National Trails Day Project, June 4th
Brushing and clearing the Ranger Creek and Indian Tom Trails in the Umatilla National
Forest was
our plan. Both of these trails access Wenatchee Canyon, which drains into the Grande Ronde River. It makes a nice days loop ride with only a couple
miles of road to ride between the trailheads, and has some great views. The
eager crew arrived Friday night and after waiting about an hour Saturday
morning for the rest of the volunteers to show, we headed out thinking it was
going to be a long day, as only about half showed up. Could it be that the
Friday rains had washed the road out, or were they lost with Bill’s directions,
or were they just to smart to ride in the rain? We were more than ready, as we
had three chainsaws along just in case it got real bad. Bill, being the trail
boss, led and found every tree across the trail. He is so good!! Rod did the
sawing with lots of moral support and even some serious help when it was
needed. Then it appeared he may be done working, as his animals went down over
the bank around the tree in the trail, with the chainsaw precariously balanced
on the pack saddle, but not tied on. His calls of “WHOO” were ignored and then
the saw came off and did a couple nice belly rolls down the bank. It looked as
if a hike to the creek was in order, but somehow it stopped rolling, the horses
stopped to see what was happening, and all was well again, other that Rod again
confirmed what sorry stock he now owns. We came to a messy camp and loaded up
some of the garbage and tarps that were everywhere and headed on down the trail
looking for the lunch spot. We came to a tree cut out of the trail, and thought
this could be good for the rest of the way, when we saw stock and heard Laurel Kuther's cheery voice. The no shows had made it after all
and had cut out Indian Tom Trail while we were cutting out Ranger Creek. Good news for
everyone, as we were able to have a leisurely ride up the trail back to camp.
We were very lucky, as it looked like rain all day, but it never happened.
Almost everyone headed home after some stories at camp other than four of us
who had big plans to go riding Sunday. A cloud burst during dinner did not
damper our Sunday plans, but Sunday morning rains, and rains and rains, then
thunder and lightning change our plans, and we were just hoping we could get
back to the gravel road without having to hitch a team to our rigs. Thanks to
Bill Correll for all the arrangement for this project
and to all the volunteers who helped with the work.
Moore’s Creek Trail Project
This project is located in the beautiful Gospel Hump
Wilderness. Mark your calendars for August 5 & 6, or schedule a short
vacation and take a few extra days. There are several trails in the area to
ride, and lakes to go fishing in. The
work is packing out some old railroad ties that had been used at a creek
crossing. If you don’t have pack stock, you can still come along and help with
loading and holding animals as they are loaded.
The work will be on Moore’s
Creek Trail # 312 and is about a mile from the trailhead. Work will start at 8:00 AM Saturday. There is a campground, Moore’s Station, about a mile or two from the trail with
stock water, drinking water, vault toilet, trees to highline to, and a
corral. It is best to pack weed seed free hay, as grass is limited
at the camp. If not in use, the forest service cabin will be available for some
to stay in There will be a potluck dinner Saturday night. If you have never
been there, it is a must, as some of the views are breathtaking. Bill Correll is trail boss (509) 243-4855. It is important that
you call him and let him know you will be attending, in case there are any
changes, and he can be sure and have meat for you at the potluck. See you
there!!
Kruze Meadows/ Craig Mountain
Just an update!! The horse
crossing on the road at Kruze Meadows new parking lot
has been filled in with a dirt ramp so it is now a usable crossing with stock.
Kids Kamp
Well the 2006 Kids Kamp is in the history books. We had 22 kids and their horses. I have to compliment the parents as the kids
and horses were well matched and did very well on all our rides. The kids arrived on Wednesday afternoon, in
what seemed like a rush as it was all at the same time. We took a lot of long rides, saw elk and
deer, and did most of our training in the field. The first day was tracking, looking for
animals and sign. Spent
time in the saddle sight seeing.
This was the squirt gun fight competition, Bob and Pat Shelton made it
to the very end, boy you both surprised them kids. We still think it was fowl when Pat pushed
Bob down and kissed him!! Pat and
Marissa won.
The second day was our elk tour and
weed pulling on the south fork of Asotin Creek.
Orientation began with Nelle Murray’s short
talk about noxious weeds, handing out booklets, and off we went to see the real
thing. We rode down the ridge from the house and watched about 50 head of elk
cross from one draw to another, really neat!
We cut down to the south fork hay shed where we met up with Nelle to work on pulling the sulfur sinkfoil. That kept us busy to lunch. After lunch we went to the old homestead
chimney where we talked about the history of this area. We then headed up Dark Canyon to camp. This
day was pretty long and the kids did not complain about short rides even once
all weekend. Also on Friday morning the
kids had been paired up with another person to obtain about five bits of
information about each other to allow them to get up at dinner and tell about
each other. We had some creativity and
good laughs during this assignment.
After a great dinner by Mike Brooks, we had a fire building
competition. The object was to build a
fire to burn a string in two and drop a washer in to a pie tin. This was a three person team and a quick
competition. Then Donna played charades
for what seemed like hours, this was impromptu and much fun for all.
The third day was our packing and LNT
day. Bob Henrikson
and Dan Budvarson had volunteered to come up with a
spike camp and mules to pack this in to the forest. Bob gave a short demonstration at camp about
the items to be packed and their use before we actually started the ride. The loads were mannied
and then we packed in to a meadow to work with the kids about arrangement of
the camp, why we pack the way we do, and how to set up the items. The kids actually helped to repack and load
to bring the goods back to the ranch house.
Bob must have done a pretty good job as the kids actually
applauded. It was also Bob’s first
demonstration since attending LNT training in Montana. That evening
the competition was an obstacle course in the barn to get pieces of a puzzle to
assemble. These were four person teams
and were a very exciting competition to watch and the kids really had to work
hard. Several were very tired and sweaty
by the end, including Bob Shelton and Donna Kopszynski
who were the blockers within the obstacle course. That Karen has the best ideas!!
The fourth and final day, Sunday,
was pretty relaxing for all. The ride
was just a scavenger hunt done in teams of the kids choosing, and
parents could go also. The fun
part of this was checking the participants in as they had to get an egg back to
check in without breaking them. The kids
struggled to get the scavenger items out of the mix with the broken eggs
without throwing up; there was a lot of gagging going on by most. This was a relaxing day for the kids and a
lot of fun too.
With the help of so many TRBCH
members, this Kids Kamp was very successful! We really appreciate each and every person
that put time, effort, and thought in to making this camp what it is. I have had many of the attendees and parents
tell me what fun their kids had and they plan to be back next year. We also have formed a small group of kids to
assist in putting on next year’s camp.
Also we thank the Twin Rivers Back Country Horseman for their donations
of food, equipment, and volunteers.
We also could not have made this
camp a success without the support of the many donators of money and
items. We need to return the support to
the following businesses: ATK, Gateway Materials, Potlatch No 1 Federal Credit
Union, Rustebakke Veterinary, Eric Hasselstrom, Safeway Grocery, JB’s
Sack N Tack, JR Tack (Spokane Area), Washington Fish and Wildlife. If we have missed anyone, please let us know
as we do so appreciate the support.
Sincerely,
Pat and Mark Bogar
Pack In of Boy Scout Troop 264 Story
When this project was put together, we knew that
getting a scout troop packed into the North Fork of Asotin Creek would be a
challenge, so we did all the packing the day before the scouts showed up.
Several meetings with the scouts and their leaders as to what was really needed
for a four day trip and what was considered extra went fairly well. Mark &
Pat Bogar and Rod Parks showed up with seven pack animals and all our bags,
boxes, ropes, and mantes ready for the challenge of packing the unknown. A
pickup and small trailer full of gear, and I mean full, was all they felt they
needed. Originally they had wanted to pack in forty gallons of water, but that
was slimmed down to fourteen gallons and newly purchased water filters by the
scout troop. The biggest obstacle appeared to be a large cook box that weighed
96 lbs. After going through the box, it was trimmed down to 84lbs, and with
water and a propane tank to balance it, old Rosco the
mule was chosen for this awkward load. Luck was with us, as two forest service
employee’s showed up with ATVs as we were sorting gear and we talked them into
packing the two ice chests, cook stove, and portable awning for us, as they
were going right by where we would be camping. After about two hours of sorting
gear and repacking the food and getting rid of the excess packaging we were
ready to load up. Rod led his animals one at a time and checked the load
balance and to see how Roscoe would like the rattling kitchen box. Pat
suggested that Rod head out and they would be right behind me. Sure!! She did
just not want to witness the wreck!! Fifteen minutes down the trail, and a
couple minor adjustments and things were looking good, then the rain started
and did it rain. The trail turned into a small creek bed. Rod kept looking back
for the Bogars but they never appeared. Safely at the
camp spot after skirting the gear that the forest service employee’s so
conveniently unloaded a foot off the trail. Rod tied up and unloaded his stock
and was just getting ready to head back down the trail looking for the Bogars when they came around the corner, everything looking
great. Rod found out that Pat got to witness the wreck after all, as their
young mule had some boards and the metal wind shield for the stove fall out of
the pack and the spook was on. After a while the mule gave in and was caught
and reloaded for an eventless rest of the trip. Feed was limited, so it was
decide to take all the stock back out and between Rod and Mark, we would assist
the scout master and get our stock back in to pack the gear out. Mark “The Mule
Man” returned on Tuesday and could not be seen riding a horse, so he decide to
pack Pat’s Appaloosa. Lucky for us the horse decided to let us know what he
thought of packing and lay down on the job with an empty pack saddle in front
of all the scouts and entertained them. The mule man decided better to be seen
on a horse, than explain to Pat what happened if the horse decide to act up
with a load on. Rod showed up on Wednesday morning with his animals for the
pack out. It was decided to empty the cook box to make it quieter and lighter.
After loading just a few light items into it by the scouts, it was weighed and
came in at 94 lbs. Minor adjustments and sending the scouts out with their
personnel gear on their backs, we were able to get everything on seven animals
luckily, as we had no ATVs show up. We had become seasoned pros by now, as we
never touched a pack on the way out. This was obviously shear luck!! We were so
proud; we took pictures of our strings at the trail head before we unloaded.
Rod got one picture and his camera was full, so Mark got his disposable camera
and we had shots from all angles. Then Mark, being the entertainer, had the
scouts helping him unload and somehow a buckle on the pannier box got caught on
the extra ring on the pack cinch and a wreck witnessed by all lasted a few
seconds until the box came loose. The scouts had looked all tired after the
walk out, but could they move fast when that mule took off!! Mark ran right
down to Albertson’s to get his pictures developed and their experienced help
opened the camera and exposed the whole roll of film and there went our record
of the successful pack trip. The good news is the scouts are ready to do it
again, and are even talking of purchasing hard sided pack boxes for the food.
Considering they have no animals at all to pack them on, if they buy these, I
would say they are pretty committed to having us pack them in again!
Below
is a brief breakdown of the project day by day.
Spotted Knapweed Project
With Scout Troop 264
North Fork Asotin Creek
June 10-14
Saturday,
Mark and Pat Bogar and Rod Parks of Twin Rivers Back
Country Horsemen packed camp and all the personal gear for three adults and
eleven Boy Scouts from Troop 264, Clarkston, WA, to a camp location on Washington Department of
Wildlife Land, five miles up the North Fork Trail. Seven pack animal loads and
two loads on Forest Service ATV’s and all were ready for the scouts.
Sunday,
Nelle Murray, Asotin County Noxious Weed Employee, Rod Parks, Twin Rivers BCH, Rick Randall, Assistant Scout
Master, and another adult, with twelve scouts walked the trail to camp and
pulled all the spotted knapweed they could find along the trail. There were
many small patches along the route, and it took four hours to walk to camp
pulling weeds along the way, approximately a five mile hike. Camp was set up,
with LNT practices taken into account. The scouts were educated by Rod Parks on
what to do if there was an encounter with rattlesnakes or black bear.
Monday,
we headed up the trail onto Umatilla National Forest Land to a heavy infestation of spotted knapweed
approximately two miles up the trail. Crawling on our hands and knees, we
pulled all we could find. It was difficult to find all the plants, as they were
anywhere from an early rosette stage to three foot tall. After policing around
the immediate area for more plants we headed up the trail to a small infestation
that was about two hundred yards away. We worked this area over and then headed
back to camp. On the return trip the scouts pulled hounds tongue along the
sides of the trail and then worked on a patch of cocklebur near the forest
service boundary as well as a small patch of spotted knapweed just inside the
boundary. This day’s work took six hours to complete, and the scouts were worn
out.
Tuesday,
was dedicated to LNT training on human waste, camp fires, cleaning around camp,
and rest or games for the scouts. Pine cone baseball was very popular.
Wednesday,
camp was torn down after breakfast, gear was packed up to be hauled out, Mark
and Rod brought the pack animals, the scouts hauled out their personal gear on
their backs, and the camp was hauled out with stock.
These
scouts did a great job on setting back the spread of this noxious weed, and
there is hope that we will be able to return next year and pull any new
seedlings. The BCH members brushed the trail to camp on their trips in and out.
The Asotin
County Commissioners awarded the scouts a certificate of appreciation for their
volunteer work pulling the spotted knapweed on Asotin Creek.
By
Rod Parks
Fish Lake Project
Update
We
will be leaving the Wilderness Gateway on the Lochsa
at 9:00 am on September 1.
We plan to stay in on the project till Monday. Trail Boss Paul Bogar,
743-2686. Contact him for directions and
questions.
TRBCH
Website
Under construction, but please check this out!
Let
Becky know what you
think!!! Becky's email is bpaull@clearwire.net
and our website is www.twinriversbch.com
River Access
for Tomorrow
This group is looking for volunteers to help clean up
the Clearwater River beaches July 16th and the Snake River beaches
August 26th. This is a yearly event and a meal is provided. Contact
Tom Fitzpatrick at 208-743-8434 if you are interested.