In May of 2013, Zach and Vera flew up from Los Angels to Oregon to join Heather and me for a trip through the southeastern areas of the great state of Oregon.  We ranged through sagebrush, sand dunes, junipers, and big timber.  In a borrowed Ford Explorer, we drove up and over mountains, down into deep depressions with some water at the bottom and lots of sand, and everything in between.  It was an adventure of grand proportions and fun was had by all!

Day 1: From Western Oregon to Steaks in the Oregon Outback

• South Fork of the Santiam River – The Southeast Oregon Desert Voyages of 2013 embarked in Corvallis early in the morning. Our first stop was along the South Fork of the Santiam River.
• Snow on Santiam and Tombstone Passes – Even in late May there can be snow storms on the Oregon Cascade passes.
• The Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and Black Butte – The Cascades sparkled in the morning sunshine with a wreath of clouds shrouding the mountain flanks.
• Lava Butte – The fire lookout just south of Bend provides amazing views of the Cascades.
• Lava River Caves – The lava tube near Lava Butte is am amazing cave to hike through.  I have been coming back to visit over and over and over since I was a little kid.
• Fort Rock – The impressive monolith in the middle of Christmas Valley has been luring people to the Oregon Outback for many years.
• Surprise Visit to Thompson Reservoir – While waiting for our seating at the Cowboy Dinner Tree, we explored some Forest Service roads and discovered Thompson Reservoir.  Next time I am in this part of the world, I think that I will camp by this reservoir.  What a beautiful place!
• Steaks at the Cowboy Dinner Tree – The pinnacle of obscure restaurants was reached!  The Cowboy Dinner Tree is down a Forest Service road outside of a small town in the middle of the Oregon Outback.  Unless you know their telephone number to make a reservation weeks in advance (your two choices are chicken or beef), you will not get a table.

Day 2: Desert Hot Springs and Multiple Mountain Ranges

• Summer Lake Hot Springs – After a trek through the dark and setting up camp long after the sun went down, we woke up to a gorgeous high desert sunrise at these remarkable hot springs.
• An Unanticipated Stop on a Long Desert Highway – Revenge of the Steak hit Zach hard while we were traversing a long desert highway.  We pulled over so that his steak could be free to run with the wild creatures.
• Wildflower Meadows Along the Fremont Highway – Seas of wildflowers greeted us along a stretch of the Fremont Highway as we approached Lakeview.  Alas, I did not have a flower sailing ship!
• Viva Lakeview! – We arrived in Lakeview to allow Zach to recuperate from his illness.  The little town is cute and surprisingly busy.
• Warner Canyon Ski Resort – For many years I saw the snow depth report from this ski resort but had no idea where it was in relation to the rest of the state of Oregon.  Now I know.
• The Plush Cutoff Road – In the middle of nowhere with gorgeous scenery and zero traffic.
• Hart Lake – Pelicans are spotted at Hart Lake!
• The Western Portal to the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge – The entrance to the refuge is reached.
• Hart Mountain Overlook – Gorgeous views that go on forever await the intrepid traveler who pulls off the grade heading up Hart Mountain.
• Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge Headquarters – A lonely outpost of refuge rangers in the middle of high desert and sagebrush stand guard over the magestic antelope that in habit the area.
• Antelope at Rest and Play – We found antelope at home on the range.  It is rare to sight antelope but it must have been our lucky day.
• On the Road to Frenchglen – The far-off Steens Mountains were spotted on the road to Frenchglen, one of the more remote outposts in Oregon.
• Frenchglen – The small outpost of civilization called Frenchglen has a couple of gas pumps, a mercantile, and a little hotel.  Oh yeah, also a whole bunch of scenery.
• On the Western Flank of the Steens Mountain – We headed up the Steens Mountain toward the summit while a little bit of rain fell on the desert.
• The Steens Mountain at the Upper North Access Gate – A closed access gate due to snow and a washed-out road impeded our progress to the very top of the Steens but we still got a great view.
• Heading Down the Steens – Amazing clouds and amazing scenery as we headed down the Steens.
• The Road to Fields – Wonderful clouds and far out scenery leads the interpid traveler to Fields.
• A Night in Nevada on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge – We found ourselves a place to sleep in the middle of the night and the next morning awoke to gorgeous views plus a bunch of duck hunters in trailers.

 Day 3: Waking Up in Nevada and Going to Sleep in the Rain

• On the Oregon/Nevada Border – The border is a lonely, desolate place marked with a few signs and a range fence.  An antelope said hello to us in the area, too.
• Into Oregon – After descending a steep escarpment, we entered the Warner Valley.
• Dinner Bell Breakfast – We found a great place in Lakeview to have some breakfast.
• Lake Abert – A great inland lake in south central Oregon provides for some spectacular views.
• The Lost Forest – An isolated forest in the middle of a sea of sand and rocks.
• Christmas Valley Sand Dunes – A sea of sand dunes in Christmas Valley accentuates the stark beauty of the area.  There is a large OHV portion of the sand sea and an area that is allowed to be natural.  Such an interesting and sandy place!
• Crack in the Ground – A geologic oddity of sorts outside of Christmas Valley where a basalt flow cracked and formed a deep fissure that runs for miles.
• Lunch in the Juniper Forest – We pulled off in the juniper forest to have some beer boiled hot dogs.
• Fort Rock Drive-by – On our way out of Christmas Valley, Zach took some excellent shots of Fort Rock.
• Hole in the Ground and the Adventure to Find the Hole – While trying to find Hole in the Ground, we took a few wrong turns and and ended up in the middle of the forest.  It took us a while but we finally found the hole and it was in fact in the ground.
• Big Obsidian Flow – An amazingly large obsidian flow in Neweberry Crater attracted our attention on the way to Bend.

Day 4: Up and Over Mount Hood and the End of the Southeast Oregon Desert Voyages of 2013

•  Timberline Lodge – After leaving our overnight location at Madras and driving through the Warmsprings Reservation, we proceeded to Timberline Lodge to look at the gorgeous craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• McMenamins Edgefield for Lunch – The expedition rested at a fine establishment before Vera and Zach departed back to the south lands of California.