To the Oregon high desert
01-11-2014, 07:26 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
To the Oregon high desert
I first passed through this part of Oregon about ten years ago, by motorcycle, and ever since, certain roads have been worming their way around in my mind. So my wife and I decided to go there for our annual road trip, and on a rainy day in June we headed south. We took Highway 2 to the Crowsnest Highway (#3), and then went west to the border crossing at Roosville, Montana.
Turning west at Eureka, we headed into the first of the good stuff, the west shore of Lake Koocanusa. That was a fun drive, and we had to jink around a number of small rockslides dislodged by the rain, before stopping at Libby Dam to take some pics with my new Sony RX100:
The dam:
We continued on scenic backroads through Libby and Thompson Falls, joining I 90 near Kingston, then west towards Coeur d’Alene Lake. On the Fourth of July Summit, we encountered torrential rain and vicious cross winds, which were unsettling, but which the car handled well. South of I 90 we took 97 and 6 through the St. Joe National Forest, arriving at Moscow via the back way. Moscow, with its good bars and restaurants, is a fun place, and we had a pleasant evening.
The next day we headed south to Lewiston Clarkston, and stopped for a pic at the summit of the Spiral Highway:
South of Clarkston, we headed up 120, the Rattlesnake Grade, another one of my favourite roads:
The summit, where the sign painter must have been snakebit:
(to be continued)
Turning west at Eureka, we headed into the first of the good stuff, the west shore of Lake Koocanusa. That was a fun drive, and we had to jink around a number of small rockslides dislodged by the rain, before stopping at Libby Dam to take some pics with my new Sony RX100:
The dam:
We continued on scenic backroads through Libby and Thompson Falls, joining I 90 near Kingston, then west towards Coeur d’Alene Lake. On the Fourth of July Summit, we encountered torrential rain and vicious cross winds, which were unsettling, but which the car handled well. South of I 90 we took 97 and 6 through the St. Joe National Forest, arriving at Moscow via the back way. Moscow, with its good bars and restaurants, is a fun place, and we had a pleasant evening.
The next day we headed south to Lewiston Clarkston, and stopped for a pic at the summit of the Spiral Highway:
South of Clarkston, we headed up 120, the Rattlesnake Grade, another one of my favourite roads:
The summit, where the sign painter must have been snakebit:
(to be continued)
Last edited by Rinty; 03-28-2014 at 10:48 PM.
01-12-2014, 03:08 AM
#5
Three Wheelin'
My backyard...
We have some amazing roads, low population and light on the enforcement. Manna from driving heaven. The spiral highway is out of this world... Try the road from Echo, OR to Shaniko. Unreal!
We have some amazing roads, low population and light on the enforcement. Manna from driving heaven. The spiral highway is out of this world... Try the road from Echo, OR to Shaniko. Unreal!
01-12-2014, 08:38 AM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
01-12-2014, 09:21 AM
#7
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Listening in to what must've been a blast...your arena red 993 is gorgeous and it is gratifying to see it being used as intended!!!
Where are you going this year?!?!?
Where are you going this year?!?!?
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01-12-2014, 01:07 PM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Just a heads up... Oregon Highway Patrol heavily works Hwy 97 from Madras to K-falls so avoid that (boring anyway) They also are the only outfit I have ever seen that uses X-band moving radar and are well trained to instant on, so being remote if you pick up X it's OHP. County roads other than around Bend are pretty wide open. Enjoy!
01-12-2014, 01:30 PM
#9
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thanks for the comps everybody!
Been thinking about another run down the Snake River Canyon to Stanley, Idaho and then staying at the Sawtooth Lodge nearbye:
http://www.sawtoothlodge.com/
There's 6 miles of gravel between the highway and the Lodge, but it's quite smooth.
And Nathan's 993 Fest is frequently on my mind.
Where are you going this year? David
http://www.sawtoothlodge.com/
There's 6 miles of gravel between the highway and the Lodge, but it's quite smooth.
And Nathan's 993 Fest is frequently on my mind.
Last edited by Rinty; 01-12-2014 at 02:24 PM.
01-12-2014, 01:58 PM
#10
Drifting
Thread Starter
South of the Summit, the highway enters the spectacular canyon country of the Grande Ronde and Joseph Rivers. I shot this with a Lumix, as the tricky Sony was starting to burst fire. The light was getting better as we travelled south and west:
Leaving the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, the terrain smoothed out:
At Joseph, Oregon, we stopped for a drink at the Embers:
From Joseph, we headed east, and arrived at our first destination road, FSR 39, the Wallowa Mountain Loop:
It was a little tricky to find, but we got good directions from one of the locals. No, no, we didn’t go in here:
A short ways down the road, we took a side road to a lookout over Hell’s Canyon:
Leaving FSR 39, we headed west on 86, which runs through the beautiful Powder River Valley:
We spent the night in Baker City, where the motel owner showed me how to get the Sony under control. I'm always impressed with how helpful and friendly American tourist operators are.
to be continued
Leaving the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, the terrain smoothed out:
At Joseph, Oregon, we stopped for a drink at the Embers:
From Joseph, we headed east, and arrived at our first destination road, FSR 39, the Wallowa Mountain Loop:
It was a little tricky to find, but we got good directions from one of the locals. No, no, we didn’t go in here:
A short ways down the road, we took a side road to a lookout over Hell’s Canyon:
Leaving FSR 39, we headed west on 86, which runs through the beautiful Powder River Valley:
We spent the night in Baker City, where the motel owner showed me how to get the Sony under control. I'm always impressed with how helpful and friendly American tourist operators are.
to be continued
Last edited by Rinty; 03-28-2014 at 10:50 PM.
01-12-2014, 03:20 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
Been in the area's more then once and the roads are spectacular. On the CamAm we did the Spiral Highway twice going up and down. Fantastic!
01-17-2014, 01:44 PM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
The next day we headed west on 26, and north on 19, into the John Day area.
John Day River Canyon:
We arrived at our second destination road: the Fossil – Shaniko:
I had heard about this route from the guys on ADVRider, a motorcycle board, and that this was the road where you could eliminate chicken strips.
As promised, it was a good one:
This was about the last of the good stuff.
At Shaniko, we stopped for a snack. Wish I’d taken a picture of the delightful senior who owned the place:
…to be continued
John Day River Canyon:
We arrived at our second destination road: the Fossil – Shaniko:
I had heard about this route from the guys on ADVRider, a motorcycle board, and that this was the road where you could eliminate chicken strips.
As promised, it was a good one:
This was about the last of the good stuff.
At Shaniko, we stopped for a snack. Wish I’d taken a picture of the delightful senior who owned the place:
…to be continued
Last edited by Rinty; 03-28-2014 at 10:53 PM.