Troyba
Site Supporter
I had planned to take a multiday trip this week, the first of what hopefully will be many that I’ll take on the NC, but the weather doesn’t look like it’s planning on cooperating. So instead of loading up the bike with all my camping gear I loaded a few things and headed out for a long day ride. I’ve wanted to take a ride up into the mountains for a while now and after a few days of 60 deg weather I figured the roads would be pretty decent. I planned out a route that would take me over to the Wallowa Valley. The Wallowa Valley is located in the northeast corner of the state of Oregon with the Wallowa Mountains rising up thousands of feet on the south side of the valley.
I rode over cabbage hill on I-84 to LaGrande then from there I headed north on state routes/highways around the west then north side of the mountains to the valley. The high peaks still have a deep snowpack, but the valleys are open and accessible.
My turn around point was a small town called Joseph which is located next to a beautiful Wallowa Lake. In the summer the place is quite busy with people heading into the wilderness for some backpacking or people out for a little car camping/vacationing.
I stopped by the lake for a break then headed over to the burial site for the Nez Perce Old Chief Joseph. Old Chief Joseph Gravesite - Nez Perce National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
After a quick fill up in Enterprise I started heading back. On my return trip I took Ore Route 204 instead of I84 which goes over a moderately high pass in the Blue Mountains. The road side snow depth at the pass was still around 4 feet.
I rode over two mountain passes in beautiful sunny warm weather averaging 60 mpg, got to love the NC700x!
For those interested in riding in the area here’s an amazing road: Oregon Route 3/Washington State Route 129. The road heads north from the town of Enterprise and ends in the small town of Asotin (80 miles) just outside of Lewiston/Clarkston. Just about in the center section of the road there’s a section called the Rattlesnake Grade which is full of sweepers and twisties.
I rode over cabbage hill on I-84 to LaGrande then from there I headed north on state routes/highways around the west then north side of the mountains to the valley. The high peaks still have a deep snowpack, but the valleys are open and accessible.
My turn around point was a small town called Joseph which is located next to a beautiful Wallowa Lake. In the summer the place is quite busy with people heading into the wilderness for some backpacking or people out for a little car camping/vacationing.
I stopped by the lake for a break then headed over to the burial site for the Nez Perce Old Chief Joseph. Old Chief Joseph Gravesite - Nez Perce National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
After a quick fill up in Enterprise I started heading back. On my return trip I took Ore Route 204 instead of I84 which goes over a moderately high pass in the Blue Mountains. The road side snow depth at the pass was still around 4 feet.
I rode over two mountain passes in beautiful sunny warm weather averaging 60 mpg, got to love the NC700x!
For those interested in riding in the area here’s an amazing road: Oregon Route 3/Washington State Route 129. The road heads north from the town of Enterprise and ends in the small town of Asotin (80 miles) just outside of Lewiston/Clarkston. Just about in the center section of the road there’s a section called the Rattlesnake Grade which is full of sweepers and twisties.