The Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route, Day 2

Day 2; 212 miles (352)

We left our idyllic campsite on the Sycan river, heading north along the high Winter ridge, eventually dropping down into Chrismas valley for lunch. We ate a couple more monstrous burgers at the Trail Cafe, gassed up (107 mi) and crossed the desert valley.

There is some sand in this valley, but it's heavy sand, which gives you time to prepare for the light sand and minor sand ruts ahead. Tom had fun on the "light" bike. Zander had a workout on the heavy bike. Lots of intersections in this section, but it's very well-signed (ooops 7/23/01 update: signs removed, rely on GPS!!).

Sand finally gave way to rocks on the Wagontire road. Cecil Lake and Nordell lake were dry and beautiful in their own way. Amazingly there were no tiretracks on them, no donuts, no evidence of "mudding". Thankfully the intrepid travellers (who are dedicated enough to find the OBDR) know how to "Tread Lightly" on public land. Of course this is subject to interpretation, but making tire tracks on meadows and scarring vistas is rarely an acceptable way to use shared public lands. (....off soapbox for the moment)

These rocky roads were rocky! Luckily for Z (who was quite fatigued by the sand) the rocks were mostly fixed into the ground and not a bunch of roll-ey babyheads. Zander was not sorry when we popped out on a standard wide gravel boring old forest road. We blasted for Delintment lake to camp.

We jumped in the lake after dark, finding the lake water warmer than the outside air. It was great to rinse out the bellybutton lint after two days on the trail. Delintment lake is a large developed campground with pavement and pull-thrus etc, not really what we had expected so far out in the boonies. Delintment Lake is 132 mi from Christmas Valley.

For the backcontry traveler I recommend Buck Spring Campgound over the crowds, crackling crushed rock, and growling diesels at Delintment Lake. Buck springs is a tiny camp with tables and crappers and tall green grass (photo). N43 47.305' W119 42.561'.

Also, it's a long way to Seneca, so at the Hwy 20 crossing, go east 9 mi to Riley (at junction hwy 395) to gas up. This is an important fuel detail if your range is less than 200 miles. If you're tired, you can take the road north out of Riley to meet up again with the route. This other road starts paved, is mostly wide and smooth gravel for the RVs enroute to Delintment lake (in direct contrast to the main route, which is narrow, rocky and beautiful).

Tom makes use of the KTM centerstand. Notice the front wheel of the KTM is supporting the footpeg of the XR, propping the rear tire off the ground.

We installed a 3.00X21" tube and continued onward.