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Page 6C OUTSIDE East Oregonian Saturday, July 29, 2017 BLOOMIN’ BLUES Tailcup one of hundreds of lupines By BRUCE BARNES For the East Oregonian AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Kids play on rocks in Sunset Bay as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean July 23 in Coos Bay. Wyden revives recreation bill “A number of key laws really stem from yesteryear ... this is really trying to come up with some policies that modernize .. outdoor industries” Legislation to prioritize recreation opportunities By GEORGE PLAVEN East Oregonian While the issue of debating health care is causing a sharp political divide in Congress, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) took time Wednesday to highlight what he described as the right way of advancing legislation. During a conference call with reporters, Wyden announced he is reaching across the aisle to revive the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act — a bill that supporters say would make it easier for people to enjoy the great outdoors. Wyden co-sponsored a version of the bill last year with fellow Oregon Demo- crat, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, after they made the rounds visiting each of Oregon’s “Seven Wonders.” This year, Wyden has reintroduced the bill alongside Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. The focus of the bill is to get more people outside enjoying national lands, Wyden said, by expediting the permit process for outfitters and directing federal agencies to prioritize recreation when making land and water management decisions. “A number of key laws really stem from yesteryear,” Wyden said. “To a great extent, I think this is really trying to come up with some policies that modernize the challenges of outdoor indus- tries.” — Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator, (D-Oregon) To illustrate his point, Wyden mentioned river guides who need to obtain multiple permits from multiple different agencies for trips that cross juris- dictions. The Recreation Not Red-Tape Act would require the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to review their permitting processes, shorten processing times and work with states so visitors can buy a state and federal pass all in one transaction. The bill also directs agen- cies like the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Recla- mation and Department of Transportation to make outdoor recreation a priority for the first time, and holds land managers accountable for achieving recreation goals. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation gener- ates $887 billion in annual spending and 7.6 million jobs across the country. Yet Wyden said he has heard concerns from within rural communities that outdated laws are holding back these opportunities. “Some of the concerns I’ve heard just sounded like bureaucratic water torture,” he said. Other provisions in the bill would extend to the U.S. military, requiring all branches to include informa- tion about outdoor recreation as part of the basic services they provide to veterans. As for maintaining public lands, the bill establishes a pilot program for inter- agency trail management while also creating a system of National Recreation Areas, which would be managed to uniform guidelines. Wyden said parts of the bill have been modified in this latest version, but still maintains the same intent while garnering greater bipartisan support with the help of Rep. Bishop. “Cumbersome permitting processes and other bureau- cratic roadblocks have significantly undermined access to recreational oppor- tunities for lands that should be available for all Ameri- cans to enjoy,” Bishop said in a statement. “This bipar- tisan bill cuts through that red-tape and ensures federal land managers are focused on their role in providing the public with high-quality outdoor experiences.” A number of outdoor recreation groups have come out in favor of the bill, including the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, International Mountain Biking Association, Trout Unlimited, the American Alpine Club and American Canoe Association. ——— Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0825. Common Name: Tailcup Lupine Scientific Name: Lupinus caudatus The Tailcup Lupine is found throughout most of western North America, from British Columbia to California, and eastward to South Dakota to Texas. There are estimated to be over 100 species of lupine worldwide, most of them in North America, and the rest are scattered in the other continents except for Australia. Lupine is in Fabaceae, better known as the pea family or legume family, and one of some 600 genera in the family worldwide. The names Lupine and Lupinus come from the Latin lupus for wolf, though the reason for this reference is unknown. Caudatus is Latin for having a tail, which refers to the lower hairy sepal, which forms a slender spur-like cup beneath the flower. Unfortunately, the name and the narrow sepal don’t help much to identify this lupine species, since all lupine species have a very similar lower sepal. Lupinus caudatus is a somewhat common species in our area, but it is often very difficult to identify from three or four other lupines. Most lupines have gray-green hairy leaves, a crowded terminal raceme of flowers, blue to purple Photo by Bruce Barnes Tailcup Lupine, Lupinus caudatus petals, and leaves with a whorl of 6 or more leaflets radiating from the end of the leaf stem. Identification usually requires examina- tion of technical aspects of the plant and the use of a handlens and a ruler for a close look at leaf and flower dimensions. The plant stands about 1-2 feet tall, and the leaves have 7-9 leaflets that are 1¼ to 2 inches long. Many species of Lupine have been used for a variety of purposes by Indian tribes, primarily in the western half of North America. Lupinus caudatus was used to cause vomiting, and to create a lotion to treat poison ivy blisters. Where to find: At this time of summer, it should still be blooming in many locations at upper elevations in the Blue Mountains. ODFW offers free youth pheasant hunts East Oregonian The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is hosting free pheasant hunts for youth hunters, ages 17 and under, around the state during the month of September. One of the hunts will be held at the Irrigon Wildlife Area, located between Irrigon and Umatilla along Highway 730, on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24. Morning and evening hunts will be available Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Sunday will feature a morning hunt only. ODFW stocks pheasants for these special hunts to give youth a head start on regular pheasant seasons, which don’t begin until October. Quail and dove can also be hunted. The hunts are free, though participants do need a valid hunting license and upland game bird validation. They must also have previously passed hunter education. “If your child made it through hunter education but is still new to the sport, this is a great way to get them started,” said James Reed, ODFW hunter education coordinator. An adult 21 years or older must accompany the youth to supervise, but is not allowed to hunt. Both hunter and supervisor must wear a hunter orange hat, eye protection and a hunter orange vest. Safety equipment will be provided by ODFW for anyone who needs it. For more information or to register, visit www. odfwcalendar.com. Registration can also be done at a license sales agent or ODFW office that sells licenses. In addition to the Irrigon Wildlife Area, hunts will also be held at the following locations in Eastern Oregon: • Baker City, Sept. 24-23 on private land. Participants will be notified of location via email. • John Day Valley, 457 Front St., Prairie City, Sept. 16-17. • La Grande, Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Sept. 16-17. Advance registration not required. What should you keep in your day pack? By RICH LANDERS The Spokesman-Review One descriptive term in the lead of an Associated Press story about a search and rescue effort for Idaho hikers should make every adventurer cringe: “BOISE — A day trip to the top of Idaho’s tallest peak turned out to be a lot more than two ill-equipped southwest Idaho hikers intended.” Even prepared veteran hikers can encounter dangerous unex- pected circumstances in the field, but to be labeled “ill-equipped” by the responders to your situation is embarrassing. Being unprepared is a risk factor that’s preventable. Go-light, go-fast strategies have merit in some cases, but heading out without gear needed to endure an unexpected weather change or night in the mountains can be deadly when things go wrong. More often, the problems occur simply because people have no strategy at all or they’re unin- formed. They don’t know that a thun- derstorm in mountains on a hot summer day can drop the tempera- ture by 30 or 40 degrees in a flash, requiring not only rain gear but also extra insulation. They forget that a headlamp is needed to safely hike out of the backcountry when an unexpected delay keeps them out after dark. Maybe the delay was caused by not having a map and compass. When you head out on a trail, you should have what it takes to survive an incident or accident — snacks, water, shelter, first aid kit and a way of making a fire. What’s pack? in YOUR day I asked that question to a couple of exceptionally experi- enced hikers to compare lists with “Even when I’m not planning trail work, sometimes it just happens.” — Holly Weiler, Washington Trails Association’s Eastern Washington coordinator, on packing for different scenarios Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review Hikers carry essentials in day packs even for short outings from the road or camp. the items I’ve chosen to carry in my day pack after decades of exploring trails. The experts are: Holly Weiler, a hiking leader for the Spokane Mountaineers and the Washington Trails Association’s Eastern Washington coordinator; Jim Rueckel, a veteran hike leader for the Inland Northwest Hikers Meet Up group. A day pack for serious day hiking should have a capacity of 30 liters or more. For starters, even for a day trip at Mount Spokane, all three of us carry the “13 Essen- tials” as compiled and honed from a century of trial and error by the Spokane Mountaineers: 1. Map of the area. 2. Compass: We all use GPS devices or smartphone apps at one time or another, but there’s nothing like the dependability of a simple compass. 3. Headlamp or flashlight: We all prefer headlamps for hands free use, plus extra batteries. 4. Knife: We all beef this requirement up to a multi-tool. I have a small cheapie, while Weiler prefers a Gerber and Rueckel has a Leatherman Squirt. 5. Fire starter, such as cotton balls coated with petroleum jelly in a little zipper bag or plastic container, or commercial starters. 6. Extra food and water: All of us have 3-liter hydration systems and carry an extra bottle if needed. Rueckel carries a 24-ounce bottle of electrolyte drink, too. Weiler brings a few iodine tabs for emer- gency treatment or a filter if water is abundant. In addition to planned food for the day, extra snack foods range from nuts and jerky to Clif bars and fig bars. 7. Matches in waterproof container. Each of us also carries a butane lighter. 8. First aid kit: See discussion. 9. Extra clothing: At minimum a dry base layer top, plus light gloves and stocking hat. 10. Emergency shelter: At least a reflective blanket; Rueckel carries a SOL Emergency Bivvy. 11. Toilet paper: wisely pack- aged. 12. Signaling devices: A whistle plus something reflective. Always a fully-charged cell phone in waterproof case; maybe an emergency strobe or satellite messenger. 13. Sun protection: Includes hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and SPF-rated lip balm. Beyond that list of basic gear, Weiler, Rueckel and I carry other favorite items in similar or other categories. Rain gear: Considered an essential, we all carry a rain jacket and rain pants even when good weather is forecast. First aid kit: Beyond bandages, gauze, blister treatment, bandanna and tape, I carry small doses of medicines such as allergy tablets, ibuprofen and Tylenol plus Benadryl for anyone who might have an allergic reaction. Tweezers and safety pins should be included. I also carry QuikClot gauze to help stop bleeding. Weiler adds liquid bandage. Rueckel includes dental floss and Body Glide skin lubricant. Extra clothes: Weiler lets her rain jacket be her emergency layer in summer and adds more layers to her pack depending on weather. Reuckle routinely carries a lightweight drybag containing a lightweight compressible down jacket, light wool hat, light fleece gloves and extra socks. Depending on weather, he may also include a light fleece pullover. Potty kit: In addition to TP, Weiler’s kit includes trowel, femi- nine products, hand sanitizer and doggie-do bags for packing out TP and feminine products. Insect repellent: Rueckel and I rely on a small container of 100 percent DEET. Weiler uses peppermint essential. Camera: Rueckel relies on his iPhone. Weiler totes a compact camera. I bring a compact water- proof camera available at all times, rain or shine, and often carry a DSL in a separate fanny pack. Conscientious hiker gear: Weiler leads the pack in this cate- gory, carrying work gloves, Silky saw and safety glasses. “Even when I’m not planning trail work, sometimes it just happens,” she said, noting that she also carries heavy-duty garbage bags for hauling out litter. A few smaller bags are worth the wait should she hit a bonanza of spring morels or summer huckleberries. Navigation devices: Outside of map and compass, most of us use GPS at one time or another. Smartphone GPS mapping apps such as Gaia are very good, but be sure to bring extra battery power. Dog gear: When we hike with dogs, we carry items such as collapsible bowl, leash, dog snacks and, in some cases, booties. Depending on the hike route, extra water may be essential. Outside the pack items we all bring or consider include trekking poles, binoculars, pack rain cover (it’s built into the packs we use) and... Bear spray: Rueckel and I consider it essential in a region graced with bears, wolves, cougars, moose and stray dogs. And there it is — a 20- to 25-pound bundle of comfort and security that three veteran hikers consider worth the weight.
