Highcountry Highline

Transcription

1 Board Members President: Colleen Badgley, Vice President: Jacque Sansaver, State Director: Krohn Traversie, Alt. Director: Robert Badgley, Secretary: Kelli Hyde, Treasurer: Jacque Sansaver, Public Lands: Krohn Traversie, USFS Liaison: Krohn Traversie, Newsletter Editor: Robin Granger, LNT Education: Robin Granger, Trail Bosses: Rex McMullin, Theresa Radder, Walt Hyde, Volunteer Hours Coordinator: Sue Peterson, Webmaster: Robert Badgley, Historian: Jill Breeze, Monthly General Membership meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at Roundtable Pizza beginning at 7 p.m. Welcome New Members! Sally Wilson Ryan Siebold Highcountry Highline Events Calendar Jan. 5 Board Meeting Selah Golf Course Jan. 12 General Meeting Roundtable Pizza Jan. 14 Ride Schedule Meeting 12 noon at Bon Vinos Bistro & Bakery, 122 N. Sixteenth Street, Sunnyside Feb Sportsmen Show Sundome March Packing Clinic Breeze Residence March Rendezvous/General Meeting Ellensburg April Indian John Fundraiser President s Message As this year comes to an end, I can t help but reflect on what a successful chapter we have. This has been a great year for our chapter; and what makes it a great chapter, are its members. The chapter started the year with the Sportsman show in February. We were fortunate to have our sister chapter, Alpine Lakes, come and showcase their LNT display. We look forward to having them join us again this year. In April, we had a very successful fund raiser at Indian John Hill. We had a two day work party at Pleasant Valley, where along with the Naches Forest Service, we put in a 50 puncheon bridge. A photographer from the Yakima Herald attended the work party and took photos. We were featured on the front page of the Sports section and a video just a few weeks later. Our chapter helped define a trail in Cowiche Canyon with the Nature Conversancy. Even though the year got off to a late start due to the heavy snows in the mountains, we were able to have many rides and campouts. Some of the trails in the Naches Ranger District were in jeopardy of being closed, but with our voices being heard at the TWIG meetings, and assistance from the state, they remained open. That is part of our Chapter s big success. There were meetings and potlucks at some our member s homes. We had a successful Christmas party with 21 people attending. Now, on to 2012 where we have a lot on our plate, starting with a New Year s Day ride and/or breakfast. In March, we are planning an extensive two day packing clinic with the Master of Packers from Pierce County Chapter, Ron Downing. A few work parties are planned, the Sportsman s Show, a fund raiser, and a lot of camping and riding. Now, I d like to take a minute to write about why we need to pay our membership dues to the chapter and State. Throughout this year, I ve talked with many horsemen trying to get them to join either the State, or the State and a Chapter in their area. Many times I have heard I don t like clubs, or I don t want to be involved in the politics. But, fact is, that if there was not a State organization and the chapters that belong to it, there would be no trails to ride on. More and more trails are being closed to horsemen every year and without member support, we would be riding our very expensive animals around circles in our backyards. I recently read an article in the PCC newsletter written by Kathy Jones and I d like to share some of her article. She wrote: We recall events more easily if we have been exposed to them before; our lifestyle, our way of thinking, our hopes for the future are all influenced by what we remember of our past. Many trail memories are wrapped up in PCC (or in our case the Wenas Valley Chapter). Our rides, our work parties, our camp outs, our friendships formed on Chapter rides, etc. Like Kathy, I support our Chapter s mission to keep the back country open and that translates, on a very personal level, to being able to ride in a forest with like-minded people. Kathy goes on to write: Have you read the book about Ken Wilcox? It s a book written by his sister, Lorraine, which catalogs the life of an influential, Washington horseman. He was a Washington State Horseman (WSHA) President in the 60 s; the national wagon master for the Bicentennial wagon Trail in the 70 s, and he was the founding father of BCH of Washington. By the time he organized Back Country Horsemen of Washington in 1977, he was convinced that the horse community needed a voice in politics. His sister writes, At first thought, I assumed the story of Back Country Horsemen of Washington was simply a social organization for people who loved horses and trails. As the story unfolds, it is apparent that Ken recognized an organized attack on the Bill of Rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. This threat was being posed by implementation of the Environmental Protection Act that Congress passed in It was carried down to the states and, eventually, into every aspect of local government. (Continued on pg. 2)

2 (continued from Pg. 1 President s Message) Kathy went on to say, Did you know that you belong to an organization dedicated to protecting your ability to live a riding life without undue government interference? I know, I know not politics, again! You might say, I m so tired of politics that I m just going to tune out, or I can t understand what the issues are about. That s what I said for many years. I felt I had little influence on what the State legislature did and I was, and still am, appalled at what the Federal government is doing. Kathy continues to write that her good memories with PCC were plentiful and, as time went by, she absorbed a more complex set of circumstances. She says, I see life as a journey and I had hitched my proverbial wagon to PCC; I went from simply wanting to get my horse under control so I could trail ride, to donating my time to help with the PCC organization. I was growing in my awareness of the pressures that horse owners are under. When I recalled one of my adventures in the woods, I wondered how many more of these adventures would be in my future. All of us in our own Wenas Valley Chapter might be able to relate to this and wonder what the future is of our being able to ride on the trails. Kathy continues to write: Ken Wilcox saw as far back as 1970 that the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights were being taken away. If our horse access is restricted, it will eventually mean our hunting access is restricted. The Environmental Protection Act spells out various scenarios whereby a government official can force his or her way onto your property in the guise of protecting the environment. The refusal to allow them to go onto your property would put a Notice on Title, effectively cutting off your ability to get permits or sell the property. One of the most disturbing erosion of our personal rights has to do with the 10 th Amendment. Wilderness and national park lands were set aside as far back as President Roosevelt. He enacted laws which were dedicated to preserving lands like Yellowstone and Mt. Rainier for future generations to enjoy. Are we not the future generations? The federal government continues to restrict this enjoyment, i.e. access, often under the guise of protection. The Ken Wilcox book talks about the Environmental Protection Act of 1970 which had a trickle down effect to state and local governments. The uses of public as well as private lands became very debatable. It took a while to realize that permission to follow normal pursuits was strictly under area czars who could readily punish citizens by piling restrictions after restrictions on personal freedoms blocking whole mountains from access by adopting wilderness laws. None of the government bureaucrats were subject to removal at election time. Just about the time that a battle with the offended citizens got too hot for a particular ranger or other government representative, he or she would be transferred to another territory. Thus bureaucrats never got fired; rather they bounced from one location to another until they were able to retire decades later. Does this sound too radical for middle-of-the-road horse lovers? Have you had 2 to move your riding to another area because of a governmental closure? What about the closure of Mt. Rainier to all stock use? What about the heartbeat rule on the PCT? How did the imposition of the Discover Pass on DNR lands change where or how often you rode? Will your future include a life of riding your horses or mules on land that has been traditionally used for that purpose? Our own Wenas Valley Chapter was instrumental in keeping open trails that the Naches Ranger District wanted a blanket closure on until after Father s Day. Like Kathy, I will ask: What restrictions to your riding life are you experiencing? The friends you make and the organizational support of your Chapter can help you tackle these issues. This information, Ken Wilcox s sister, Lorraine, says, needs to be shared with all horse users because no rights are secured for all time. There is always a group that is ready to try again to force their views on everyone else by new, restrictive laws, un-doing rights previously secure. Kathy continues Do you think this can t happen to you? When you go riding, notice what land you are on? Most likely, the land that you are on is effectively managed by politicians: State Parks, DNR, WDFW and US Forest Service. The service and accessibility to these lands are in the hands of the politicians. If you don t keep yourself informed on the political front, pretty soon, you ll run into a closed to horses sign. What are your memories of your last ride? Were you in company of friends who had interests similar to yours and with whom you d met in your Chapter? Were you thankful for the land you were riding on because you were a part of the struggle to maintain its accessibility? Was the trail cleared and in good shape because you had a hand, at whatever level, in keeping it that way? Do you view your membership in your chapter merely as a social organization or as a learning opportunity for yourself and your family? In closing, I could not say this better than Kathy Jones: Memories provide the link to our future. We need to increase our commitment to each other and strengthen the link between ourselves and our desire to live a more connected life. You be the one to talk to someone you don t know at a meeting; you be the one who invites a new member to go riding; you be the one who volunteers to go on a work party. The uncomfortable feelings will soon be replaced by the pleasure of finding a like-minded friend or the satisfaction of protecting a vanishing way of life. You have just created a new future for yourself. Lorraine might close with these comments, Because heads of agencies are forever changing, and not all head rangers or foresters care about trails, it will be a continuing battle for the public. Each generation of trail users will have to be responsible to keep them open for the next season and the next generation. Thank you Kathy for sharing this story! Happy New Year to All! Colleen Badgley

3 Wenas Valley Chapter 2012 Christmas Party - December 10, 2011 The Chapter Christmas party was hosted by members Jim and Jill Breeze. It was well attended, with 21 people. There was so much food on the table, it was hard to get some of everything on the plate. I have to say, we have some really good cooks in our chapter. After our stomachs were full, we settled down and played the White Elephant gift exchange (or steal a gift). There were so many different gifts this year, from hobbles, serving trays, cutting boards, rope halters, lead ropes, napkin with salt and pepper holders, John Wayne memorabilia, lanterns, campfire chairs, first-aid kits, horse plaques, horseshoe hooks, and many more. The two unique gifts were a big salt block and something Dennis got the box had vet wrap, horse medications and something I never heard of before Monkey Butt! After some hilarious discussion, I found out what it was used for. Come to find out though, baby powder works the same way. The other gift in Dennis box was a weapon (or so we thought). It looked like some sort of cutting tool with a long handle on it. I think it was finally figured to be a hay cutter. Walt told me he had seen them at Anderson Hay when he worked there and they were pretty useful. I think I ll have to get me one of those to hang on the barn wall. I won t lose so many house knives that way. The hobbles were also a big laugh as there was conversation on other ways to use them besides on horses hooves. I ll leave that to your own imagination. There was also some discussion and laughs about finding Ryan a girlfriend. It was determined that when he thought he had found the right gal, the girls in the chapter would take her on a test drive (ride) first. Just to let you know Ryan, we re on the lookout for the perfect gal! It was a great Christmas party. Thank you Jim and Jill for your hospitality! Submitted by Colleen Badgley Horse Chiropractor Has your horse ever had back problems? My new horse Reno was having problems from trying to load him in a two horse straight trailer. He would back out with fear of putting his back feet on the ground and as soon as the back foot came down he would fly out and hit his head on the roof. One time he crashed to the ground and I believe that was the time he threw his back out. I wasn t ever able to load him in the two horse straight again. So I bought a three horse slant so he could turn around to unload. I could see on his back what looked like there were about three vertebrates out at his back hip area. When I had the farrier out for new shoes he suggested that I have him adjusted. So he gave me this person s name and number. Glenn Woods NW Equine Massage & People Too! Therapeutic Bodyworks Specializing in chronic to mild pain relief. Integrating several massage styles to best fit the needs of each patient. Licensed #12341; ESMT # Cell # Home N.W.Equine.com Dallas, Oregon Glenn was at my place for over three hours. He started out with pressure points on Reno s neck and worked to the head. We talked as he spent time to relax Reno. I shared with him that I also had back trouble with my hip and had to wear a heel lift in my right shoes/boots. Then he moved to the back section of Reno. After the pressure points, he then lifted the back legs to adjust the one side - he did that about three times. Then he went to the neck area. I didn t realize that Reno s neck was so out of alignment. After all the adjustments were done on Reno, Glenn asked me if I would like my hip adjusted. So he did and I never felt so good in my lower back. I quit wearing the heel lift! So as a human, I can say his method works good. Not like a horse that can t say how they feel. So just the way the horse changed his attitude and response to ride. I would say he felt really good. Almost too good to ride because he is so much friskier than before. I believe Reno is more of a cattle chaser then a trail horse. It was well worth paying to have Reno and myself adjusted. Submitted by Johnny Miller 3

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5 News from the Forest Service Packing Clinic March 10-11, 2012 The following information has just been released by the forest service: Forest Service Road 1808 Deep Creek Road, Flood Repair Proposed Design FS proposes to replace the culvert pipe with a concrete ford at mile post 4.2. A ford or low water crossing is a shallow area where a river or stream may be crossed. This design would allow for the channel to move sediment and water freely while also allowing vehicles to pass in a shallow amount of water. Decision Expected: 02/2012 Implementation 6/2012 Project Contact person Michelle King mdking02@fs.fed.us Forest Service Road 1601 Flood Repair (Old Saw Mill Nile) Repair the May 2011 flood damage to FS Road 1601at mile post 0.3. The proposed design would include a bottomlessbox culvert at the crossing Developing Proposal Est. Scoping Start 01/2012 Decision Expected: 02/2012 Implementation 6/2012 Project Contact person Michelle King mdking02@fs.fed.us Bob Badgley Ron Downing (Pierce Co. Chapter) puts on 8-day clinics on the westside and has offered to come over and give us a condensed version of his packing clinic. This will be a hands-on clinic (no live horses). The cost is $20 for book and materials (can share). Day 1 Agenda 9 am. Powerpoint presentation Hands-on practice 12-1 Lunch on your own (bring sack lunch, drinks, chairs) 1-3:30 Continue Ron will show you how to pack with mantees, panniers, and cargo, as well as recommendations for packing equipment/saddles and stock animals. Ropes and knot tying will be also be included. Potluck dinner after presentation on Day 1. Day 2 is a continuation of Day 1. Location: Breeze residence, 191 Alfalfa Rd, Selah Camping is available (RV or tent) Space is limited. RSVP to Colleen at How to Make Fire Without Matches (Here s a great tip from TrailMeister) Carry a small amount of steel wool and a good smoke alarm (nine volt) battery and also some toilet tissue. In case you need a fire. Stick the battery ends into the steel wool. The steel wool will short circuit the battery and turn red hot, thus causing the toilet tissue (or other dry tinder) to ignite. Creating fire is the primal act of an outdoorsman. And everyone that ventures beyond the safety of the trailhead should know how to start a fire without matches. It s an essential survival skill. While the chances of carrying steel wool and a nine volt battery in a perhaps fairly low, the skill of making fire, without matches, should be practiced; just in case. Here are a few other methods by which you can create fire in an emergency. You never know when you ll find yourself in a situation where you ll need a fire, but you don t have matches. Maybe your horse wanders off during a break with all of your gear. Or you fall off and the horse leaves you. Hopefully you ll never need to use them but regardless it s damn cool to know that you can start a fire wherever and whenever you want. 5

6 BCHW ACTION ALERT Please write your state Senator and two state Representatives today!!!! If you do not know their contact information, go to and enter your location. The message is quite simple since we are in a special end-of-year session where any bill must move quickly. This proposed change to the Discover Pass legislation is scheduled for a hearing next Wednesday in a Senate committee. Ask your state Senator to please vote for SB 5977, making the Discover Pass transferrable between two vehicles. Ask your state Representatives to please vote for HB 2153 or SB 5977, whichever comes up for a vote, making the Discover Pass transferable between two vehicles. Let them know that as both volunteers and users of state lands, it is important that you are able to use a different vehicle for some tasks, like volunteer work parties, than others, like hauling a stock trailer to go riding. You shouldn t be required to purchase two passes. While having a pass that is not tied to a license plate is the best solution, as with the US Forest Service Northwest Forest Pass, if a pass does have to be tied to license plate numbers, it is still better to have room for two license numbers than one. The following list of legislators are cosponsors of HB 2153 (House) or SB 5977 (Senate). If your legislators are any of these listed, please also thank her/him for showing support of this important revision to the Discover Pass. Representatives Hudgins, Ahern, Miloscia, Moscoso, McCune, Ladenburg, Orcutt, Fitzgibbon, Armstrong, Short, Springer, Alexander, Seaquist, Dunshee, Probst, Upthegrove, Blake, Lytton, Jinkins, Kagi, Cody, Hasegawa, Van De Wege, Reykdal, Fagan, Buys, Hinkle, Kenney, Moeller, Kretz, Klippert, Wilcox, Overstreet, Asay, Schmick Senators Ranker, Litzow, Eide, Shin, Haugen, Rolfes, Swecker, Fain, Frockt, Hobbs, Schoesler, Fraser, Kilmer, Kohl- Welles, Chase, Hatfield, Nelson, Harper, Regala, Hargrove, Tom, Pridemore, Keiser, Conway, Kline, McAuliffe, Sheldon Our Mission Statement The purpose of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington is to perpetuate the legal and moral claim by the American people to use horses and mules for recreation on public lands. Our Goals 1. Perpetuate the use of horses and mules for recreation on public lands. 2. Assist government and public agencies in the maintenance of the backcountry to achieve our goals. 3. Educate, encourage, and inform horsemen in general public in the wise and sustaining use of resources in the backcountry. 4. Take responsible citizen involvement in actions affecting access and the use of stock in the backcountry. SUBMISSIONS TO THIS NEWSLETTER Please send your stories, recipes, ads or anything else you would like to share with others by the 1 st of each month to: Robin Granger at robi105@yahoo.com ADVERTISING RATES Business Card - $4.00/mo or $44.00/year 1/4 Page -$7.00/mo or $77.00/year 1/2 Page -$18.00/mo or $198.00/year Full Page -$25.00/mo or $275.00/year Classified (Non-Members) $3.00/mo. Classified (Members) $2.00/mo. 6

7 Maintain a Winter Riding Program Riding during the winter months will stave off the blues and give you a leg up on having your horse fit when Spring and Summer arrives and you start up those high mountain trails. Yes, the weather is bad, and spring looks a long way off. But is an extended break from riding good for you and your horse? Not if you're serious about the sport! Successful trainers and riders maintain winter riding programs to preserve physical condition and prepare for the coming season, which, in reality, is only weeks away and approaching fast. Even if you aren't a pro, maintaining a regular riding schedule, even a modified one, is important for the physical and mental health of you and your horse. Winter riding is more difficult, especially in the northern states, but four to six hours in the saddle per week during the winter months will help you stave off the winter blues and keep your horse in fit condition. Following are a few things to keep in mind to help you stay in the saddle during the long stretch of winter. Plan your riding time wisely. Cold weather means your horse will need longer warm-up cooling-out periods. Warm-ups. Cold muscles are especially susceptible to injury. This is true for horse and rider. Stretching exercises and longer warm -ups are important for maintaining physical condition in cold temperatures, even longer if the horses aren't getting turned out due to weather conditions. Older horses may require more special treatment recommended by your veterinarian. Sometimes the solution can be simple, such as quarter sheets, which are useful for letting a horse's major muscle groups warm before strenuous exercise and preserve heat during chilly breaks. Longeing should be done carefully and kept under control. Letting a horse get his bucks out on a small longing circle in cold weather can result in a serious injury and a long recovery. Groom your horse thoroughly. This helps cold muscles "wake up," and prepare for the work ahead. Be sure to check hooves for packed snow and ice. Warm the bit and saddle before tacking up. Heating pads and hot water bottles are inexpensive and effective tools for warming frigid tack. Your horse may not tell you, but he will appreciate this simple consideration of his well-being. Avoid strenuous work below 20 degrees F. Consult your veterinarian about special considerations for your particular horse. Water. Make sure your horse is receiving adequate drinking water, that buckets are clean, and not frozen over. Regardless of the season, a dehydrated horse can't perform, will eventually become ill, and may die. Trailering. If you trailer to your rides, make sure your equipment is in safe working order. Check all fluid levels and the condition of tires before setting out on any winter adventure. Make sure trailered horses aren't exposed to drafts. Wind chill affects animals just as much as people. Necessities for Winter Riding 7 Insulated Overalls Under Armour Wool Hat or Beanie Wool Socks Insulated Boots Layered Clothing Mittens and Gloves Heavy Jacket Neck Scarf Rain Gear Hand/Foot/Toe Warmers Tapaderos Fleece Saddle Liner Ski Mask Small Thermos of Coffee or Soup Chaps or Chinks

8 Upper Wenas User Group Meeting Meeting Minutes December 11, Selah Fire Hall - 6:30-8:00 pm Our Mission Statement To protect public and private resources while maintaining acceptable public access. ATTENDEES: Mary VanAmburg, Carol Swan, Ron Rutherford, Tom Bass, John Ashbaugh, Clay Graham, Mike Drougas, Mike Flohr, Larry Flohr, Rich Mann, Cheryl Rowe, Craig Sanislo, Josh Febus, David Bertsch and Ken McNamee Gates Bass: Gates will be closed & locked on December 15. DNR: Gates closed as of December 1 on Observatory, Audubon and W-7500 roads. Landowners Report Bass: Over the last season fences were cut and cows go out at least six time. Firewood cutting was down this year after the arrest last winter for illegally cutting firewood on private property. Coffin: Not in attendance. DFW: Not in attendance. DNR: Road Maintenance and Abandonment Planning (PRMAP) Projects No projects planned in the next year. However, we are hoping to start inventorying the road system, so we can develop a RMAP plan for the area. Surplus management roads or roads that impact water quality will be abandon/decommission. Green Dot roads will not be closed. Timber Sales Update Norwegian Wood TS in the Wenas started up in the first part of November. The goal is to get the sale done ASAP, but it will depend on the weather. The contract expires at the end of February. DNR has had 3 or 4 request to add a Green Dot loop rd extension off the Ridge Rd. and come down the west side of the Hudson Crk. DNR will evaluate this in conjunction with the RMAP survey next season. There also has been a request to make the Dipping Vat road a Green Dot road. DNR will evaluate this in conjunction with the RMAP survey next season. Lessee reported that he had one cow shot during hunting season in the Dry Creek area. Two wire gates were damaged by what appeared to be people driving through them. Law Enforcement Report DFW: Overall from an enforcement standpoint in was pretty quiet and less activity than in past years. Harvest levels seem to be down this year in the Wenas. More problems & complaints with deer season rather than elk season this year. Observatory road was good this year. Rocky Prairie road not much use this year. Overall Green Dot road compliance was good. Spent more time in the Hudson Creek and Manastash Ridge this year than in past years, so there were more contacts and education opportunities. Sgt. Mike Sprecher has taken a transfer to the Spokane area. His position will be filled but with another officer. Sgt. Morgan Grant will supervise officers in both Yakima & Kittitas County. YCSD: Not in attendance. DNR: Not in attendance. Old Business Discover Pass Rich and Ken gave a brief assessment of the Discover pass from their perspective. Few of things to keep in mind concerning the Discover Pass: The Legislatures where trying to replace general fund dollars that where cut, so to fund recreation they created the Discover Pass concept to provide funding to State Parks, DFW, & DNR; Three different state agencies with three different mandates; Users only need a Discover Pass in designated areas on DNR land; If users have a hunting or fishing license they don t need a Discover Pass on DFW lands; (continued on pg. 9) 8

9 Old Business (continued) Checkerboard ownership make it very difficult to enforce; It is confusing and complex; The big take home message is things will be different next year after the legislative session. Volunteerism People felt that the Discover Pass affected the number of people willing to volunteer especially when it was a multiply day event and folks wanted to camp overnight and had to purchase a Discover Pass to do so. DNR/DFW Land Exchange Update Phase 1 - Completed Phase 2 - close to being done, still have a few details to work out with road easements before the deeds can be recorded. Will let folks know when it has closed. Update on SE Region New Assistant Region Manager - Resource Protection Koshare Eagle Open discussion Jim & Bea Pearson want to let everyone know how much they appreciated everyone keeping their speeds down this summer & fall when going by their place. It really helps keep the dust down. Tom Bass agreed and said he appreciated everyone for their efforts as well. General comment most folks felt that littering was down this year in the Wenas, because of the dumpster at the intersection of the Malloy & Audubon roads. BCH asked what the status was of Coffin road relocation project into BBQ Flats. Ken said the DNR has presented their options to Chris. Ken didn t know where Chris was in his process. Ken suggested they contact Chris. Next Meeting on April 5, 2012 at 6:30 PM. New Year s Day Breakfast In December, we discussed having a New Year s Day ride and breakfast at Buffalo Rd. With such short notice though, we just didn t get enough volunteers, participation, or the needed responses (RSVP s) to get it together. After discussing another alternative, many chapter member got together to enjoy a wonderful brunch at Bob s Burger s and Brew in Yakima. It was a beautiful morning to have brunch and conversations with fellow chapter members. Some of us sat for a couple hours just talking about the past year and all of the good things accomplished by the Wenas Chapter proves to be another great year. We have many new enthusiastic members ready to get involved. We discussed riding after brunch, as the weather was so mild for the 1st of January. But most of us were too full to get on our horses. So a few of us got together the next day and rode to the river from Buffalo Rd. It was another gorgeous winter day, with the weather in the mid 40 s. What a great way to start the New Year! Colleen 9 Yolanda & Theresa on a cold and windy ride at Anderson Ranch in early December.

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