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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2021)
2B | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 Bonny Continued from Page 1B Acres of wildflowers, craggy peaks, gushing springs, cool lakes, no permits, no fire damage — why aren’t the Bonny Lakes crowded? They’re an hour’s drive beyond the tourist mecca of Jo- seph, on the east side of the range. The crowds are at Wallowa Lake, much closer to Joseph. And here’s the real secret: For a three-day loop, con- tinue past the Bonny Lakes to trailless Jewett Lake. Jewett Lake is tucked into a mile-long alpine shelf at 8,300 feet of ele- vation, overlooking the more popular destination of Aneroid Lake. Knolls, meadows, cliffs and con- torted marble rock forma- tions are everywhere. Jewett Lake is just 0.4 mile from a major trail over open fields, but it’s hidden enough that pass- ersby overlook it. Janell and I camped at Jewett Lake for two pleasant days last Au- gust, when it was 102 de- grees in Eugene, and didn’t meet anyone. Ja- nell spent the day sketch- | APPEAL TRIBUNE ing under a big shady lim- ber pine atop a cliff with a view down to Aneroid Lake. I scooped snow from a patch, mixed in a packet of cocoa along with a tube of Starbucks instant coffee and pre- sented her with an ice mocha. She loved it. She said she never tired of looking at the Wallowa Moun- tains from her aerie, with the brown igneous pyra- mid of Aneroid Peak to the right and the white- striped granite of Bonne- ville Mountain to the left. What I actually saw her watching with her high-powered binoculars were a couple of half-na- ked fishermen on the rocky shore of Aneroid Lake a mile below. Some- times they waded or swam for a few chilly sec- onds. The one man’s bare back was turning red in the sun. Janell commented, “Someone needs to tell lobster-man to put a shirt on.” As I walked the long way back to camp I no- ticed a four-point buck ambling down from the wall of white rock spires that rims this valley on the west. I thought: If that deer can cross the crest, so can I. The spires turned out to be 50-foot granite fingers guarding a notch. The cute little valley be- yond had two ponds and a family of mountain goats nibbling their way toward me. Back in camp, as I boiled water for freeze- dried lasagna, thunder began rolling in the moun- tains. I told Janell that the Nez Perce name of Chief Joseph, the Wallowa lead- er captured by the U.S. Army, was Hinmaton La- laktit, literally “Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.” We shifted dinner to our backpacking tent and sat on our sleeping pads as lightning flashed and the afternoon rain squall briefly pelted the fly side- ways. We were cozy with our lasagna, chocolate and freeze-dried straw- berries. Four times that night we heard goat hooves in- specting our camp, pre- sumably chewing our pack straps for salt. No matter how carefully we unzipped the tent to look, however, nobody was there. Here I am as a guide- book author, trying to give away secrets like this, and yet so few people take the hints seriously. Honestly, Simple Cremation $795 Simple Direct Burial $995 Church Funeral $2965 SALEM 275 Lancaster Drive SE Salem, OR 97317 (503) 581-6265 TUALATIN 8970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd Tualatin, OR 97062 (503) 885-7800 PORTLAND 832 NE Broadway Portland, OR 97232 (503) 783-3393 TIGARD 12995 SW Pacifi c Hwy Tigard, OR 97223 (503) 783-6869 EASTSIDE 1433 SE 122nd Ave Portland, OR 97233 (503) 783-6865 MILWAUKIE 16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd Milwaukie, OR 97267 (503) 653-7076 “Easy Online Arrangements” OR-GCI0571428-02 www.CrownCremationBurial.com it’s puzzling. Whenever I am interviewed by a talk show host, I can predict that they will smile and ask, “What’s the best hike?” or “What’s your fa- vorite hike?” or “If I had time for just one hike in all of Oregon, what would be?” These hosts look flum- moxed when I reply, “This is the problem.” They try to bridge the awkward moment with a laugh. “No, seriously. What’s the one best hike all our listeners should try?” The show’s producers have invited me onto the program because hiking is in the news. What else can people do during a pandemic? But over- crowding of famous trails has led to controversial restrictions, permits and fees. The talk show host who’s asking me ques- tions is wearing a bright blue blazer, lots of make- up and perfect hair. They may never have gone hik- ing at all. If the French ambassa- dor were asked by the same talk show host, “What’s the one best thing to see in France?,” should the diplomat lie and say “the Eiffel Tower” or “the Mona Lisa”? It would merely confuse the interviewer to answer truthfully, “The terrace café of the Chateau Haut- Koenigsbourg in the mountains of Alsace.” So here’s what I truth- fully recommend for your summer backpacking trip. Drive nine hours to Joseph. Spend the night in the hip, modern Jen- nings Hotel, in a 1910 brick building downtown. Opened by a Kickstarter drive, the place has a sau- na, a library/kitchen and a balcony overlooking Miller Continued from Page 1B As participation bal- looned over the decades and she and fellow ov- en-mitt-clad club vol- unteers couldn’t keep up, Mary Ann handed the recipe and the bak- ing duties to the pros at the Oregon Trail Bakery Obituaries Rush Walker Yeates Rush Walker Yeates was born September 25, 1951, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to William Rush Thomas and Jean Walker. He and his siblings were raised by his mother Jean and stepfather Calvin, beloved by both. In his youth Walker was an avid Boyscout and enjoyed activities like swimming, astronomy and sailing. In his young adulthood, he attended Wil- lamette University and completed a Bachelor of Political Science. He had a lifelong interest in politics and was proudly involved in a few local campaigns. His other enduring hobbies included playing pool, at which he was very accomplished, computer gaming, and a love of Jap- anese art and culture. His dominant career path through life was as a fine jeweler and previous to owning his business, he learned the trade working for Jewelry companies in the western states. In 1976 Walker married Laura Arnold and had three children Quick, Mor- gan and Tristan Yeates. When they were little he would set aside time to play and read to them, and coached soccer, cherished memories. He maintained a loving relationship with his kids and supported them in several capacities throughout his life. He was a kind grandfather to Tristan’s children, Ava, Isabelle, and Calvin. In 2004 Walker re-partnered with Pamala Bedford and settled in Silverton, Oregon permanently. They enjoyed socializing and playing pool together. He cared for Pam and her family with love. Her three grandchildren, Ayden, Illiah and Oliver brought Walker much happiness. Also in 2004, he proudly opened “I’ve Got Rocks In My Head”, a fine jewelry repair and rock shop. He found a welcoming place in Silverton’s business community and worked hard to create an eclectic, successful business in the heart of the city. Walker was an engaged part of the downtown business community and happily helped out with local events, offering resources and space. Walker was a confident, generous man who proceeded through life with conviction and along a path of personal ideology. He was supportive of his family and friends, an intelligent person and often funny. On July 3, 2021, Walker passed away at the age of 69. He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin and Jean Yeates; biological father, William Rush Thomas; and sister Shari Walter. Walker will be deeply missed by those he leaves behind including his children, Quick, Morgan, and Tristan (Shar) Yeates; grandchildren Calvin, Ava, Isabelle, Ayden, Illiah, and Oliver; significant other Pamala Bedford; ex-wife Laura Yeates; siblings Colleen (Rob) Marsh, Kathleen Yeates, and Jeff (Laura) Yeates. A memorial will be held on August 22, 2021 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Main Street Bistro: 201 E. Main Street Silverton, Oregon 97381 with the service starting at 1:30. Family, friends and community are welcome to come. James William “Bud” Steuart SILVERTON - James William (Bud) Steuart was born on December 30, 1940 to Ralph and Elsie Madge Steuart in Exeter, California. Sadly, he passed away on August 9, 2021 at the age of 80. There will be a memorial service on August 26, 2021, 4 - 7pm at Bud and Jean’s home (365 Tillicum Drive, Sil- verton, OR 97381) is the Silverton Open House Drop-In. The Unger Funeral Chapel is assist- ing in Silverton services. Another celebration of his life will be held on August 27, 2021 at the Smith Family Chapel (505 E Pine Street, Ex- eter, CA 93221) at 4pm with Reception imme- diately following in the Exeter Courthouse Mu- seum and Gallery. For a full obituary please vist www.unger- funeralchapel.com Main Street. You can get a room for as little as $119. The next morning drive east from the hotel on the Hells Canyon By- way, following Imnaha Road 8.3 miles to a sign for Salt Creek Summit. Turn right onto paved Wallowa Mountain Loop Road 39 for 13 miles. Be- yond the Salt Creek Rec- reation Site 3 miles, where the road crosses a creek on a concrete bridge, turn right onto gravel Road 100 for 3.2 miles to the Tenderfoot Trailhead, a large gravel parking area at road’s end. Set out on the trail here, cross Big Sheep Creek on a log, and keep left at the next couple of junctions. At the 2.3-mile mark you’ll reach a fork – the start of a long loop around the Imnaha Di- vide. Veer right, following an “East Fork Wallowa River” pointer. This path follows a creek up amid a parade of colorful wild- flowers. Look for blue lu- pine, white bugbane, red paintbrush, purple asters and tall stalks of purple monkshood. A special treat are the delicate mar- iposa lilies, whose three large creamy petals each have a lavender dot. At the 3.9-mile mark the trail passes between the two Bonny Lakes, shallow pools fed by me- andering marshy mead- ows that harbor mosqui- toes during the last weeks of July. The best campsites are at the far right-hand end of the up- per lake, near a crystal spring so pure you don’t have to filter the water. The next day, hike on- ward 1.7 miles to Dollar Pass, a grassy alpine sad- dle. Ahead is the craggy white crest of Bonneville Mountain, with the rounded tops of the Mat- terhorn and Sacajawea looming beyond. Allow enough time here for an easy cross-country de- tour to Dollar Lake. Leave the trail at Dollar Pass and amble 0.3 mile to the left (due south) through a level ridgecrest meadow toward a cliffy peak with snowfields. At the peak’s base you’ll discover a dra- matic blue lake, round as a dollar coin. You could camp at Dol- lar Lake, but Jewett Lake is only a mile west, and more private because it’s even farther from a trail. When you tire of para- dise at Jewett Lake, re- turn on a loop. From the trail between Dollar Lake and Jewett Lake, head south a quarter-mile to scenic Tenderfoot Pass. Then keep left at junc- tions, traversing alpine meadows along the Im- naha Divide for 6 miles until you complete the loop, returning to a junc- tion at Big Sheep Creek, 2.3 miles from your car. On your drive home, take a different route, via Baker City. Wash off the trail dust at the Ison House Bed & Brew, a tur- reted 1887 mansion in the middle of Baker City’s historic downtown. A huge Victorian room there costs just $120. And when people ask, “What’s the best hike in Oregon?” bewilder them with the truth. Tell them it’s the backpacking loop to the Bonny Lakes. William Sulllivan is the author of 21 books, in- cluding “The Ship in the Sand” and the updated “100 Hikes” series for Ore- gon. Learn more at ore- gonhiking .com. in Salem. “The Monster Cookie is the one with oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&Ms,” Sangster ticked off the list, then laughed. “It’s got every- thing in it. “And then we’ll have other cookies. There’s a couple of guys from Coos Bay who only will come if I order the macaroons. So we have macaroons and Russian tea cakes and chocolate chip and snick- erdoodles. That’s the oth- er popular one.” Once out of town, the 61-miler and half-century pick up most of the tradi- tional route with those pedaling the 31-mile route heading back to Keizer from the rest stop half- way to the turnaround and lunch stop for the long riders at Champoeg State Heritage Area near Newberg. The Mini-Cookie ride for kids goes to Wallace House Park in Keizer, then back to Keizer Rap- ids. “I hope so,” Hersch said about enthusiasm for the first-time family ride. “So far we have about 25 people regis- tered for that ride, and probably more day-of,” While non-competi- tive events with stag- gered rather than mass starts, the cookie rides, as with other recent ath- letic events such as Hoopla and the Salem Ironman Triathlon, will feature CDC covid pre- cautions, Sangster said. “So we’ll have food- handling infection con- trol, and we got tons more of the hand sanitizers and gloves, and when we or- dered the toilets, we or- dered extra wash-basin things,” he said. The Monster Cookie fun rides are one of the two big fund-raisers for the non-profit Salem Bi- cycle Club, which plows the money raised back into projects such as bicy- cle safety education and support for youth cycling programs. The club’s other, more competitive ride is the Peach of a Century, which has been canceled for the second year because of covid concerns. Traditionally held in April, the Monster Cookie rides, which is rated the third most popular sup- ported cycling tour in Oregon, annually drew 1,000 to 2,000 riders. Weather ranging from torrential to torrid was the main factor in the wide swings in turnout numbers. After the 2020 hiatus and with continuing co- vid concerns, Sangster said he’s anticipating about 500 riders on Aug. 29. “A lot of the Oregon cy- clists wait around until the last minute,” he said. “Because of covid, we’re not getting a lot of those out-of-staters from back east, or even the interna- tional people that come for the Monster Cookie.” Two wild cards for par- ticipant numbers are heightened interest in cy- cling because of the just- concluded Tokyo Olym- pics, and a lack of bicy- cles, Hersch said. “I’m sure it did, espe- cially when we had some women cycling who won some golds for the U.S.” he said about Olympic cy- cling fever. “And if you go to a bike shop, they’re all empty, and I think repair is out a couple of weeks,” adding with a laugh about frantic buying at the start of the pandemic. “Toilet paper and bikes; they’re all gone.” After almost a half- century first as a volun- teer, then an organizer for the Monster Cookie, Sangster said he’s climb- ing down from the saddle after the event. “This will be my last year,” Hersch said. “I helped get it started 45 years ago, and then for the last eight or nine years I’ve been the orga- nizer or helped out.” Now that’s a long ride, and a lot of cookies. Thought for the week: I like reading the dictionary. All of the oth- er books are in there. Contact Henry via email at Henry MillerSJ@gmail.com
