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LOST FOREST AND SHIFTING SANDS The Lost Forest of Northern Lake County,
long regarded as a true oddity by foresters and geologists, is a relict of a larger forest
which once covered a large area, according to conclusions drawn by Dick Wallace
Berry. Working on his Ph.D., Berry made intensive studies of the ponderosa pine trees,
shrubs, sands, and soils of the 9,100-acre area during 1959 and I960 when he camped
there with his family. Pictured on the left is his determination of a favorable site for
pine reproduction. The western and southwestern end of the Lost Forest is bordered by
shifting sand dunes, shown at right. One of the dunes is encroaching upon a part of
the forest, burying many standing pine trees. However,
tion potential as consideration is currently being given to
compassing the forest, dunes, and Fossil Lake for primiti
the dunes may have recrea
setting aside the region en-
ve camping.
LAPINE
LOST
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ftlAMATH FALLS
DIFFICULT FOREST ACCESS Access to Lost Forest
from the south is by three rather primitive roads as com
pared with highway travel. Or from Highway 20 it is
possible to travel from a point between Brothers and
Hampton, past Frederick Butte. The U.S. Army Map
Service Crescent Quadrangle is the best available map
of the area. The scale one inch equals five miles. A
stop at Christmas Valley Lodge or its offices might pro
vide a visitor with further orientation.
Two Summers In 'Forest Island'
Puzzling But Interesting Study
By HKLEN PARKS
Is your modem vision of re
search one of individuals sur
rounded by complicated and cost
ly equipment, those experiment
ing with the atom, or others prob
ing the secrets of outer space with
the price tag in the millions?
Then you should know the Dick
Berry family who savored each
moment of living in a "forest
island" for two summers while
searching out some answers.
From early explorers to present
day tourists, nearly everyone
who has found the Lost Forest in
(lie Christmas Lake Basin of
North Lake County has asked.
"Why?" How can pine trees sur
vive and even reproduce where
apparently the dryland junipers
can barely make it?
This puzzled Dick Berry, too, as
he stood amidst tnis seeming
phenomenon some 15 years ago.
He began to lay plans for further
stt'dy, study which would soon
be pertine.,t to the consideration
of this very forest as a primitive
recreation area. In April of this
year the initial visit to the site
was made by state and federal
park planners.
Long Study Trail
The purpose of the study was
dual: Determining the nature of
the community or communities
constituting the forest and deter
mining how it was able to sur
vive under conditions which nor
mally do not permit the growth
of ponderosa pine.
He titled his dissertation An
Ecological Study of a Disjunct
Ponderosa Pine Forest in the
Northern Great Basin in Oregon."
It would take more than a few
weekends to g a t h e r accurate,
thorough data of several types
from which to make comparisons
and to show relationships. So
plans were laid. Field study
would precede lab studv. This, he
felt, could be accomplished in two
summers if he lived in the forest.
Being together as a family was
important. Fortunately, camping
out was a summertime tradition
and a tent part of their equip
ment. Deciding what must go and
what they could do without in
transplanting a household some
225 miles and providing a cer
tain essence of comfort along
with the bare necessities took
some doing.
Located exactly 30 airline miles
due east of the town ot Fort Hock
By the time we met this fas- their forest island covered 9.100
rinating family, they were well acres, extending approximately
along the trail toward fulfillment six miles in length east to west
of Dick's academic coal, th eland 2'i miles wide. This was 35
Ph D. For 15 years director of the .miles from the nearest ponderosa
Forest Lands Research Center at J pine forest at an altitude of
Oregon Stale I'nivcrsity, Berry! 4.300 foot above sea tevel. Here
was majoring in forest manage-1 the mean annual rainfall is 9.5
ment. seeking his degree from
Hie School of Forestry. A money
grant from the Weyerhaeuser
Comoany helped finance the research.
inches, the humidity low and sum
mer nights cool following hot
days.
Woodland Home Sh
On an overnight outing our
selves three summers ago. we
chose early morning to call on
the Berrys. We had heard about
the professor who was doing re
search and wondered if we would
feel like intruders.
We wound around over the few
miles that separated our camp
from where we understood their
camp would be. And there it was.
nestled among the pines at the foot
of the slope leading to a large
rock outcropping which afforded a
panoramic view of the forest.
Stepping out to introduce our
selves, we were greeted as cor
dially as if they had been expect
ing us. Breakiast nearly over.
Opal Berry was just turning the
last hotcake. Before we knew it
she was pouring lemonade for
her dozen visitors. Realizing that
it was made from their precious
stored water supply made it all
the more refreshing.
Like any family enjovs show
ing friends their home, still quite
new, tliey gave us a tour of their
open-air dwelling now in its sec
ond year of occupancy, the sum
mer of 1960.
Combining the scientific and
the artistic, their home in the
woods was complete with labor
atory and library, cooking, din
ing, and sleeping areas.
The sky and pine branches can
opied this summer home, with
changes of sunlight and shade
automatically controlled by
Mother Nature. Their tent pro
vided protection for clothing and
lent family comfort to chillier
nights and the occasional rain
storm. This year Innovations were
pointed out with pride. The lat
est in outdoor kitchen drainboards
was one of Dick's inventions. Stif!
wire netting permitted draining
dishes without any wipe-up prob
lem and should the dishwater
spill, so what? The sandy soil
beneath was a handy sponge.
For young Dickie, then 4,
workshop with fallen tree limbs
(Continued on Page 2)
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ACCURACY THE WATCHWORD Soil samples, taken for Berry's p r o j e e t were
promptly weighed and labeled as to site. Laboratory analysis later provided additional
information needed for comparison. Following completion of his graduate work, Berry
joined the staff of the University of Arizona at Flagstaff as an assistant professor
of forestry.
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON, SUNDAY, JULY 14, 19M
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SEEDLING DROUGHT RESISTANCE STUDY Seeds from the Lost Forest germinated
quicker than seeds from other sources in lab tests. Sunflower seeds were planted in
pots six weeks after seedlings were started as part of the drought resistance study.
Here they have reached the wilting point while the seedlings are still healthy. Tem
perature, light conditions, and moisture were controlled for the study. Results showed
that Lost Forest seedlings do not appear to show superior survival ability under high
soil moisture stress.
SCENIC CONDITIONS Park planner Victor Ecklund of
Portland, associated with the Bureau of Outdoor Recrea
tion, Department of Interior, right, and Paul Arrasmith,
recreation specialist with the Portland office of the Bu
reau of Land Management, left, viewed Lost Forest under
a light snow cover in mid-April. The party did reconnais
sance for recreational possibilities.
mrj v A' y , fr" -r-
BREAKFAST TIME The dolls must be fed and the kit
chen's the coziest place for' the job. The Berrys estab
lished a spacious but compact campsite for two mem
orable summers of forest living. Over Mary's shoulder
may be seen the fireplace which served as a kitchen
range and sometimes as a heater. A Coleman gas stove
was handy for a meal in a hurry.
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PICNIC EVERY DAY Lost Forest research was a family affair. Dickie and Mary
Pam had their own activities while Opal Berry recorded data for her husband. Wearing
Dad's "tin" hat looks like a special privilege for the young forester. The hat and a
shovel, Dick Berry feels, seem far more fittinq symbols of completion of requirements
for his Ph. D. Ihan the usual academic raqalii.
WATER IN THE WASTE Surface water is very scarce or totally lacking in th
Lost Forest area except during the winter or early spring. But in the Fossil La!(
area, approximately a mile from the western end of the forest, are two springs
Sand Spring and Mound Spring. A stock watering tank shows use of Mound Spring
water for cattle during the graiing period.
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