tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582 
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Post by tarol on Mar 13, 2016 10:06:12 GMT -8
I want to do a trip in the Eagle Cap Wilderness this summer. Best timing? Would love to see wildflowers, but not a big fan of mosquitoes. In the Sierra beginning of August was the best time to see the former when the latter were starting to fade - is it similar for the mountains up here? Best trails/campsites? I'm fond of trips where you can base camp in a lake basin for a couple of days while exploring side trails. Lastly, anyone want to come with?  |
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Post by llamero on Mar 13, 2016 11:53:51 GMT -8
I love that wilderness: it's large, diverse and of course drop dead beautiful. I've been going over there for years, sometimes twice a year and still haven't seen most of it. It's a long drive so I usually spend a week and sometimes two in the wilderness. After Labor Day is my favorite time for the popular lakes basin, and typically not before mid August to avoid bugs. You know how it is. If you want wildflowers you will have to put up with bugs, but I have never found the Eagle Cap mosquitoes as bad as the ones in the Cascades. I don't chase the wildflower bloom so I can't help you with the premier locations.
At some point you will want to visit Ice Lake. Again, it is best done fairly early or after Labor Day. The hike isn't long (6 miles?), but you do gain elevation so snow can be an issue, as well as people. Some excellent day hikes from there will get you to the top of Matterhorn and to the ridges separating the lakes basin. The hike to Six Mile Meadow is fairly easy. I don't think camping is allowed there, but you should have no problem finding a site nearby.
Lostine Road is the quickest route to the lakes and the heart of the wilderness. A great loop is to go in the East Lostine River (to most of the popular lakes)and come out the West Lostine. There is a section of standing dead trees on the West Lostine so be careful coming out of there during a storm.
My last few trips were in the southern area, somewhere past Union and Medical Springs. It isn't as popular and maybe opens up earlier in the year. The drive on dirt roads is longer and the last 5 miles are always miserably rough and slow. Still worth it to me.
Yeah, I'm going over there this year (I missed the last 2). It's a great trip for the llamas. I'd be open to planning a trip this summer.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Mar 13, 2016 20:16:32 GMT -8
I pretty much agree with llamero. I don't generally think of the Wallowas as a wildflower trip, though I've been in some lupine fields that smelled so strong they almost gave me a headache. I've never yet seen a bug there, but I've never been before mid-August. Mid-September is nice--you get some nice colors without the flowers. If you've never been, you pretty much need to do the main Lakes Basin thing, especially if basecamping at lakes is your thing. Side trip over to Glacier Lake; bag Eagle Cap; cross over Horton Pass and tinker around the edges of the southern Wallowas. Among the big lakes I don't recommend camping at Horseshoe--sites are way overused and very dusty/muddy. Mirror and Mocassin are probably the most popular. Some of the smaller ones put you in the area but usually have a smaller "N" (Crescent, Lee, Douglas). An excellent loop is the East/West Lostine thing llamero mentioned. See here for an example. Another is the East/West Wallowa River loop--up the East Fork to Aneroid Lake, over Polaris Pass to Frazier and Glacier Lakes, over Glacier Pass to Mirror, Moccasin, etc., then out the West Fork. A bit more walking and less lakelollygagging on this one. See here. The southern Wallowas are not quite as calendar-picturesque, but are dramatic in their own way. Very rugged and wild, more solitude. See here. The truth is it's hard to go wrong up there. You'll love it and you'll go back. |
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Post by drilldaddyo on Mar 14, 2016 11:44:03 GMT -8
I will add that some of the trailheads require a parking pass and some do not. Good advice about where to visit and when has already been given............. enjoy!
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tigger
Trail Wise!
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Post by tigger on Mar 21, 2016 5:38:51 GMT -8
I've only been out there once, but I've been itching to go back for quite some time. I'll be watching this thread to see if it works out with my schedule to go out with you. I loved the area when I did go.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Apr 19, 2016 7:10:01 GMT -8
Loops are nice, but if a couple of us go, then we could do a car shuttle. My husband may also be able to pick up/drop off. Lakes Basin sounds nice, but maybe during the week so the crowds aren't as bad? So I'm thinking August or September for this trip, 4-5 days? As of right now my schedule is wide open. Never packed with llamas, but I did a trip with goats once and that was fun.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Apr 19, 2016 19:22:48 GMT -8
If you can do an end-to-end, the Wallowa Lake to Two Pan is very nice and covers some of the most picturesque parts. Go up the East Fork Wallowa River to Aneroid Lake, maybe take a brief off-trail visit to Jewett Lake for fun, then over Tenderfoot and Polaris passes, up the West Fork Wallowa River to Glacier Lake, over Glacier Pass to Moccasin and Mirror and all the other lakes, over Ivan Carper Pass to Minam Lake, then out the West Fork Lostine River to Two Pan. A bit of work, but with 5 days you could almost relax here and there. I did it in 3 days of go, go, go. Beware that Polaris Pass bothers some people--a couple of switchbacks on high, "mobile" talus--but it has one of the premier pass views in the PNW.
Or, since you mentioned enjoying lollygagging at lakes, just do the Lostine-Lostine loop mentioned above so you have more time to goof off. Lots of options, hard to go wrong.
Weekday is always better, I guess.
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Post by llamero on Apr 26, 2016 20:17:04 GMT -8
Loops are nice, but if a couple of us go, then we could do a car shuttle. My husband may also be able to pick up/drop off. Lakes Basin sounds nice, but maybe during the week so the crowds aren't as bad? So I'm thinking August or September for this trip, 4-5 days? As of right now my schedule is wide open. Never packed with llamas, but I did a trip with goats once and that was fun. Shuttling transportation for llamas has proven to be stressful and difficult. I'm not convinced I want to go through that again, but I'm open to discussing the possibility. We are definitely weekday hikers and my schedule is wide open at this time also. I have a number of wilderness areas in mind for this year and I'll be deciding the specific wheres and whens as we move into summer. Obviously I enjoy llamas, but it isn't for everyone, we are generally slower than average and don't do long days with double digit miles. We can't just pick a place between the rocks to camp, and making/breaking camp takes takes longer than if you were backpacking. That's my excuse for taking a lot of layover days. I've never hiked with goats either, it does sound interesting. |
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
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Post by tarol on Apr 30, 2016 9:32:33 GMT -8
Good point, if llamas come we'll be sure to do a loop. It's all new to me so I don't have a preference one way or the other.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Jun 12, 2016 9:28:03 GMT -8
Going to start narrowing down dates soon - chime in if you'd like to come and what dates work for you |
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Post by llamero on Jun 13, 2016 5:04:04 GMT -8
The day after Labor Day for me at the earliest. That's almost like tomorrow for planning purposes, but for day to day activities it's a long way off in my world. We'll see how it comes together. How does that fit with your plans? August is reserved for Idaho and maybe Washington. I'm working out the kinks with my green llamas. They are prime and strong, but get goofy on the trail. We should have three long trips completed by Labor Day and I expect the girls to be in great shape and for the most part trail wise. How many people in your party so far?
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Jun 14, 2016 3:01:41 GMT -8
day after Labor Day would work for me - it will be just me so far |
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Jul 28, 2016 16:37:25 GMT -8
bump - would like to finalize plans |
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Post by llamero on Jul 29, 2016 6:01:37 GMT -8
bump - would like to finalize plans  I'll send you a PM later this morning. |
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Aug 3, 2016 12:10:57 GMT -8
You have mail!
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