This is a travelogue for Wallowa – Whitman.   The first time I was here was in the late 1970s.  My favorite uncle talked my  wife and I into backpacking in this place that no one had ever heard of in North East Oregon, Wallowa – Whitman.   I fell in love with the place, it reminds of the pictures of the Alps and the movies Heidi, and Sound of Music.  The second time, I took my sons backpacking there, during the late 1990s.   This last time was car camping as I only had Memorial day weekend, and once again, I see why I love the place.

The mountains rise dramatically above the surrounding wheat fields.

Wallowa-Whitman Mountains above wheat

This year, we were early, and the back country is not yet open as can be seen in the photos with all the snow.  I traveled with my cousin Julie and her husband Pete (seen below).  He is a willing model as he practices on his mandolin, and so photogenic !

Cousin Pete while camping at Wallowa-Whitman

Wallowa-Whitman has more to offer than spectacular mountains and camping in good company! Even this early in the year, there are wild flowers.

Wild Camus

Wild Camus

But the quaint old towns along the way have a special nostalgic feel to them.

Old General Store

Union Market

Old Canisters

There are also some fun and funky places for coffee and other things.

Dragon in the town of Joseph

Oregon is a place for active people, and they are proud of it as seen in the photo in front of a micro brewery.

Bicycle Oregon

The set of photos though, that I am most proud of are this eagle who was kind enough to pose for quite a while as I shot these out the van window. The eagle was across the river.

Cooperative Eagle

See more photos on my website