The Empty Corner of Oregon (Burns, Hines: camping, live, agriculture)

[Waterlily]

I don't know if any of you have noticed the southeast corner of Oregon is just about empty of people. There is a small city down there called Jordan Valley and nothing else. Jorden valley only has a 239 population. I've never been there.

When you drive south on highway 395 after the city of Burns and Hines it is empty. I have driven down that way once on the way to Nevada. It's a long lonely stretch. If you were to go southeast it's a very lonely place.

Do you think this area will ever get more population? I'm wondering why it's so empty in the first place.

[CHEWY12]

I have been to Oregon's outback a few times myself. Eastern Oregon is as you say very lonely. I think much of the land out there is under the control of the BLM so if that is the case they will control development. It would be a great place to locate state and federal prisons as that would spark up the local economy. With out some kind of industry it will never become populated IMHO

[tablemtn]

That part of the state is not really suitable for agriculture, because it is too dry. In fact, the environment is fairly bleak all over that section of northern Nevada and southwest Idaho. The landscape is interesting, but it is very remote and lonely.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

That part of the state is not really suitable for agriculture, because it is too dry. In fact, the environment is fairly bleak all over that section of northern Nevada and southwest Idaho. The landscape is interesting, but it is very remote and lonely.

I think the area is known as the Black Rock Desert. Most people think the Black Rock Desert is in Nevada, but the desert was there long before the state line was. It's too far from any major rivers for large water projects, so it will never be developed.

Someday, the feds will have to start turning loose of land in the West, but I expect that the political pressure to privatize desert will be minimal for a long time yet.

[seashelly]

That's the Geologists Playground over there. Old volcanic area and just south in the Virgin Valley, Nevada, opal mines.

[Waterlily]

Well I think Chewy has a good idea. Putting a prison out there would be just the thing. The land is not used for much and a lot of cities do not want a prison.

[tablemtn]

It's probably too remote for a prison. Can you really recruit 500 employees (or however many it takes to run a major prison) to go live out in the emptiness past Burns Junction?

Anyhow, if you want to see some very interesting and remote scenery, there is actually a dirt/gravel road with no services that runs along the Oregon/Idaho border about a mile north of the Nevada border.

This region is VERY remote. Just to get there, you need to take unmarked backroads for about 50 miles from the tiny OR/NV border town of McDermitt. You cross the McDermitt Indian Reservation and then head out onto a series of rural roads with no services until you reach the border with Idaho. The scenery is incredible, but in order to do this, you need:

-Extra gas for your vehicle, just in case

-Extra food, water, and cold-weather clothes, in case you get stranded

-A full-sized spare tire, and maybe another donut spare along with it

-If you can, bring a radio and antenna with you so you can call for help in case of emergency, since there is no cellphone service. Combined with a GPS unit, you will know your own location.

-A GOOD atlas of the region. At LEAST the De Lorme Gazateer for Oregon, but maybe also more detailed topo maps of the area.

-A shotgun and ammunition for animal defense.

-A camera! You'll want to take photos of this scenery that few people in America have ever seen before.

-Snow chains. Believe it or not, you can find patches of snow on some of the mountainous areas even in the summer.

-A tent and firestarting materials, along with a camp stove, in case you need to spend a few nights sleeping outside.

-Water purification tablets or filter. If you get stranded and find a natural water source, you'll want to use that before dipping into your emergency supply.

-A fishing pole. Not really for survival, but just for fun.

-A raft, if you are into that. There is some good whitewater out there, but make sure you scout ahead for hazards.

-A bike. It's an amazing feeling to go shooting down the slope of a dunelike hill through the cool fresh air, without a single sign of human habitation in sight.

If you take these precautions, you can safely explore this remote region of Oregon, and you will have some tales to tell when finished.

[Larry Caldwell]

That sounds like a great road trip! A decade or so ago I saw a description of the location for the Oregon Star Party that sounded a lot like that. I didn't go, but I think the flyer described 50 miles of unimproved road to access the site, and recommended spare tires for both vehicles and travel trailers.

That reminds me - I need to install red LED lighting in my travel trailer...

[karlsch]

If I remember correctly, this was the part of Oregon where the people taking the 1990 census got lost and disappeared for a few days.

[ReturningWest]

I used to go out that way for camping trips and exploring...I actually went on a horse camping trip...remote but fun. At least my idea of fun.