ONDA Annual Meeting 2011

Hiking the edge of Spring Basin Wilderness

 The Oregon Natural Desert Association's annual members meeting and work party is a highlight of my year.  The 2011 version was no exception, even though La Nina brought us some rain showers in the John Day Basin.  We spent a night in Bend on the way out which made it easy to get to the Hancock Field Station early on Friday.  Great to see friends, pull fence, drink beer, eat good food, and hang out in the John Day basin.  We added a night at the tail end of the weekend, camping along the North Fork John Day river near Kimberly.  A perfect sunny Monday spent roaming the back roads of eastern Oregon capped off a perfect weekend.

Above OMSI's Hancock Field Station

Looking out toward the John Day Canyon

North Fork John Day River

North Fork John Day River

Blue Basin, John Day Fossil Beds NM

Catching up: Badlands hike

Looking toward the Ochoco Mtns from Badlands

It has been a while since I posted anything here.  We have been heading over to Bend most weekends since mid March.  The skiing has been good and William has been in lessons.  Still, we manage to do other things.  On one Sunday morning William and I went out to the Badlands Wilderness for a quick loop hike from the Flatiron Rock trail head.  It is 20 minutes from our doorstep - closer than my commute to work.  Much more interesting too.



While it is snowing and blowing at Bachelor, the Badlands are sunny and serene.