Owyhee River (OR) - May 8-12, 2017 - 68 Miles
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Trip Itinerary (BLM map for Lower Owyhee):
Day Camp Bank River Mile (RM)
Put-in Rome,OR Right 0.0
1 Little Hackberry Left 15.5
2 Pruitt's Castle Left 24.5
3 Jackson Hole Left 37.5
4 Nr Island Ranch WW Left 54.5
Takeout Leslie Gulch Right 68.0
Camping at the Rome putin. Lots of people here this year. Got down to 30F overnight. Tent fly condensation was actually frozen. Previous trip was in 2002
Morning rigging, before the rest of the crowds appear
On the water at 11:05am MDT. The Owyhee is in the small eastern part of Oregon that is not PDT
Looking downstream towards the US 95 bridge
Bird condos under the bridge
One of the few riffles on the first day
Slow moving flat water
Casey took an alternate path
Below Jordan Creek. Antelope Reservoir upstream sometimes adds minor inflows to the Rome gage
Horses grazing on the hill
Verification photo. Thanks Terri!
Whitewater with a view
More whitewater with a view
Hikeout camp was taken
Took Little Hackberry instead
Sandy tenting area
Day 2 - Looking upstream from camp 9:52am. Almost ready to launch
Weeping Wall RM 17.5. Several water containers were refilled here and thus began the argument as to whether or not it was safe to drink
Upstream of Weeping Wall
Mike and Chris, the 2 kayakers
Just admiring the view
Jim and Thomas
Isolated rock spires
View above Pruitt's Castle
Shared group camp at Pruitt's Castle
Across from Pruitt's Castle
Fuzzy moon rise
Day 3- Sun rises on Pruitt's Castle
Morning hike to Pruitt's Castle
Stitched 2 frame panorama at Pruitt's Castle
Terrain behind
More Pruitt's Castle
More rock spires
On the water at 10:19am passing Pruitt's Castle
Chalk Basin #1
Chalk Basin #2
Awed by the everchanging formations
Canyon tightens
Above Whistling Bird
Below Whistling Bird rapid
Bridge gap
Cliff Side camp below Montgomery
Looking back at Montgomery
Relax and float
Jackson Hole camp. Kitchen was setup under the trees so we didn't have to put up a shade tarp like we did at Pruitt's Castle
Day 4 - On the water at 10:15am
Spires at the top and V-shaped fill area
Relaxing ....
Passing Hole-In-The-Ground Ranch
The Owyhee's Devils Tower
Greeley Bar hot springs
Casey admires the rock formations
Definitely unique
Still in awe of the changes
Passing first Water Wheel RM 50
Another group already parked at Basque camp
Passing SUP boarder with another group
Camp rattlesnake
Camping across from defunct Island Ranch
Water Wheel. Looks like major channel changes moved it away from main flow
Downstream of camp
Upstream of camp
Pinnacle Rock behind camp. Several of the group hiked up there
Day 5 - After a few miles of rowing in the rain, we started the group trip in the slackwater to the takeout. Note wake under tubes. Going about 4.25mph
View from Casey's end. Verification photo
Lake Owyhee. Damn water spot from rain. 12:14pm
Casey pushes the tied togther rafts with his outboard
Still got that damn water spot
More spires
Approaching Leslie Gulch takeout 2:05pm
Group shot at Leslie Gulch from Thomas. Actually taken by gal on SUP board
05/08/2017 12:00 MDT 3,580 CFS 5.22'
05/12/2017 12:00 MDT 2,840 CFS 4.63'
Flow below Wild Horse Reservoir (near SNOTEL source)
05/08/2017 12:00 PDT 298 CFS 2.77'
05/12/2017 12:00 PDT 277 CFS 2.69'
20 miles below Wild Horse (still 100+ miles upstream from Rome)
05/08/2017 12:00 PDT 7.16' 863 CFS
05/12/2017 12:00 PDT 6.96' 788 CFS
Credits:
- U.O.N., Olympus Stylus 770SW Digital Photography by William F. Smith (7.1 MP, 3072x2304 HQ, 3X optical 38-114mm)