My Oregon’s Highest Peaks explorations has brought me back to the Wallowas of Northeast Oregon, where I last hiked and climbed 24 years ago. Linda was riding the Oregon Bicycle Ride, which passed to the north of the Wallowas, so I spent the week hiking and camping in the mountains and visited her camp in Joseph for a couple of nights.
My trip began by driving out of Union up Catherine Creek and camping at the Buck Creek Trailhead. The next morning I hiked over Burger and Sand Passes and reached the summit of Granite Butte. This was my first visit to the Southern Wallowas in 41 years and the view from Granite Butte of the Wallowas was very impressive with many deep and long valleys and sharp ridgelines decorated with rocky peaks.
China Cap from Granite Butte
I retraced my route to Burger Pass, admired the fields of lupine, then gained the west ridge of China Cap, my next destination. After traversing the south face and climbing a breach in summit cliffs I gained the summit and enjoyed another view of the Southern Wallowas and met a family from La Grande out for a hike. I finished the day by returning to my car and driving through Enterprise to the Hurricane Creek Campground for the evening.
