14-Oct-2005 -- This was probably NOT a sensible idea – no preparation at all and an unsuitable vehicle...

Passing through Oregon on vacation I had not intended to do any confluence visits – but I noticed that my route went within a few miles of 45N 117W and my (DeLorme) map showed a road, of sorts, all the way to the confluence.

I turned off the Snake River – Baker road onto the 39 – the scenic route to the Hells Canyon Overlook – passing a sign saying “snow not cleared from 15th October to .... travel at your own risk” (it was the 14th). Then at the junction with forest road 3990 a map showing that most roads were closed – but 3990 was open. This turned out to be 6 miles of twisty dirt road, complete with fallen boulders and the odd minor mud wallow – passable to normal road vehicles (Toyota Camry) as long as the weather has been dry for a week or so beforehand. Then two miles short of the confluence my way was blocked by a barrier – road closed to all vehicles. Not having the benefit of the first visitor's notes and no one knowing I was in Oregon, less still up a dead-end road in the middle of practically nowhere – should I give up or go on? Especially in the light of the scare stories (Bear, Mountain Lion, Trigger Happy Elk Hunter) I had had from a local deputy at my breakfast stop: “I won't go in the back country without a rifle” During a coffee refill trip, his wife leans over and whispers “he won't even go to bed without a gun under the pillow” and adds that as long as I make a lot of noise, like singing, – then I should be OK (I am from England and have no real idea of the practical risk from irate and surprised bear/elk/lion). So I put on my shorts and trainers and decide to run the 4 mile crow-flies round trip as fast as I can, singing as I go...

Well it turns out the confluence was straight along the forest road (lots of bear tracks!) and then 50 metres off on your left and that the deer seemed more bemused by my singing than frightened as there were some hovering 100m or so off from the confluence during my visit.

On the way back I had exhausted my repertoire of Hymns and English Folk Songs and was working my way through “Movie Themes” when I came round the corner and surprised a hunter having a surreal moment... blowing on his deer call and getting “The Dambusters March” back in reply...

A great visit – brilliant weather – 77 degrees according to the gauge in my car – and very tranquil (once I had shut up singing that is).

The pictures are: 1 – Confluence, View from..., 2 – North (ish), 3 East (ish), 4 South (ish), 5 West (ish), 6 GPS (sorry no macro on my camera), 7 Visitor, 8 Road Closure, 9 Barrier