June 12-16 Floating he Grande Ronde from Minam to Heller Bar.

I still can't find my waterproof camera, so most pictures are either around camp or on quiet stretches of the river.

Please be patient while the pictures load...

Down to day 2

Pretrip: I drove down the day before we launched. We met at Heller bar, loaded all the gear for 3 boats on my rig and left 2 vehicles at the takeout.

My tire developed a leak on the way down. Fortunately, I got to a Les Schwab just before closing. The gentleman stayed late to fix the tire and get me back on the road. Cudos!

We stayed at a campground near Minam. Truck and trailer were pretty full!

Day 1 we float 28 miles to the first camp.

This is the launch site on the Wallowa river at Minam.

Rigging and loading the boats.

We were just one of several groups launching today. It's a busy launch!

Ready to launch! From Minam, it's 10 miles down the Wallowa river to the Grande Ronde. I had a passenger for this stretch.

Our preferred site at RM 67 was taken, so we floated another 4 miles to RM 63.

The unloaded boats are beached at the first camp.

First camp is set up. Time to relax!

Down to day 4

Day 2 was a short float to the next camp.

Burned and fire scarred trees can still be seen from when fires raged through the area.

This tree had fallen over into an adjacent tree and was waiting to fall on campers; Casey rigged a 27:1 rope system to pull it over and render it safe.

Down to day 5

Day 3: I didn't get pictures on day 3; my passenger was dropped off at the Mud Creek access at RM 52 before continuing to the next camp.

Once again, the camps were taken by other groups; we continued on to finally camp at McNeil island at RM 33.

Day 4

This is the shower Steve set up at the camp on McNeil island. Yes, we stayed the night at McNeil island. :)

Steve loading his boat the following morning.

Casey loading his boat.

The view from camp across part of the island.

Loaded up again and ready to continue the adventure.

Camp 4 at about RM 11.

This part of the river doesn't have a lot of shade; we set up in the shade of a lone pine tree, then napped away the hot afternoon

Looking up at the tree from where I'm lying in my cot.

Looking at camp from my cot. It's a lazy afternoon.

Day 5, the last day.

Loaded and ready to launch. It's early, but already hot.

Most of this stretch is a lazy float. Casey is floating along with oars up.

Steve waving as he floats near.

This pole was put up for Osprey to nest on so they will stay off the power poles

A closer view of the Osprey nest, with 2 adults drying their feathers after fishing.

Derigging at Heller Bar on the Snake river, 92 miles from where we launched on the Wallowa.