A Virtual Hike on Blue Basin Overlook Trail

This second trip to John Day was partly a reprise of my first trip and partly a trip over new territory.  I wanted Lucy to see the beautiful formations in the Sheep Rock unit. We both love to hike so we decided to hike the three mile, 600 feet elevation Blue Basin Overlook Trail. I had done a small part of it on my first trip so we started around it counter clockwise this time. This was a good idea as the trail rises much more gradually this way and you only have to roll down the last steep half mile at the end.

 The trail leads behind the mountains and was in the shade until after I came around this corner.  Looking back gave me this view. 

As I climbed higher, I could see painted hills to my left.

And this mix of soils.

As I got higher yet, I was almost level with this cap of rimrock

Finally we got to the top where I caught up with Lucy who is getting her first glimpse of the blue formations in Blue Basin. This was one mile into the hike and about a 600 foot elevation.

As the trail descended, we could see more and more of these spectacular formations.

And also a long view into the valley, across the John Day River and up into the next hills.

The trail begins a pretty steep descent here, gets level with the formations and then gradually gets almost to the bottom of them about the time you reach the open end of this little canyon.

This is a look back.  The trail winds behind the right side of this picture behind all the formations you can see. 

A closer view shows the awesome formations and colors.

And even closer one can see more than just that remarkable blue.

And there are a few more interesting things to see close up.

Soon we are almost back to the parking lot with this view. That's a corner of the picnic shelter in the left bottom corner.

We shared part of the interpretive trail, Story in Stone, on the way back. This trail runs along the valley floor and leads to places where large animal fossils have been partially excavated and then covered with glass cases so you can see them in situ.

We had also hiked the short and easy Flood of Fire Trail as well as stopped scores of times as we traveled from our BLM campsite along the John Day River ($2.50 for senior pass holders). From here, we were off to the Clarno Unit. We stopped at the fruit orchard, about a mile east of Kimberly, for apples, pears, and plums, all grown along the John Day River. Pictures from these parts of the trips will soon be up on Picassa. Descriptions of all the trails in John Day Fossil Beds are here.

Exploring the Painted Hills

One of the three sections of the John Day Fossil  Beds National Monument is the Painted Hills Unit.  It is west of the Sheep Rock Unit on Highway 26. I had heard that the place was really fantastic and best seen at sunset, so, after visiting the Sheep Rock Unit, I stopped for a quick look on the way to my campsite. I was blown away by the colors and patterns there, even in the harsh mid-afternoon light so I hurried to get my camp set up and eat an early supper before rushing back.

This is a relatively small area, only 3,132 acres but it is where most of the fossils of early horses, rhinoceroses and camels come from. There is only a small visitor center, which I didn't visit plus restrooms and water here.

But I was pretty speechless as I wandered from one awesome view to another.

Below is a view of part of the accessible Leaf Trail, named for the the thousands of leaf fossils found here in the 1920's and 1990's. Interpretative signs say that the red hills are bentonite clay, formed from volcanic ash from the Yellowstone Fault (which was located under this part of the world millions of years ago) and then weathering.  The colors change both with the amount of light on them and the amount of water they are holding. When dry, they look like this - up close like a bowl of popcorn - but when wet, they get shiny and change colors. 

Very few plants can grow in this heavy, dry clay. But apparently in April, some of the seams support a few wildflowers. This would be a great place to visit in April and early May.

As of today, July 13, we are very concerned about a wildfire which may, by now be on our land.  It started on July 8th, from a lightning strike, on rugged BLM land ,in the first hot spell we have had. Temperatures in the 90's, very low humidity and  and winds blowing out of different directions, as well as the remoteness of the area have made controlling it nearly impossible. During last night, the residents that live around Harney Lake were told to evacuate. Malheur Refuge owns the area under and just around Hanrey Lake and Double O Ranch is one of the places at risk. 

Yesterday, the electricity was cut off for several hours so the electric crews could burn and clear the areas under the power lines.  This affected  us and people all the way into north Nevada. If the fire burns down any part of the lines, we will be out of electricity until the lines can be rebuilt. The headquarters, where I live, is not at risk, except for lost of electricity.