A few years back I camped out on the Alvord Playa in this part of Oregon on a clear, moonless, summer night: it was spectacular!
I've been to quite a few remote dark sky sites, but this place was something else.
Later that night a storm rolled in and I had to get off the Playa due to the strong winds and blowing sand and dust.
I ended up sleeping in my Jeep next to a power substation since I only had a half tank of gas and that wasn't enough to get me to the nearest open gas station. At this time in Oregon even the rural gas stations were full service only so I had to wait until morning when the store at Fields Station opened up and I could gas up and get back home.
Was Alvord hot springs not open? I know they've been hit or miss over the years. It's pretty primitive, basically a hole dynamited into the ground but the water is amazing and it's usually never busy. They also have a great access road to the playa.
I've been looking forward to going out there this summer. The guy who sold me my subie told me about camping out there with the subie and a full spare gas can to get back to a gas station
Most people think of Oregon as the western third from the Cascades to the coast. The eastern two thirds is basin and range desert and equally beautiful in a different way.
I've been to quite a few remote dark sky sites, but this place was something else.
Later that night a storm rolled in and I had to get off the Playa due to the strong winds and blowing sand and dust.
I ended up sleeping in my Jeep next to a power substation since I only had a half tank of gas and that wasn't enough to get me to the nearest open gas station. At this time in Oregon even the rural gas stations were full service only so I had to wait until morning when the store at Fields Station opened up and I could gas up and get back home.
It was a memorable trip.