It's on the radar of a potential place to relocate. What's the backpacking like? The town? Add anything you'd like.

The Wallowas are a premier place to go backpacking. I've done a couple trips and have one planned in near future. Snow in the winter. Maybe skiing or snowshoeing?

Thanks, Jerry. I'm not much of a snow sport person but could become. What's your feeling on the town/community?

Aren't there some wild wolf packs around there? Also, I think there are a couple of wolverines that have escaped from Idaho.

That could make trail life interesting.

--B.G.--

I've only driven through a few times.

I think they cater to summer tourists. Maybe not a good place to live in the winter?

In addition to (or perhaps because of) tourism, Joseph has attracted quite an artistic community, so is not necessarily typical of eastern Oregon small towns. This may be good or bad depending on your view. It's a beautiful area, though!

You may be faced with driving hundreds of miles for all but the most routine medical care. There is a hospital in the area but I understand (from a fairly recent Oregon Public Broadcasting documentary) that it's staffed with NPs and PAs. As with many places in eastern Oregon, there isn't enough business to attract anyone with an MD degree (remember that these guys have $100,000 and up of student loans to pay off). Adding in a higher proportion of retirees, for whom Medicare doesn't even pay the office overhead, makes the situation even worse for attracting and keeping medical providers.

I'd want to do a lot of research (including visits in both summer and winter) before moving there. I've never been there in the winter, and most of my summer and fall visits have been driving through.

Edited by hikinggranny on 08/15/2012 19:20:58 MDT.

I would suggest you contact the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce for a relocation package (www.wallowacountychamber.com or 800-585-4121). And, contrary to previous comments, there are 8 practicing physicians in this county (and a few nurse practitioners plus chiropractors, an optometrist, acupuncturists, physical therapists, massage therapists, etc.). Wallowa Memorial Hospital is a full-service Medicare Critical Access hospital.

And yes, there are wolves and wolverines here too, plus bear, cougar, rattlesnakes and too many deer to mention. Will you encounter the predators? Probably not.

Artistic community? Definitely yes. Take a look at www.josephoregonartists.com

Do your homework. You're on the edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness here. Living in Wallowa County is not for everyone; however, we've been here over twelve years and wouldn't trade it away.

I don't live in Joseph, Oregon, Dan Price the author of Radical Simplicity live In Joseph, Oregon and lives very cheap he leases land from a farmer to live on. He first started living in a tepee and now lives in a partial underground Hobbit House. The book is a adventure of Dan Price how to live a simple life in this world . His main transportation is Cat Trike bicycle.

I love the book Radical Simplicity I wish I could live like this in southern California my climate of choice but we have very strict building codes. Get the book it fun read and it also illustrated by Dan Price.
Who works for Simple shoes and Teva as their illustrator.
Terry

Edited by socal-nomad on 08/16/2012 14:33:21 MDT.

Thanks for the additional replies, everyone. And Heather, that is all good info. Thanks for that! The art community is one of the reasons I put Joseph on the radar. A friend of mine thought I'd like it there so that's when the wheels began turning.

Re the predators, having literally grown up in the central ID mountains, I am used to the them. I enjoy/embrace that type of ecosystem.

Terry - I have read a number of books on simplicity and thought I had read that one. Come to find out, it was another book with the same main title by Jim Merkel. However, I see that I have Dan's book on my Amazon "wish list". At any rate, this place is becoming more and more interesting to me. Wonder what I'll find next....

Road trip all of next wk. I think I'll drive over there and hang out for a couple days.

Edited by rustyb on 08/17/2012 08:54:55 MDT.

"Road trip all of next wk. I think I'll drive over there and hang out for a couple days."

Please let us know your thoughts on the area when you're 'back.' I keep looking for a place to retire to in a couple of years. I know it won't be on the east coast!

Douglas, you could retire to the headwaters of the Kern River.

--B.G.--

"Please let us know your thoughts on the area when you're 'back.' I keep looking for a place to retire to in a couple of years".

I'm back! In the last few yrs, I've looked, extensively, all over my home state of Idaho and criss crossed Oregon and driven up and down its coast looking for a place that met my criteria. Joseph is as close as it's gotten. Though I have some reservations with its winters, they are probably milder or on par with the other areas that appeal to me. I could see myself living there!

Here's what I found in a couple days of poking around and visiting the chamber of commerce: Lots of small farms and ranches in the valley with many, many intact old barns. Quite a few people using solar panels and green houses. Little to no (?) evidence of big ag. No box stores. A surplus of organically grown food, I'm told. A good grocery store in Enterprise. The Eagle Cap Wilderness Right there with a touted 47 trailheads, 500 miles of trails, and 60+ alpine lakes. Hells Canyon Wilderness just a hop and skip away along with many other rivers, streams, and mtn ranges. Some interesting history, prehistoric and historic. Seemingly nice locals. A charming town with a thriving art community. An unpretentious vibe. Lots of geographical diversity within a 50 mile (?) radius. Great (?) backcountry skiing. A little ski hill ~9 miles from town.

In addition to what Heather mentioned, I also see that the new hospital was "named one of the top 100 critical access hospitals in the country". Sleep lab, cancer care, orthopedic surgeon, PT, 40 nurses, etc. As I understand, besides an acupuncturist in the community, there's also an individual providing alternative health care.

Crap. I'm sounding like a sales person......

Here's the downside for me...besides the winters which I normally don't care for: Being tucked back in the corner that this community is makes access/egress a bit slow...but that undoubtedly help shape its charm. I also wasn't overly wild about Wallowa Lake (reservoir) and its south end area but I wouldn't let it deter me. There were deer all over and in town lounging around and on peoples doorsteps. Not that I mind at all but it would add a challenge to gardening/edible landscaping.

All in all, if you can't tell, I like that place.

Thanks Rusty. Sounds like a wonderful little place. Also sounds like I need to do a field trip...... ;-)

Rusty,
From what I read of your report on Joseph, Oregon. it sound like nice place to live Dan Price the author of the book Radical Simplicity. Did not seem to have problems with the winters living in teepee and other tents till he built a shed and then moved to his hobbit house.
I would go there after the first snow to see how you like it there if it to cold try somewhere around Medford, Oregon were the climates is warmer.

Terry

I think you're right in general

Small detail, I don't think Wallowa Lake is a resrvoir. I think it has a natural dam - glacial moraine

Enterprise has a radio station - problem is they carry Rush Limbaugh, Lars Larson, and Dennis Miller.

Thanks, Jerry. I should have looked into Wallowa Lake a bit more. I was aware of the moraine but not the natural lake it left behind. I don't know much about geology. According to Wiki, the dam on the south side was constructed in 1918 for irrigation which I assumed was to store water. Perhaps it's main purpose is to divert it though. I have to wonder how much, if any, the water level rose after the construction of the dam. Anyone know?

Rush in Wallowa county? Oh man, why did you have to go and tell me that???? ;-)

Thanks, Terry. A small town in a valley against rugged mountains is part of the draw to Joseph for me. Along with that comes colder winters though, unfortunately. Speaking of which, sounds like Dan Price now spends the winter months in Hawaii. http://www.moonlightchronicles.com/

If the fire is still in me, I'll take your suggestion and spend a few days there this winter.

Terry, I have to thank you for referencing Dan Price's book in this thread. I just finished reading it. Even though I had it on my Amazon "wish list" I'm not sure when, or even if, I would have got around to reading it had you not mentioned it. Anyway, I really enjoyed it! Seems too Dan and I have a lot in common and share many/most of the same ideals. So, "thanks"!

Also, if you haven't seen this video about Dan, I thought you and others might enjoy (there's some backdrop around Joseph shown). http://vimeo.com/26851738#

rusty

Edited by rustyb on 09/17/2012 09:07:42 MDT.