The first time I came up here, in 2004 or 2005, Phil and I were taking the same walk as today, as it was June and the gate was closed. The saddle here is easily accessible from the road, and I climbed up to catch the view. After peering into Little Blitzen Gorge I decided to continue on to the high point west of the saddle, where I happened upon this memorial to John Brinkley, who apparently died in 1977 at age 24.
The presence of this memorial has of course piqued my curiosity, but, alas, none of the search engines has turned up anything. Did he die here? Was this his favorite place? Someone went to a great deal of trouble to install this memorial to commemorate Mr. Brinkley and perhaps the tragedy that brought about his demise.
If anyone who knows the story happens to land on this page, and you don't mind, please send me a note, here.
The spot has a splendid view, away south towards Big Indian Gorge and the summit of Steens mountain...
...northeast into Little Blitzen Gorge...
...and away west towards Beatty's and Mohogany buttes.
