His hand to guide

"I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead;

His eye to watch, His mind to stay, His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward.

The Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.”

  attr. to St Patrick

Cannon Beach, Oregon coast

Thoughts this Memorial Day weekend

"The desire for certitude is an obstacle to launching full sail upon an ocean of trust.” Fr Richard Keating

This Memorial Day weekend I am reminded of what God spoke to Abraham so long, long ago: “Leave your father’s house, your friends, relatives and property, and come into the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 I am  blessed to have such deep, loving memories of my parents and grandparents.  Their blessings upon me have continued to this day and hopefully have been shared and passed on to my own children and grandchildren. I have left so much “behind” as my life has moved into paths, prepared by the Lord, that I had no idea ever existed.

His love is the constant. I cannot imagine what else He has in store for me.  I only know that His only Will for me is to live and share His Love.

Wallowa Mts, Iweytemlaykin State Historic Park

Hat Point, another Spring trip into Hells Canyon

A "must see" place in the Northwest, Hat Point lies opposite the Seven Devils mountains of Idaho, high above the Snake River.  The mountains and the river form the deepest canyon in the United States.  The road to the top is a sinuous gravel road, with the stretch of acrophobic drop offs. But the views are spectacular, and make the driving challenge more than worthwhile.

The road crosses the Imnaha river and climbs quickly to a canyon overlook filled with wildflowers and basalt layered cliffs. Then, as one climbs and curves higher, the view moves from the south to the east, and the deeper Hells Canyon and the Seven Devils come into view.

Usually snow blocks the road until late June.  With this year's drought, however, Bob Coulter and I were able to make the trip in mid May. The wildflower progression was just starting, and we enjoyed the yellow glacier lilies, as well as the mountain goats that had not yet dispersed to parts unknown.

Imnaha river overlook on road to Hat Point

Imnaha river overlook on road to Hat Point

Balsam root and Imnaha canyon

Glacier lilies, Seven Devils Mts near Hat Point, Hells Canyon

Mountain blue bird

Mountain goats close to the Hat Point fire lookout

Enjoying the view

Inmate river canyon, Hells_Canyon_NRA

Being empty, being filled

As I feel, see, absorb the seasons changing, as I read the Psalmists profound observations of God, creation, and human nature, I am once again reminded of how I need to let go of my dependency on possessions, things, and status. God is the flow of life and creation, not me. I must be as empty as possible for Him to fill me.

Hells_Canyon_NRA, Wallowa County

McGraw_Creek_cabin_Hells_Canyon

A last day of canyon beauty Part 4, Wednesday

I arose early Wednesday morning for the dawning light and returned to an area of colorful wildflowers.  It was a cloudy morning, but the filtered sunlight intensified the colors.  I was struck how these pockets of wildflowers could still thrive despite the drought conditions that had limited blossoming in other areas of the canyon. May each of us find our own micro climates to continue to grow in!

And, so after breakfast, we packed up and returned down to the river and out to the trailhead. Flowers may fade, but memories endure! And more adventures will Raz and Wallowa llamas await in this Hells Canyon Wilderness.

Hells Canyon Wilderness

The Spring Creek drainage in the Hells Canyon Wilderness

Where the Hells Canyon Wilderness begins

Raz and the Wallowa llamas

our final lunch down almost at river level

McGraw Creek cabin Hells Canyon, Part 3, Tuesday

One of my goals of hiking and camping in this Hells Canyon area was to visit the McGraw Creek cabin. This name and location has resonated in my mind for many years.  I had only seen it on a map, and had read nothing about it.  Still, its utter loneliness and inaccessibility had drawn my interest.  How did one live such an isolated life and survive?  Certainly, were I a writer, I would enjoy writing a tale about the motivations and strengths and challenges of those who survived here.

So on Tuesday, a two mile hike took us there.  The cabin had fallen down, but the creek sang and the wildflowers, once again, were gorgeous.

Meg enjoying the tranquility of our campsite in Hells Canyon

looking into the McGraw creek drainage

Meg on the trail to McGraw Creek

How did they get this farm implement here, miles above the Snake river?

The McGraw Creek cabin, Hells Canyon

remarkable that this saw is still here

Obviously, I loved photographing these Indian paintbrush

The llamas were content to stay "home"

With the llamas in Hells Canyon, Part 2, Tuesday

Monday, the first full day high on a bench above the Snake river,  began with Raz, our outfitter, preparing Swedish pancakes for us.  After breakfast, he led us north on a trail that crossed many of the small streams and ravines that make up the Spring Creek drainage. Although the wildflowers were not as thick and lush as last year, nonetheless we hiked through many pockets of intense color. After three miles we reached the far ridge of the Creek basin and enjoyed lunch looking over the vastness of canyon.

balsam root, Hells Canyon

Lunch time

Lupine and balsam root, Spring Creek drainage, Hells Canyon

Indian Paintbrush, Sping Creek

Snake River canyon

Traveling with Wallowa Llamas in Hells Canyon. Part 1, Sunday

Last year, on the last Sunday of April, Meg and I took a beautiful wildflower day hike in the Snake river canyon country, east of Halfway, Oregon. While on a a vast bench high above the river, we encountered a train of pack llamas and hikers.  Raz Rasmussen, of Halfway, has operated Wallowa Llamas since 1983.  We decided we would take this trip in 2015.  We invited good friends, the Gleesons, to join us.  And so, starting on the last Sunday of this April, we spent four days and three nights in this overwhelming, breath taking canyon country.

I am posting these pictures on a day to day basis, so there will be four parts.  Here are the pictures from Sunday.

Our ponderosa pine campsite, below these balsam root wildflowers. Hells Canyon Wilderness

Hells Canyon Wilderness

Phlox along the Snake river before the trail begins to climb

Llamas crossing McGraw Creek

Wallowa Llamas led by Raz

Love is patient and kind

Love is patient and kind. ..Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13: 4, 7

Paul’s statement about love is the most profound ever written on this topic.  It makes an excellent template for thinking about our mothers, and what part—or parts—we would choose to describe their relationship to us.  I would choose “endures through every circumstance.”  As I think of my mother, and as I watched the mothers of men who came through my courtroom, all of them maintained their love despite what was going on in their sons’ lives. Nothing could sever or lose that love; nor is that love ever wasted.

Hells_Canyon, Wallowa_County

The Matriarch, Great gray owl

Maynard the Rotary Duck and Kenny the Kiwi

You may recall "Flatiron Freddy" who used to travel to worldwide destinations. Well, last fall, Beth, our La Grande Rotary president, acquired Maynard the Duck. She sent him out with Rotarians who were traveling to help them document their travels. I took Maynard to New Zealand over Christmas. Since he felt "lonely," far from home, I acquired Kenny the Kiwi to keep him company. Last week, Meg and I went with friends high above the Snake River with a guided llama tour. Wallowa Llamas is operated by Raz Rasmussen, out of Halfway, Oregon. It was a great trip. I will be posting scenic pictures later, but in the meantime, you can see the trip through the eyes of Maynard and Kenny :)

"We didn't get to ride a llama.  Instead, Eric carried us."

"Meg hiked faster than Eric.  He stops to take so many pictures."

"I got to sleep next to Meg.  She told me Eric used to be a frog before she met him."

"Have you ever kissed a llama?"

"Our guide, Raz, made delicious Swedish pancakes!"

"Spring is gorgeous in Hells Canyon."

Raz made great coffee every morning!"