wild flora/fauna Hedgehog cacti and bunchgrass, North Fork John Day River

6 am in late August. Having been greeted at the Painted Hills by a

pouring rain instead of a sunrise, I decided to spend my time walking

some of the trail-less backcountry. Just after removing another

cactus from the top of my boot, I noticed these little beauties,

nestled among native bunchgrass, in an area that's been cow-free for

decades.