the mountains above my campsite at Shorts Bar. I had fun watching the fire burn, but as the smoke continued making my stay uncomfortable, I set out Friday afternoon to find some new camping. I ended up checking out a good portion of the Idaho side of Hells Canyon before finally setting up camp at the historic Hayspur Fish Hatchery.

On Friday, I finally decided that it was time to move on out of Montana for the year. I have been eyeing Idaho, wanting to get in and explore it more than I did last year, when I really did barely any more than just driving through. Already, I’ve been having a lovely stay and adventure in the Idaho Panhandle, if going a little faster than I originally planned nonetheless.

After my hike in Two Medicine, I stayed for a time at Cut Bank Campground again, before finally saying goodbye to the national parks for a while. I didn’t move too far, though! After Sunday night on the Middle Fork Flathead River again, I moved over to the Blacktail Mountain area for some quiet solitude and amazing views.

After my recent hike in Grand Teton, I again looked up another hike I wanted to do in Glacier: the Dawson Pass, Pitamakan Pass Loop. The trails finally were declared clear and snow free, and with the wildfires near Grand Teton becoming a difficulty, it was time to go tackle that hike! And another amazing hike it certainly was!

Since leaving Grand Teton National Park, I have had one hike on my mind. So, Friday, I decided to take off, headed back towards the Tetons. After a stay north of Yellowstone Friday night, I got into Grand Teton on Saturday and did the hike up Paintbrush Canyon, over the Paintbrush Divide, and down Cascade Canyon on Sunday. What an amazing, amazing experience!