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A road trip/backpack to the summit of Steens Mountain and into Big Indian Gorge

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Historic French Glenn Hotel, reservations a must!

Main street

The dining room seating is limited

Kitchen, coffee and hotel hall

Front desk

Page Springs campground

On the approach to the summit

Wildhorse canyon

We could see some Keiger Mustangs grazing below

Inspiration for the journal

View north east from the top

Photo op

Dan's 52nd birthday

Brad is number one

Tom, pointing to Brad, his brother-in-law

Big Indian Gorge from "Steens Higway". We packed up along this stream.

Getting water from the well at the South Steens campground

Getting more water from Big Indian Creek at one of several fords

Water gear

An historic campsite near the riparian area of the creek

Big Indian Creek near the top of the Gorge

The U shaped Gorge, carved by glaciers a short time ago

A riparian area in the high desert

a heavier lite tent

MSR's lite tent. I want one of those!

My TNF Soloist bivy keeps the mosquitoes out. Lite pack'n!

Very lite pack'n guys, Jim and Kevin

Hydration system. Get water from the stream, pump or boil from the big bag

My total kitchen with a breakfast and a dinner

My food for three days and two nights

The Essentials ready for a day hike. The day pack weighs 14 oz.

All images on this page Copyright© 2003-2006 by Robert Speik. All Rights Reserved.

Big Indian Gorge in the Steens
My friend Jim Witty invited me to pack along with him, his son Kevin and three real estate developer friends from Orange County California, on a road trip/backpack to the summit of Steens Mountain (9,500' +-) and down into Steens' Big Indian Gorge for flyfishing.  Arriving at the Steens after a three hour evening drive from Bend, we camped out at the BLM's Page Springs campground for the night. We had a great breakfast at the historic French Glen Hotel, and drove up the gentle slope of west side of the Steens fault block to the summit overlooks at 9,000 feet. Then we continued around the "Steens Highway" to the BLM's South Steens Campground.  We backpacked in about six miles and up about 1,500' to an historic campsite next to the riparian area of Big Indian Creek. Then back to Bend we went, for the Bob Dylan concert!
--Bob Speik

 

 

 

Read more . . .
Owyhee River desert lands - Jordan Valley Rodeo

Oregon Natural Desert Association - ONDA
Oregon's Owyhee River inventory delivered to BLM
About the Owyhee River wilderness inventory with ONDA
ONDA survey of Owyhee Canyon
Owyhee Canyon Wilderness study area
NOLS adventure in the Owyhee Canyon
Steens Management Plan outsourced to mining proponents
A Steens Mountain adventure
Backpacking Steens Big Indian Gorge     Photos of this trip
A Steens Mountain wedding

  ENVIRONMENTAL PHOTOS
Photos of Central Oregon from an ultralight aircraft
Weather Spotting during an Oklahoma spring
ONDA's Wilderness inventory of BLM area near Juntura in eastern Oregon
USFS Five Buttes Healthy Forest fire reduction program in Central Oregon
Bob McGown, AAC Section Chair, builds a telescope pad at Pine Mountain Observatory
Becoming an Outdoors Woman classes in LaPine, Oregon with the ODFW
Pulling barbed wire fence at the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge with ONDA
A tour of the aftermath of the B & B forest fire with the Sierra Club
Adopt-a-Road with TraditionalMountaineering
The Bend Bicycle Festival 2004
Wolves introduced to the High Desert Museum
Twenty old growth Juniper stolen from The Badlands WSA   More information
A sustainable way to use feathers to adorn my lady
ODFW clinic - Becoming an Outdoors Woman
Dutch Oven cooking at GI Joes parking lot in Bend Oregon
President Bush holds photo opportunities
Trail Crew builds a log bridge over Spring Creek
Sierra Club holds a Christmas party
Tour fire ravaged Davis Lake
IMBA helps COTA build trails
South Sister climbers trail relocated
President Bush hopes no child will be left behind
Adopt-A-Highway with TraditionalMountaineering
Department of Inferior dumps wilderness protection
An ODFW juvenile steelhead sampling project near John Day, Oregon
The ODFW juvenile steelhead survey in the stream
Owyhee Canyon wilderness study area in south east Oregon
ONDA's Owyhee wilderness inventory camp near Rome, Oregon
Touring The Badlands with ONDA
Riverfest river cleanup in Bend Oregon
USFS Mud Bog poster
A Pay to Play bust
President Bush reassures us that SUVs do not damage the environment!
President Bush overlooking the environment
Al Gore and his young son summit Mt. Rainier
Fee Demo demonstration in Central Oregon

Basic responsibilities of the wilderness traveler
The Ten Essentials
Leave No Trace