OWYHEE WINTER

[kiev4a]

Shots taken earlier this week along the Snake River in Southern Idaho. All with Fuji 100 color neg film. Nikon F4.



Bank of the Snake River near Bruneau Idaho. 20mm Nikkor



Cows on their way to important appointment with the Owyhee Mountains in the distance. Tokina 80-200 2.8 zoom.

[Randy]

Beautiful Wayne, I don't see one tree though.

[kiev4a]

This isn't tree country. Up in the mountains there are some pine but mostly Juniper. We High Desert dwellers get uncomfortable when there are too many trees around--they block your view! The mountains in the background are in the 8,000-foot range. Desert floor is about 2,500-3,000 feet. The Utter Party, a wagon train of emigrants were killed about five miles from this point in 1860 (cattle picture). Other than a few roads and ranches in this area it is pretty much like it was 146 years ago.

[Randy]

Shows how much I know, I always thought of Iowa as being farmland. I've been out west a few times but never to Iowa. Thanks for sharing these with us Wayne, please show us more. Thank you.

[kiev4a]

Randy:
Don't know much about Iowa either. I think it is mostly farmland. Here in IDAHO, however, we have a lot of desert.

[herron]

Wayne:
I love that shot with the cattle. I'll need to get out a map to figure out a rough idea of where this is (although I do know it's not Iowa ).

I went whitewater rafting on the Snake River in Wyoming, and it looked nothing like this! I guess I just had no idea how long the river is!

[kiev4a]

This area is on the south side of the Snake River, directly south of Boise, Idaho (The Capital) about fifty miles. Virtually everything south of Boise looks like this--allll the way to Mexico. It's part of what's called The Great Basin, which stretches from the west side of the Rockies to the east edge of the Sierras. The farther south you go the more arid it becomes.
Looks can be deceiving, however. The the top photo if the river bank you can see a plateau on the right in the picture. About five miles beyond the canyon rim is Mountain Home Air Force Base. Right after I shot the photo a B-52 bomber passed overhead, preparing to land at the base.

[herron]

I just checked the map. I was due east of you when I went whitewater rafting on the Snake River in Wyoming...I was near Jackson Hole, in the Tetons.

I had no idea, until just now, how long the Snake River was! I was nearly at its end...you are closer to its beginning!

[kiev4a]

Ron:

I gotta give you Easterners a geography lesson. When you were in Jackson you were at the beginning of the Snake. It comes through SW Idaho, some 350 miles, turns north for 300 miles, turns west for another 100 miles before joining the Columbia River--then another 300 miles to the Pacific Ocean. We are about 300 miles from where you did your rafting and nearly 400 miles from where the Snake joins the Columbia.

[litesong]

Hi Wayne...Iowa...Idaho. We got some teaching to teach 'bout these here western states, don't we Wayne. But I know how Randy could get his states mixed up. I tried to spell Ohio once & it came out some combination of Ohio & Iowa...think it was Ihio. Actually, the Owyhee high desert is in need of protection. Concerned citizens tried to get President Clinton to declare it a National Monument or wilderness region. Clinton started worthiness studies when he left office.
Go to Owyheeinitiative.org. Find photographs. There you can view grand interactive 360 degree photography of Owyhee land that should be designated wilderness area. You can scroll & zoom in on parts of the photographs that have special interest to you....somewhat similar to Mars Rover panoramic pix. The pix are superb. If I don't hear back from anyone, I'll post more till I do get some responding posts. Whether you have interest in land conservation or not, the photography is powerful, stunning, & places you at sites you will be delirious to visit someday. But till then, visit the Owyhees with your eyes. Power to the Owyhees. ;D Grace & peace to all readers...litesong

[kiev4a]

litesong:

The Owyhees are a special place. Photography forums aren't a place for debate. But since you have given your view I feel I should respond.

As life long resident of the region and someone who has spent a lot of time in the Owyhees, I have to say that a majority of the folks who live here would hate to see the area turned in the wilderness.

One of the thing that makes the Owyhees special is that much of it is accessible by vehicle making it possible for more people to enjoy it--take their kids with them. If it is designated as wilderness the only people who will see it are those who can afford to enjoy it will be hikers with lots of time.

I've spent a lot of time in the Owyhee backcountry--from Bull Camp on the Owyhee River on the Nevada border to Juniper Mountain, Noon Creek, Bruneau Canyon, War Eagle Mountain (visible in the background in the cow picture) and the Three-Fingers area of Eastern Oregon. I wouldn't have been to any of those places if the region had been closed to vehicles.

I do agree that nothing should be done to make it any easier than it already is to get into the Owyhees, but it would be a tragedy to lock it up so only a small group could enjoy it.

Those of us who live in regions targeted for wilderness tend to have an entirely different perspective than those who live somewhere else but want to modify our lifestyle to fit their philosophy.

As I said in the beginning, I think it is best that political issues aren't discussed on the forum. Let's just say we both love the Owyhees. We just love them in different ways.

[herron]

kiev4a said:

Ron:

I gotta give you Easterners a geography lesson. When you were in Jackson you were at the beginning of the Snake. It comes through SW Idaho, some 350 miles, turns north for 300 miles, turns west for another 100 miles before joining the Columbia River--then another 300 miles to the Pacific Ocean. We are about 300 miles from where you did your rafting and nearly 400 miles from where the Snake joins the Columbia.

You're right...I misspoke (again...sigh ) The Snake originates, I think, at Jackson Lake in Wyoming. At least I had my directions (EWNS) right!

Beautiful country...I agree it should be accessible...nuff said!

[litesong]

Wayne...From my house I can see areas that have wilderness designations. My Indian heritage tell me this is good despite my increasing age & physical problems to get to some areas of wilderness. Do not fall back on your heritage as a long time resident. European culture & business(which the U.S. is an offshoot) destroyed 30000 tribes around the world to get what they wanted. Wayne, if business discovers a pocket of minerals (or what ever they deem important) in the Owyhees, you'll find Owyheeinitiative.org a valuable resource to combat desecrating forces of business. Meanwhile enjoy these wonderful pix of hidden Owyhee places. Grace & peace to you, Wayne & all readers...litesong

[Randy]

Wayne, excuse me, I interpreted OWYHEE as meaning Iowa. Duh.... I will now go spank myself....ouch...ouch....ouch....ouch. ;D

[kiev4a]

Randy:
No problem. We're used to being confused with Iowa and Ohio and whatever. That's OK. Maybe it will slow down the growth here.

Below is another shot from about 1979 with two of our daughters in my pickup. We're up around 6,500 feet in the Owyhees. The distortion come from the 17mm screw mount Takumar lens I was using on my Pentax LX using an adapter. Wish I still had the lens and the camera. The oldest girl is now 33 and her younger sister is the mother of our 2 1/2-year-old grand daughter.