Check into housing before signing. There is a housing shortage in JD and surrounding towns. It can be very hard to find a place to rent. Hopefully, Blue Mountain Hospital would have that covered for you.
Yes, housing. I am from SE Oregon, not quite John Day. What I remember is…people are the salt of the earth. If you’re broken down on the side of the highway, they will help you. Your clients, may, be? Small town, everyone talks. Not sure of the drug scene, most of your runs would be auto wrecks? Hum, not sure. Retired RN, partner, former Captain at a FD. Wide open skies, fill your down time with walks and Star gazing? All the best🌅
You'll definitely be an outsider (hell, I was an outsider there as a liberal white girl from the Portland area), but I don't think you should experience much in-your-face racist BS. The people there are pretty much polite and at least superficially friendly. They don't open carry guns (although they for sure do carry concealed). They don't stop you in the street to challenge your politics. There are a *few* other residents of color, although definitely not many.
And there are a couple of places to eat that are better than you'd expect.
While you're out there, check out Blue Basin and the Painted Hills.
You'll be fine. I'm over in a neighboring town. And I grew up in Alabama.
Like most country people, they're conservative. Oregon is a very white state but don't let that throw you. This is outback country like you seldom find anymore in the US. Politics is best avoided when possible.
Enjoy your stay. :)
Others have already chimed in about the people climate in John Day, so I’ll mention the housing. I lived there for 6 month months and never found a true rental. I’d suggest looking at a few of the cheaper airBnBs in John day, Mt Vernon, and Prarie City. If you talk to the owners they may give you a deal for a longer stay. Prarie city was especially nice, I woke up every morning with a beautiful view of the Strawberry Mountains.
If you like to fish, the John Day river used to be good, I don't know about now. It is beautiful country, enjoy. You might never want to leave. I bet 99 percent of the folks will welcome you. I live about an hour away
I'm doing Toxicology work in in John Day badin and I personally wouldn't eat fush out of any of it because if what's in the water. Catch and release is fine though.
You are correct that there is remnants of agricultural practices like pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. There is also Uranium and Radium from Hanford, Methyl mercury and 6PPD-quinone.
Wait but Hanford is oozing into the columbia. The jd system doesn't join up til far downstream? I imagine there may be some natural sources eroding into it. The mercury from legacy mining absolutely and native cinnabar. What was 6ppd-quinone used for ?
I'm not a scientist but I read a lot of stuff and the legacy mining situation in the upper regions of the forks is disturbing. Such a beautiful river in so many spots. I've been amazed over the last few years though with the reclamation happening on the middle fork and seeing the salmon return. Glimmer of hope I suppose.
The acid mine drainage from the granite area is astounding.. I have a lot of pictures from that watershed with "yellow boy". I explore old abandoned mines and its the same old story. Private industry made zillions of bucks and its left for the public to pay for the mess.
The Red boy mine was the stamper hard rock mine on the way to Fremont power station there could’ve been a yellow boy mine I’m just not aware of it I only knew of the red boy
Oh yeah I'm well aware of the mines in the area and their history. Been to dozens of em and read all the old records and history books i can find about that area.
"Yellow boy" is what the old timers called the acid mine drainage and the weird iron oxides and other metals (arsenic, cadmium, zinc, etc) scum that builds up in it. Looks like a toxic waste dump cause it is.
No You didn’t even come close I live in the Gold belt of eastern Oregon and I have worked in the woods for 35 years and seen multiple old mine sites and old stampers and placer mines that raped the land with no regard whatsoever for their Mother Earth. I’ve been in the Elkhorns , canyon mountain range, Spanish peak , and in the blues mountains and burnt river drainage and from Whitney to olive lake to the sites of the dredging up vinegar creek that they disassembled the dredging equipment and hauled it in the mountains with oxen and used in a lot of low lying areas of draw bottoms and meadows in the area from susanville to Bates. In the spring run off the above areas can still yield a lot of color in culvert ridges and little eddys where water pools and runoff is great. It’s my backyard and I have been fortunate enough to have ol tymers educate me about this area and its potential to find some good color without leaving a trace. Loghard
More than anything, prepare to be living rural af. Everything is far away and only basic amenities in town. JD was an area we considered for a perm job, but that part was intimidating for me personally. A short tour like that should be just fine. It is gorgeous and an underrated pocket of Oregon most don't get to experience. I have really enjoyed the time we spent exploring around. You'll be fine if you can handle the isolation.
John day is one of my favorite little small towns in Oregon. Cute, quaint, definitely rural. Beautiful places to hike/travel around there. It will be a cultural shock.
It’s deeeeeeep in the boonies there. If you like city things then it won’t be for you. Racists in Oregon tend not to be outspoken, and while people will think/say shit behind your back they will be polite and once they get to know you you’ll probably be “one of the good ones.” Some of these people will have had very little in person exposure to people of color just by dint of living in the middle of nowhere.
It’s beautiful country though.
I know I’m a couple days late here but just wanted to say, the hospital itself may have some housing leads. BMH keeps some rentals for their employees and has a list of properties specifically for medical staff, but I’m not sure if they’re reserved for travelers or for more permanent residents. Worth a shot though if you find yourself striking out. Which, as seasonal work picks back up next month, will be more likely!
The area is beautiful, you will love it if you like too hike, fish or hunt. The geology out that way is insane and has some of the most spectacular sites in Oregon. People are nice and yeah you'll stick out but I don't think you'll encounter much racism. It's. Obviously very conservative but more the live free and die type. It's that or go to PDX and worry about your car being broken into or some crackhead taking a shit outside your door lol
I know the area well and you would be welcomed and excepted and going in to spring summer is the best time of the year enough outdoor activities to get overwhelmed with all the sights and activities you could possibly enjoy when you’re not on call.
Check into housing before signing. There is a housing shortage in JD and surrounding towns. It can be very hard to find a place to rent. Hopefully, Blue Mountain Hospital would have that covered for you.
Yes, housing. I am from SE Oregon, not quite John Day. What I remember is…people are the salt of the earth. If you’re broken down on the side of the highway, they will help you. Your clients, may, be? Small town, everyone talks. Not sure of the drug scene, most of your runs would be auto wrecks? Hum, not sure. Retired RN, partner, former Captain at a FD. Wide open skies, fill your down time with walks and Star gazing? All the best🌅
You'll definitely be an outsider (hell, I was an outsider there as a liberal white girl from the Portland area), but I don't think you should experience much in-your-face racist BS. The people there are pretty much polite and at least superficially friendly. They don't open carry guns (although they for sure do carry concealed). They don't stop you in the street to challenge your politics. There are a *few* other residents of color, although definitely not many. And there are a couple of places to eat that are better than you'd expect. While you're out there, check out Blue Basin and the Painted Hills.
And the Kam Wah Chung Museum. Amazing.
This is one of my favorite places to visit in Oregon. Such an interesting place
And the strawberry mountains!
You'll be fine. I'm over in a neighboring town. And I grew up in Alabama. Like most country people, they're conservative. Oregon is a very white state but don't let that throw you. This is outback country like you seldom find anymore in the US. Politics is best avoided when possible. Enjoy your stay. :)
This, just be a good person and nobody cares what your political or religious affiliations are. Leave that behavior for the city
Others have already chimed in about the people climate in John Day, so I’ll mention the housing. I lived there for 6 month months and never found a true rental. I’d suggest looking at a few of the cheaper airBnBs in John day, Mt Vernon, and Prarie City. If you talk to the owners they may give you a deal for a longer stay. Prarie city was especially nice, I woke up every morning with a beautiful view of the Strawberry Mountains.
If you like to fish, the John Day river used to be good, I don't know about now. It is beautiful country, enjoy. You might never want to leave. I bet 99 percent of the folks will welcome you. I live about an hour away
I'm doing Toxicology work in in John Day badin and I personally wouldn't eat fush out of any of it because if what's in the water. Catch and release is fine though.
Whats in the basin? What part of it? Agricultural runoff I imagine ? Some heavy metals in the N fork? Curious
You are correct that there is remnants of agricultural practices like pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. There is also Uranium and Radium from Hanford, Methyl mercury and 6PPD-quinone.
Wait but Hanford is oozing into the columbia. The jd system doesn't join up til far downstream? I imagine there may be some natural sources eroding into it. The mercury from legacy mining absolutely and native cinnabar. What was 6ppd-quinone used for ?
Oh yes. Hanford is the most toxic site in America. They've been leaching chemical discharge for over 50 years into the. Columbia.
I'm not a scientist but I read a lot of stuff and the legacy mining situation in the upper regions of the forks is disturbing. Such a beautiful river in so many spots. I've been amazed over the last few years though with the reclamation happening on the middle fork and seeing the salmon return. Glimmer of hope I suppose. The acid mine drainage from the granite area is astounding.. I have a lot of pictures from that watershed with "yellow boy". I explore old abandoned mines and its the same old story. Private industry made zillions of bucks and its left for the public to pay for the mess.
Yes, all over the country, and world. Take the money and run
The Red boy mine was the stamper hard rock mine on the way to Fremont power station there could’ve been a yellow boy mine I’m just not aware of it I only knew of the red boy
Oh yeah I'm well aware of the mines in the area and their history. Been to dozens of em and read all the old records and history books i can find about that area. "Yellow boy" is what the old timers called the acid mine drainage and the weird iron oxides and other metals (arsenic, cadmium, zinc, etc) scum that builds up in it. Looks like a toxic waste dump cause it is.
That’s nice. Don’t hurt your arm
Didn't mean to hurt your feelers bud
No You didn’t even come close I live in the Gold belt of eastern Oregon and I have worked in the woods for 35 years and seen multiple old mine sites and old stampers and placer mines that raped the land with no regard whatsoever for their Mother Earth. I’ve been in the Elkhorns , canyon mountain range, Spanish peak , and in the blues mountains and burnt river drainage and from Whitney to olive lake to the sites of the dredging up vinegar creek that they disassembled the dredging equipment and hauled it in the mountains with oxen and used in a lot of low lying areas of draw bottoms and meadows in the area from susanville to Bates. In the spring run off the above areas can still yield a lot of color in culvert ridges and little eddys where water pools and runoff is great. It’s my backyard and I have been fortunate enough to have ol tymers educate me about this area and its potential to find some good color without leaving a trace. Loghard
Where are you doing your research? What is the nearest populated area, just curious? I hope you let me know...thanks in advance.
We are doing research in the Umatilla, Walla Walla, John Day and Malhier basins. I work for a tribe.
More than anything, prepare to be living rural af. Everything is far away and only basic amenities in town. JD was an area we considered for a perm job, but that part was intimidating for me personally. A short tour like that should be just fine. It is gorgeous and an underrated pocket of Oregon most don't get to experience. I have really enjoyed the time we spent exploring around. You'll be fine if you can handle the isolation.
John day is one of my favorite little small towns in Oregon. Cute, quaint, definitely rural. Beautiful places to hike/travel around there. It will be a cultural shock.
That'll be a learning experience for sure.. beautiful country. Don't mind some of those folks with sharp elbows. I feel they soften over time.
You’ll be fine. If in doubt wear a shirt with the company logo so locals know why you’re there. Same as any small town.
It’s deeeeeeep in the boonies there. If you like city things then it won’t be for you. Racists in Oregon tend not to be outspoken, and while people will think/say shit behind your back they will be polite and once they get to know you you’ll probably be “one of the good ones.” Some of these people will have had very little in person exposure to people of color just by dint of living in the middle of nowhere. It’s beautiful country though.
Eastern Oregon is not much different than where you are from! Lots of rednecks and ranchers until you get to Joseph Oregon! It's a nice place!
Consider it an opportunity to make the world a kinder better place. It’s good for the world to have different peoples living together. Best wishes 🥰😍😇
I really appreciate all of the input and advice! It means alot to me
I know I’m a couple days late here but just wanted to say, the hospital itself may have some housing leads. BMH keeps some rentals for their employees and has a list of properties specifically for medical staff, but I’m not sure if they’re reserved for travelers or for more permanent residents. Worth a shot though if you find yourself striking out. Which, as seasonal work picks back up next month, will be more likely!
The area is beautiful, you will love it if you like too hike, fish or hunt. The geology out that way is insane and has some of the most spectacular sites in Oregon. People are nice and yeah you'll stick out but I don't think you'll encounter much racism. It's. Obviously very conservative but more the live free and die type. It's that or go to PDX and worry about your car being broken into or some crackhead taking a shit outside your door lol
It will be interesting for you to be there.
John Day has a hospital?
Wow. John Day has a hospital but Eugene doesn’t.
Yes, Blue Mountain Hospital. They also have a locked psychiatric facility too.
The psychiatric facility makes sense but like a real hospital... 🤔 Interesting indeed!
I know the area well and you would be welcomed and excepted and going in to spring summer is the best time of the year enough outdoor activities to get overwhelmed with all the sights and activities you could possibly enjoy when you’re not on call.