May Showers Bring June Flowers?

In between rain showers this weekend we managed to make it out to scout for new camping spots in Eastern Oregon. The last two weeks' rain has definitely made the vegetation in the forests explode. If you can handle getting a little wet, it's worth it to get out there and see what the Eastern Oregon spring has to offer.


I would love to tell you where this meadow is located, but I'm not going to. Sometimes it's better to go into the forests without an exact destination and try to find places like the one pictured above. You never know what you'll find but you're guaranteed to see something new.


Most everyone has been shocked by the amount of rainfall recently, including the slightly disoriented pelican in the picture above. He's about 280 miles from the coast so I'm not sure where he was headed.







It's still just a little early for some of the flowers but within the next two weeks most of them should be out in droves. If you haven't planned to take some time to get out and either take some photos or just spend a little time away from civilization, now is a great time.


The rain has also provided the perfect conditions for mushroom hunting, so if you know what you are looking for you can find the makings of a gourmet camp buffet. I can't emphasize how much you need to study what you are picking and eating. Double and triple check everything you are throwing into your homemade mushroom stew otherwise you could end up in the hospital or even worse.
Unfortunately there is also another danger that needs to be discussed that is a direct effect of mushroom growth. Mushroom hunters will be all over, especially if there has been a forest fire within the last few years. I'm not talking about the recreational mushroom hunters, but the mushroom sellers. Due to the amount that certain types can be sold for, mushrooms have spawned many a violent attack. They also crowd into campsites and can take over an entire section of a forest.

If you decide to venture out into Eastern Oregon and need a great place to stay a day or two, you should give the Fish House Inn in Dayville a try.
Fish House Inn
Dayville also has a great Fourth of July Celebration. It makes you feel like you're in a Norman Rockwell painting.

The most important thing to remember is, of course, to get all your outdoor gear at Bivwak.