One-Mule Pileup on the Hells Canyon Interchange

Rafting people – hello to you. How you been . . . mm-hmmm . . . O, you’re kidding. She said that? No, no . . . that will never do. Listen, you’re just going to have to sit down and . . . exactly. Yeah. Let me know how it goes.

OK. On to new business. I’m down in Arizona. There’s a bright orb that hurts to look at, I’m not certain what strange manner of aberration this is, but it happens each day. I’ve spent the last I don’t know how many winters in Wallowa County and can’t recall anything like this spectacle in November. This sunlight sure beats Hells Canyon weather on a gloomy week.

Operation Minnie Winnie is going splendidly. In brief: I developed a taste for Metamucil, bought a motorhome and retired to the southwest for the winter. You can read more at our sister site: jonrombach.blogspot.com. Might pass through Mule Mountains AZ on the way to a Hells Canyon winery for some tasting.

Mules, Mud, and Bears in the Canyon

Here’s the Winding Waters Roll Call: Morgan Jenkins. Last we heard from his tracking device, he was in Virginia. Be prepared to look at birds next rafting season, cause Mo Jenkles is on a birding kick. Talked to him several times recently and it’s blah blah blah, sapsucker, blah, pilleated something-something.

Mike Baird and Sam Macke had themselves a time down in Hells Canyon wilderness, not rafting but horseback and muleteaming it. Fishing Hells Canyon and hunting chukar were part of the itinerary. Baird packed in a camp to pursue elk and Samuel went along as administrative assistant.

You’ll have to get the full tale from one of them, I don’t want to tread on their copyright, but the preview trailer goes like this –

“…There is a canyon, so deep, so remote…”

[cut to shot of Hells Canyon – or maybe Hells Canyon photos from last trip – eagle screaming in the background]

…that none dare enter…

[bass drums]

 …except Winding Waters River Expeditions, based in Joseph, Oregon, featuring world-class whitewater rafting adventure and superior gearboat service…

[shot of Morgan looking at birds]

 …and maybe some other rafting companies too, but, uh….

[shot of birds pooping on other companies’ rafts, Morgan rushing to help clean it off, because we’re good about stuff like that]

And then the preview runs out of time, so I’ll just fill in the rest here. What you really need to know is that a mule Sam was leading fell through a portion of the trail and things were sticky there, apparently, for a few instants.

Trail Mishaps and Curious Visitors

But they got the critter back on the trail and got out of there. There was foul weather, as every hunting expedition should have. And a bear got into the wall tent while they were away. It’s got all the elements, folks. A real rip-snorter of a Hells Canyon story, but it’s not my story to tell so I’ll leave it for the next time you’re in a boat with one of those guys.

Grizzly bear Idaho stories are not uncommon, and it might’ve been one of the ones you’d find marked on the Idaho grizzly bear map that wanders through Hells Canyon wilderness, Oregon. Some say grizzly in Idaho sightings are rare, but not up here.

There’s also chatter about Hells Canyon vs Grand Canyon, and while that’s a debate for the ages, I’ll just say we’ve got more mules per mile—and Hells Canyon pics to prove it.

A Desert Contrast

Frankly, I’m jealous. Except for the bad weather. And the trails falling away underneath them. But other than that, I would like to spend more time up on the rims. Get to know the canyon more from up high.  Maybe see Hells Canyon overlook, or stop by the Hells Canyon visitor center for the latest Hells Canyon facts.

Meantime, I’m digging on getting to know the desert around here. Took a nice ramble with my pooch today, so I’ll put up some photos. Might check if the weather here is as unpredictable as weather in Hells Canyon Idaho.

Be good.

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