2/21/03
Jon, Matt, and I had been looking at this weekend from a distance since mid-December. The stars were aligned . . . we could all get away for a few days. The Wallowas were an obvious choice. We contacted both Wing Ridge Ski Tours and the outfit that runs tours out of McCulley Basin, but all of the backcountry shelters were booked up. Matt had proposed in the past that Joseph would probably still be a great base camp for day-tripping the terrain around Wing Ridge. Reservations were made, gear was packed, and we were on our way.
I met Jon and Matt in Biggs a little after 6AM on Friday. Since Matt was planning on a rendezvous with some folks on Sunday up there, we made the two-rig caravan all the way out to the upper right-hand corner of the state. The crossing of the pass over the Blue Mountains was a little less than encouraging with only a few inches of snow on the side of the road at the crest. We continued on to Joseph, slightly gripped about potential conditions ahead. On the way in, a pheasant took an ill-conceived stroll in front of an oncoming car with spectacular effect. Luckily, our intrepid fly fisherman will assure that bird a long and productive retirement in the form of dozens of custom-made flies.
After checking in at Joseph, we rolled on up to the trailhead at Salt Creek Summit. Things started looking much more encouraging as we approached the sno-park, and flurries had turned to moderate snowfall by the time we parked.
| Matt & Jon prepping for the weekend ahead at Salt Creek Summit |
|
We tracked up the initial thousand-foot rise to the Wing Ridge Shelters just as another group was arriving for the weekend. We exchanged hellos, commented on the improving conditions and left them to their weekend.
We continued to track up across a bit of a plateau and upward on the way to a great looking target area for the day.
| Strolling thru the woods with about 4 inches of fresh on the ground |
|
| Matt (and Jon behind) on the ridge dividing two big basins. Snowfall increasing in intensity |
|
The higher you get on the high alpine features of the Wallowas, the more depressingly obvious it becomes that you could never hit every line out there. So much work to do....
| Matt nearing the top of the day's travel |
|
| Jon trudging up the last bit to the top of the ridge |
|
After cresting on a small rock band on the ridge, we dropped down a bit, dug a few holes, and prepared to dig in.
| Matt contemplating the options near the top of the bowl |
|
The snow continued to fall fairly heavily and we were all starting to get kinda wet, so we agreed an exit was in order.
| Jon gettin the goods part way down the bowl |
|
The turns were exceptional. We targeted a couple of potential features for the next day, and proceeded down the basin for our intended exit route.
| "Tired, frightened, and far from home!" |
|
| Matt mashin' it |
|
Unfortunately, a bit of freelance powder-shot hunting found us quite a distance from our original skin-track, and one drainage to skiers left of our desired line.
| Matt lost in thought unaware of the bushwhack that will soon begin |
|
| Jon speeding his way down to the thick vegetables |
|
The result of getting entrained in the wrong drainage caused us to emerge on the road (after a fairly meaty vegetable-thrash) about 500 vertical feet and 2 miles below the trailhead with fading light.
|
EPIC!!
Matt negotiates a creek crossing in fine style. (I pretended I didn't see his fall just before this . . . ) |
|
|
DOHH!!
Jon getting chummy with the agua. |
|
|
"...if this wasn't such a good time, this would be a bad time . . ."
Note running water at lower left. |
|
Luckily, another party was driving out a
fter spending the week at the Big Sheep shelter, and agreed to help
us recover from our epic flail. We promised them a round at the
Terminal Gravity Brewpub in Enterprise that evening, but after nearly
seven hours on the road and a full afternoon of touring (and thrashing)
we went back for showers, grubbed up at the local brew-house in
Joseph, and collapsed in our rooms.