Day 25 – Joseph Canyon

September 9 – Trail of the blue mountainsNe oregon

Chief José

Joseph Canyon and Joseph Creek are named after the Joseph’s boss of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce tribe, who led the Wallowa band when they were forced to leave the Wallowa Valley in 1877. This next phase of the BMT would deeply take me in its territory.

David and I had a good breakfast in Suggestion bakery In Enterprise before returning to highway 3 to our starting point. We parked along the road and then crossed the wooded edge as far as there was an old 4 × 4 track that we could follow Joseph Creek. To our surprise, the 4 × 4 track had recently been razed and we had an easy decrease in Joseph Creek. The views of the cannon were impressive.

The recently dragged 4 × 4 tracked towards the cannon to walk easily, but who had dragged it and why? Photo: David Mildrexler.

The route crossed Joseph Creek twice before stopping to eat the snacks we buy in times of time. For some reason, I expected Joseph Creek to be more impeccable. There were recent signs of more cattle in addition to an abandoned and shattered trailer. However, it was still beautiful. It was not difficult to imagine Nez Perce’s winter.

Joseph Canyon. Photo: David Mildrexler.

Joseph Creek. Photo: David Mildrexler.

In Joseph Creek’s third crossing, we separate. David headed back to the 4 × 4 track to the west edge while heading to 2,500 feet out of the road to the east edge of the canyon. The moment of that climbing was not excellent because I was starting a section of 120 miles / 7 days without refueling, so my package was more full and heavy than at any other time on my walk.

I am heading to the east of Joseph Canyon after having celebrated 400 miles. Photo: David Mildrexler.

Up and up

The walk was hard, but not as difficult as I had been waiting. Below the stream I saw a weak red that made me start. Then I cut myself and on the edge of the knife of the shoulder crest that followed. Keeping myself right on each of the walls, I could reach the top with just a minimum struggle. I took my time and enjoyed the views every time I stopped to recover my breath.

On the road to the east edge.

I was warming myself while heading up and up. Fortunately, I had a lot of water from Joseph Creek to turn off my thirst, and with each sip I celebrated my increasingly light package. It was also easier to go to some sections because there was no vegetation to make their way. It was only grass for the most part.

The main crest, finally.

When I approached the main crest, I went to the right and joined the main crest in the first chair. From there, I followed the main crest while undulating, eventually gaining flat ground at the end of an old road. It was not a fast or easy ascent, but he felt gratifying.

Looking back towards Joseph Canyon from the main crest.

Roads and without water

The rest of the day would be on old and not so old forest roads. There were some ponds marked on the map, but they were more or less of the use of cattle that I decided that it was not so thirsty. The lack of good water influenced my decision to point to Coyote Campground. I was quite sure there was no water there, however, I hoped to get some of other campists.

The camp was of the small and simple type. After preparing myself, I went to my neighbor, who turned out to be called Nick, and he offered me a gallon of water before I could ask. There are definitely advantages of being here during the archery season!

Elevation tracker

Day 24: 4,295 ‘

Total: 70,417 ‘

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