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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2017)
Page A-8 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 29, 2017 Winding Trails: by Al Hobart unbelievable beauty of Crater Lake’s winter-locked Rim, a privilege granted to only a lucky few. The 30-mile journey around the crater’s 7,000 ft. high rim on skis, although no casual pastime for the faint of heart or physically unfit, is an inspiring, priceless experience for those capable of appreciating nature at its fantastic loveliest. Hardy, experienced skiers can make the rugged trip in a single long day, but a more leisurely 2-day trip is endurance-testing enough, and much more productive of enjoyment of the out-of-this-world scenery on all sides of the tortuous undulating way. To make this trip, especially in foul weather, without the leadership of a competent, experienced guide would be extremely hazardous and foolhardy. On our 7-man round-the- Rim ski tour last weekend we were led by Bill Pruitt, the Rim’s own tour guide, who has made the winter circuit on skis 7 times, either guiding a group on a 2-day tour or making a record one-day run. Early Saturday morning we started our ski tour from the lodge, on the Rim. The temperature was slightly below freezing, snow was Thursday, March 30, 1967 Illinois Valley News Skiing Crater Lake Rim – 2-day Trip – Part 1 No one can deny that one of winter’s most attractive manifestations is the formation and display of icicles, those transparent, often colorfully translucent, cold, brittle, sometimes fantastically shaped structures of frozen water. Being normally imaginative and appreciative of natural phenomena, I have always been fascinated by icicles. Always, that is, until last weekend, when Nature so far forgot herself as to hang a bevy of her precious icy stalactites on my gale-numbed chin and nose. But being occasionally blizzard-whipped, with icicle-draped face and with fingers stiff and cold in spite of heavy protective mitts–all of the temporary discomfort of being exposed to the battering of the periodically rampaging elements is a minuscule price to pay for the privilege of being exposed to the ROGUE VALLEY falling and a moderate wind was blowing. Visibility at times was limited to the near canyons, rocky prominences along the rim-top, and the gnome-like snow-loaded conifers that decorated the slopes. Our destination for that day was a little snow-bound cabin on the far side of the crater, about 14 miles distant. Our skiing that day was done in falling snow, except for a period of little more than an hour, when the sun broke through and gave us a view of the crater’s captive lake and the Rim’s wintry fairyland sculpture that can only be described as breath- taking. Many admire the view of Crater Lake from the lodge even in midwinter. But to view the lodge side from the far rim is an altogether different experience, presenting a picture that few are aware of or are ever permitted to enjoy. To drive around the Rim road in summer is a memorable experience, but the deep snows of winter make a different world of the crater’s rugged tree-studded rim. The road, for the most part, is completely obliterated. Where the summer road existed, now in places, OF GOVERNMENTS Food & Friends Menu FRIDAY – MAR 31 BAkED CHICkEN W/ SUPREME SAUCE filled the room with smoke so dense we were forced to retreat back up the escape hatch and out again into the icy wind. To keep from freezing I clung to the ladder inside the shaft and let my head hang out against the wall, my tongue hanging out and gasping for breath. While I was hanging draped over the sill, faintly trying to cough the carbon out of my tortured lungs (dying for all he knew), my sadist friend Len, a leather-skinned geologist who laughs in the teeth of icy gales, laughingly snapped my picture. Bill, whose lungs must be made of rawhide, stayed down and fought the smoking stove till I thought he’d surely pass out. Dashing down the ladder now and then to help, my only contribution was to give Bill a few seconds of company before gasping my way back up the chute. Eventually the trouble was overcome, and a hot fire was drying damp clothes and filling the cabin with the appetizing aroma of sizzling steaks, on the heels of the vanishing smoke. i.V. Wellness resources It is the mission of Illinois Valley Wellness Resources to support the health and wellbeing of the senior and disabled residents of the Illinois Valley. If you are a senior or disabled resident of the Illinois Valley and you are trying to find resources to keep you happy and healthy in your own home, please call us for referrals that have been pre-screened with background checks and references. We can help you find the following: • Caregivers • Handymen • Yard workers • Firewood • Housekeepers • Pet helpers • Computer skills • Home Safety Evaluations • Health & Social Services Please call Laura Mancuso the Illinois Valley Well- ness Resources program coordinator at 541-592-9781. You can contact I.V. Wellness Resources at www. ivwellnessresources@gmail.com. Please like our Face- book page by searching for ivwellnessresources. Senior BULLeTin MONDAY – APR 3 BREADED BAkED fISH WEDNESDAY - APR 5 ROAST TURkEY If you need meals delivered or want to volunteer please call 541-955-8839. B ingo (Concluded next week) Senior SPoTLiGHT Sponsored by COUNCIL only an almost perpendicular wall of snow is found. Not even the versatile little flea-like snowmobiles, that are becoming a familiar sight on every winter landscape, can negotiate the Rim when winter has laid down its high-altitude mantle of deep snow, making the trip feasible only on skis, and not without hazards even then. In the early evening we arrived at the little “half-way” cabin that sits on the rim overlooking the lake far below. The cabin lay buried in 9 feet of snow, and to gain the interior we climbed down a ladder inside a wooded “snow chimney” that reached well above the deep snow. Inside this wee, wonderful shack we found a good fuel supply, some provisions and sleeping bags–and shelter. A 40 to 50-mile wind was blowing when we arrived and the temperature was 24 degrees, conditions that made that humble little shelter seems like a welcome crumb dropped from a heavenly table. But before we settled down to warm, cheery comfort at last, we were scheduled for a minor but disquieting spot of trouble–the gale outside blowing down the chimney AARP TAx-AIDE CHAIR FITNESS FREE ADS If you are a senior and Classes FREE at PROGRAM want to place a FREE Healthy U, Monday Providing free tax as- AD for a living or health and Wednesdays from sistance for middle & care need call Laura 2 - 2:45 p.m. 535 E. low incomes. Tax coun- Mancuso at River St., Cave Junc- selors are IRS-certified. 541-592-2541 or email tion Call 541-592- Call 541-592-6139 for a laura@illinois-valley- 4888 or visit www. news.com. Wednesday appointment healthyucenter.org. in Cave Junction. for ANxIETY AND DEPRESSION PROGRAM Seventh-day Adventist Church in CJ Mondays at 6 p.m. Call Kathy for more information at 541- 291-7016. WAnTeD UCAN SENIOR COMPANIONS If you would like to volunteer and become a senior companion that helps isolated seniors get the help they need in their homes please call Colleen at 541-492-3520. FOOD & FRIENDS looking for back-up drivers for Meals on Wheels, mileage reim- bursement available. Must pass background check. Call 541-955-8839. t Ake the Crud off your house . g et rid of miLdeW And moLd ! A ll A ges WednesdAys PreSSure WaShing eArly Bird 6 - 6:30PM Call now for an estimate A house should be cleaned every 5 - 7 years. 17 gAMes 6:30 - 9:30PM Hamburgers for sale 520 e. river street, CJ W alt J uergens P ainting 541-597-4136 iv senior Center open to tHe public JP Auto & Metal Recycling New Parts - Used Parts -We Buy Scrap Metal- Certified Scales 29910 Redwood Hwy Cave Junction, OR 541-592-3691 Monday-Sunday: 6aM-8pM Art’s Red Garter Homestyle dinner specials Tues - Sat 5-9 PM in Lounge wiz krisa acoustic covers F r i d a y, M a r c h 3 1 @ 5:30 from KARAOKE Wednesdays @ 9 p.m. Taylor’s Country Store KARAOKE w/ Steve - OH GUPPY Friday, March 31 @ 9 p.m Saturday the 1ST @ 6 p.m. Saturday Pool Tourney @ 7 Every Wednesday Free pool on Sundays Open MIC Night 6 - 8 p.m. J Barley Fridays @ 6 p.m. Sportsman Tavern The G SPOT Hump day Karaoke w/ Jammer Dave PARTY OF FOOLS Rosie Wittman & Dawna Crocker Saturday, April 1, 8 PM free show 8-midnight Open Mic w/ B Thursdays @ 7 p.m. BUCKLE RASH Friday, March 31 @ 8 $10 at door @ McGrew’s!
