6. Nez Perce Summer Camp
N. Wallowa Co.
Oregon Trail
Near Baker City
Rock Art
Buffalo Eddy, Snake R.
by Dave Jensen
Site of Chinese Massacre
Deep Creek, Hells Canyon
Nez Perce Summer Camp
Old Homestead
Zumwalt Prairie
40. “In Wildness is the preservation of the World”
Henry David Thoreau, 1851
41. • Mazamas
• William Sullivan
• The Ruby Pines
• Basel Cellars Winery, Walla Walla
• Boyer House B&B, Walla Walla
• Cameron Winery, Dundee
• Chandlers Inn, Joseph
• Nancy Chase, Portland
• Amy Gulzow, La Grande
• Hells Canyon Winery, Caldwell ID
• J. Christopher Wines, Newberg
• Dave Jewell, Portland
• Keen Footwear, Portland
• Minam River Lodge, Wallowas
• Patagonia
• O.A.R.S. Whitewater Rafting, CA
• Laura Skovlin, Enterprise
• Becky Strickler, Portland
• Va Piano Winery, Walla Walla
• Leon Werdinger, Joseph
• Jen & Wes Williams, La Grande
• Winding Waters Expeditions, Joseph
• Don Witten, Walla Walla
Editor's Notes
Wilderness Areas (883,828 acres/1,380 sq mi)1 Eagle Cap (350,461 ac.)2 Hells Canyon (130, 095 ac. OR; 83,811 ac. ID)3 North Fork John Day (121, 352 ac.)4 North Fork Umatilla (20,144 ac.)5 Wenaha-Tucannon (177,465 ac.)Designated Rivers-Wild, Scenic, or Recreational (368 miles)1. Eagle Creek. From its headwaters below Eagle Lake to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest boundary at Skull Creek. Wild — 4.5 miles; Scenic — 6.0 miles; Recreational — 18.4 miles; Total — 28.9 miles.2. Grande Ronde. From its confluence with the Wallowa River to the Oregon-Washington border. Wild — 26.4 miles; Recreational — 17.4 miles; Total — 43.8 miles.3. Imnaha. The main stem from the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Imnaha River to its mouth. The South Fork from its headwaters to the confluence with the main stem. Wild — 15.0 miles; Scenic — 4.0 miles; Recreational — 58.0 miles; Total — 77.0 miles.4. N. Fork John Day. From its headwaters in the North Fork of the John Day Wilderness Area to its confluence with Camas Creek. Wild — 27.8 miles; Scenic — 10.5 miles; Recreational — 15.8 miles; Total — 54.1 miles.5. Joseph Creek. From Joseph Creek Ranch, one mile downstream from Cougar Creek, to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest boundary. Wild — 8.6 miles; Total — 8.6 miles.6. Lostine. From its headwaters in the Eagle Cap Wilderness to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest boundary. Wild — 5.0 miles; Recreational — 11.0 miles; Total — 16.0 miles.7. Minam. From its headwaters at the south end of Minam Lake to the Eagle Cap Wilderness boundary, one-half mile downstream from Cougar Creek. Wild — 41.9 miles; Total — 41.9 miles.8. Snake. The segment from Hells Canyon Dam downstream to an eastward extension of the north boundary of section 1, T5N, R47E, Willamette meridian. Wild — 32.5 miles; Scenic — 34.4 miles; Total — 66.9 miles.9. Wallowa. The segment of the Wallowa River from the confluence of the Wallowa and Minam Rivers in the hamlet of Minam downstream to the confluence of the Wallowa and the Grande Ronde Rivers. Recreational — 10.0 miles; Total — 10.0 miles.10. Wenaha. From the confluence of the North and South Forks to its confluence with the Grande Ronde River. Wild — 18.7 miles; Scenic — 2.7 miles; Recreational — 0.2 miles; Total — 21.6 miles.
HCPC’s name implies a single landscape feature, a landscape unfamiliar and forbidding-sounding to many potential members. Some may conjure an image of Wallowa Lake or Eagle Cap. Almost no one understands the great diversity of landscape types in the region. In just 20 miles the land soars from the bottom of the deepest gorge on the continent to the alpine peaks of the Wallowas, then drops again to the rolling grassland of the Zumwalt Prairie, the largest remaining bunchgrass prairie in North America.
“Nez Perce Summer Camp” was taken at Indian Village Grove Interpretive Site (near the headwaters of Corral Creek, 5 mi south of Buckhorn Overlook). The Nez Perce peeled the bark from many trees in the grove. There’s a debate about how they used the bark—for food in times of scarcity or for handicrafts like baskets, etc. Stories of the Nez Perce resonate strongly with many. Here are some: The Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) were driven out in 1877 by Gen. Howard’s troops and fought a running retreat until they surrendered at Bear’s Paw, MT, just miles from their hoped-for escape into Canada. Visitors to the area can hike the “Nee Mee Poo” Trail from Dug Bar Road in Imnaha Canyon to Nee Mee Poo Crossing in Hells Canyon. There’s some evidence that the Nimipuu name for Joseph Canyon meant “Condor Canyon.” The area is one of 4 locations in Oregon that the Oregon Zoo has identified a potential release areas for California Condors (but not before Oregon bans lead bullets). Young Chief Joseph was born in a cave near the mouth of Joseph Canyon. I didn’t have and couldn’t find a good quality of photo of Oregon Trail ruts near Deadman’s Pass, so I had to use one from the Oregon Trail Interpretive Site.In 1887, a group of local white men murdered 30 or more Chinese who were panning for gold at the mouth of Deep Creek where it flows into Hells Canyon (just 2.5 river miles above the location where the Nimiipuu crossed 10 years earlier). Eventually 6 locals were tried for the murders and acquitted by a Wallowa County jury.
GlacierLk from Eagle Cap (?)Prickly Pear cactus, Dug Bar RoadNear Billy Meadows
Clockwise from upper left:Kokanee (land-locked sockeye salmon), Wallowa R., head of Wallowa Lake.Chalcedony CheckerspotPaintbrush (no longer “Indian” Paintbrush)Golden Eagle above East Moraine, Wallowa Lk.
Benches and breaks of Hells Canyon from the High Trail.
