Hiking the Grand Canyon Story by Damian Koshnick

I came upon a story by Damian Koshnick describing his first time hike of the Grand Canyon. It is well written and perfect for anyone that entertains hiking into the canyon or other remote destinations. There are also the very well done photographs along the way.

Damian Koshnick seems to stand apart doesn’t he?

Some thirty plus years ago, I entertained doing the same thing. I was an avid backpacker. I had read works by other hikers that had traversed the Pacific Crest Trail and seriously considered doing the same. I even studied maps and the intersecting highways where food caches could be established.

But, also, I had read Colin Fletcher’s works on not just the Pacific Crest Trail but also the Grand Canyon. The adventure of it all was alluring. The solitude. The self sufficiency drew me in. I read every thing I could about both trips. I wrote Fletcher, but he never replied. He was probably standing naked (his normal hiking attire I recall) in some desert canyon.

Colin Fletcher

Suddenly, life got complicated and although it all begged escapism, I hunkered down, stalled out and the glorious plans evaporated. Later, I would re-emerge and continue to back pack but the wanderlust of a truly grand expedition gave way to the Cascades, Eagle Cap, the Strawberry’s…gentler yet still remote enough locations. Fishing became a pronounced subplot to hiking too.

I still enjoy reading about others who venture forth in varying degrees to any part of these systems. Damian Koshnick’s writing (“composing”) seems very interesting.

HIKING + PHOTOGRAPHY IN CANADA….VERY COOL SITE

Have you ever wanted to climb mountains? I entertained that idea for a brief time as a teen. A neighbor boy joined the Mazamas and climbed various Oregon peaks. He rock climbed as well. He tried to get me interested. I remember getting about ten feet up on a rock wall on the North side of Rocky Butte near the Grotto…that was it….no mas. So, I took to back packing and exploring the Cascades, Strawberry’s and Eagle Cap area. Pretty tame, but I was always captivated by a TV special on Everest, K2, or even primary training peak, Mt. Rainier. 

Hiking & Photography in Canada stopped by SwittersB this morning and I was impressed with the photography and the feel of it. So, I am sharing the site and I think you will enjoy their vitality, accomplishments and photography. Also, there’s logistical details that are helpful. 

Canadian HIking Photography

Hiking Trails & Not Prepared? Oregon Woman Overdue

As I listen to it pouring outside this morning, I can imagine the front bunched up against the Cascade Mountain Range and in particular the Mt. Hood area. Lost is a woman, Lidiya Dmitriyevna Russu, who parked near a trail head to do what, I don’t know (mushroom hunt, take a hike, contemplate a view, etc). The opinion is she was not prepared to spend the night. Another person’s outdoor plight is your reminder to be prepared for outdoor emergencies. You know the drill. I have posted often enough here re outdoor safety considerations. The reminder is don’t make that careless mental decision to forego the pack, the gear, the notifications that will keep you healthy and found. Best wishes Lidiya……. end of 10/10, still not found

Lidiya Dmitriyevna Russu overdue in the Mt. Hood area. Search and Rescuers are no doubt moving in right now at first light.

Update 10-12-2011

“In making the decision to suspend the search, the sheriff’s office consulted with Dr. Terri Schmidt, a medical doctor from Oregon Health & Science University who is an expert in emergency medicine and wilderness survival. They also reached out to other experts in the search-and-rescue community for advice.

“Mrs. Russu had very limited wilderness survival experience and was not properly dressed or equipped to stay in the wilderness,” Rhodes said. “Given the heavy rain, low temperatures and high winds, the likelihood that Mrs. Russu will be recovered alive is outweighed by the extreme risk posed to searchers in this rugged terrain and wintery weather.” HuffPo

Climate Models & Cutt’s

I glaze over any more with the mish mash of models, ‘mights’, ‘maybe’s', ‘could’s’ and I am skeptic, yes I use that word..skeptic, over the agenda’s of a few climate change advocates or the pre-conceived outcomes many studies show. This Western study has some typical model suggestions and vagueness, but it  ultimately leans heavy upon habitat enhancements as the only probable salvation for Western trout. The in your face man made infringements upon the water and edges of the waters is most critical at all times. Floods, volcanoes, run off, droughts….’maybe’. Improved models? Really? 

WESTERN TROUT WELLNESS STUDIES AND HABITAT NEEDS   

Cutthroat Trout fishindex.blogspot.com

Tom McCall Statue and Fly Fishing

Tom McCall Statue; Salem, Oregon Waterfront Park

I never realized this beautiful piece of work existed on the home front. The statue was placed in the Salem Riverfront Park in 2008. It was made in Enterprise, Oregon (NE part of state) and even took a tour around the state before being set in the park. Tom McCall was a gentlemen’s gentleman. An excellent example of leadership without arrogance.   Tom McCall Fly Fishing Statue  h/t: Creek

Stocking the ‘put and take’ trout in remote lakes

I am not even sure anymore of all the methods used to put hatchery trout into lakes. I do see the occasional tanker truck back up to a boat ramp and shoot out hundreds of assorted sized fish. I recall seeing a plane bomb a lake in the Wallowa’s Eagle Cap Wilderness almost 40 years ago with brook trout. And, I know a man that use to pull a string of pack mules into Cascade lakes in the 50′s with tin containers of small trout. These methods for putting in hatchery trout are still used in parts of the country. But, given the economic times and fuel costs (helicopters/planes/tankers), I know there is an old fashioned way being used these days.

A friend and supporter of SwittersB is participating in a ‘backpack the fish in’ exercise in Oregon this weekend. An old, large compartment framed pack is called for. From there an ODFW worker inserts a durable plastic container and the fish and enough water are introduced to the pack’s compartment to sustain the fish. A 6 mile hike into a nearby lake is the target. Stout legs going in and a light load coming out. What could be better. Check your local fishery programs for similar outings where the put ‘n take trout are stocked and not adversely effecting native species through escapement. 

Here is an except from the Eugene Register Guard in July, 2010 about the program: ”About 150 other volunteers did the same, keeping up a nearly 30-year tradition of volunteers — usually the anglers themselves — stocking the high lakes they love, or at least the lakes they’ve always wanted see.

It began at 9 a.m. on July 17 at Oakridge’s fish hatchery, which sits just off Salmon Creek, near the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. First Roberts and Gore met Erik Moberly, the ODFW employee in his fourth year as head organizer for the volunteer stocking event, which runs every other year, with lakes being stocked by helicopter in the off years.”

Mining Operations to Watch (Dutch Gold Resources)

I was reading up on Buster’s blog and trying to figure out how he strings together so many unique phrases (with the occasional profane exclamation) when I came upon a post of his re mining in Montana near Rock Creek. The Dutch Gold Resources plans to start drilling this month. Down at the bottom of the article was a quick mention of a proposed operation at the Gold Bug Mine in Oregon.

I did a little digging and found the Gold Bug Mine was a well developed mine in the 1800′s on Galice Creek.

“The Old Channel hydraulic pit on the high terrace was started in 1860 and ultimately became almost 2,000 feet wide and 100 feet deep, the largest such pit in the State of Oregon. It is reported that over 50,000 ounces of gold were produced from the pit. The gravels averaged about .007 ounce of gold per cubic yard and a lot of good ground remains to be mined.”

I find it interesting and not surprising that these operations continue regardless of State or Federal administrations. The dig goes on. Now, I am a frequent, unapologetic copy/paste (discover/share) never steal/adopt blogger so I am mindful of a recent post by Buster (dare I share it?):

“Not a biggiant fan of the ubiquitous borrowed creativity/identity, link-and-go horseshite so prevalent in the FaceBlogger copycat tutorial on Narcissism for Virgins 101 these days, but fuck it: some shit’s actually that good…” ( How does he string those phrases together; I still marvel…?)

So, I am linking to Buster and his posts about the Dutch Gold Resources’ mining ops that seem to continue in or near pristine places. Dare I mention Harry Reid? Selective indignity? Not by Buster. He is consistently indignant….refreshingly so. I still don’t know how he writes like that.

Oregon (NW) Earthquake Zone (Cascadia Subduction Zone)

Apparently, Oregonians are long over due for a major earthquake…the last big one, according to studies, was in January 26, 1700 (I know…don’t ask me). The Cascadia Subduction Zone is the banging culprit.

“The troublesome area, about 50 miles off the coast of Oregon and Washington, is known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-mile expanse stretching from Northern California to British Columbia.”

State reports underscore his point, documenting sweeping seismic vulnerabilities. For example:

-More than half of Oregon K-12 schools are at high risk of collapse in a strong quake.

-An estimated 1,000 bridges along Oregon highways may fail in a powerful quake.

-Nearly a dozen coastal communities are within tsunami inundation zones. Some neighborhoods have no easy escape routes to high ground.   Statesman Journal

Alaska’s New AG John Burns on State Sovereignty & the Resources

Alaska’s new Attorney General, John Burns, is an avid fly fisher. He also provides not so subtle clues on his position re statehood, state’s rights, Federal regulations and ‘overreach’, development of resources  and the environment in a piece in the Juneau Empire………

“Burns stated the biggest challenge so far is prioritizing the multitude of issues affecting the state. Outside of Alaska is the concern of state sovereignty and the frustration of dealing with Federal regulations and unnecessary overreach, and the federal government seeking to regulate that which they cannot legislate.”

“From our perspective, the ability of our state to become a state, to become an independent entity is critically dependent on its ability to develop its resources,” Burns said, quoting Parnell. Burns urges all Alaskans to read the Statehood Act as well. “The frustration is that, I strongly believe that anybody that lives in the state of Alaska, who has lived here for a long period of time, is an environmentalist. You cannot live in this great state and participate in all that we have and not want to see it continue. But at the same time we recognize that you can have different and responsible development coexisting with that ability to participate. The frustration that I see is that the rest of the world does not believe that we are competent enough to responsibly develop our resources. I don’t think that they believe we care about this wonderful state. To me that belies comprehension. Every Alaskan I have talked to, who has been here for any length of time, is here because it is such an incredible state. The thought that we would do something to ruin it is beyond comprehension to me.”

I wonder if Mark or Brad at Alaska (Juneau) Fly Fishing Goods (nice shop by the way) might ask John Burns, the next time he drops in to heft that new 6 wt., what his take is on the Pebble Mine issue and that  whole process. Unofficial position, of course.

 

Pebble Mine’s Reality Check (China)

I can by no means frame the contentious Pebble Mine debate any better than the article I am linking to in this post by Andrew Jensen @ The Alaska Journal of Commerce. Seriously take a few minutes to read it and consider the realities here. Whether the mining process moves forward or not based upon celebs, fishing industry, eviro’s and FFers input is, to me, frankly insignificant. The often ignored point is China. It is being ignored in our country’s current debt debate and financial crisis by many. China now owns us. China is one of the largest consumers of resources and will surpass us and India soon to consume the majority of natural resources. China will eventually own the majority interest in Pebble Mine. Yes. (China & Mining & Fishing) (China & Gold Production)

“So while China is snapping up mineral rights for essentials like copper and stockpiling its rare earth minerals — for which the U.S. is 100 percent dependent on imports — not developing Pebble may not be a luxury America can afford forever, according to Yale professor Oswald Schmitz.” (I say we won’t have a say because China will dictate the development for us)

So, with all the notable celebs and groups that have mounted anti Pebble attention why no substantive response from the Obama Administration. They (Dem’s) have held the power since 2006 (Congressional) and Executive since 2008. Why? The usual connect the media dots by such groups re all manner of fav issues is most often enough to result in legislation or executive orders for regulations to control most aspects of our life, especially in the last two years. Token BS about innovation for green this and that; wind turbines, solar…yadda yadda.  Why nothing substantive on Pebble Mine? The sense of urgency should be about our financial house of cards, our resources (managed or not) and China. Just a matter of time re the Pebble Mine holdings and China’s insertion into the mix. Then what?