Dec. 11, 2019

Liz Writes Life

The garden is soggy and that looks great! The rain last week was heavy at times and our ground really needed it. This should have made farmers and ranchers happy, except for sloshing through the mud to feed livestock isn’t much fun.

POW

Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5, brought-in a slide show from his time working on the USFS Mount St. Helens Ranger District in 1979 and 1980. Ray and his wife, Pat, were newly married and he was working a seasonal reforestation job. His recollections were of constantly hiking extremely steep slopes in freezing cold rain. He worked 13 days straight and the 14^th day was his day off. Yep, pretty tough circumstances. At the time, Gifford Pinchot National Forest was the second highest producer of timber in the nation. There were lots of trees ready for harvest. The Forest was cutting 150 million board feet a year, including thinning stands planted in 1935.

It was in March of 1980, when pretty good sized clouds of smoke started puffing out of the mountain. Ray and Pat lived about 18 miles away at ranger station housing. On his days off, Ray recalls taking a picnic to a spot where they could see the mountain (normally, they couldn’t see the mountain for the trees) and watch the smoke puffs reaching 15,000 feet high. Before the 1980 blow, the mountain was 9,677 feet. Literally, 1,300 feet of the top blew off and it is now at 8,350 feet.

The mountain was being heavily monitored. Forest Service and other government agencies were considering different scenarios of disasters. Which rivers, lakes, roads, highways, railroads and dams would be impacted by the fall-out? There was a possibility Portland could be flooded depending on which area of the mountain blew.

Ray said it was quite unnerving. An eruption was imminent. Everyone was on pins and needles as the Forest Service forced crews to continue working. Safety protocols and constant communications were set up. Some crews could only work two hours at a time in various areas and they had to be able to see the mountain. Once an eruption began, their radios would no longer work because of the atmospheric disruption.

Before the eruption, Ray and Pat had decided to return to the Shasta/Trinity Forest. Ray was already hired. They were loading up their moving van, when a 5.1 earthquake hit on the side of the mountain on Sunday, May 18, 1980. That triggered the eruption.

The day before, Ray and another USFS employee had taken supplies into David Johnston, a dedicated geologist stationed three miles from the mountain. Johnston was being instructed to leave. He did not and was one of 57 known people, who died from the blast. Luck and God was with Ray as he missed the deadly blast by a day!

Actually, at least 250 people were accidently saved. This group was being brought in as a reforestation crew. But the contract didn’t get completed, so they were not allowed into the area. Whew! That was a close one. Spirit Lake and other recreational areas, previously, received warnings and most folks did leave.

As huge smoke clouds encompassed the sky, gigantic lightning bolts struck within the ash. Boulders and ice were seen flying in the churning smoke. Forest Service employees were frantic to find crews that were working and get them out of harm’s way. One of Ray’s friends has an incredible photo taken out the back window of the vehicle as they sped away. Luckily, they made it.

Amazingly, May 19, 1980 dawned to blue skies and a steam vent with calm puffs of smoke out of the much lower mountain. The wind had changed and pushed the mass of ash clouds in the opposite direction. But, there was still much danger as mud flows with pools of lava entered rivers and, along with thousands of trees and debris, filled the rather large Spirit Lake. Huge swaths of old growth timber, six to eight feet across and 200 feet tall, were felled looking like a dropped package of toothpicks.

Ray showed photos of a large bridge totally gone, immense swaths of timber and vegetation had evaporated and rivers of mud running down the mountain into real rivers of water. It was estimated over four billion board-feet of timber was destroyed along with unknown numbers of wildlife including 1,000s of elk. Ash mixed with rain and became sticky globs drying into cement.

And on May 19^th, Ray and Pat were gladly driving away as assessments and rehab work began. In 1981, Ray went back as a consultant and provided information from before the eruption.

He was asked about our own Mt. Shasta. It is well-monitored and actively studied with tilt-meters to show where areas may be pushed up. Currently, he feels much safer here in Siskiyou Co. compared to his time working on the Mount St. Helens Ranger District in 1980.

KNF Fire wood

This is good news for those who cut personal firewood in the Klamath National Forest. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, the price per cord of personal use fuelwood will be reduced from $5 per cord to $2 per cord. Wow, this is really great. Obtaining personal fuelwood will remain at 12 cords per year maximum, but the cost for the permit and tags will be greatly reduced.

A news release explained KNF has experienced devastating effects of wildfires and drought over the last 10 years, leaving hazard trees and excessive fuel loading along the roads and adjacent to private property. Firewood gathering is an effective tool to reduce hazards. It also helps create fuel breaks, so the price reduction provides incentive for the public to help with some forest management needs.

For more information, contact KNF headquarters in Yreka or your local ranger districts.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Dec. 4, 2019

Liz Writes Life

Kindness, compassion and good deeds are alive and well. Yes, it warms the heart. In just my little sphere of life, I see so many folks helping others. Politics and different beliefs have certainly divided us, but here locally, I see those divides go out the window and be forgotten as people of all ages reach out to those in need.

This last week of snowstorms, high winds and temps into the teens saw numerous self-less and compassionate acts. Firefighters and EMT’s responded to many situations. Fort Jones firefighters even cleaned a pine tree top from the roof of my daughter-in-law’s trailer home and another volunteer firefighter covered the damaged roof with a huge tarp. Thank you!

Family and neighbors have checked older folks and called 911 for the ambulance, when needed. Pets and animals have been fed, snow shoveled or plowed and phone calls made. Cars have been jump-started, because batteries were dead and chains put on tires. Thank you!

Sincere words and prayers for those who recently lost loved ones or are experiencing family members with injuries, accidents or disease are abundant. Thank you!

Individuals and groups are donating, locally, to “Toys for Tots” and Salvation Army or Red Cross. Recently, several organizations donated homemade quilts, hygiene kits and pajamas to Siskiyou Domestic Violence. Individuals, groups and churches cook meals for senior citizens and others in need. The list is long and thankfully doesn’t end.

In counting my blessings this past week of “Thanksgiving,” I recognized there are so many giving folks, who provide service in lots of ways. It renews my hope in humanity to see the divides melt away and general respect and compassion win the day!

Garden

It took some gumption, but the day before the predicted storm, I finally planted the garlic. Yep, it didn’t look like any snow was headed our way on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, but I did believe the weatherman -- for a change. Seemed like it really was time for a full-fledged snow event. The soil was soft, so digging a row for about 30 cloves wasn’t difficult. And, I even added a bag of steer manure to the soil.

Since I was on a manure-spreading spree, I emptied several more bags on each of the rhubarb plants and an old phlox that could use some umph next spring. I noticed about eight tiny volunteer onions growing. The green stems were about six-inches tall. They got a shot of manure too. And then, I decided to see how many potatoes I could find. The soil was soft. Again, digging was easy. I ended-up with about 10 pounds of Russets. That evening, I enjoyed mashed potatoes. Nope, didn’t want to wait until Thursday for Thanksgiving.

I still need to cut-back hollyhocks and get the huge morning glory vine, amaranth and cosmos plants pulled-out. Yet, I was pleased to get this much work done.

As the storm came in, only about two inches fell at my place near Callahan. I did hear that the county road crew reported four-foot snow drifts in the middle of the valley down on Island Road making it quite a job to get the roads cleared. Also, the power flickered, but stayed on at my place. Pacific Power had crews working all night. A big “thank you” goes to our road and power crews for working in difficult weather.

POW

This Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, Scott Valley Protect Our Water will hold its last meeting of the year. Ray Haupt, Siskiyou Co. Supervisor for Dist. 5, will share about the day Mount St. Helens blew-up on May 18, 1980. He was working for the U.S. Forest Service up there, although Ray and his wife, Pat, were in the stages of moving back to the Shasta/Trinity Forest here in Siskiyou Co. This should be pretty interesting. Please bring a dessert to share and we will get the coffee made.

Recently, Ray told me there is good news regarding lawsuits in the Ninth District Court of Appeals that will aid Siskiyou Co. and forest harvesting. He will share that info as well.

Last month, Ray told the Protect Our Water group about a recent success regarding nano-cellular technology from wood biomass products. He and past Siskiyou Co. Dist. 4 Supervisor, Grace Bennett, have been working on this project. The county partnered with Purdue University, who has a patent on this product that starts from wood, but makes it into a much harder concrete type of product. Oregon State University is providing engineering expertise and $26,000 towards this local project; and Knife River Materials in Medford is making the parts that will be used to rebuild the Moffett Creek Bridge using this new product.

Ray said this new concrete will have a longer life and may be a “game changer” for both the use of wood biomass and concrete.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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Liz Writes Life 11-27-19

November 27, 2019

Liz Writes Life

With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I’d talk a little turkey. As I was thinking about possible turkey stories, I ran into Jennifer Bryan at the Yreka Library. She is descended from Siskiyou County pioneer stock. Her great great grandfather, Sergeant James Bryan, settled land in Scott Valley while serving in the U.S. Army. Sgt. Bryan and his Company built a fort in the early-1850s near what is now Fort Jones.

I briefly know Jennifer, because she is involved with the Genealogical Society of Siskiyou Co. and I have attended some of its workshops. When I mentioned that I wanted to talk about turkeys in my column, she piped up with an amazing story and agreed it could be shared. So, here goes. 

Jennifer’s dad, James Bryan, is the great grandson of Sgt. James Bryan. Back in the 1960s, her dad owned the Yreka City Meat Market at the upper-business-end of West Miner Street. (Oh, just to let you know this is a Christmas turkey story.) It was just before Christmas and James needed to go to Ashland to get the fresh turkeys ordered by local patrons. Jennifer was 11 years old and hopped-in the rented truck from Yreka’s Maginnis Chevrolet. Her dad had recently ordered a new truck, but it had not arrived. So, Maginnis rented James the needed truck.

Jennifer recalls leaving early morning -- in the dark -- and arriving at Ashland. This was before Interstate-5, so they drove the older (slower) two-lane highway. The freshly-butchered turkeys were loaded-up and they started driving back to Yreka over the Siskiyous. It was raining. The year was 1964 and they did not realize they were in the middle of the devastating 1964 Flood. When they arrived at the bridge over Klamath River, it was under water -- totally under water. 

Well, the turkeys had appointments for Christmas dinner and must arrive at the Meat Market.

James was able to back-track and turned-off at Hornbrook. When he drove to the edge of the Klamathon Bridge, it was also under water. Another driver or two were there trying to decide if the bridge could be safely crossed. Roiling water rushed over the bridge, but at least the side rails were still visible! James decided it was now or wait-a-very-long-time, so he drove onto the bridge. When the water flowed into the cab, James told Jennifer to put her feet up on the dashboard to keep them dry. 

They made it and were likely the last ones to make the dangerous crossing. James drove over to Ager-Montague Road and on into Yreka. Jennifer doesn’t remember crossing any other bridges that were under water, but after the Klamath River adventure – the swirling Shasta River or other creeks may not have made as big of an impression.

When they arrived at the Meat Market, the turkeys were safe and sound. The Klamath waters had not reached into the bed of the truck. And clients, who were able to make it to the store, happily picked-up their Christmas dinner turkey.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving with a much-easier-to-get turkey!

Jennifer had some other fun stories about her dad. (Characters are a good way to describe this Irish Bryan clan.) She mentioned an old 1949 International flatbed truck her dad used to haul livestock. He had added side boards to corral the cattle, but the passenger door was gone as was the glass back window between the cab and cattle. Family members argued over who had to sit in the middle of the seat or rather who didn’t have to sit in the middle. The lack of a passenger door with a makeshift protective harness was the preferred position, because when driving downhill the manure slop from the cattle was known to spill into the cab and the middle person was the main target. Yuck!

Jennifer said her dad was always working on the truck and it eventually got a passenger door. In the 1950s and 1960s, her dad ran cattle on various pieces of property in Scott and Shasta Valleys. So, they traveled Forest Mt. fairly often hauling cattle. The manure slop was not a one-time problem!

James also grew strawberries on a dry field south of Big Springs. There wasn’t any water on the property, so he hauled water in a big tank truck every few days. When it was super hot during the summer, James would hold on to each of his children while he let them down into the tank to get wet. No swimming! It was just a dip, but at least it cooled them off a bit. 

Thank you, Jennifer, for the great descriptions of life in yesteryears!

POW

Last week, I was visiting with Ray and Pat (his wife) Haupt and learned they were living on a Forest Service district 18 miles from Mount St. Helens, when the volcano exploded on May 18, 1980. They were actually in the process of moving back to the USFS Shasta-Trinity Forest and most of their furniture was already loaded in a U-Haul. Ray said he has photos and lots of information on the devastating eruption. I think he told me that he knew the geologist, who was monitoring the earthquakes and huge bulge forming on one side of the mountain. That geologist died along with 56 other people; 1000s of wild animals were also killed, more than 200 homes destroyed and 185 miles of roads were damaged. Wow!

For the Dec. 5, 2019 Scott Valley Protect Our Water meeting, Ray will share photos and information about the Mount St. Helens explosion. It should be pretty interesting. All are welcome to attend. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Fort Jones Community Center. Bring a dessert to share, if you can.

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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