Three cheers for the WTA and their excellent trail work! My partner and I have just returned from our first BCRT (back country response team) trip. If you'd like to know more of what that means look on the volunteer page of the WTA's website.
The Blue Mountains are rugged and dry. Our group spent 4 days camped by Dunlap Spring taking daily forays into the surrounding wilderness. Our goal was to clear trees from the trails (we removed >100) and to have fun (there was plenty).
Camping centrally, as we did, gave us the opportunity to do out-and-back hikes each day doing our trail work. Crooked Creek went down, and down, and down. It's creek bed is narrow and full of lady fern and stream-side flowers. It has two easy creek crossings a few miles along and becomes brushy after several miles.
The Misery Mountain Trail extends eastward through gorgeous, high rolling terrain. At times it roams through high, dry forest, but just as often this trail is through immense open fields, a mile high, with wild flowers brilliantly on display. This trail is a favorite for hunters and equestrians and there are several large camps along the way. Although water is not readily evident, most camps have a spring nearby.
Another favorite hike in this area, which I wasn't able to make this time, is to take the Misery Mountain Trail southbound. From our camp this trail rolls along the ridge line for several miles to the still-manned fire lookout at Oregon Butte.
This remote corner of the state is worth visiting early in the season, while other hiking locations may still be under snow. The flowers are going gangbusters and crowds are virtually nonexistent. We saw ~12 people over 4 days.
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