This is mainly for Todd, but also for anyone else who is going to be affected by it.  I want to do this trip, but I'm afraid I cannot commit to that much time away from home.

If it is possible, without upsetting the plans or making people go out of the way for me, I would love to entertain the idea of meeting at some point half way, spending two or three nights at most.  Or, coming with, then bailing out at some point half way.

I understand the desire to have a trip like this remain cohesive, and to not have to worry about some yahoo in a lone British engineered vehicle attempt to meet at some predetermined time and place in the vastness of SE Oregon, but if you find yourself shrugging your shoulder and thinking, "So what?" Then maybe I could plan on coming on part of the trip.

If not, I would like to offer up my spot to some other yahoo waiting for the chance to go!

I will be going out there at some point this summer, I just need to cut it down to 2 or 3 nights at most.  I'll post and invite others to come along when I nail a few things down here in the next few weeks -- namely... a new job for my wife, a new house, insurance for our kids that is currently being cut out from under us, and finding renters for our current house.........  Once all that is settled, as it should be by the end of June, I may have a better perspective on what I could actually do this summer.

Hey Ben,  I am fine with you joining us from the beginning but joining in the middle creates a difficulty if we/you have issues along the way and the plan changes.  I don;t like to lead runs where there is pressure to be at certain spots at certain times.  If the group dynamic dictates slowing down or speeding up the trip, or if we just want to spend an extra night at a place, I like to have that flexibility to read the group and adjust accordingly.  Plus I am not a meticulous planner on these trips, I like it to be fun and relaxing while still covering ground.

Would it work to be on the first half of the trip?

Ryan, We are planning on the second week of July.

Todd, that's pretty much what I was thinking. It may work for me to come with, then bail half way, I'll make a decision ASAP so someone can plan on taking my spot if I don't go.

Do you have an idea of camping spots on a night by night basis?  Are you planning on a specific route?

I have a general idea but nothing in stone yet and it could change on the trail, especially if spots I want are taken or we move slower or faster, or decide to stay in one spot two nights which will definately happen once on the trip.  Should I bring out the red marker again?  :)

Likely Day 3-4.  It will take us two days to get to Fields from Plush after the first full day.  We will be driving remote double track skirting south of the Hart Mtn Antelope Refuge on BLM land camping at Spalding Resevoir.

Enjoy your next 2 hours looking at maps!  :)  Teehee

Yeeee-up.

Sorry folks, I have been swamped this past week with an extensive search for a 2nd grader. 

Yes, the second week in August, 8th through 14th.

More will come but not until this is over.  Dustin, Doug Horman is a Rock Star!  He really is helping us out on this mission!

I'm still on for this folks and have started some deeper planning.

We will meet at the Campground in Plush, OR Sunday the night of Sunday the 8th.  Show when you can.  There are minimal supplies in plush and gas.  from there, we will leave Mon Morning travelling south of the Hart Mtn Antelope refuge to Spalding Resevoir mostly on double track.   Tuesday we will complete the double track Journey (full day of driving) ending in Fields OR for gas and resupply (and milkshakes).  Tuesday night we will camp somewhere near the Alvord Desert, Hopefully my spot is free above the hot springs.  Wed night we will make a judgement call based on winds on the playa (no, not your winds Danno) but most of Wed will be playing on the Alvord and dunes.  Thursday we will head up Stone House creek and check it out, hopefully getting farther than last time, and possibly camping there or Mann Lake.   I'm still fairly loose from there and we have some wiggle room but we will probably travel up to the top of the Steens from the other side, departing from French Glen.  I may arrange a trip through the pillars of Rome or Owyhees but still need to do some research.

Folks can choose to travel back through the Hart Mtn Antelope refuge, check it out, and camp at plush as a smaller group.  alternatively, if you want to bust it home, you can, and still have part of the weekend left. 

This itenerary is subject to change, but you get the gist of it.

Please let me know, if you are on the original list, if you can make it or not.

Oh I'm in!!

Hi Jay,  As of now it is.  I also have a couple other folks that have chimed in who want to go as alternates so I need to figure that portion out.  I'll look through my PM's and this thread to get an alternates list together, I think some folks sent messages to my personal email as well but there will be no way for me to find all of those. 

Ideally I would like 6-8 trucks but folks always cancel at the last minute so I open it up for more.