John Day Country

Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Every few months I need to get out into the John Day country. A friend recently exclaimed that "landscape paints the soul" and, for me, the landscape of the John Day basin puts a fresh coat over the rough spots in my psyche and makes me feel new again for a while. I spent last weekend at a weekend members retreat/meeting for the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). This group advocates for wild lands in eastern Oregon and runs many volunteer conservation activities in the region. We pulled up obsolete cattle fence within the Pine Creek Conservation Area and generally had a good time swapping stories, enjoying the views, and hanging out by the camp fire at the Hancock Field Station. On the drive home Sunday I took a roundabout route home to revisit Twickenham, a spot on the John Day River that I hadn't seen in ten years or so. Beautiful day. Beautiful place. Looking forward to a return trip in a few months...

Side canyons near Twickenham

Lowell, the van, awaits while we explore the canyons

The recent rains reactivated hundreds of ephemeral channels and waterfalls