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DATES AND TRIALS
Every year the Happy Hummer 4H Club, supported by Burns Llama Trailblazers hosts a two day PLTA pack Trial. This year the event will be held on the second weekend in June of 2012 near Burns, Oregon. Basic, Advanced, Master and Extreme trials will be run. The trials will be held at at our mountain site.
THE SITE
There are two venues we use regularly. Our desert site is within four miles of downtown Burns. It features rimrock-lined tables cut by wide draws. Vegetative cover consists of native bunchgrass, sagebrush and scattered juniper trees. Since our seasons are highly variable, it is impossible to be sure, but May generally brings a plethora of wildflowers as well. In this area routes use well-defined cattle trails, cross-country routes and little used jeep trails. From the tops of the tables, views are long. Steens Mountain is prominant to the south, while, from our highest vantage point, Strawberry Mountain can be seen in the north. In between lies a vast expanse of barely populated country.
Our mountain site is located on the Malheur National Forest 30 miles north of Burns. In this area our routes are centered around scenic Myrtle Creek as it flows through grassy ponderosa pine forest in a deep canyon. The trials use beautiful Myrtle Creek Trail, well defined elk trails, and old logging trails and roads. We normally use this area for summer pack trials.
LOCATION & AMENITIES
Burns is located in southeast Oregon. The combined population of it and neighboring Hines is nearly 5000, making the twin cities the population center and county seat of vast Harney County. As such it has appropriate amenities including two large grocery stores, a farm store, builder's supply, Les Scwab Tire Center, auto dealerships and numerous shops (and the best quilt shop for 200 miles). Most last minute needs can be supplied here.
ACCOMODATIONS
Burns, Oregon is a bit of a way-station on the long drive between population centers. As such it has numerous motels and a Good Sam Campground. Forest camping is available at Joaquin Miller Campground, an equestrian site complete with corrals for your stock. It is located about 15 miles north of Burns and, althogh a beautiful site, gets very little use.
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