June Pack Trip
	North Fork Crooked River

This is a long-time troop favorite. The troop tries to rotate the outdoor program so that we come back to known or favorite locations at least once every three years. The last time the troop packed in along the river was 1997. This is a great trip, suitable for a weekend in-and-out or for a multi-day traverse. The route picks up the river at the east end of Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains of Central Oregon. The route follows the river through old growth ponderosa forest, down through the canyons. The long trip will follow the river past impressive waterfalls, finally emerging south of the Ochocos near Paulina. This stretch of the North Fork of the Crooked River is designated a National Wild and Scenic River.

Handout with map (Adobe PDF 616K)

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Pictures

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	The group arrives at Deep Creek campground and pitches camp for the night.
	Camp is ready.
	Everyone concentrates on fixing up dinner and getting ready to head out in the morning.
	Morning comes early and Bridget (aka Dog Face, Scout Dog, etc..) is ready to go for her 'big walk'.
	Everyone loads up their packs in the early morning sun.
	The guys all join up at the trail head by the meadow.
	The first crossing at Deep Creek.  Bridget says, come on already, it's easy. Sure, if you're not wearing boots. The rest of us have to change shoes for the crossing.
	The group rests on a large fallen log about a mile and a half downriver at the site of an old gauging station.
	Another rest stop down the canyon.
	Kevin Cannon and Mitch Martini traversing the large meadows about three miles downriver.  This is God's Country, with the river running through meadows and old growth ponderosa forest.
	Camp is struck, about four miles downriver in a stand of old ponderosa.
	Everyone breaks out the gear and airs out their blankets and bags.
	Looking back from the campsite down to the river.
	The guys start exploring this stretch of river.  Lots of tadpoles, toads, brookies, bugs, you name it.
	Not to mention large stretches of glassy smooth pools to skip rocks on.
	Brett Finneran and Nathan Rogers, the 'mussel men', turn over rocks looking for freshwater mussels for dinner.
	Lots of wildflowers along the banks and in the meadows.
	Nathan Oliver finds a garter snake cruising around in the grass.
	Bridget crashes after a long day.  We all felt like this.
	The group heads out in the morning to go back upriver.
	Kevin Cannon and Brandon Hasart rock hopping their way across the river.
	The group makes it back to Deep Creek in one piece. (L-R) Geoff Turner, Kyle Rood, Nathan Rogers, Nathan Oliver, Kevin Cannon, Justin Taft, Eric Fletcher, Brandon Hasart, and Mitch Martini.

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