Remote Wonders: An Explorer's Guide to Southeast Oregon

At first glance the landscape looks desolate--a barren realm of basalt rims, high cold deserts, dry lakes, and vast expanses of grass and sage. In fact, it is a place where petite flowers bloom on rock shelves. Tiny organisms thrive in hot springs and water saltier than any ocean. Even some of the soil is unique--a special combination that collects and retains water and allows ancient pine stands to survive. The diminutive pika harvests meadow grass, building miniature haystacks to store food for the winter. When the time is right, thousands of tiny green and black frogs emerge from mud cracks along a lake perimeter. There is also human history, evidenced by petroglyphs and remnants of ranches, mills, and mines. Indeed, remote southeast Oregon is a rich wonderland of mountains, forests, creatures, and more--one well worth exploring.

Designed as a road tour guide, Remote Wonders is an ideal introduction to Oregon’s magnificent corner. Individual chapters highlight notable natural and historical features. The book includes essays, numerous photos, and a pull-out map keyed to selected sites. Supplemental information includes side trip recommendations, potential hazards, when to travel, and what to bring.

Born and raised in Oregon’s Outback, the author’s affection for the region shines through. Ultimately, Melvin Adams hopes his book will entice readers to visit and delight in this wild steppe country.

Melvin R. Adams has published two other books with WSU Press: Atomic Geography: A Personal History of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Netting the Sun: A Personal Geography of the Oregon Desert.