FRIDAY, APRIL 8 2016
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 7
Outdoor Rec / Local
Locked and Loaded has Spring Cusick Creek
project
Snow Run in Sumpter
completed
Submitted Photo.
Submitted Photo.
The local Locked and Loaded Offroad group headed to Sumpter last weekend to enjoy the remaining winter
snow. The group with hold its annual Go Topless Day in May.
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
With the arrival of
spring, the snow around
Sumpter may not be so
suitable for snowmobiling,
but plenty of enthusiasts
enjoyed what’s left of the
white stuff when members
of the Locked and Loaded
Off Road group came to
town the weekend of April
1st.
Christina Witham
explained the group name
comes from the lockers
they use on their off-road
vehicles to allow them to
access more places and
from the vehicles being
“loaded” with family and
friends.
Witham said the genesis
of the idea came from the
rallies attended at Tollgate.
The Umatilla Forest allows
off-road vehicles to drive
on groomed snowmobile
trails on April 1st. Want-
ing to do something local
and support the town of
Sumpter, the Withams
asked if the same proce-
dure applies on the Wal-
lowa-Whitman. They were
told there isn’t anything
like that set, but to contact
the local snowmobile club.
Witham said they met
with John Young, Sumpter
Valley Community Vol-
unteers vice president,
and Jim Sheller, groom-
ing chairman of the Blue
Mountain Sumpter Valley
Snowmobile Club. They
were given the go-ahead
to come out and enjoy the
snow and trails.
Witham said motorized
access in the Wallowa-
Whitman is very important
to the group. They have
been constantly watching
the Blue Mountain Forest
Plan and Plan revision,
with members working
with Forest Access For All
to keep the roads open.
“Whether running on dirt
or snow,” keeping for-
est roads accessible is a
priority.
Witham said after obtain-
ing permission from the
Snowmobile Club, they
invited friends to “come
run with us.” Participants
came from Milton-Freewa-
ter, Hermiston, The Dalles,
and Baker City, with lots
of families and kids par-
ticipating.
Witham obtained a list of
all lodging options in town
and left it up to everyone
to make their own ar-
rangements. The Scoop
N’ Steamer was booked up
and the Depot Inn enjoyed
a good number of guests
also. Witham said they
would like to make this an
annual event and hopefully
fi ll all the lodging in town.
The event, dubbed the
Spring Snow Run, was
informal, with groups
armed with snowmo-
bile trail maps obtained
through Basecamp Baker
going out at different times
to explore different areas.
Friday, Witham said they
traveled from Anthony
Lake to Granite, stopping
for lunch at the Peavey
Cabin. She estimated
they were running over
about seven feet of snow
at the top of the mountain.
Saturday, the participants
checked out various of the
trails around Sumpter.
Vehicles included an
old Bronco, a Jeepster, a
few Toyotas, and different
types of Jeeps. Witham
explained that out on the
snow they air down their
tires to provide as much
surface area as possible.
When they hit the pave-
ment, they air back up.
Witham said the exception
are some of the ultralight
specially-built rigs that
don’t need to air down
their tires and can go just
about anywhere.
Witham mentioned
repeatedly the warm wel-
come the group received in
Sumpter. Local businesses
contributed to the suc-
cess of the weekend. For
example, the Stage Stop
gas station stayed open late
Friday evening to accomo-
date some of adventurers
from the Anthony Lakes/
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Granite excursion who
were in dire need of a fi ll-
up. Don Christy from Su-
perior Towing brought up
a cone for the fi re pit and a
whole load of wood. The
Reedys at the Depot Inn
allowed the Locked and
Loaded Off Road group to
have a bonfi re each night.
Witham said everyone was
welcoming and it was nice
to have all necessary ame-
nities available. She said
the group was so apprecia-
tive of the great weekend
and wants to say thanks to
all who made it possible.
The only organized part
of the weekend was Satur-
day morning’s breakfast.
Witham said the Sumpter
Valley Community Vol-
unteers provided a great
breakfast and also opened
the event to the commu-
nity.
Lila Young began cook-
ing up her “famous dough-
nuts” at 7 a.m. with the full
meal service beginning at
7:30. For just a $10 sug-
gested donation, French
toast, pancakes, bacon
and sausage, scrambled
eggs, coffee and juice were
served.
Locked and Loaded Off
Road will participate in
the annual Topless Day on
May 14th.
This nationwide event
is a way to celebrate the
return of spring and is
marked by taking the top
off your Jeep. In past
years, Locked and Loaded
Off Road has used this
day to collect and remove
garbage from the Wash-
ington Gulch area, hauling
out 2,000 pounds of trash
the fi rst year. They hope
this year to be able to clean
up garbage around the
Sumpter area trail system.
To fi nd out more or get
involved, check out the
Locked and Loaded Off
Road Facebook page or
call Christina at 523-9322.
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The Keating SWCD recently completed a
conservation project on Cusick Creek, which fl ows
into Thief Valley Reservoir.
SUBMITTED BY THE BAKER COUNTY SOIL AND
WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
In the 1940s, Cusick Creek, which fl ows directly into
Thief Valley Reservoir, was diverted from its main valley
bottom channel into an unnatural location along the east-
ern side of the valley bottom.
This unnatural channel had become greatly incised and
was constantly eroding, with no resemblance of a prop-
erly functioning stream.
This Keating Soil and Water Conservation District
(SWCD) conservation project addressed the lower, dam-
aged reach of the creek with the main objective being to
restore the previously straightened and incised Cusick
Creek to its original natural channel.
This project aimed to improve water quality, fi sh and
wildlife habitat, and allow adequate fi sh passage to Thief
Valley Reservoir.
Conservation activities included:
• A total of 1600 feet of channel shaping to improve the
connectivity of the creek.
• 20 riffl es at a total of 2,570 cubic yards were put in to
create fi sh habitat and stabilize the historic channel.
• 20 pools at a total of 7,850 cubic yards were installed
for fi sh habitat improvement.
• 27 root wads placed in the bank for stabilization and
wildlife habitat/cover.
• 3,500 feet of channel excavated to create pools; re-
moved material was used to create ponds.
• 3 ponds installed to create additional wildlife habitat
in the project area.
• 2,500 willow cuttings planted along 10,200 feet of
Cusick Creek’s new channel.
• 1 bridge installed to allow creek crossing.
• 1,900 feet of new road created for landowner access
to property; to spray weeds and better manage livestock
rotation.
• 1 culvert installed under Thief Valley Road to pass
water from reservoir.
• 50 acres of the meadow/construction area seeded and
treated for weeds.
• 7,000 feet of riparian fence to keep livestock out of
newly constructed area to allow plants to establish.
The dedication and willingness of the landowners,
contractor, and engineer involved helped this complex
project to run smoothly. All parties were willing to put in
the time and effort to get this project done effi ciently and
correctly– meeting the needs of both the producers and
the wildlife in the area.
If you have the potential for a conservation project on
your property, please contact the Baker County SWCDs
today at 541-523-7121.
Spring bear
forecast
In Pine Creek-Keating-Catherine Creek (Hunt 762A),
boars are normally the fi rst bears to leave their dens. The
district experienced an average winter with good snowfall
at the mid to upper elevations. Hunters should expect
more snow than last year. Look for bears in areas of early
green up. Usually south-facing slopes are the fi rst to be-
come snow-free and can be good places to glass for bears.
In the Keating Unit, hunters will fi nd snow-free areas
in some of the mid to low portions of the national forest.
Higher elevations near Pine Creek and McGraw Over-
look still have deep snow and many of the high-elevation
roads in all units are still impassible. Hunters planning on
traveling the 39 Road to access the McGraw area should
be aware that the road is still snow covered. The 66 road
may provide an alternate route if hunters have snowmo-
biles or ATVs. The Hess road may provide access from
the Snake River side but should not be traveled when it is
muddy. The road is steep and can become very slippery.
The Catherine Creek Unit will produce good bear num-
bers this year although early season access will be limited
by snow. Much of the unit’s lower elevations are on
privately-owned land. The higher elevations of the Cath-
erine Creek Unit are mostly within the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest and contain excellent bear habitat. Snow
may limit access to higher elevations in April.