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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Winding Trails: by Al Hobart
Thursday, June 16, 1966
llinois Valley News
Kalmiopsis near
Taggart’s Bar
Boundless are the joys of tramping
the trails through the green forests and
over the mountains, and thrice blessed are
they who have the yen and the opportunity
to partake generously thereof.
The above quotation was filched
from the second volume of resolutions of
the WOWC (Wandering Order of Wild
Canuricans), a select club of half a dozen
members of restless souls to which I
belong, and whose ambitious intent is to
hike all available trails within our chosen
range, climb all the worthy mountains
within our ditto and otherwise hobnob
vigorously and joyously; with Nature at
every opportunity.
A two-day opportunity presented
itself to two of my WC pals in
neighboring Grants Pass, and a ditto lull
occurring in my busy routine, and the
three of us decided to rendezvous at a
point between our respective bailiwicks
and from there take to the wilderness with
cameras, bedrolls and a two-day food
supply to search canyons, high saddles
and mountainsides for a photogenic
stand of the royal, lovely little shrub,
Kalmiopsis.
I parked my jeep near the store in
Selma, our take-off point, at 7:30 a.m.
Charles and Dean of course were late – 3
minutes. Hobbling Little Toot in a vacant
lot, with dire misgivings I climbed aboard
Dean’s doodlebug and the three of us took
off down the Illinois River like the heel
flies were after us. Ten miles or so down
the river, by the swinging footbridge
near McCaleb Ranch, where there is no
vehicle crossing at present, we parked the
Volkswagen, wiggled into our packs and
headed into the high hills, our destination
being Big Chetco River and beyond into
the southwest.
Steady climbing for about 5 miles
brought us into Chetco Pass, on the high
divide between the Illinois River and
Chetco drainages, and from Josephine into
rocky, topsy-turvy Curry County. The day
was warm and by the time we reached the
top little trickles of brine had etched map-
like designs on our dust and pollen-coated
faces, and our tongues were hanging clear
to here. The route down to the Chetco was
a little shorter but a lot steeper, especially
the lower half, and much more rocky.
In the early evening we reached
the river and decided to make our camp
here on a level, smooth spot beside the
mouth of Slide Creek. And it was at this
point I realized I was still being dogged
by the hard luck that has pursued me all
my life. It seems I’m never looking when
something like this happens. One of the
treacherous stepping-stones across Slide
Creek decided to play a dirty trick on
Charles; it maliciously shrugged him off
right in midstream, and in he went clear
up to here. When he came up the bank,
trailing half of Slide Creek after him, and
Dean and I realized what had happened
while we were gawping elsewhere, we
were so disgusted with ourselves we
didn’t even laugh– well, not very hard.
A cold wind blew on us during the
night, but in our hooded, down-filled
mummy-bags it only added to our snug
enjoyment. With high ridges all around
us, contentedly listening to the loudly
chuckling swift waters of beautiful Chetco
and Little Slide Creek, we lay looking up
at the star-filled sky. From the bottom of
this deep, dark canyon the stars appeared
remarkably bright. Too soon the sandman
had to put in his two-bit worth, and it
wasn’t long till the musical snores of
Dean and Charles were harmonizing with
the gurgling and babblings of Slide Creek
and Big Chetco.
Next morning we waded the river and
began the long climb out of the canyon
in the general direction of Taggart’s Bar,
several miles down the Chetco. Beside the
trail, in the saddle of a high, narrow ridge,
we found a colony of the wee Kalmiopsis,
the first we’d seen of the tiny shrub since
entering the Kalmiopsis Wilderness,
growing in the company of lovely
rhododendrons and flowering dogwood.
We were almost too late, but some of the
Kalmiopsis plants were still in bloom and
the boys took numerous color pictures
of them (my camera chose this particular
time to go on the blink).
Our mission accomplished, we turned
back and began the long trek out. The
return hike, as always, was longer, steeper
and hotter. But on such a wonderful
outing the toughest moments, all mixed
up with the many thrilling ones, add up
to a nice healthful experience of purest
pleasure.
At the end of the second day
we climaxed our 45-mile trip, which
included 25 miles of hiking, with a big
meal of celebration in a top-hole Valley
eatery, after which we parted, going off
in opposite directions to our respective
hidey-holes, enthusiastically resolved to
repeat the whole performance as often as
circumstances will permit in the coming
months of summer.
ROGUE VALLEY Senior SPoTLiGHT
COUNCIL
OF GOVERNMENTS
Food & Friends Menu
FRIDAY – JUNE 24
CHICKEN SALAD
SANDWICH
For local resources call the ADrC at 1-855-673-2372
Benefits to volunteering:
program manager of UCAN Se-
Senior Companion volunteers
1) Tax free stipend
nior Companion Program serving
needed:
2) Mileage reimbursement
Douglas and Josephine counties at
The United Community Action
3) Meal reimbursement
his office at 541-492-3520 or fax at
Network (UCAN) is desperately
4) Supplemental insurance
541-672-1983. His email is carlos-
seeking Senior Companion volun-
5) Training - pre-service and
gomez@ucancap.org, 280 Kenneth
teers for the Illinois Valley.
Senior Bulletin
monthly training on best practices
Ford Drive, Roseburg, OR 97470.
This is a valuable program that
for
aging,
disabilities
&
senor
is-
For
more
information
about
re-
FREE CHAIR FIT-
helps elderly adults, 60 years or
sues
sources found in the Illinois Valley
older and adults who are disabled
NESS
Classes Monday
6) Studies show that volunteer-
or connect to local information for
stay independent in their own
ing helps the volunteer live longer
seniors and people with diabilities, and Wednesdays from 2-
homes. Senior companions serve
and promotes a positive outlook on their families and caregivers you
older adults by providing com-
life.
can call the Aging and Disability 2:45 p.m. at Healthy U at
panionship, assisting with some
If you are interested in becom-
Resource Connection (ADRC) at 535 E. River St, 541-592-
personal care, transportation, light
ing a UCAN senior companion
1-855-673-2372 or online at www. 4888.
chores, cooking, shopping and
please contact Carlos Gomez,
adrcoforegon.org.
respite care.
Sponsored by
MONDAY – JUNE 27
TURKEY LOAF
WEDNESDAY - JUNE 29
MEATBALLS W/ PASTA
If you need meals
delivered please call
541-955-8839.
Preventing a fall:
Falling or tripping
hurts. Sometimes falls
cause serious injury. The
potential for a fall, seri-
ous and minor, is some-
thing seniors should have
in mind. Tripping over a
pet happens quite often.
Pets seek our company
and try to attract our at-
tention, especially if they
want something from us.
Trying to walk faster than
usual or walking with a
mental preoccupation can
make us less wary. If one
has a pet and is trying to
move quickly with their
Low cost spay/neuter
available to people feeding
potential hazard clearance free roaming cats. Call
of your surroundings is in Stephanie 541-956-7586
your best interest. Please
for information. Sponsored
remember that many
medicines and intoxicants by the Josephine County
can increase your likeli-
Spay and Neuter Fund.
hood of falling. In this
hot weather, drink plenty
Free for Seniors
of water. Dehydration can
make you less stable on
If you are a senior and
your feet.
Please remember that
want to place a FREE
cold drinks can cause
AD for a living or health
“brain freeze.” This will
care need call Laura at
certainly predispose you
to falling.
541-592-2541 or email
Contact I.V. Wellness
laura@illinois-valley-
Resources at www.ivwell-
news.com.
nessresources@gmail.
i.V. Wellness resources
mind on something other
than walking safely, the
potential for tripping over
your pet increases. The
same is true for that carpet
or rug which seems to
always catch your foot.
Clearing the spaces you
walk through of potential
hazards, anything which
might cause you to trip, is
a good idea. Lighthead-
edness, feeling dizzy, for
example, when one gets
up from sitting or lying
down can easily predis-
pose someone for a fall.
This is especially true
when getting up from bed
a night. Even if you only
experience this once in a
while, it is a good idea to
wait after you stand up
before walking. If you
experience this dizziness
often or if it ever causes
you to doubt your abil-
ity to walk until it passes,
having something sturdy
to hold on to right where
you get up is a good idea.
How about those slippery
porch steps or that rickety
step ladder or those sticks
in the yard? There are
many things which can
predispose you to trip and
fall. A safety survey and
Summer 2016
June 23 Dale Hopper
June 30 Ras Cricket & Frankie Hernandez
July 7 Southbound
July 14 Shoplifter
July 21 Kelly Thibodeaux and Etouffee
July 28 Buckle Rash
Aug 4 Rosie Wittman
Refreshments on sale by Bobbalou’s Hamburgers and Dogs
Sound provided by Jammers Jukebox Check him out on Facebook at Jammers Jukebox
S PORTSMAN TAVER N
K araoKe
All you cAn eAt breAkfAst
or order off the menu
At the I.V. GrAnGe
e very
Friday
Serving
CoCKtailS
B A
R
♥ G R
EAT
F OOD ♥
C
♥
SI
F U
LL
L IV
E M
U
C an ’ t wait to see
and hear all of you
F irst three s undays oF the month From 8 a . m . to 12 noon .
3763 Holland Loop
541-592-6045