Journey to the Top of the World

 It was a trip we've made several times over the years, but not recently...at least, not during the dry season.  This trip is the one across Mt. Emily, one of the three familiar named mountains above the Grande Ronde Valley.  Mt. Emily is the second tallest at 6109 feet in elevation.  So...we start at 2785 feet in town, drive north to south across the Mt. Emily range of the Blue Mountains and down the south side into La Grande, where the elevation is 2785 feet.  In between is Indian Rock, probably the most appealing location of the trip, at 5650 feet.  

The drive starts on state highway 204 with a turnoff near the summit; this is the first view of the Grande Ronde Valley from the mountains. That is Mt. Harris in the back center; it's on the east side of the valley. 

Once you get out of the forested north side of Emily, it's a matter of looking down, a lot!

Another view of Mt. Harris and part of the valley over the forested flanks of Mt. Emily. 

This is one of two amazing dead trees ; I've photographed them in winter when they are so impressive. 

Behind the trees is Indian Rock, a geological formation that I really don't understand!  It looks like lava to me!  

Across the valley and beyond are the beautiful Eagle Caps of the Wallowa Mountains. 

This is one of those times when the feeling is really that you are at the top of the world.  At the top of Mt. Emily, at least, although this point is about 450 feet lower than the top. 

This is part of the geological landscape at Indian Rock. 

This is where my stomach gets just a bit quivery!  

My husband puts some perspective in the overlook at Indian Rock. 

This time of year, the fireweed is blooming everywhere.  

I'm still surprised at how much Indian Paintbrush is still blooming.  I always thought it was an early summer flower. 

Those little purple "asters" are thick in the shade of these trees. 

The trip down to the valley floor is much steeper than the one going up!  This is called Fox Hill, and I really don't like it.  (There is another road farther west that opens onto I84 at a higher elevation.)

This is the section of Fox Hill that makes me nervous.   I-84 is at the base of that dry hill, and La Grande is to the east (left in the photo).  

P52 - Week #21 Hardy Road

One advantage of living in a rural area is the opportunity to travel multiple country roads that take one to all corners.  I have driven many of them multiple times; visiting during the different seasons provides the variety. One road is Hardy Road, so named because much of the land bordering the road is owned by members of the Hardy family. It's a dead-end road, so driving in also means turning around at the end and driving back the same direction.  No loop road here.  The yellow lupine was in full bloom, as was the arrowleaf balsamroot.  Probably the main attraction on this road, other than the late spring bloom, is a very old Ford pickup, maybe from the 1930's.  The last date on the license plate is 1947, and I know it has been sitting in that field for a very long time, subject to all the elements.   Another big attraction this county road provides is a beautiful view of the mountains at the far south end of neighboring Grande Ronde Valley, with Mt. Harris and Mt. Emily in between.

P52 - Week #21

The dry bank beside the road was loaded with lupine and balsamroot blossoms; I acquired my first (and I hope only) tick of the season by crawling around with my camera.

The ancient Ford pickup; 1934 sticks in my mind, but I would have to confirm that with the owner. (The pickup is a 1927 model.)

The view south, Mt. Harris on the left and Mt. Emily on the far right--"guardians" of the north end of the Grande Ronde Valley.

 Mt. Harris

Most probably the Elkhorn Mountains in the distance.  Indian Valley and the Grande Ronde Valley are hidden by hills.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #25

On each side of the Grande Ronde Valley in NE Oregon are named mountains:  Mt. Harris on the east and Mt. Emily on the west.  Mt. Harris is a bit more than 5000 feet  in elevation; Mt. Emily is more than 6000 feet tall.  The view from Mt. Emily is absolutely stunning, because it's possible to look down on the huge Grande Ronde Valley and across Mt. Harris to the Eagle Caps of the Wallowa Mountains to the east.

Joining with Kent Weakley's P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday