{"id":4202,"date":"2022-05-08T03:09:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-08T03:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=4202"},"modified":"2022-05-14T16:49:27","modified_gmt":"2022-05-14T16:49:27","slug":"spring-basin-wilderness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2022\/05\/08\/spring-basin-wilderness\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Basin Wilderness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, April 23, 2022<\/p>\n<p>Today we did a hike up to Horse Mountain in the Spring Basin Wilderness.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>After a very cold night with temps in the low 30s, we awoke to a beautiful sunny morning at our John Day River campsite:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036224408_759220c229_c.jpg\" alt=\"John Day River\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52035117612_82a720904e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Campsite\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036428249_c6a2e5d6b4_c.jpg\" alt=\"John Day River\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The birds were singing their hearts out all around us as we made breakfast and got ready. Then we drove over to the trailhead for our hike. Deb spotted this skeleton near the parking area with it&#8217;s antlers cut off:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037932143_270be85fa3_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heading up the trail:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036839002_5d06a11cbb_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw some balsamroot in bloom:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52038398525_7a67764c96_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037933023_76f3a80be7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037932653_466aa0b9fe_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Winding our way up the canyon:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036838757_69087d183e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Deb spotted this rock wren:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037878166_02dedafe6c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We reached the top of the canyon and turned left on the old jeep track:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037934868_6fcdab2a3b_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then we started seeing our first hedgehog cactus in bloom. When Greg and I came here <a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2021\/05\/06\/horse-mountain-in-the-spring-basin-wilderness\/\">last year<\/a> (one week later than this year) we were too late for the blooms:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036938677_0f7b51b4e9_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52038031728_5372f09cef_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036937807_32296fb797_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Continuing along the old jeep track:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036937017_fa43056bf7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We got up to a spot where we could look down on the John Day River to the north:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52038030088_61845e1673_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>More cactus:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036936262_25c93cca9a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52038029313_d15b650188_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We dropped down in a basin to head cross-country. Lomatium in bloom:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52037977081_6db5dfb5ae_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And still more cactus!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52038493820_4bd03c3e88_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52036934142_4c8823d0ee_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking back at Deb on the cross-country portion:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040492593_c6e23a9160_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We rejoined the jeep track and headed toward Horse Mountain. We saw &#8211; you guessed it &#8211; more cactus!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040501283_e70f43ca12_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Last year we saw LOTS of phlox. This year it was far less profuse, but still in bloom:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040963280_9629c5e4c0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040449806_bc99032800_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We left the old road and headed cross-country towards Horse Mountain. Deb photographing wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040499988_693d1f246c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039408877_e39933c73a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040962075_411a17cc94_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We reached the summit! Looking northwest:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040999465_4617695435_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking north:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040718869_968f23ba96_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Southeast:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040466686_9362fe7545_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The distant bump to the southeast is Jennies Peak, the foreground peak just right of center is Sheep Mountain, and the peak at far right is Black Top.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039445432_4b90cbfd42_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>South to the snowy Ochocos:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039425997_9c58b4da6e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down on what was once known as Big Muddy Ranch, the famous former home of the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rajneeshpuram\">Rajneeshees<\/a> in the 1980s (now it&#8217;s a sprawling Young Life Camp known as Washington Family Ranch):<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040699869_4665fc90fb_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After hanging out on the summit for an hour we headed back down. We couldn&#8217;t help continuing to photograph the brilliant cactus blooms:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039452237_93037dd7a2_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52041005380_d0b2afb773_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040573743_2961e40b36_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Daggerpod:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039482652_700e5161dd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Descending from Horse Mountain:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52041032560_276f4a3882_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking back at Horse Mountain:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52039482177_685871a2c8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040521321_f73f601e81_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heading back along the jeep track:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040518896_6a81f7c9d4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52041033220_b5c8d3a6bd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Deb and Greg frequently whipped out their ID apps during this hike. Botanists at work!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52040521746_6788dcebe1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Spring Basin Wilderness\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These were Deb&#8217;s observations on this hike: chukar, mourning dove, sandhill crane, turkey vulture, common ravens, rock wrens, mountain bluebirds, white-crowned sparrows, possibly a savanna sparrow, lots of western meadowlarks!<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 6.5 miles, 1,600&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n<p>At camp that night we watched the osprey building a nest on the utility pole across the river. Last year when we were here a week later the nest was already built, so it was cool to see the beginnings!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52044942381_39a2c25b3c_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Osprey making a nest\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/52043899242_e1c7035e80_c.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Osprey making a nest\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, April 23, 2022 Today we did a hike up to Horse Mountain in the Spring Basin Wilderness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159,234],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oregon","category-spring-basin-wilderness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4202"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4233,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202\/revisions\/4233"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}