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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2012)
22 Fall 2012 Applegater Cantrall-Buckley Park NEWS AppLegATe VALLeY DAYS items. A winery pavilion operated by the Applegate Valley Vintners’ Association offered a variety of Applegate wines. People who attended were able to spend time outdoors in a beautiful setting by the river. The Applegate Lions Club barbecued tri-tip for lunch and throughout the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday, and the Illinois Valley Lions Club put on a pancake breakfast on both days. On Saturday, additional treats were provided by wood-fired pizza from Rise Up! Artisan Bakery and roasted corn from the Ruch Country Store. A special children’s area, hosted by the Applegate Valley Garden Club, was located in the park’s playground. Kid Time of Medford contributed giant Lego blocks and other outdoor toys that were devoted to play and learning. Pacifica—A Garden in the Siskiyous brought their Caterpillar Mobile Science and Education Center, which was enjoyed by children of all ages. The dog agility demonstrations that went on hourly throughout the weekend frOm pAge 1 were a big hit thanks to Cooperative Canines (www.cooperativecanines.net). The Oregon Department of Forestry had equipment and representatives on hand to show what they do and how they do it. The Applegate Fire District hosted an educational fire-safety exhibit for children. Although most of the events were located at the park, several activities were held elsewhere in the Applegate Valley. The “Amazing Geocache” event was run from Ryan’s Outpost, combining “Amazing Race” type activities with the treasure hunt of geocaching. The Medford Porsche Club did a poker run to area wineries. Also, the Friends of the Applegate Fire District held a community yard sale on the athletic field at Ruch Elementary School. Unfortunately, persistent rain on Saturday afternoon forced cancellation of the concert planned for Saturday evening. However, local musicians provided entertainment throughout the afternoons. Special thanks to the Sons of the Oregon Trail and Christina Duane. Applegate Valley Days could not have been successful without the assistance of our sponsors. A generous contribution from South Valley Bank allowed us to purchase t-shirts for the event staff and the many willing volunteers who made the event possible. The Mail Tribune and Bicoastal Media donated advertising space in print and on the air. We also appreciate the wonderful coverage by KOBI Channel 5 during the week before the event. Due to safety concerns and limited parking available within Cantrall-Buckley Park, we arranged for parking on Hamilton Road and provided regular shuttle service between the parking lot and the park. Bigham Knoll provided the Frau Kemmling school bus and driver on Saturday, and we greatly appreciate their generosity. Because we paid for the use of the Hamilton Road parking area, we charged $4 per car for parking. However, we apparently didn’t provide adequate notice of the parking fee, and a number of visitors let us know that they were not pleased with the surprise. We will do better next year to make sure that there are no hidden fees. Applegate Valley Days 2013 Because we received lots of positive feedback about the event, we’ve already started planning for next year and have selected June 22-23, 2013. In response to the request for more adult activities, a volleyball tournament will be included. If you have an interest in participating in any part of the weekend or have ideas for new activities, please let us know. Information will be available beginning this fall at www.applegatevalleydays. org. In fact, if you haven’t done so before, check out the website (created and maintained by Shelley-Ann Hincks of SA Web Engineering) and enjoy the beautiful pictures courtesy of Hincks Photography (www.hincksphoto.com). David Laananen 541-846-0500 david.laananen@asu.edu ATA holds monthly classes bY TOm cARSTEnS “In 20 minutes I’ve learned more about our valley than I have in the last 20 years!” One of our longtime Applegate Valley residents made this comment while on one of the recent hikes sponsored by the Applegate Trails Association (ATA). This is indicative of the eclectic education one can gain while on one of the group’s monthly hikes in the Applegate Watershed. The faculty for this schooling is...us! Our collective knowledge of history, biology, ecology, hydrology, geology and an endless variety of other topics amaze all of us who have participated in these events. The really good news is that we can do this while enjoying the great outdoors—and staying fit! The photo to the right is of Hinkle Lake, the destination of a recent ATA hike. This was a pleasant experience, not just for the beauty of the hike, but also for the interesting talk given by one of the hike leaders about the ecology of the lake and its surrounding wetlands. The number of species residing in the lake is amazing. We saw critters like fairy shrimp, salamanders, rough-skinned newts, flatworms, and ducks. Hikers also learned about the unique, threatened flora of the area, like alpine liverwort, flowering bleeding heart, Marshall’s currant, Howell’s clover, and wild ginger. (Unfortunately, too much of this plant life is being destroyed by thoughtless and illegal use of off-road vehicles in this sensitive area.) Massive old-growth fir and cedar were seen along O’Connell Creek. Group hikes are only one aspect of this wonderful organization. Since forming more than a year ago, ATA has been hard at work with Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service staffs and other local groups trying to promote the nonmotorized recreational opportunities that should be protected in our neck of the woods. As an example, ATA is working with the forest service to seek ways to better protect the Hinkle Lake basin from unauthorized use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs). Under David Calahan’s leadership, ATA has been forthright in seeking to better define the boundaries between motorized and nonmotorized use of our pristine valley. OHV use in the John’s Peak area has been the subject of a BLM-sponsored resolution process in which ATA is a participant. To learn more, visit this website: http://www. blm.gov/or/districts/medford/recreation/ timbermountain/timb-mt-adrp.php. As a valley resident, you can gain a better appreciation of the issue by seeing for yourself how we can work together to foster better stewardship of our wild resources—come out on a monthly hike! Upcoming hikes September 7—short hike: The next monthly ATA hike will be on the Isabelle Spring Trail, rated easy to moderate. This section is part of the proposed Applegate Ridge Trail being developed by ATA. The narrow historic trail follows the contour on the steep, rocky west side of Mount Isabelle to pass through mixed woods of fir, black oak, white oak and mountain mahogany. A huge fire-scarred fir stands sentry over the box spring that was developed in 1940 to serve the lookout on Mount Isabelle. Prior to the spring development, lookouts packed their water by horse or mule from the Oregon Belle Mine. Two hikes will be offered: (1) an easy one of two miles, and (2) a moderate one of four miles. Hikers will meet at Bunny Meadows parking area, one mile up Forest Creek Road, at 9 am. Stress-free hiking in some beautiful terrain! October 21—driving tour: In October, ATA will introduce the panoramic views of the western portion of the Applegate Ridge Trail. This event will be for all ages and abilities. We will drive a portion of this system that is accessed from Savage Creek off the Rogue River Highway. We will carpool from Applegate Store at 9 am. Applegate Ridge Trail ATA is hard at work on a number of fronts, all dedicated to promoting nonmotorized recreational use of our trail system. One of the chief projects is developing a hiking, biking and equestrian trail, along with access, along the high ridge overlooking the Applegate Valley. This trail will be many years in the making, but will eventually serve our residents in gaining a stunning panoramic perspective of our valley, while enjoying the fresh air and serenity provided free of charge by Mother Nature. ATA calls this trail the “Applegate Ridge Trail” (ART). The group is serious about its mission, but is having a lot of fun putting plans together. “Preserving and connecting historic trails for future generations” is more than a tagline for this group—it’s a credo that keeps its core group of volunteers motivated and enthused. ATA fundraiser to be held September 22-23 at Jackson Campground All of this takes money going forward. ATA is very appreciative of the generosity shown so far by valley residents. These donations have allowed the group to make significant progress on a variety of trail- related projects. ATA has also applied for a Title II grant to improve trailheads and Kendall Cabin at Hinkle Lake, destination of a recent ATA hike. Photo by David Calahan. install educational signs along the ART. In the spirit of its outdoor mission, ATA is holding a fundraising campout at Jackson Campground, which is just below Applegate Lake. The campout will feature educational hikes and two gourmet meals (with vegetarian options) prepared by ATA board members. Local author and radio commentator Diana Coogle will give a campfire lecture on living with nature in the Siskiyous. Ms. Coogle recently completed her PhD in English and enjoys teaching at the University of Oregon and Rogue Community College. The campout will take place the weekend of September 22 and 23. The cost will be $40 per person, $60 per couple, and $10 for kids under 12. Make your reservations early—participation is limited to 30 folks. All reservations must be in by September 10. Don’t forget to bring plates and utensils. To make reservations, please email josh@applegatetrails.org, or give Josh a call at 541-846-0738. Visit our website, www. applegatetrails.org, for more information. Even if you can’t make it, we’d appreciate your donations. You can hit the “Donate” button on our website, or mail a check to ATA, P.O. Box 105, Jacksonville, Oregon 97530. All donations are tax- deductible. Step forward with a gift to all generations. Thank you! Tom Carstens • 541-846-1025
