To Hell and Back
April 2009
April 2009
This was a 4-day solo ride that I started on a Thursday without any particular destination in mind. After meandering around for a few days, changing direction as the mood hit me, I found myself in the Hells Canyon area of northeast Oregon.
Having destroyed the original cast wheels of the BMW in Death Valley earlier in March, this was the first ride after mounting some super-trick spoke wheels from Woody's Wheel works, including a 21" front and some new TKC80 tires.
I left my house in Camas, WA, heading north on Washougal River Road, planning to take some dirt roads early and I had to navigate around some snowed-in roads. I ended up on Hwy 14 heading east, and just before the Hood River Bridge I took Hwy 141 north and saw some beautiful glimpses or Mt. Adams. I eventually ended up on the Glenwood-Goldenbridge Road, and gassed up in Goldendale.
While looking at my maps trying to decide where to go, I noticed a marker on my map for the Old Oregon Trail Monument on the south side of the Columbia River and decided to head there. I took Hwy 97 south, crossed the Columbia River, and headed for Klondike. Not much there now except for windmills. I found the Old Oregon Trail Monument that marks the Oregon Trail crossing of the John Day River. Unfortunately, you can no longer cross the river there, and after some backtracking and moseying around I ended up at the River Bend Motel in Spray, OR for the night.
Having destroyed the original cast wheels of the BMW in Death Valley earlier in March, this was the first ride after mounting some super-trick spoke wheels from Woody's Wheel works, including a 21" front and some new TKC80 tires.
I left my house in Camas, WA, heading north on Washougal River Road, planning to take some dirt roads early and I had to navigate around some snowed-in roads. I ended up on Hwy 14 heading east, and just before the Hood River Bridge I took Hwy 141 north and saw some beautiful glimpses or Mt. Adams. I eventually ended up on the Glenwood-Goldenbridge Road, and gassed up in Goldendale.
While looking at my maps trying to decide where to go, I noticed a marker on my map for the Old Oregon Trail Monument on the south side of the Columbia River and decided to head there. I took Hwy 97 south, crossed the Columbia River, and headed for Klondike. Not much there now except for windmills. I found the Old Oregon Trail Monument that marks the Oregon Trail crossing of the John Day River. Unfortunately, you can no longer cross the river there, and after some backtracking and moseying around I ended up at the River Bend Motel in Spray, OR for the night.
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I woke up Friday morning and decided to continue east on Hwy 19. It was a bit of a hazy morning, but this area of Oregon is still very beautiful. At Kimberly, I veered on to Hwy 402, and passed a farm where the trees were just starting to bloom. I passed through Monument, then turned north on Hwy 395 and stopped at a cafe for a pretty good breakfast of biscuits and gravy. There were a few hunters in camo talking turkey in the cafe.
While looking at my maps over breakfast, I decided to take Forest Road 55 into the Umatilla National Forest, following the John Day River for a ways. Eventually, I ran into some snow blocking the roads again and had to do some backtracking the Hwy 395. Not really a problem as I didn't have any particular place to be and the riding was fantastic nonetheless. I veered east on Hwy 244 to La Grande, and passed through Elgin, Wallowa, and Enterprise before ending up a the Indian Lodge Motel in Joseph.
While looking at my maps over breakfast, I decided to take Forest Road 55 into the Umatilla National Forest, following the John Day River for a ways. Eventually, I ran into some snow blocking the roads again and had to do some backtracking the Hwy 395. Not really a problem as I didn't have any particular place to be and the riding was fantastic nonetheless. I veered east on Hwy 244 to La Grande, and passed through Elgin, Wallowa, and Enterprise before ending up a the Indian Lodge Motel in Joseph.
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Friday night, I reviewed my maps and decided I would ride to the Hells Canyon area on Saturday. Hells Canyon is an incredibly pretty area. At its deepest point, the canyon itself is the deepest river gorge in North America (almost 8000' deep). The canyon is carved by the Snake River, and borders Oregon and Idaho. I was definitely looking forward to the ride.
I left Joseph on Hwy 350 headed towards Imnaha. The morning skies were a beautiful blue. Once in Imnaha, I decided to take Ha Point Road, which is supposed to take you to a great overlook of Hells Canyon, but once again was turned back by snow at the higher elevations; so it was back to Imnaha.
I originally thought I could get gas in Imnaha, but there are no stations. I stopped in the little general store, and one of the locals offered to sell me some gas, which was a relief. My plan now was to go north from Imnaha and take the Dug Bar road which leads through the mountains and all the way down to the Snake River. I asked the locals about the condition of the Dug Bar road since I've never ridden it before. As it turns out, just two weeks earlier a truck on a church group outing had gone over the edge rolling 350' down a cliff, killing a youth pastor and leaving a teenager in a coma. Luckily several others in the truck had been able to jump out near the top. So the locals were playing up how rough it was, but the one that sold me some gas said it shouldn't be a problem on the GS.
The Dug bar road indeed has some sections that are fairly narrow (although wide enough for a car to make it), and much of it winds around the edges of some very steep and deep cliff edges. Most of the road is in pretty decent shape. Towards the end, it has some rocky sections; but it's definitely passable on the GS and was really an incredibly fun ride.
Dug bar is a one-way road, so after relaxing at the end near the Snake River, I backtracked to Imnaha. From there I headed north, and stopped at a La Qunita Inn in Kennewick, WA for the night.
I left Joseph on Hwy 350 headed towards Imnaha. The morning skies were a beautiful blue. Once in Imnaha, I decided to take Ha Point Road, which is supposed to take you to a great overlook of Hells Canyon, but once again was turned back by snow at the higher elevations; so it was back to Imnaha.
I originally thought I could get gas in Imnaha, but there are no stations. I stopped in the little general store, and one of the locals offered to sell me some gas, which was a relief. My plan now was to go north from Imnaha and take the Dug Bar road which leads through the mountains and all the way down to the Snake River. I asked the locals about the condition of the Dug Bar road since I've never ridden it before. As it turns out, just two weeks earlier a truck on a church group outing had gone over the edge rolling 350' down a cliff, killing a youth pastor and leaving a teenager in a coma. Luckily several others in the truck had been able to jump out near the top. So the locals were playing up how rough it was, but the one that sold me some gas said it shouldn't be a problem on the GS.
The Dug bar road indeed has some sections that are fairly narrow (although wide enough for a car to make it), and much of it winds around the edges of some very steep and deep cliff edges. Most of the road is in pretty decent shape. Towards the end, it has some rocky sections; but it's definitely passable on the GS and was really an incredibly fun ride.
Dug bar is a one-way road, so after relaxing at the end near the Snake River, I backtracked to Imnaha. From there I headed north, and stopped at a La Qunita Inn in Kennewick, WA for the night.
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It was Sunday, and I needed to get back to Camas. I was leaving Tuesday for a work assignment in Calgary. From Kennewick, I headed west on Badger Road, and then took Badger Canyon Road south. Then on to Sellards Road through some farming communities, and Glade Road towards Bickleton and on to Goldendale. I finally reached Hwy 1 along the Columbia River and headed west to Camas and home.
I had left Thursday not knowing where I would end up, and Friday night I wisely decided to head to Hell's Canyon and enjoyed a great ride down to the Snake River. So I made it to Hell and back!
I had left Thursday not knowing where I would end up, and Friday night I wisely decided to head to Hell's Canyon and enjoyed a great ride down to the Snake River. So I made it to Hell and back!
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