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FOURTEEN MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sunday. Jul? 14, 1957
Explorer Scouts Take Week's Camping Trip to Three Sisters
line
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LUNCH AT THE TOP Six of the exploring
group rest and enjoy a sack lunch after push-,
ing up Batchelor butte. It took two and a half
hours for thorn to scale the pak, and here
Writer
N
atioo s Largest
Atomic
(Editor's Note: The follow
ing article describes the July
S explosion of the largest
atomic bomb ever detonated
in this country. The test was
held at Yucca Flats, Nev.,
where the author, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Fred L. Chez. 812
Palm St., Medford, was vaca
tioning with his bride, the
former Jonita Stith. Chez
wrote this article for the Mail
Tribune and also took photo
graphs, one of which was pub
lished in this newspaper on
Monday, July 8.)
By FRED E. CHEZ
Mail Tribune Special Writer
THIS IS DRAGNET." A
voice booms out of the darkness
from unseen loudspeakers.
It is as you have imagined
from hearing of previous detona
tions of atomic devices by the
Atomic Energy commission; only
this time it indifferent. Instead
of listening to a radio, or seeing
the event in a movie news reel
or on TV, we are on the side
of News Nob, a small rugged
mass of rock and dust and
scraggly bushes which rests on
the edge of Yucca Flat, the prov
ing grounds for the Atomic
Energy commission in the Unit
ed States.
Human Being
The voice continues: "In one
minute it will be H minus Two
Hours." And we realize that a
voice which before had seemed
the metallic emissions of a me
chanical giant was now the per
sonal tones of a human being,
that even in the immensity of
what was about to come that
man could not lose his identity.
"In thirty seconds it will be
H minus Two Hours," after a
pause the familiar counting from
ten seconds down to one, and
then "HACK!" And at that we
were surprised to see a small
flash of light out in the distant
darkness, which turned out to
he one of the charges of con
ventional explosives set off at
Two and at One hours before
the atomic blast for the testing
of shock waves and for an aid
in coordinating weather predic
ns. After informing us that
"Next time HACK at H minus
me and one-half hours," and
the time of succeeding broad
casts. Dragnet is silent.
10 Miles Away
An old timer who has been
expecting the small blast of
dynamite informs us. after
rnecking his watch to note the
difference in time of the sound
and light waves of the explo
sion that it was about ten miles i
away. But in a different direc-1
1-nn' almost due north from
n here we stand. Hood tests of
the Plumb-bob series, at almost
13 miles away. We have been
told that this atomic bomb will
be "above nominal", which in
crvptic announcements of the
AEC means only that it will be
more powerful, more devastat
ing than the horror that leveled
Hiroshima and Nagasaki near
the end of World War II. But
there is more than that. This
hi-mh promises to be the most
powerful ever set off in the
United States; the AEC cannot
hide the significance of the
sjfety precautions that it issues.
AU highways within a 60 mile
radius will have road blocks to
slop motorists who would be
b.inded by the flash: all air
l;nes have been warned; and the
people of Las Vegas, who are
used to atomic, explosions almost
Jfcw
Watches
Expl
on their doorsteps, have to keep
their windows and doors open'
so they won't be splintered
when the shock waves arrive
minutes after the blast.
Larger Blast
The Japanese bombs were in
the 20 Kiloton range. That is,
ihey represented the power of
20,000 tons of high explosives
set off in one blast. The largest
previous blast at Yucca Flat was
in the 60 Kiloton range. This
one, by all evidence, will be
larger. It will not exceed the
100 KT level, as that is the
maximum size which can be
tested in the continental United
States. All larger devices includ
ing H-bombs are taken to the
Pacific test areas for detonation.
Powerful as it will be, the
A-bomb does not deter the cour
age of 2.500 Marines who are
huddled in trenches less than
three miles from ground zero.
Previous A tests have proven
that as long as they wear their
gas masks and keep under cover
that no harm will come to them.
Immediately after the blast, as
soon as it is safe, they will fol
low the monitors who check
for radioactivity. Their mission,
involving a swarm of assault
helicopters in an air attack to
seize, occupy, and defend an
objective in exploitation of an
atomic explosion.
Now, with an hour to go,
there is time for reflection. We
have our camera set in position,
but for final adjustment we must
wait for ten minutes before the
atomic device is carried aloft to
an altitude of 1500 feet on an
anchored balloon for detonation.
In its continued quest for safety,
the AEC will set this device off
at a level where there will be
little oj no fallout. Even the
Marines, at only three miles,
will get less radioactivity than
if they had a tooth x-rayed.
Security Stressed
The AEC has not only im
pressed us on safety, but also
security. As civilians, there were
badges prepared for all of us
when we reported at the se
curity building in Mercury, the
super secret AEC community
that sprang up five miles from
U.S. Highway 95 when the tests
first began in 1950. From there
all newsmen and observers
traveled in a supervised convoy
across the blast-blackened levels
of Frenchman Flat where the
A-bombs were tested several
years ago, to the larger, better
area at Yucca Flat.
Now we see a faint, flashing
blue light, barely distinguish-
able in the pale nuances of the
earliest dawn, begin to rise
slowly from the desert floor.
From the written information
given us we know that the bal-
ioon is 75 feet in diameter. "No4
h'nt of the size of the bomb is
given. We only know that the
balloon can lift 21? tons with
ease.
The last 15 minutes fly by. I man himself has the grim re
Equipment is checked and re- j sponsibility for its use.
checked. We try to act calm,
but even the old timers betray j
excitement in tneir voices. But
only in the sense of extreme ex
citement, never in fear, as a con
fidence in scientific predictions
seems to be the consensus of
opinion.
Last Warnings
Dragnet resumes his count
down, one for each minute. In
between, the loudspeakers voice
their last warnings. Don't ex
pose your film during the first
'-.v2?Ts.A .Ao.T,l
they sit 9.100 feel above sea level. From left
are Nev Curtis. Richard Andre, Bob Frazier,
Bob Young, Mike Bauer, and Bill Dahl-strom.
osiom
instant of detonation. The con
centrated light has been known
to burn a hole in the film. For
the same reason, look only at
the blast if you are wearing the
thick black goggles issued by
the AEC this blast which is
20 times brighter than the sun
can melt your eyes. And in 48
second we are to expect the
blast and sound wave, which is
promised to be 26 times stronger
than the previous one which
buckled the steel doors of the
main control center, one-half
mile away.
We are trying to remember
all the things we have to do
when Dragnet breaks in: "H
minus one minute. Put on your
goggles!" There is urgency in
the last command. "Do not re
move goggles or face the burst
until the fireball dissipates."
"Thirty Seconds to Zero
Time!"
"Twenty-five Seconds to Zero
Time!"
"Twenty Seconds to Zero
Time!"
"Fifteen Seconds to Zero
Time!"
"Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six,
Five, Four, Three, Two, One !"
Fireball Appears
And' there before us. in all
its awesome splendor, the fire
ball, at first a fiery sphere which
then fights and swirls in gold
and crimson fury to form the
familiar mushroom. A blast of
tremendous heat hits us, yet it
is neither felt nor remembered
in the light of the spectatcle we
see. All is power, all is force,
and only the tumbling clouds
of ground dust bespeak defeat
for the unwanted and reluctant
opposition of the earth. The fire
ball rises quickly, dissipating
into a huge formless cloud of the
most beautiful purple and lav-t-ndar,
gilded on the edges by the
awakening dawn.
The deadening, eerie silence is
broken by a terrific cracking
boom, accompanied by a blow
ing force which shakes News
Nob. We reel and recover, and
we hardly have time to straight
en up before we see a swarm
of Marine heliocopters, rising
with their troops from behind
protective hills. They speed by
us in formation, silhouetted
against the huge golden cloud,
on their way to the bubbling,
black masses of dust at ground
Zero. The copters disgorge their
troops, and return to pick up
the observers. We are treated
to an interesting and impressive
view of Marine maneuvers.
Amid the ever present smell
of newly scorched earth, we see
the Marines charging across the
blackened desert, pouring from
heliocopters or armored vehicles
to "capture" their objectives.
Always in the background,
looming like the spectre of
death, is the huge cloud. The
challenge to man lies in the
atom, but in the final analysis
Mark Hatfield Observes
35th Birthday Friday
Salem HP Secretary of
State Mark Hatfield observed a
quiet 35th birthday here Friday
and for one of the few evenings
since taking office had no speak
ing engagement scheduled.
Division heads of his depart
ment and the immediate office
staff held a luncheon in his office.
Mountain Climbs,
Outdoor Meals Are
Described in Log
(Edilor'l Note: The follow
ing is a seven day log of eight
members and an advisor of
Scout Explorer Troop 8 of
Medford. They took a trip to
the Three Sisters recreation
area near Bend last month and
camped. Nev Curtis, advisor,
wrote the log which appears
in its original form, edited
slightly by the Mail Tribune.)
Sunday, June 23 S u n d a y :
morning's quiet on the corner ?..
of South Oakdale and Fifth st.
was shattered about 6:45 a.m. .
with the arrival of two car loads -of
Explorer Scouts preparing to ,
leave for a weeks camD triD.
After relocating gear and per-
sonnel, the hardy explorers left
Medford for Bend.
Nine were on the trip: Mike
Bauer. Bob Frazier, Bob Young,
Pat Connolly, Bill Dahlstrom,
Dennis Hammond, Mike Phillips,
Dick Andre, and Nev Curtis
Arrive in Bend
Arrived in Bend about 11:30
a.m. After a short stop for a last
milk shake before our week of
denydrated foods, we proceeded
on up into the Three Sisters
recreation area. As we climbed
the Century Drive, the moun
tains loomed larger and more
impressive until we were sur
rounded. Snow caps above and
all sizes of lakes below.
The afternoon was spent
largely in pitching camp on Sat
an's creek and commencing the
battle of the mosquitoes. An
early supper and bed, foi Mon
day portended to be a long and
tough day.
Monday, June 24 Up early.
Bob Frazier and Nev now know
how the rim of a wheel feels
when the tire goes flat. Nev's
was a slow settling to the
ground, but Bob's was more in
the nature of a sharp puncture
as his air mattress popped.
Leg Locomotion
Breakfast. Cars and packs
loaded, we drove to Elks lake.
From this point on, the locomo
tion would come from our legs.
We headed toward Horse lake.
Two hours, four and one half
miles and 16 blisters later, we
arrived in a cloud of man eating
mosquitoes. Circling the lake we
found a jetty of stone, and this
became our campsite for the
next three days.
After a lunch of chili beans,
apple sauce and an ice-creamless
milk shake, chores were done
and the explorers relaxed. Sup
per consisted of stew and the
inevitable burnt drop cakes.
Tuesday, June 25 Up to
another sunny day. The lake
mirroring the Three Sisters to
the north and Bachelor's butte
to the east. Fish jumping, birds
chirping, quiet and peace.
Light Breakfast
After a light breakfast of eggs
and apple sauce, the majority
headed north toward the Sisters
along the Skyline Trail. We
climbed about 1,500 feet to the
Sisters' Mirror lakes. The trail
wandered up through magnifi
cent stands of timber, over rush
ing brooks and under several
feet of firm snow. The lakes
themselves are clear and lovely,
each having its own personality.
The group arrived back in camp
about 1:30 having covered a
good nine miles that morning.
Interest in fishing was kin
dled and during the evening, a
nice mess was caught. Dennis
was champion in terms of num
bers, but Dick caught the
largest.
During dinner we watched a
fat, saucy beaverswim across
the lake and feed on the edge.
He swam around and eyed us as
we were eyeing him. A big
campfire was enjoyed later as
the fishermen came in with their
tales of fish not caught, lures
lost, and cold feet.
Trip's Low Point
Wednesday, June 26 This
was perhaps the low point of
f
iff -
11 -If I
m -1 f is
ujiiOOH iClTCnEI Pat Connolly and Mike Phillips dis
cover there are some things not even a trip into the wilderness
can escape. At the Horse Lake campsite they take their turn
washing dishes after a meaL
f ... !
issw4cBi
MIRRORED MOUNTAIN From their Todd
lake camp, the explorers looked out across
. the lake to Broken-Top mountain. The group
of nine spent seven days on their outing, and
on the fifth day hiked to this high lake to
the trip. Dull, overcast day.
Mike Bauer, Bob Frazier, and
Pat climbed up to Horse Look
out. The rest of us fished, swam
and loafed.
The diet of stew was getting
monotonous, for though each
had a different name, they all
tasted much the sar-e. We were
also tired of apple sauce, pri
marily because we had not taken
any spices and it was pretty bla.
Thursday, June 27 Up early.
Glorious peace, the sun gradual-
ly bringing all into tocus as me
mists slowly faded away. Low
clouds rose and the peaks came
into view.
That noon, Bob Young and
Pat concocted tamale pies,
which were an experience. Fill
ing, anyway.
Snow on Ground
We headed back to Elk lake.
Arriving there, we enjoyed
fresh milk and fruit, then went
up to Todd lake and pitched
camp. This lake is quite high,
and snow was still on the
ground.
Friday, June 28 We loaded
into the cars and drove to the
foot of Bachelor butte. This is a
deceptive mountain. From the
road it appears to be rounded
at the top and an easy climb.
However, as we got higher on
the snow fields, the slopes be
came steeper and we all slowed
down.
Pushing up, we saw the val
leys fall away and the moun
tains become more clearly de
lineated. Lakes on all sides, the
Sisters rising to the north, the
smell of pines in our nostrils,
and the crunch of crisp snow
underfoot.
Veterans Impressed
About two and a half hours
after starting, we were on top
the 9.100 foot peak. Even the
old veterans were impressed. We
could see from Mt. McLough
lin in the south to Mt. Hood in
the north.
All signed the log, and ate a
light lunch. Then down.
Glissading was a new experi
ence for some and it was with
a bit of trepidation that we
faced the gleaming slopes. How
ever, once started it was easy.
It was amusing to see some
clean spots on seats of otherwise
somewhat soiled levis when we
got back. We dropped down to
a small pocket about 1,500 feet
below, the top of which was
filled with blue ice water.
It took only about 45 minutes
to come down. After checking
into camp, we all went down to
Elk lake for a swim in the ice
water.
Supper dishes done, we gath
ered 'round a blazing campfire,
and our voices echoed around
the hills as we sang all the old
camping songs.
Saturday, June 29 We
headed north to climb to the
tsowl ot tsroken-lop. it was
about three miles to the base of
the mountain from Todd lake.
We crossed the rim surrounding
i
. aswft'f..
a 4 -re
pJ1
i&H
VIEW OF BUTTE On the last day the group climbed to the
bowl of Broken-Top. On their way down the slope they caught
this view of Batchelor butte, a mountain they had conquered
the day before. On top of Batchelor they could see from Mt.
McLoughlin in the south to Mt. Hood in the north.
Todd and found ourselves in
truly virgin timber, deep gorges,
gushing streams of clear snow
water and the ground covered
with patches of snow. Flowers
peeked at us under new green
leaves and the ground squirrels
scolded occasionally.
Up and down . . . we rose
above the valley. Finally we
passed the snow fields and the
rest was up through rocks.
Higher than Bachelor, Broken
Top was a more exacting climb.
The view sweeping over much
the same country gave us a new
perspective, especially on the
Sisters. The trip back was slow
with the exception of some
wonderful glissades.
Food was quickly served on
our return, camp broken, and
the gang headed back to Med
ford and summer activities. The
trip was a great success. We had
seen new country . . . seen many
wonderful animals and much
plant life as undisturbed in its
natural setting as is possible
today.
Disease Research
Possible in Malheur
Ontario iW Malheur Coun
ty Sanitarian Taylor Sandvigen
said Saturday the county may
be the center for a special re
search project into the so-called
"St. Louis" type of sleeping
sickness.
Sandvigen said U.S. Public
Health Service officials recent
ly found traces of the disease
while testing horses and chick
ens in the area.
The sleeping sickness, said
Sandvigen, was more dangerous
to humans than equine encephal
myelitis because it strikes hu
mans without adyance warning.
With the equine brain fever,
he explained, people are warned
of its presence in an area be
cause it first strikes horses and
birds.
The sanitarian said he ex
pected to have definite word
later this month on whether
the research project would be
conducted here.
Maxwell Named Stale
Trade Fair Manager
Portland (IP) Manaeinz Hi
rector of the 1959 Oregon Cen
tennial Exposition and Interna
tional Trade Fair at Portland
will be Floyd Maxwell, former
Pacific Northwest theater execu
tive.
The Centennial commission
announced also that work will
proceed at once on renovation
of the Pacific International Live
stock Exposition pavillion in
North Portland to house the
exposition.
The commission said much of
the preliminiary planning ana
organization for the state's birth
day celebration has already
been completed.
pitch camp. Snow was still on the ground.
From there they made two more climbs, then
hoaded home after a trip that was "a great
success."
Federal Court Asked
To Rule on Timber
Portland (IT) Simpson Red
wood company Friday petition
ed in Federal Court here for
partition of one of the finest
remaining tracts of yellow fir
still standing in Oregon.
Simpson Redwood owns
12-32nds of the 50 million dol
lar stand in the Thomas creek
drainage of Linn county and
said it asked the partition so
that it could proceed with har
vesting of mature timber be
fore it deteriorates. The cut
would be used to supply Simp
son's Albany and Lyons plants.
Other owners of the tract are
Sewell Avery, Chicago, board
chairman of Montgomery Ward
Company, and his brother,
Waldo A. Avery of Grosspoint,
Mich., and the Portland Manu
facturing Company.
Simpson asked the court to
divide the tract and to allot
Simpson its share considering
both quality and quantity.
Judge J. Frank McLaughlin
ordered the Averys to appear
or answer the Simpson action
by Sept. 3.
WEATHER By United Press
Northern California: Cloudy
in the north- and fair in central
California.
The
GOLD ROOM
as well as the Rose, Green or
Orchid Room, where family
and friends may pay their final
respects AT ANY HOUR, day
or night, prior to the Memorial
Service.
Conger-Morris
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
W. MAIN AT SIXTH
George Simmons
New Commander
Of DAV Chapter
George Simmons was recently
installed commander of the Jack
son county Disabled American
Veterans chapter at a special in
stallation meeting in the Moose
hall, 11 South Newtown st., Med
ford.
Robert T. Finton, department
senior vice commander of Klam
ath Falls, was installation offi
cer. Others present from the
Klamath Falls chapter were Mrs.
Finton, department auxiliary
senior vice commander and Dan
Johnson, commander of district
5, with Mrs. Johnson.
Other Visitors
From Grants Pass were Lee
Turner, commander, and Mrs.
Turner, who holds an office in
the auxiliary. Department Com
mander William H. Manley and
Mrs. Manley were present from
Eugene. Mrs. Manley is com
mander of the women's post,
American Legion, Eugene.
Installed with Simmons were
James Cech, senior vice com
mander; James G. Manning, jun
ior vice commander; Karl J.
Knutson, treasurer; Jonas Sny
der, chaplain; and Linn Elliott,
sergeant-at-arms. Lester L. Mo
ser, James R. Lillie and George
O. Martin are executive com
mitteemen.
Entertainment Furnished
Entertainment was furnished
by members of Caesare Muzzi
oli's Accordion band. Included
in the entertaining group were
Nicky Gier, Medford. accordion
soloist, and Bonnie, Vonnie and
Connie Goehrtng, Eagle Point,
vocalists and instrumentalists.
The chapter now maintains a
full-time service officer, Pat Gra
ham, at 1515 North Riverside
ave. Maintenance of office, utili
ties and rentals are among prob
lems being studied by the execu
tive committee.
Smoke Jumpers Sent
Into Boise Fires
Boise (IF) Smoke jumpers
Friday were sent to the scene
of eight forest fires concentrated
in mountains about 70 miles
northeast of Lowman, officials
of the Boise National forest said
Saturday.
Meanwhile, bureau of land
management crews had their
hands full with two range fires
which consumed 1,600 acres of
grassland Friday before they
were extinguished.
K. D. Flock, Boise National
forest supervisor, said 14 smoke
jumpers were sent into the area
and were at the scene of five
of the fires by late Friday night.
Flock said all eight fires were
lightning-caused.
BLM crews Friday night put
out two fires, one 500-acre blaze
on the Saylor creek gunnery
range near Glanns -Ferry and
another 1,000-acre fire near
Emmett. The bureau said it be
lieved both were man-caused.
18-Year-Old Chosen
Miss Roseburg of '57
Roseburg ilfl Eighteen-year
old Judith Gaye Hensley was
chosen Miss Roseburg of 1957
Friday night.
She is 5-1, weights 100 pounds
and is 34-21-34. Last March she
won second place in a national
movie magazine contest, titled,
"your legs can be your future."
She will compete for the title
of Miss Oregon laster this year.
JTZ - r r K"3 Ri