After a lapse of 24 years, I returned in August to hike peaks in the Wallowa Mountains and the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeast Oregon. Linda was riding the Oregon Bicycle Ride, which passed to the north of the Wallowa Mountains. While Linda rode the tour I spent the week hiking and camping in those mountains. I did visit her camp in Joseph for two nights.

China Cap and Granite Butte

On Saturday, August 3, I drove through Union into the forest along Catherine Creek Lane and other forest roads. I arrived at the Buck Creek Forest Camp and Trailhead and camped there for the night.

The next morning, Sunday August 4, I hiked over Burger and Sand Passes and reached the summit of Granite Butte. The view from Granite Butte was very impressive with deep and long valleys and sharp ridgelines decorated with rocky peaks.

I retraced my route to Burger Pass, admired the fields of lupine, then gained the west ridge of China Cap. After traversing the south face of China Cap I climbed a breach in the summit cliffs. I gained the summit and enjoyed another view of the Southern Wallowa Mountains.

I returned to my car, then drove through Enterprise to a campsite along Hurricane Creek for the evening.

Hurwal Divide Attempt

The next morning, Monday August 5, I hiked south along the Hurricane Creek Trail. My plan was to find the Thorpe Creek Trail, cross Hurricane Creek, and climb the Hurwal Divide.

The Thorpe Creek Trail junction was not marked. I did not recognize the junction on my way up. Eventually I turned around, and passed it once more. I left the trail and forded Hurricane Creek. Here I discovered I had to be off route. So I forded the creek back then walked up along the creek. I found and explored two more trails, the last one leading to downed trees across Hurricane Creek.

I crossed the creek on the pair of downed trees. Beyond, I climbed the steep trail along Thorpe Creek towards the Thorpe Creek Basin. After two hours of trail junction explorations and climbing about 1000 feet I decided to stop for lunch. After lunch I decided I did not have the time or energy to continue. Instead, I returned to the trailhead documenting the correct route with photos. With these and other notes I planned to return another time to attempt Hurwal Divide.

That evening I joined Linda at her bicycle camp in Joseph. The next day we explored along Wallowa Lake and visited Wallowa Lake State Park. I spent one more night with Linda in Joseph.

East Peak, Hidden Peak, Aneroid Mountain, and Dollar Ridge

The next day, Wednesday August 7, the bicycle tour left Joseph and headed north. I returned to Wallowa Lake and took the Wallowa Lake Tramway up Mount Howard. My plan was to traverse the ridge south from Mount Howard to summit East Peak, Hidden Peak, and Aneroid Mountain. From Aneroid Mountain I would descend into the Aneroid Lake Basin. From there I would climb Dollar Ridge, then descend past Aneroid Lake back to Wallowa Lake. This proved to be a productive day of peakbagging.

The traverse began by climbing the north ridge of East Peak on a hiker’s trail. This passed over a false summit, then on to the summit, itself. The terrain was open and the views, especially to the west, were scenic.

I enjoyed the views of the Aneroid Lake Basin below and the peaks around Ice Lake to the west. I had last visited Ice Lake in 1989. The East Peak summit rocks were swarming with flying ants. With a long hike ahead of me I did not linger.

From East Peak I descended north towards Hidden Peak and Aneroid Mountain. The hiking was easy in the open country and I made many stops to identify and photograph the surrounding peaks.

Mount Melissa was recognizable to the east and I planned to climb it the next day. Petes Point and Sentinel Peak to the south would be goals for another season. I pondered how I might combine them in a single trip.

I encountered more flying ants on the summits of Hidden Peak and Aneroid Mountain. It is curious how they seem to congregate on summit rocks and much less so elsewhere on the ridges.

From the Aneroid Mountain summit I descended south through some minor cliffs to reach a pass above Aneroid Lake Basin and just below Dollar Ridge. This pass was open terrain with Dollar Lake and a possible future campsite nearby. The ground was swarming with large crickets. They would have been an issue for anyone camping there.

The climb of Dollar Ridge went quickly. From the summit I got a good views of Petes Point and Aneroid Mountain. I descended to Aneroid Lake and down along the East Fork of the Wallowa River to Wallowa Lake. It was too late to search out a campsite and cook dinner, so I spent the night at a motel in Enterprise.

Mount Melissa

The next morning, Thursday August 8, I drove through Joseph to the east, then drove south on the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road (FSR 39). Linda and I have twice ridden this loop road from Joseph to Halfway on previous Oregon Bicycle Rides. I was eager to explore the Eastern Wallowa Mountains just west of this road. I turned west and drove to Tenderfoot Trailhead, passing private Nordic ski shelters on the way.

I hiked west on good trails into Big Sheep Basin, where the trail disappeared for a while, then climbed up onto Wing Ridge. I traversed east to tag the ridge high point and to avoid steep loose slopes. Then I continued north to summit “Mount Melissa”. Mount Melissa is the unofficial name of Point 9128 above McCully Basin. This name was recorded in the summit-register placed by a climbing group from Eastern Oregon University many years ago.

Mount Melissa provided good views of the Mount Howard to Aneroid Mountain ridge traverse I had traveled the day before. It also provided views towards Hell Canyon and the Seven Devils in Idaho to the east.

I returned to the Tenderfoot Trailhead and drove back to the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road. Driving south, refreshing my memory of the route, I looked for a campsite. I found a campsite at Lake Fork Campground and spent the evening and night there.

The next day, Friday August 9, I rendezvoused with Linda at the end of her bike tour and we returned home.

This trip reintroduced me to the Wallowa Mountains. The mountains impressed me with the wealth of opportunities for hiking and climbing it offers. There will be many seasons of exploring these mountains ahead of me.