Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Page A-9
Winding Trails: by Al Hobart
Thursday, November 2, 1967
Illinois Valley News
Huckleberry Mt and
Crater Lake Shelter
On Huckleberry Mountain,
where the soft green foliage of
the mountain bilberry spreads
thick and close over large areas,
forming an attractive, almost
lawn-like carpet, this year’s out-
of- character weather has left the
countless huckleberry bushes
attractive in appearance only.
Ordinarily dozens of
enthusiastic pickers, whole
families with their pails and pans
and picnic lunches, are attracted
to Huckleberry Mountain, where
tons of the aromatic, delicious
blue-black berries await the
coming of appreciative people,
birds, and animals to harvest the
luscious crop.
But this year the precious
fruit on Huckleberry Mountain,
like the apples, peaches, and
some other fruits in other
localities within the area of semi-
drought that we’ve had to endure
this summer, has failed to mature
to any great extent.
When Bill Pruitt and I drove
over Huckleberry Mountain not
long ago on our way to Crater
Lake, although the narrow,
winding road passes through vast
patches of huckleberry bushes,
we saw more deer than berries.
Where usually the slender twigs
bend proudly under the weight of
the beautiful, delicious fruit, now
they seemed to support the few
scattered berries in a manner of
dejection or shy embarrassment.
To get to Huckleberry
Mountain we left the Crater Lake
highway just on the western edge
of the little settlement of Union
Creek and drove in a southerly
direction over a narrow dirt
road that picks its devious way
through a Chinese puzzle of
branching logging roads. Bill,
long familiar with every inch of
the territory, unerringly chose the
correct route through the maze,
and eventually we reached the
steep, winding road that writhes
its way over the top of the 6,400-
foot-high mountain and on down,
now in a northeasterly direction,
to its other junction with Crater
Lake Highway.
We drove up to where the
scant remains of a once-active
guard station marks the very top
of the mountain. From this small
bare area the old Red Blanket
Trail winds mysteriously off into
the south, where along the way
it makes contact with the Dead
Soldier and Thousand Springs
trails. The very names of these
old trails set a trail tramp’s hiking
muscles a-quiver; and Bill and
I, looking longingly down Red
Blanket Trail, both smacked our
chops and vowed that “some-day
– soon!”
This lovely, intensely
interesting side tour over
Huckleberry Mountain was
actually only a bonus diversion
on our Crater Lake trip, a
delicious bit of topping for the
big tasty pudding that lay ahead
of us. The main purpose of the
trip was a tour of inspection: Bill
wanted to make sure that the little
across-the-Lake shelter would
be in shipshape readiness for his
2-day guided ski tours around
snow-bound Crater Lake this
coming winter.
The chief ranger of Crater
Lake Park, Buck Evans, took
time off from his office duties
to accompany us on our 30-mile
drive around the Rim Road. And
he enjoyed the fairyland-like
journey just as much as he did
the first of his dozens of such
trips around the fabulous crater
road since he took up his duties
in the park many years ago.
To me this summertime
trip over the bare, sun-washed
Rim Road was of special
interest because it enabled me to
pinpoint the landmarks that were
camouflaged with deep snow
when we skied over the same
route in mid-winter. Now, where
we picked our way cautiously
on skis along the roadless,
dangerous face of Dutton Cliff,
the smooth road cut in to the
side of the cliff, guilelessly
guides happy tourists on their
way around the great lake-filled
crater.
It’s amazing what a 20-foot
snowpack can do to a scene that
so short a time ago lay tranquil
and flower-decked in the warm
sunshine.
And it’s equally amazing
how a group of cross-country ski-
fiends, who repeatedly risk their
necks on winter’s Dutton Cliffs,
can hardly wait till the deep
snows come again.
Senior SPoTLiGHT
SPonSoreD BY i.V. Wellness resources
Food & Friends Menu
FRIDAY – NOV 3
THREE CHEESE
LASAGNA
MONDAY – NOV 6
BBQ SMOKEHOUSE
PORK W/ BBQ SAUCE
WEDNESDAY- NOV 8
MEATLOAF
W/ CREOLE SAUCE
Call 541-955-8839
to volunteer or if you
need meals.
Eye Problems
It’s starting to get cold out there and we’re turning on
the heat and lighting our wood stoves.
You may notice that your eyes are starting to react
– redness, pain, itching, a gritty sensation, blurred vision,
excessive tearing and a sensitivity to light. These are all
signs of dry eyes.
What causes dry eyes? It occurs when we don’t produce
enough tears to keep the eyes moistened. Dry eyes occurs
at any time of the year, but cold, air conditioning and
heat can make it worse.
Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands inside and
above our eyelids and contain a mixture of ingredients
that moisten, lubricate, prevent infection and spread the
solution evenly across the eyes. An imbalance in these
ingredients can prevent tears from doing their work and
cause our eyes to feel/become dry.
As we age, we are also prone to dry eyes as our tear
production decreases. Some medications and health
conditions can also cause dry eyes. Strange as it sounds,
excessive tearing is a signal that your eyes do not have
enough lubrication. The brain sends a message to the
lacrimal gland to make more tears. Using a humidifier
CHAIR FITNESS
WELLNESS CHECKS
Classes FREE at
If you know a senior that
Healthy U, TUESDAYS
you are worried about and & THURSDAYS from 1
feel they need a wellness - 1:45 p.m. 535 E. River
check. Please call Laura
St., Cave Junction Call
at I.V. Wellness Resources
541-592-4888 or visit
at 541-592-9781.
www.healthyucenter.org.
S PORTSMAN TAVER N
K araoKe
A LL
and air filter can help keep the air around you clean and
moist.
Artificial tears can be purchased over the counter to
help with lubrication, but always check with your health-
care provider or eye care specialist for the best options
for you.
Another red, itchy, watery eye problem is conjunctivitis
or pink eye. It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the
thin, clear tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and
the white part of the eyeball. It can be caused by viruses,
bacteria, allergens or irritants. Viruses and bacterial
causes are highly contagious. The symptoms are simi-
lar, but can also include a crusting of the eyelids and a
greenish-yellow discharge. Treatment is dependent on the
causative agent. Prevent spreading with frequent hand
washing. Avoid touching or rubbing the eyes. Do not
share eye or face makeup, contact lenses and containers
or eyeglasses. Again see your healthcare provider or eye
care specialist.
You can contact I.V. Wellness Resources at 541-592-
9781 or www.ivwellnessresources@gmail.com and please
like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ivwell-
nessresources.
2-1-1
Call 211info for help
with health & social
services. Just Dial
211, visit 211info.
org, search 211info
App or text zip to
898211.
VET
TRANSPORTION
If you are a veteran and
need free rides to your VA
appointment contact the
The I.V. Eagle by calling
De at 541-944-3741.
CARING CALLER
Are you isolated in your
home and need a phone
friend to call you with
daily or weekly phone
calls? Call Laura 541-
592-9781 to sign up or to
volunteer.
you cAn eAt breAkfAst
or order off tHe menu
At tHe
IV GrAnGe
e very
Friday
and hear all of you
F U
C an ’ t wait to see
LL
B A
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R
♥ G R
L
E A T F O O D ♥
C
CoCKtailS
3763 Holland Loop
541-659-3781 or 541-415-1819
SI
Serving
FIRST THREE SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH: 8 AM - 12 PM
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