July 6, 2013: Hells Canyon, ID to Elgin, OR

We were going to put the kayak into the Snake River near our campsite, but we were concerned about the current.  Right here we are between two dams, so it is certainly calmer waters than we saw yesterday, but we don't want to get into a situation where we can't get back to our put-in.

We had a nice breakfast and left the campground mid-morning, heading south to where we cross the Snake River into Oregon.  Then we took the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway through the Wallowa-Whitman national forest.

 

  It is as if we were suddenly transported hundreds of miles away.  From the arid rugged areas of the canyon and East, we found ourselves among tall pines and all types of evergreens, similar to coastal Oregon/Washington.  We stopped at a lookout over the Hells Canyon from the western ridge.  The profusion of white, blue, red and yellow wildflowers along the roadsides burst into acres of color at the overlook.

 

 

We continued up and down and back and forth on switchbacks through the Wallowa mountains, finally arriving in a little tourist town of Joseph (named after Chief Joseph).  This area is called the Little Switzerland of America because the village is ringed with 9,000 foot mountains, many still with snow.

We were almost out of fuel, so didn't stop to walk about the town, but pushed on to the next town with diesel to save more than $.30 a gallon.  Looks like we are finally going to see the infamous west coast fuel prices.  We had been paying around $3.70s until Idaho where they moved up to the $3.90s.  Now we are starting to see lots of station over $4.00.

We got a campsite in a Lions park in the little town of Elgin.  Nothing fancy, but full hookups, WiFi, TV and a spotlessly clean laundry.  Once again, the park can handle about 40 units, but there are only six of us here.

Got all our laundry done and enjoyed a cool dry evening sitting outside til dark.  Slept with no AC noise and windows open.