Spring Basin Wilderness

Saturday, May 13, 2023

For the third year in a row we made a trek to the Spring Basin Wilderness. Unlike past years when we camped nearby, this time we were too short on time for that and we stayed in a hotel in Madras.

It was 54 degrees at the trailhead at 7:40am, but it felt hotter than that. We set off on the trail under the blazing sun:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Looking back:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Yellow-hair paintbrush:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Balsamroot:

Spring Basin Wilderness

After climbing up for a mile we turned north on an old jeep track that gets fainter with each passing year:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

But in some spots it’s very clear, for some reason:

Spring Basin Wilderness

There was a whole bunch of phlox blooming:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

And of course the hedgehog cactus:

Spring Basin Wilderness

The jeep track goes up and down over the hills and down into depressions:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

We continued to pass more phlox and more cactus:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

We got to the spot where we normally go cross-country and head up to the summit of Horse Mountain. My foot was bothering me so I decided not to go. Greg went up Horse Mountain while I walked to a nearby knoll:

Spring Basin Wilderness

View of Horse Mountain (on the right) from the knoll:

Spring Basin Wilderness

I returned to the spot where we parted ways and sat in the shade. It was actually quite pleasant sitting here listening to the birds reading my book:

Spring Basin Wilderness

90 minutes later Greg came back down and we headed back. The afternoon was quite toasty now, but the wind had picked up significantly so that helped a bit with the heat:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

We noticed these trees planted in a line. Must have been a fence line there at some point:

Spring Basin Wilderness

Spring Basin Wilderness

We got back to the car at 2:45. For post-hike stretching and drinks and snacks we drove to the place where we normally camp while visiting the area and sat by the John Day River, which is running very high. A very pleasant way to end the day!

Spring Basin Wilderness

Gaia stats: 6.9 miles, 1,300′ elevation gain