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Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa–Whitman National Forest

August 4, 2018 - August 12, 2018

Trip Navigation

Join our 2018 adventure in the Eagle Cap Wilderness near the headwaters of the East Eagle Creek and beneath the shoulders of Eagle Cap peak itself. We’ll kick our trip off with a brief project overview at the Halfway, OR Ranger District office, followed by dinner out on the town. There are several lodging options in town, or you can pitch a tent at the Forest Service compound. Our base camp will be located at the junction of the East Eagle and Hidden Lake trails; work sites will range from the East Eagle drainage to Hidden & Moon Lakes. Our goal for the week will be to improve trail conditions for the 1.8 miles between camp and Hidden Lake. Specific projects will vary throughout the week and will include building and maintaining erosion control structures, trail clearing (with crosscut saws!) and brushing, as well as restoring vegetation in sections of braided trails. Expect to use a variety of primitive tools, ranging from bow saws & crosscuts for log-out to shovels and pulaskis for tread maintenance and restoration. For crew members driving to our location, a departure late in the afternoon of 8/11/18 is possible, though you’ll miss the post-trip get together in town.

Meet the Crew Leader for this trip.

Host

Forest Service

Accommodations

Primitive Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Backpacking 6 miles to basecamp (Day Hiking up to 1 mile per day)

Project Rating

Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

16

Maximum Group Size

10

Area and Attractions

Located just north of historic Baker, Oregon, the Eagle Cap Wilderness is the state's largest wilderness and one of the crown jewels of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Encircling the Wallowa Mountains, the area rises from valley elevations of 3000' to almost 10,000' at the highest points, calling to adventurers seeking classic alpine majesty. East Eagle Creek flows south from the very heart of the Eagle Cap through a rugged granite valley. Carved by glaciers over thousands of years, this area draws wanderers beyond wild huckleberry fields at the lower elevations to the summit of Eagle Cap at the headwaters. We'll view scenic waterfalls eroding some of the most complex geology in the Western U.S. & have opportunities to view deer and elk on our hike into base camp. If we're lucky, we may hear the howl of a wolf during our week long stay!

Accommodations Description

We'll kick our trip off with a brief project overview at the Halfway, OR Ranger District office, followed by dinner out on the town. There are several lodging options in town, or you can pitch a tent at the Forest Service compound. Our base camp for the week will be located at the junction of the East Eagle and Hidden Lake trails, 6 miles from the nearest trailhead. Located along East Eagle Creek, we'll have spectacular views of the upper valley from camp. We will use pack horses & mules to bring the group cook gear and project tools to camp. Showers available at end of the week. Volunteers should bring their own tent, sleeping pad and bag, cup/bowl/eating utensils, and personal items.

Travel

Airport Pickup provided from Boise Airport (BOI)/Boise, ID

Location

Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa–Whitman National Forest
88401 OR 82, Enterprise, OR 97828 United States
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