The word 'May' is a perfumed word... It means youth, love, song; and all that is beautiful in life. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Mountain Guide Dining, Events, Entertainment, Music, Recreation: Pages 19-20
Postal Customer Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 39 Welches, OR.
Vol. XXIX, No. 5 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com
The Woodsman
Page 13
Prepping your home for the wildfire season May 2021
n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n Welches, Brightwood, Wemme, Wildwood, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
Sandy peace vigil to Challenges expected for summer recreation season end with final event Surge of visitors could face various obstacles in the forest on Friday, May 28 By Garth Guibord By Ben Simpson
The Mountain Times
After 15 years of weekly community gatherings to promote peaceful solutions to conflict, the organizers of the Sandy Peace Vigil have announced that the group will hold its final physical vigil. The vigil will be held from 4-5 p.m. May 28 at the intersection of Hwy. 26 and SE 362 Drive in Sandy. The group held its first vigil on Feb. 2, 2007. The group initially gathered as a public response to the Bush administration’s military action in Afghanistan and Iraq said group organizer Mary Andersen. “The vigils are a gesture to remind people of the conflicts our country is involved in. We want peaceful resolutions and for people to think about nonviolent options,” said Andersen, a resident of the Alder Creek community since 1984. Participants display signs calling for an end to the conflicts and to raise awareness in the community. “Probably our most iconic sign is ‘Honk for Peace,’” vigil participant Bruce Ryan said. Ryan, a Brightwood resident, is a retired teacher and veteran of the United States Navy who served in Vietnam. Since his time in the military, he has been an active advocate for peace and a participant in the Sandy vigils since their inception. “I think legislative action is more telling then street protests, but what See VIGIL Page 4
Index Profile ....................................................2 Opinion & Inside Salem .................... 6-7 Firehouse...............................................8 Theater ..................................................9 Mountain Roar .....................................10 10 Years ..............................................11 Our Community Our Earth! ..................12 The Woodsman ...................................13 The View Finder .................................15 Museum Chatter ..................................16 Transitions ...........................................21 Cooking/The Whole Tooth ...................22 Where There’s a Will ...........................23 Crossword/Sudoku ..............................23 Classified Ads ......................................24 Real Estate ................................... 26-27
The Mountain Times
Last spring, the U.S. Forest Service closed off the Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. When the forest reopened in May 2020, it saw “unprecedented use” throughout last summer, according to Ben Watts, West Zone Recreation Program Manager for the Zigzag and Clackamas River Ranger Districts. And Watts expects more of the same this summer. “I think that people again are going to turn to the outdoors as an outlet,” he said. “We are anticipating similar levels of recreation and use this season as compared to last.” Similar to last summer, Watts noted that travel restrictions, limited event offerings and people’s wariness to being exposed to the coronavirus at certain places will contribute to large numbers of visitors in the MHNF. But making the situation more complex, he added, are areas in the forest that are closed due to the wildfires from last fall, which he estimated at more than 200,000 acres. That might lead to more people concentrated in a smaller area of forest this year, perhaps similar to what happened with the closure of some recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Thankfully, some of those sites have recently reopened, which may offer another outlet for outdoor recreationists. “That’ll help some,” Watts said. Watts added that the MHNF will try to add extra law enforcement directed toward the fire closure areas, while also looking to add a digital pass option for some recreation fee sites and even fee machines at places such as the Ramona Falls Trailhead. The digital pass, which could be in place sometime in June, would allow visitors to pay for a Northwest Forest Pass, needed at many sites to park, through a QR code on their phones. Watts also noted that access may be limited to Trillium Lake, with people turned away when all the parking spots have been filled. Last summer, some visitors parked illegally at the
Photos courtesy of James Wilson, www.elevationchages.com
Top: A root snag from a fallen tree blocks the way on the Timberline Trail near the Muddy Fork crossing. Right: Piles of downed trees, such as these on the Timberline Trail near the Muddy Fork crossing, can be found elsewhere in the Mount Hood National Forest.
trailhead, which could have hindered first responders in the case of an accident. “Emergency access would be really problematic,” Watts said, adding that something similar may be needed at Timothy Lake. Another complicating factor for this summer will be from the high number of fallen trees due to the heavy winds over the fall and winter. Watts noted that there are problems on many trails in the MHNF, including a number that have not had any work done to clear and repair them. “This isn’t a state or municipal park, this is a wilderness,” Watts said. “These
places sometimes don’t get annual maintenance.” That was echoed by James Wilson, a hiker who writes about his experiences on his blog www.elevationchanges. com, and who hiked some around Bald Mountain and the Muddy Fork Loop/ Ramona Falls after last September’s fire and wind event. In an email to The Mountain Times, Wilson noted that while he is a highly capable hiker, sections of the trail “strained my ability and perception of what is a fun day in the woods.” “This is going to be a while fixing,” See SUMMER Page 14