Western Hiker -- Essentials

WH News & Notes
June Update Let Western Hiker be your guide this summer into Eagle Cap Wilderness in Oregon's incredible Wallowa Mountains. The 1800 square mile Wallowa Mountain range is located in the northeast corner of Oregon and boasts alpine peaks, steep-walled valleys, and five designated wild and scenic rivers. At the heart of the range lies the 540 square mile Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon's largest. From the Grande Rhonde Valley in the west to Hells Canyon country in the east, you'll have plenty of room to roam along hundreds of miles of trails without crossing your own path. You'll find classic alpine meadows, the highest natural lake in Oregon, four officially designated wild and scenic rivers, snowfields, glaciers, rock faces, warm sun, the bluest of blue sky, and no traffic, television, phones, email, or worry. For climbers, the range has seventeen summits over 9000 feet in elevation with the tallest named after the Sacajawea, the famed guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Sacajawea, Matterhorn, and many other 9000+ summits offer some of the best technical and nontechnical climbing in Oregon. -- Barry Greer

WH News & Notes

June Update

Let Western Hiker be your guide this summer into Eagle Cap Wilderness in Oregon's incredible Wallowa Mountains.

The 1800 square mile Wallowa Mountain range is located in the northeast corner of Oregon and boasts alpine peaks, steep-walled valleys, and five designated wild and scenic rivers. At the heart of the range lies the 540 square mile Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon's largest.

From the Grande Rhonde Valley in the west to Hells Canyon country in the east, you'll have plenty of room to roam along hundreds of miles of trails without crossing your own path.

You'll find classic alpine meadows, the highest natural lake in Oregon, four officially designated wild and scenic rivers, snowfields, glaciers, rock faces, warm sun, the bluest of blue sky, and no traffic, television, phones, email, or worry.

For climbers, the range has seventeen summits over 9000 feet in elevation with the tallest named after the Sacajawea, the famed guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Sacajawea, Matterhorn, and many other 9000+ summits offer some of the best technical and nontechnical climbing in Oregon.

-- Barry Greer

Wilderness Travel Essentials

Even if you hike with a friends, which is always advisable, it is a good idea to be self-reliant. Even if you carry no more than a small pack for a day-hike away from the main camp, always carry the gear listed below so you are self-reliant if, for whatever reason, you have to stay out on your own overnight.

map and compass
sun protection
extra clothing
flashlight/headlamp
First-aid kit
fire starter
universal tool
emergency food bars
two-three liters of water
survival blanket
plastic whistle
common sense

This list will vary depending on who you talk to and on your own experience, and the list may differ from person to person, place to place. For instance, mosquito dope is really essential in wilderness travel. We will contact you before you arrive to discuss current conditions and your specific gear needs.

You may also want to read one or two good how-to books on hiking before any extended wilderness trips. A classic remains Colin Fletcher's The Complete Walker IV (2002), sometimes called the backpacker's bible.

You can also use info@westernhiker.com to ask questions specific to travel in Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon.

Brendan Keavney has hiked many hundreds of miles in the mountains of Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Montana, and throughout the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Many of those miles have been solo.

“I spent five years in engineering school and another five in a relatively high-stress job, and when I wasn’t flying around the world to meetings I was decompressing alone in the wilderness.“

Now helping others enjoy and appreciate wilderness is Brendan's full time job at Western Hiker. Brendan Keavney is certified in wilderness first aid.

Allison Keavney and her brothers spent a great deal of time exploring the creeks, rivers, mountains, and forests surrounding Winlock, Washington where she grew up. It was only natural that she joined the local search and rescue team and spent time after high school exploring the world. She loves to hike and has backpacked in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree National Parks.

"I truly enjoy guiding. It is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and get out into the wilderness. There is nothing better than lying on your back on a grassy patch, snacking on blackberries, and watching the sun go down." Allison Keavney is certified in wilderness first aid.

Norman Young is the professional wilderness packer supporting Western Hiker with years of expertise. "I seem to spend more time in the wilderness than out," he says. In fact, Norm does spend most of his time in Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon from May to November, including at least one week-long trip across Eagle Cap. Though he knows a few old timers who won't use panniers and still prefer to top load the pack animal, Norm uses modern means to transport and protect your gear, including panniers, pack boxes, and manties. "Tying a diamond hitch on a top load is becoming less and less common as more and more packers are going to side loads only."

And Norm also knows the mountains as well as he knows packing. "I've ridden and packed nearly all the trails on the western side and southern end of the Eagle Caps and quite a bit on the eastern side and Hells Canyon as well."

Barry Greer has hiked, climbed, run, skied, and camped in Oregon's Cascades, the Wallowas, the Strawberries, the Steens, Gearhart, and Crater Lake National Park summer and winter for 25 years with an occasional sojourn to the Colorado Rockies.

He taught environmental lit in the Oregon State U. honors program and wrote the first history of North American solo mountaineering for Appalachia. His experience as a writer for Sierra, Climbing, Summit, Appalachia, Orion, and other publications led to his current career as developer of and webmaster for westernhiker.com, your first source for hiking information on Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon Wilderness in rugged northeastern Oregon.