Gotta Get Out of the Rain... Heading to the Desert - Suggestions?

i've been lurking around here since moving west last august... i think this is my first post on the PNW board.

as i mentioned, i'm a relatively recent transplant from much drier environs and i really need to get out of the rain. i'm thinking about heading to the deserts of eastern oregon to do some shooting and sun basking... got any suggestions for a first-timer on nice places to hike and set a tripod?

thanks!

The Oregon desert is cold and high, and roads aren't open yet in lots of places. You can access the lower portion of the Deschutes River, just east of The Dalles, on BLM land. It's supposed to be sunny the next couple days, so I'd consider this outing. If someone tells you about an Oregon desert place, be sure to ask specifically about road conditions at this time of the year. Take a warm sleeping bag, sleep out and look at the stars.

Head out to the Painted Hills, Scott.

thanks, mark.... i'll check out the painted hills next weekend. the wife and i planned to hike to lost lake today, but only made it as far as hood river. the directions had us going out of town on 13 to tucker which was supposed to turn into mt hood hwy... never found it!!

i guess the lake is appropriately named!

scott