2011 Trip across the US
2012 Trip across the US
2014 Trip across the US
2015 Trip to Alaska
2015-16 Southwest Trip
2016 New England Trip
2016 - 17 Southwest Trip
Monday, September 11, 2017 - Page Springs BLM Campground, Frenchglen, OR, Day 2 & Steens Mountain, 0 Miles, 678.9 Towing Miles For the Trip
It got cold last night! Down to 47°F. I'm not sure if it was the slight change in altitude from the narrows, or just weather, but I looked at my weather app & it looks like cold nights for most of the week.
After breakfast I decided to drive to the top of Steens Mountain. It is a good quality gravel road (although some serious washboarding) that has a 35MPH speed limit. My truck suspension was happy at 40MPH, so that is what I did when possible. Lots of dust, but 40MPH didn't make any more than those crawling along at 20MPH. I wish I could get out & suggest that they find the sweet spot for their suspension rather than shaking their teeth driving slow, but I couldn't.
I was hoping for some color at Jackman Park where there is a grove of Aspen, but it looks to be a bit early. Some color, but not much.
I took lots of photos, including the AT&T tower at the top of the mountain. I Facetimed my friend Anne from the top & for some reason, got a good signal! There were many propane tanks that are used by the cell & radio towers for power (although I didn't hear a generator running). I really wonder how they refill the tanks. They are up a very steep, rough road that is gated. I've never seen a 4 wheel drive propane delivery truck, but that is what it would take. I met a forest service truck on the way down, stopped and asked if they knew how the tanks got filled, but they didn't.
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| Steens Loop Tour | Jackman Park | Jackman Park | Along the Way |
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| Kiger Gorge | Kiger Gorge | Kiger Gorge | Looking Up - Hike to the Top |
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| Wild Horse Lake | Wild Horse Lake | Lots of Towers at the Top | Propane Tanks |
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| AT&T Tower | At the Top | Looking Down | Big Indian Canyon |
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| Forest Service Truck | Little Blitzen Gorge | Fish Lake | Fish Lake |
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| Campground Deer | Campground Deer |
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| Kiger Gorge (Large 3.2 MB Version) |
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| View From the Top (Large 1.8 MB Version) |
After getting back to the campground, I made a sausage & rice dinner, and watched the deer wander around the trailer.
Until next time -
This page is maintained by: vermilye@oswego.edu
Last Update:
September 12, 2017
