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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2017)
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Volunteers needed for hard-hit trails By Craig F. Eisenbeis Correspondent Once again, Central Oregon’s forest trails have suffered severe damage from forest fires, and the Forest Service and private organi- zations are already working to develop strategies to miti- gate the damage. Portions of the Mid-Oregon Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) were particularly hard hit, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is looking to get a fast start on trail rehabilitation when the snow melts in the spring. Karyn Minchew is the M i d - O r e g o n Vo l u n t e e r Coordinator for the PCTA, and she is looking to get the process of trail reconstruction started now. “One of the ways we’re preparing is by providing training opportunities early, so our volunteers are ready to go when the snow melts,” she said. The first local opportunity for such training will be held Saturday, December 30. “The mid-Oregon section of the PCT was hit hard by wildfires this year, so we’re preparing for a busy trail maintenance season next year,” Minchew said. “Trails in the burned areas will need our help!” Minchew is counting on experienced trail volunteers to play a key role but says there is an especially urgent need for new volunteers. “We’ll also need expe- rienced volunteers ready to step up and become leaders,” she said. Last summer, large sec- tions of the PCT had to be closed for much of the season due to active fires. For exam- ple, one section of the trail was significantly damaged by the Whitewater Fire that burned thousands of acres in the Mt. Jefferson area. The trail damage in that area is one that the PCTA has iden- tified as needing aggressive mitigation work. Areas near McKenzie Pass were also badly burned by the Milli Fire that plagued the Sisters area for much of the summer. Minchew is concerned that some of last year’s trail closures will still be in effect even after the snow melts in the spring. Expected prob- lems include water saturated soils and the possibility of landslides. Downed trees will make many trail sec- tions impassable, and burned- out bridges will be among the key issues needing to be addressed. Saturday’s training session is designed to give trail work- ers a head start by having crews ready to go as soon as the snow starts to recede. The two-hour classroom session is intended to introduce new volunteers to the basic aspects of trail work and the methods and tools used in the process. The program will begin with a presentation on the condi- tion of target trails, especially the PCT and its connector trails in the Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson areas that have been especially hard hit. The PCTA’s post-fire trail recovery training session will be held Saturday, December 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Deschutes National Forest Headquarters in Bend, 63095 Deschutes Market Rd. in Bend. The session will be conducted in the Ponderosa Conference Room, which has its own entrance, separate from the main entrance. All interested persons are invited to attend. Prospective volunteers can just show up but are encour- aged to register at https:// www.pcta.org/volunteer/ volunteer-application/. 15 Sisters Garden Club gives back... PHOTO PROVIDED Sisters Garden Club president Larry Nelson dropped off a donation to the Sisters Fire District’s Toy Drive earlier this month, a donation gratefully received by Jeremy Ast. Members of the Sisters Garden Club recognize the importance of giving back to their community. Our Promise to Our Community... …We’re here for you every day and after hours with medical care you can count on! Our gift to you… Bring in this ad through January 2 for a FREE fl u shot! (While supplies last!) Walk-In & Urgent Care Serving our Sisters Community... PHOTO BY CRAIG EISENBEIS The PCTA is offering a trail rehabilitation class to prospective trail volunteers, with a goal of getting an early start on trails damaged by fires. Year-round FIREWOOD SALES — Kindling — — — SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS 541-410-4509 SistersForestProducts.com DON’T MISS OUT on this week’s inserts in the Nugget: Ray’s Food Place: Come in for the Apple Rama Sale now taking place at Ray’s! Just 79¢ per lb. for the newest crop of Jonagold, Cameo, Gala, Braeburn & Fuji apples, a great source of Vitamin C and A! Bi-Mart #1: Don’t miss Bi-Mart’s annual After-Christmas Sale for lots of great bargains! Just a few of the specials you’ll fi nd are winter hats, gloves, scarves & boots at 40% Off , and women’s and men’s vests & jackets at 50% Off ! O Open every day d except t Christmas C i t Ch 541-548-2899 | 3818 SW 21st Pl. Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns, and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) YourCareMedical.com m Happy s! y Holida
