On Thursday, July 12, I camped at the Anthony Lakes Campground in the Elkhorn Mountains of Northeast Oregon. I found a good campsite near a short trail leading to the Elkhorn Crest Trailhead. I planned to climb five Northern Elkhorn Range Peaks over the next two days. My plans were cut short by stormy weather.

On the next morning, Friday, July 13, I hiked south on the Elkhorn Crest Trail (ECT) towards Angell Pass. On the way I nearly walked into a sleek, white mountain goat who was descending the trail. He quickly turned and went out of view as I retrieved my camera. I continued over Angell Pass below the west face of Angel Peak and on to Dutch Flat Saddle. From the saddle I climbed the north ridge of Peak 8525 (aka “Dutch Flat Saddle South”) to its rocky summit.

My plan was to descend the SE ridge from this summit to reach the west ridge of my second objective, Peak 8428. But the ridge descent appeared to be steep rock blocks and cliffs. Instead, I traversed down open slopes south and met the ECT 0.4 mile north of Nip and Tuck Pass.

Before reaching Nip and Tuck Pass I left the trail and climbed over the ridge north of Point 8024. I descended the east side, then traversed below cliffs to reach the west ridge of Peak 8428. After several attempts to follow the ridge I instead traversed upwards across open slopes to the south of the ridge to reach the summit.

It was becoming a sunny, hot, and humid day and the views were hazy. But I enjoyed viewing and identifying the surrounding peaks, many of which I hoped to someday climb.

I returned to the Elkhorn Crest Trail traversing below the west ridge, then climbing over the dividing ridge as before. This avoided the talus slopes near Nip and Tuck Pass.

I returned to my camp and discovered the campground was full of weekend campers and families. That afternoon the weather changed to vigorous thunderstorms.

The thunderstorms resumed the next morning, Saturday. The Wallowa Mountains in the distance to the northeast appeared free of storms. So rather than linger in camp I left camp. I explored some east-side Elkhorn Range access points, then drove to the north side of the Wallowa Mountains. I explored more trailhead options and looked for a campsite for the evening.

However, a very impressive thunderstorm arrived over Wallowa Lake and the mountains above. I decided to return to La Grande for the evening. The next morning the weather appeared to promise more storms, so I cut the trip short and returned home. I planned to return soon to Northeast Oregon.