Streamside Fieldwork, East Eagle Valley , South Wallowas . . . Here
I'm working alongside the East Fork of Eagle Creek at one of my lower summer
basecamps, just below 5000 feet or so. I pack out of the roadless Eagle Cap Wilderness
area, process texts and photos, then bike out about 50 k to either Richland or Halfway,
or a longer rider of 80 k to Baker City, all along the old gravel stagecoach gold
route. Access to the South Wallowas is much more demanding than the North
near Joseph or Enterprise. At the same time, there is much less traffic of
any kind, whether hiker, horseback riders, or motorized vehicles. I've never
once seen anyone else on a bike, and that despite the fact that the area is
ring-wormed with old logging and mining roads that make for excellent
mountain biking.
