Panjab Trail — Thursday, Jul. 12, 2001

Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains

I took this five-mile hike (one-way) in search of Indian Corrals, which I found--at least a sign on a tree in beautiful high country. This was part of Chief Joseph's summer trail through the Blue Mountains to the Wallowa Valley. Although I didn't identify any group of rocks as a former corral, I did see a herd of elk who moved ever so quietly onto the meadows when my back was turned. The leader bugled at me as I sat eating my lunch under a tree. When I had to walk slowly at a diagonal in their direction, to return down the trail, they turned and ran in a small cloud of dust. (Meanwhile I was wondering how fast I could climb a fir tree.) This is a manageable uphill climb in shade until the meadows, the reward, at the top. I didn't see a soul but some evidence of horses who had gone before. I suspect this is more popular in the fall.