It's almost ready....

Thanks Gary, sounds like my kind of place.

There is a bar/slots/food...and that is all. There used to be gas but not anymore. I really have no idea why the folks that live there...live there.

The thing that attracted me was the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge, another 40 miles or so west. There is a primate campground at the Virgin River Mining area...it's the wee wooden hut on the left side. There is a warm pool there too, which is neat.

The other thing is the paved road east/west...pretty slick way to get from one to the other..

Other than that..th drive from Burns down..or up TO Burns..The Great Basin...lots of open range. At Field, 24? miles north of Denio is gas and food. People are nice..shakes are great on a hot day. Up ahead are the Steen Mountains and a BLM campsite. It's a major migration path for birds and game.


Gary Haupt

Just out of curiosity, and because I've always wanted to go there, what is at Denio? Anything or just a blip in the road? We always go up thru McDermitt, and I've seen the signs, but not had the time.

pnichols wrote:
The one (big) problem with Bend, now, is the 85,000 people. 14,000 is about right. :(

totally agree
the town used to be such that you could walk downtown and every 10th person you knew their face and maybe their name .

pnichols wrote:
Ya gotta love that 6X6 drive in Gary's Class C ... worth it's weight in gold for going out in the middle of nowhere while it's still winter. :C

P.S. #1 I assume that Gary also has outstanding ERS coverage.

P.S. #2 Great area out there, Gary .... maybe we can get out there too and try for some of those opals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denio_Junction

I have very outstanding ERS coverage. 300ks towing and the driver has to be able to drive at 50kmh to get to me. Even a dirt road will allow that.

Plus..this was a slam dunk...only a short hop from the main dirt road to the pools. Didn't need to engage to get thru the mud holes, either.


Gary Haupt

The one (big) problem with Bend, now, is the 85,000 people. 14,000 is about right. :(

what makes Bend one of the fastest growing towns in the USA ?
Population now about 85,000 . It was 14, 000 in 1977 when we moved here .
Weather : 300 days of sunshine.
Low humidity . 3600 feet ASL .
In summer it gets to 85 mid July to mid Sep and cools down to 55 at night .
You do not sweat profusely .
It rains about 12 inches per year total .
There are zero hurricanes or tornadoes .
There is no mold or moss . Everything such as wet camp gear dry out very quickly .
It does not go below zero for longer than a week or so .
In winter the sun comes out before and after the snow and the radiant heat gain at 3600' ASL warms your body .
The snow that falls is the powder stuff mostly and not the wet kind you cannot move .
They do not use salt on the roads to rust out your car .
The Cascade Mountains are very close and the clouds get hung up on the mountains .
No water shortage because the mountain streams come east toward Bend .
The closest freeway is 140 miles away .
No houses or car lots have wrought iron gates / bars installed .
World class skiing at Mount Bachelor just 22 miles from town .
Multitudes of free " dispersed camping " within a 90 minute drive in every direction .
Bend is a mecca for retired pro athletes and olympians .
Quaint downtown .
About a dozen world class Brewerys , Deschutes Brewery , etc .
Some athletic event going on every other weekend all year long .
Bike racing , road racing , Pole Paddle Pedal , Heaven Can Wait , Ski racing , TrackTown USA is 2.5 hours away .
Got a fast car ? Eastbound the population is less than 2 per square mile .
US Hiways 2 lane across the desert with good visibility . Don't hit a cow .
Very active Porsche Club .
People in Bend are fit . They run , walk, ski , bike , hike , kayak , paddleboard .
Other than that there is no good reason why folks vacation / live in Bend .

pnichols wrote:


One of the best things in Bend way back when was Dairy Queen with it's fantastic Blizzards!

Way back when I was a little kid my parents would drive 'back home' to B.C. every 2 or 3 years for the Bay Area. Bend was our first over night stop and I just loved it.

Really looking forward to returning once I get on the road. Very beautiful and very fond memories.....

BTW, damm that bacon looks good!.....LOL

Ya gotta love that 6X6 drive in Gary's Class C ... worth it's weight in gold for going out in the middle of nowhere while it's still winter. :C

P.S. #1 I assume that Gary also has outstanding ERS coverage.

P.S. #2 Great area out there, Gary .... maybe we can get out there too and try for some of those opals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denio_Junction

That was then...now..or yesterday (Sunday) I was at these hot pools. Out in the middle of nowhere..and I do mean no-where, just out of Denio Junction.






No one around but me and dog. I told her to keep her eyes closed while I was soaking.


Gary Haupt