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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2018)
14 Wednesday, June 6, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Whychus Creek Trail impacted by Milli Fire By Craig F. Eisenbeis Correspondent I had been lulled into thinking that our friendly almost-in-town hike along Whychus Creek was one last little bastion of safe green space among our thousands of acres of scorched forest in Sisters Country. Alas, I learned last week that that’s not entirely the case. Thankfully, the fire impact is not extreme, nor does it affect much more than a few hundred yards of this relatively new trail that takes off just four miles south of town. All in all, though, the Whychus Creek Trail is still an engaging and scenic trail that is easy to access at the spur of the moment if you, or your visiting guests, have a sudden urge for an outing. But, now, it also offers some lessons on the role of fire in the forest ecosystem. This easy three-mile trail covers some very familiar ground along the local stream that I still have a hard time not referring to as Squaw Creek, the name by which it was known, until politi- cal correctness mandated a change several years ago. Journeying south from the trailhead, the first mile explores some of my favor- ite old fishing holes from the days before fly fish- ing lobbyists made Central Oregon streams their pri- vate preserve. The second mile carves a pleasant path through a previously tick- infested jungle of manzanita that I frequently hunted in years gone by. After the water-level first mile of the trail climbs up to and transits the manzanita PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS …but some portions of the Whychus Creek Trail took a beating. plateau of the second mile, the trail tackles the basalt flow that separates the next reach from the closer-to- town stretch that people are more familiar with. This trail segment was intentionally left somewhat rough to limit access to foot traffic only, in the hope of minimizing human impact to the area. As a result, this relatively easy hike might justifiably be upgraded to a lower-level “moderate” rating. It is this mid-section of the hike that bears new scars from the Milli Fire. The ancient lava flow that created Peterson Ridge con- tinues down to the creek at this spot; and some mosaic burning is evident just before the rock steps that climb the north slopes of this ridge. At first, I thought I was seeing a small spot fire that burned the area only lightly. After surmounting this lit- tle climb, however, it became apparent that the burn along the trail was much more extensive and linked directly to the more massively burned-over areas to the west. Between those upward leading steps and the trail’s rocky descent back down to the creek, some rather severe fire damage becomes evi- dent. In fact, the fire burned quite hotly in this area, mark- ing the easternmost extent of the Milli Fire. On the plus side of the PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS Most of the Whychus Creek Trail survived the Milli Fire and remains in its pristine state... ledger, however, the afore- mentioned manzanita jungle was already the least scenic part of the hike. Still, some Douglas firs and quite a few nice pines, including some big ones, were destroyed by the flames. When the flames gobbled up the manzanita, the potential problem of ero- sion and further habitat dam- age was created. As a result, the The Forest Service urges hikers to take extra care to remain on the designated trail. Fortunately, the third mile — which is along the “wild- est” portion of the creek accessed by this trail — remains unscathed. However, in some spots along this stretch, the Milli Fire burned all the way down to the water’s edge on the west side of the creek; although it did not jump the creek in this area. Prior to the creation of this trail six years ago, access to this area south of the Peterson Ridge lava flow was quite difficult. Although out- side the official boundary of the Three Sisters Wilderness, this stretch of the creek offers all the beauty and grandeur of wilderness befitting the “Wild and Scenic” designa- tion of its upstream stretches. So, although close to town, this wild and tumbling creek represents a reasonable fac- simile of its more remote upstream wilderness identity. Whychus Creek is largely the product of sea- sonal snowmelt, so the flow varies wildly from time to time; and that aspect of See HIKE on page 23 Welcome, Rodeo Fans & Cowboys! T Shi t • Sweatshirts T-Shirts T- S t hi t • C Caps St Stocking Caps • Suspenders 506 N. Pine St. Jeans • Hickory shirts 541-549-9631 At the Rodeo Grounds Entrance Sales • Service • Rentals • Accessories | www.SistersRental.com You could save up to $1,350 on a Carrier Unit with Cool Cash! 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