Momentous Adventures-The Wallowa’s Mighty Minam Loop

Posted by on Sep 15, 2015 in Uncategorized | No Comments

This 112 mi. loop explores the west and central parts of this intriguing landscape. We started at Cougar Ridge  for our 12 day trip, dropped down to the Minam River and took it upstream to the Little Minam headwaters in a lovely meadowy bowl. We then dropped down to Lackey’s Hole and back down to the Minam which we took to Ivan Carper’s Pass and went down to the Lakes Basin in which we spent two days exploring the area and Glacier Pass. Back over the pass and down the Minam to Copper Creek to Swamp and Steamboat Lakes for a couple of days with a side trip to Long Lake. Next, we dropped down to North Minam Meadows and spent a quiet night off trail in Wilson Basin by John Henry Lake before traversing Washboard, Stanley and Cougar Ridges back to the car. Some things to keep in mind about this loop are the considerable lack of information about the mountains in general, poor signage/conditions on some of the less used trails like Cougar and Washboard Ridges and a general lack of people in any area but the Lakes Basin. On the plus side, the Wallowas offer the traveler with a true wilderness experience away from the crowds, lots of animal life and amazingly diverse geology.

Cougar Ridge

Cougar Ridge

The headwaters of the Little Midam River are alive with fall colors

The headwaters of the Little Minam River are alive with fall colors

Lovely rolling hills of the Upper Little Midam

Lovely rolling hills of the Upper Little Minam

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Eagle Cap from Ivan Carper Pass

The Matterhorn from the Pass

Matterhorn from the Pass

Cool ribbons of light in the Lakes Basin at dusk

Cool ribbons of light in the Lakes Basin at dusk

Eagle Cap reflected in Moccasin Lake

Eagle Cap reflected in Moccasin Lake

Glacier Pass

Glacier Pass

 

Glacier Peak

Glacier Peak

She is strutting her stuff!

She is strutting her stuff!

Copper Creek waterfall

Copper Creek waterfall

Swamp Lake from above

Swamp Lake from above

Swamp Lake's intriguing tiny pools and islands

Swamp Lake’s intriguing tiny pools and islands

Stemboat Lake

Stemboat Lake

Nice morning light in Steamboat Lake

Nice morning light in Steamboat Lake

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The Wallowa Mountains

The Wallowa Mountains

Fall Colors on the way to Wilson Basin

Fall Colors on the way to Wilson Basin

Miner's Basin along Washboard Ridge

Miner’s Basin along Washboard Ridge

Riding Washboard Ridge

Riding Washboard Ridge

Walk on the edge of Stanley Ridge

Walk on the edge of Stanley Ridge

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