Wednesday, February 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
5
Backcountry Horse Association convenes in Sisters
By Charlie Kanzig
Correspondent
The Sisters Rodeo
grounds served as the site of
the Oregon Back Country
Horseman’s Association
annual meeting on Saturday,
February 18. The event pro-
vides an opportunity for
members of chapters from
throughout the state to come
together to conduct a busi-
ness meeting, participate in a
skills competition, partake in
fellowship and listen to guest
speakers.
Buck Davis of Bend, pres-
ident for the East Cascades
chapter, welcomed the change
of location to Sisters after pre-
vious year’s meeting at the
Crook County Fairgrounds.
“The Rodeo clubhouse and
grounds turned out to be a
perfect spot for us to gather,”
he said. “People like coming
to the Sisters area, so every-
one seemed happy with the
choice.”
With nine chapters in
Oregon, members literally
representing all corners of the
state attended the event.
“It’s a good turnout,”
agreed President Jerry
Bentz, of Canby. “We have
people from every chapter
represented.”
Saturday included meet-
ings and updates on the goals
of the association, which
includes the mission to edu-
cate on ethical stock use and
“leave no trace” horse camp-
ing. A crosscut saw compe-
tition during the afternoon
brought out some stellar per-
formances by pairs of saw-
yers, while underlining one
of the practical actions the
association is known for: trail
clearing.
According to member and
guest speaker Jim Akenson,
the association includes vol-
unteers who, in cooperation
with the Forest Service and
other agencies, help to clear
and maintain trails in Oregon
used by horses and mules. In
fact, the local chapter volun-
teers of the year, Peggy and
Lee Fischer of Sisters, tra-
versed nearly 400 miles of
trails in 2016 on behalf of the
association.
One of the association’s
mottos is “Dedicated to keep-
ing Oregon’s Trails open to
all.”
Holly Akenson, Jim’s wife
and one of the seven Oregon
Fish and Wildlife commis-
sioners, commented on the
crosscut saw competition in
which pair of sawyers raced
the clock and other teams
for bragging rights until next
year’s meeting. The cross-
cut saws are the best tool for
removing downed trees in
the wilderness, where gas-
powered chainsaws are not
allowed.
“I was really impressed
with the enthusiasm of men
and women of all ages in the
crosscut saw competition,”
she said. “It brought a spirit of
competition as well as cama-
raderie to the afternoon.”
The winners in the men’s
division cut through a log in
about the same time it would
take to do it with a chainsaw,
without the noise, smell, and
pollution.
Dinnertime took on the
look of a truly Western gath-
ering of cowboys and pack-
ers, as members used Dutch
ovens to prepare many of the
main courses for the potluck
meal. Friends old and new
gathered around the cookout,
swapping stories and sharing
some good-natured ribbing
about the results of the cross-
cut saw competition.
A f t e r d i n n e r, t h e
Akensons, who now reside
in Enterprise, delighted the
crowd with stories of the 21
years they spent working in
the backcountry of the Frank
Church River of No Return
Wilderness at a field station
operated by the University of
Idaho. The area surrounding
their station at Taylor Ranch
is considered one of the most
rugged, remote and biologi-
cally rich places in the lower
48 states.
The couple recently
published a book, “7003
Days: 21 Years in the Frank
Church River of No Return
Wilderness,” which chroni-
cles their experiences there,
including encounters with

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old-timers, the re-introduction
of wolves to the area, and a
harrowing escape from a tre-
mendous wildfire. With a love
for the history of the place,
the wildlife, and the people
that came before them, the
Akensons clearly expressed
their passion for the area,
their hope that some vestiges
of “Old Idaho” will always
remain, and the gratitude they
feel for how unique and rare
their experience there was.
The tie-in to speaking
about their Taylor Ranch
experience with the Back
Country Horsemen members
stems from the fact that being
in the center of a wilder-
ness area meant using stock
(horses and mules) on a daily
basis. The couple became
quite proficient in using mules
and horses for packing, cut-
ting the grass on the air strip,
hauling firewood, and other
endeavors. Part of their talk
emphasized their opportu-
nity to pass on these skills to
young people in a time period
where fewer and fewer people
are exposed to that lifestyle.
Jim Akenson, who just
turned 60 and now works
as the conservation direc-
tor for the Oregon Hunters
Association, said afterwards
that he has been encouraged
by younger folks stepping
forward to get involved in the
association’s work.
“Those younger guys
and gals can clear trail much
quicker than guys my age. I
hope all of the chapters can
continue to attract younger
members.”
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PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG
Cross-cut sawyers demonstrate skill and stamina.
The couple plans to return
to Sisters this spring to do a
reading and book-signing at
Paulina Springs Books.
At a time when trail use,
especially in Central Oregon,
is mushrooming, Akenson
says it is more important than
ever for all users — bikers,
runners, hikers, and horse
owners — to work together
to not only maintain the trails,
but share them in a way that
keeps all users safe, while
also protecting wild areas.
“Everyone needs to keep
working together for the com-
mon good,” he said.
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