My Oregon Desert Trail adventure continues, this time outside of McDermitt, NV, exploring the Oregon Canyon Wilderness Study Area. I parked along the Oregon Canyon Rd off Hwy 95, just north of McDermitt, hiked across the open desert to the edge of the Oregon Canyon Mountains, then climbed up and over a saddle into Oregon Canyon. It was a hot, sunny, and tiring day.
I pitched camp under some scrubby trees on a grassy lawn near the stream. The next morning, I packed up, crossed the stream, and started up the canyon. It was gorgeous! It was also very difficult – the thorny scrubby trees were quite difficult, and after a couple of miles, I decided to turn back. I ddn’t make it even a quarter of the way up the canyon.
So of course, I got back to the stream crossing quite early. I decided to camp another night, finding a relatively flat space outside of the tree cover above the west bank of the stream. I settled in for an afternoon nap, noting the sky was not looking friendly.
By the time evening hit, the weather had turned, and I tried to set up my tent. Without soil, and without trees, I had no way to set up my poles or tie the tent up. I settled for sleeping on the ground with my rain fly tucked under me and rolled up beside me to pull over if rain hit. And it did. Not much tho. It was more wind than anything.
Rising fairly early the next morning, I made no hurry to depart. I arrived back at the saddle mid-day, and after the grueling climb up, needed to rest for a while. I took shelter from the wind in a cave I had noticed in the large rock above the saddle. It provided shelter from sun and shade (of course, the sky is clearing now!), and a great view to boot!
I finally got to see some good wildflowers, but all in a very specific elevation along the old track.
Images taken May 4-6, 2022, in and near the Oregon Canyon Wilderness Study Area, along the Oregon Desert Trail.
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