Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Page A-9
Winding Trails: by Al Hobart
Cascades – Skiing
by Al Hobart
That big perennial fireball that
for a week or two now has been leering
down at us with a degree of warmth that
is downright disgusting in midwinter,
seems to be gleefully committing an act
of sheer vandalism by whetting away at
the wilting snow supply we have been
carefully hoarding in our surrounding
mountains.
Visions of dried-up local wells,
and streams shrinking to trickle status
as summer approaches, constitute a
bugaboo that bugs many of our worry-
prone citizens (like me), when they see
that old snow-pack shrinking instead of
growing as winter slides hurriedly by.
Of course, aside from my feeling
of compassion for those suffering
ROGUE VALLEY
way.
hardship by the drying-up of wells
and waterworks, such an event doesn’t
concern me personally as I do all my
drinking from bottles and cans anyway.
But when the winter snow softens up
and melts down to the point where
skiing is seriously interfered with, I tell
you Señor that really riles me up.
It isn’t safe to try skiing in my
own mountains, where there’s still deep
snow, without wearing a snorkel – the
stuff is hardly firm enough to support a
snowshoe rabbit.
So, in order to avoid the dread
erosion of frustration, I’m forced to wind
up Little Toot and go chugging off to
where willing and ready companions
are poised for another venture into the
always dependable, always satisfying
Cascades.
If you doubt my word you should,
have been along last weekend. Saturday
morning three of my ski pals, Bill, Joe,
and Ernest and I loaded our touring ski
outfits on Bill’s station wagon and went
for a day of skiing up Howard Prairie
Thursday, Feb. 23, 1967
Illinois Valley News
With John Day’s ski-doo in tow,
which Bill used to lay down our ski track
(unnecessary, but helpful, especially for
a faster ski run) we drove out the Dead
Indian Road east from Ashland about 15
miles to where the Buck Prairie Road
takes off to the south toward Hyatt Lake.
This road follows along high on the
east side of a big ridge, angling down
to join the Howard Prairie-Hyatt Lake
road about seven miles from the starting
point. This old road is entirely snowed in
in the winter and is one of our loveliest
ski-tour routes.
The one-way trip is a wonderful
family tour, or one to be enjoyed by
faster parties when time is somewhat
limited. We, with several other men
who joined us there, made the one-way
run, our car having been driven around
to meet us at the finish. Such a tour is
always a picnic, and this one is one of
the best.
The following day, Sunday, Joe,
Charles and I had a 10-mile ski tour
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After reporting to the ranger at
headquarters, a necessary procedure
both at the beginning and end of such a
tour, we headed back down out of the
beautiful, wintry world of Crater Lake.
On the way home our salt-depleted
bodies kept crying out for attention. So
we pulled in to an accommodating little
hostel at Prospect and each ate a bag of
nice salty potato chips.
Of course you don’t just eat those
scratchy potato chips without some
form of lubrication; so, after a hasty
consultation, we decided to ease the
situation with a small schooner apiece of
nice cold 96 percent water. After which
our whimpering appetites satisfied for
the time being, we resumed our happy
homeward way.
So, once again we ended a
top-hole skiing adventure. And plans
are already in the making for a repeat
performance, of longer duration next
time, in the little natural ski bowl high up
on Crater’s Dutton Ridge.
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on the Crater Lake Rim. This time we
began our tour at headquarters and skied
in a counter-clockwise direction around
the Rim road to Sun Notch, a distance of
about 5 miles, and then on to the top of
Dutton Ridge, to a point whose elevation
is well over 7,000 ft.
In a shallow basin-like depression
on Dutton Ridge, under a bright blue
winter sky, and in comfortably warm
sunshine, we ate a leisurely picnic lunch.
Then, the gentle slopes of the semi-basin
being ideal for the purpose, we practiced
some of the skiing maneuvers at which
every budding ski expert hopes someday
to become proficient.
We played around there for a
couple of hours, then, the lengthening
shadows of the alpine conifers indicating
the approach of evening, we reluctantly
lined-out on our back trail.
From Sun Notch for a couple of
miles we had to ski up a gentle grade
on our way back to headquarters. Then
there came a long, long glide down
around the high Rim to our takeoff point.
i.V. Wellness resources
Oral health advice
Good oral health achieved by good brushing and flossing
regularly is a step toward ensuring our overall health.
Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the
gums and the bones that support the teeth, may occur when
proper dental care is lacking or as we age and the gums start to
recede. This process increases the risk of tooth loss. Bacteria
associated with periodontal disease (which affects nearly half
of all adults) can travel into the bloodstream and create health
risks to other parts of the body.
Research has shown that gum disease increases the risk
of heart disease and stroke. Individuals with diabetes are at
a higher risk for gum disease due to poor blood circulation.
Bacteria from the mouth can get into airways of the lungs
and increase the risk of respiratory diseases and can worsen
chronic lung conditions like COPD and emphysema. Smoking
is a leading factor for developing gum disease as it constricts
blood flow and diminishes the body’s ability to heal. Smok-
ers are three times more likely to lose teeth than nonsmokers
are. The American Dental Association recommends brushing
for two minutes two times a day using a soft, round bristled
toothbrush. Toothbrushes should be replaced every four month
or after an illness. After brushing, use floss to remove any last
bits of food or plaque that still might be hanging around. If you
can’t brush right away at the very least rinse the mouth with
water after eating.
A dental cleaning should be scheduled twice a year to pro-
mote good oral health and prevent inflammation.
Should you lose your teeth and require dentures (full or
partial), you must realize that they are not indestructible.
Dentures can chip and break during use or when accidentally
dropped. Denture teeth can wear down and lose their sharp-
ness. The jaws can change shape and chewing ability may be
impacted. The same plaque and bacteria that builds up on your
natural teeth can also build up on dentures, so a good cleaning
is imperative in keeping them useable and your mouth healthy.
A powerful cleaner and a good denture brush can remove and
prevent the plaque deposits from coming back. They say, if
you smile the whole word smiles with you!
You can contact I.V. Wellness Resources at www.ivwell-
nessresources@gmail.com. Please like our Facebook page by
searching for ivwellnessresources.
Senior BULLeTin
HOME SAFETY
EVALUATAIONS
If you are in need of a home
safety evaluation with a reg-
istered nurse please call I.V.
Wellness Resources for an
appointment. We have flex-
ible hours to meet your needs.
Call 541-592-9781.
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If you are a senior and want
to place a FREE AD for a
living or health care need
call Laura Mancuso at
541-592-2541 or email
laura@illinois-valley-news.
com.
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Health Center, Wednes-
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Must register at 541-
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Tax counselors are IRS-cer-
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SEEKING SERVICES
Valley seniors are
looking for transportation,
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handymen, computer
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If you would like to
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have references, please
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