Adventure Camp will not be soon forgotten by the 34 hikers who journeyed into the stunning Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeastern Oregon this year, and it will no doubt prove the trip of a lifetime for some. Just the drive to basecamp in Joseph, Oregon, was a feast for the eyes of those who had never seen the dense evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Upon arriving at Wallowa Lake State Park on Sunday morning, everyone set up camp and prepared for orientation in the afternoon. Orientation included an overview description of the trail, wilderness safety, and other technical aspects of the hike. Orientation was also a good opportunity to explain the “why” of Adventure Camp, which includes practicing God’s way of life in an unfamiliar environment, getting away from screens and out into the creation, learning new skills, and overcoming worthwhile challenges. Camping by the beautiful blue lake, with granite mountain peaks soaring above, generated excitement and anticipation for the next day’s hike. We were not let down—though Sunday’s vista proved to be the only view we didn’t have to work for on the trip.
A Journey of a Lifetime
The next morning, we split up into three hiking groups and departed for the Hurricane Creek trailhead. This was a change from the original itinerary because unusually cool spring weather had left snow in some places on our planned route. The first day of hiking proved to be by far the most challenging. All groups, departing 30 minutes apart, hiked roughly ten miles and gained more than 3,000 feet of altitude. Melting snow created many waterfalls that cascaded down the mountains, as well as three streams that hikers had to wade across barefoot. We also seemed to have discovered where about half the mosquitoes in the state of Oregon reside. They were happy to greet us, though thankfully the mosquito cloud seemed to mostly dissipate once we had hiked above the snowline. Those in our courageous first group were absolute champions for being able to stay on the trail once we hit the snowline, as the mountain-goat instincts of one of our Montana staff members came in handy. The tracks the first group laid down helped guide the two trailing groups. While this day was the hardest, it was also perhaps one of the most scenic. All groups camped above the snowline at well over 7,000 feet, which gave us a spectacular view of the night sky.
The second day of hiking took us through the Lake Basins area of the wilderness, a series of alpine lakes nestled amidst the surrounding granite mountain peaks of greyish white and red, where the groups stopped to enjoy the scenery for a little while. This beautiful area is one reason why people from all over the Northwest come to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. This day was mostly—and thankfully—downhill as groups put in seven to nine miles to reach their respective camping spots near Six Mile Meadow. A few more stream crossings awaited us near the bottom of the valley as we descended. One major benefit of this wilderness area is that it offers dispersed camping—hikers can camp anywhere they want, though there are suggested camping spots. Once each group found a camping spot each evening, everyone worked together to set up camp, filter water, start a fire, cook dinner, and properly store food.
On the third hiking day, each group set out on day hikes offering recreation opportunities, such as being able to plunge into an ice-cold river. Some went up a switchback trail heading nearly straight up the mountain we were camped beneath. One group, making it to the top of Polaris Pass at 8,890 feet, saw the mountain valleys in both directions. Besides the breathtaking views this day provided, one highlight was being able to spot a herd of shaggy white mountain goats grazing not too far away.
On the last day of the hike, the groups departed early and headed down the West Fork of the Wallowa River Loop Trail. Hikers made it out by around lunchtime and were greeted with food prepared by the hardworking basecamp staff, who proved essential on the first and last day of camp by preparing meals and helping distribute and collect equipment.
After emerging from days of wilderness isolation, most headed into the small tourist town of Joseph for some sightseeing and shopping. The last night was spent at ABC Mountain Retreat, near the town of Weston. After turning in equipment, everyone enjoyed a spaghetti dinner and fellowship before hearing a wrap-up message. S’mores around a campfire were the perfect way to finish the day. Everyone enjoyed sleeping in comfy beds on the final night, before saying goodbyes and departing early in the morning. It was an unforgettable trip, especially for those who had never backpacked before.