Oregon Wild Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2

Home , Alsea Falls, Copper Salmon Wilderness, Cummins Creek Wilderness, Diamond Peak Wilderness, Menagerie Wilderness, Mount Bailey (Oregon)

Wilderness is Oregon oregon wild summer hikes inside Working to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy.

Main Office Western Field Office INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5825 N Greeley Avenue Portland, OR 97217 P.O. Box 11648 Eugene, OR 97440 Phone: 503.283.6343 Fax: 503.283.0756 454 Willamette, Suite 203 We are the things we share {4-7} www.oregonwild.org Phone 541.344.0675 Fax: 541.343.0996 The e-mail address for each Oregon Wild Conservation & Restoration Coord. Doug Heiken x 1 Oregon Wild Summer — staff member: [email protected] Western Oregon Field Coord. chandra LeGue x 2 40 years, 40 hikes {8-9} (for example: [email protected]) Wilderness Campaign Organizer Bridget Callahan x 203 Northeastern Field Office Picture Wilderness in 2014 {back cover} Outreach & Membership Coord. marielle Cowdin x 213 P.O. Box 48, Enterprise, OR 97828 Phone: 503.551.1717 Wilderness Coordinator erik Fernandez x 202 Development Director Jonathan Jelen x 224 NE Oregon Field Coordinator rob Klavins Finance Director Laura Mears x 219 Office Manager christie Moore x 200 Southern Field Office cover photo: Eric Nomura Wilderness benefits all Oregonians – the quality of life it Conservation Director Steve Pedery x 212 brings from protected watersheds for clean drinking water to countless opportunities for P.O. Box 1923 Brookings, OR 97415 outdoor recreation and benefits to local economies is unparalleled. It is crucial we protect Wildlands & Wetlands Advocate Quinn Read x 226 Phone: 541.366.8623 what is left to ensure a future and a bright legacy for generations to come. Executive Director Sean Stevens x 211 Wildlands Interpreter Wendell Wood Oregon Wild Board of Directors Daniel Robertson, President Brett Sommermeyer, VIce President Pat Clancy, Treasurer Vik Anantha, Secretary Kate Blazar www.facebook.com/OregonWild Megan Gibb Leslie Logan Patrick Proctor @oregonwild William Sullivan Jan Wilson Oregon Wild is a tax-exempt, non-profit charitable organization. Newsletter printed on New Leaf 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer, FSC certified paper with soy based inks. Oregon Wild is printed locally by Environmental Paper and Print, an Oregon Wild donor and business partner.

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 2 From the Director’s Desk It’s not easy being green Sean Stevens, Executive Director

deeper meaning of green. You see it memorial and in a flood of Oregon Wilderness Conference for generations. Somehow, Kermit had when you’re out hiking. You feel it correspondence from those he the first time in ten years (see back Oregon in mind when he sang: when you step into a mountain inspired during his nearly 40 years of cover for details). I hope to see you But green’s the color of spring When green is all there is to be stream. You hear it if you’re lucky advocacy for a wild Oregon I was there. And green can be cool and friendly-like It could make you wonder why, enough to encounter the far off howl reminded of the seismic difference As you have no doubt heard by now, And green can be big like an ocean, but why wonder why of a wolf. one dedicated, passionate, and 2014 marks two distinct milestones or important Wonder, I am green and it’ll do fine, unyielding individual can make. Looking at a map of Oregon, it is for Oregon conservationists – the Like a mountain, or tall like a tree it’s beautiful th those deep green spots that call out Tim’s memorial was also a poignant 50 anniversary of the 1964 And I think it’s what I want to be th to us – the special places that have reminder of the need for those of us Wilderness Act and the 40 In this Year of Wilderness, and in this – Kermit the Frog been permanently protected as who care about our remaining anniversary of Oregon Wild. These time when the value of all things wild Wilderness. But Kermit was right. wilderness to gather together, share landmark anniversaries are all the is more important than ever, we know that it might not be easy being green. st This kind of green – the Wilderness our stories, and inspire each other to more meaningful when we think of n 21 -century culture and green – ain’t easy. continue the fight. We have a great how hard those who came before us But it sure is worth it. Icommerce, “green” doesn’t always opportunity to do just that on June fought to pass on a legacy of mean what it used to. Wilderness areas are remote. The 5-7 in Portland as we bring back the wilderness to this and future trails are steep. These places do not Kermit probably wouldn’t have easily reveal their wonders. They also expected the likes of Waste can be hard as heck to protect – Management Inc. to encourage him taking decades of grassroots activism, to “think green” or for General political arm-bending, no small Electric to praise his song as an measure of luck, and indomitable example of “Ecomagination.” spirits to see legislation through to Heck, you can dump a few billion the finish line. barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico It is the spirit of one such and still claim your green and yellow environmental hero that we carry logo represents your effort to move with us this year – and forever – as “Beyond Petroleum.” we strive to better safeguard the But I’m not here to talk about Oregon we love. In February, our greenwashing. As an Oregon Wild dear friend and colleague Tim supporter you already know the Lillebo passed away – gone from this scott smorra Rowena Crest landscape far too soon. At his

3 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 Wilderness is Oregon – we are what we share Chandra LeGue, Western Oregon Field Coordinator

“Oregon is home to some of the most “cleanness of air and water,” “green Perhaps not surprisingly, a common amazing coastline, rivers, and forests on landscape,” “forests and mountains,” thread in this campaign is Earth. These treasures define where we and “open spaces” as things they value Wilderness. Of the “7 Wonders” live, providing outstanding recreational about our state. chosen by Travel Oregon – Crater opportunities, clean drinking water, and Lake, the Oregon Coast, the economic benefits for our communities as I, for one, am not surprised. As a Columbia River Gorge, the Wallowas, we attract tourists from all over the transplant from the Midwest (yes, Mount Hood, Painted Hills, and world.” another one of those), Oregon’s Smith Rock – all are found on public landscapes and natural wonders both lands, five of them with designated – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley attracted me and kept me here. Wilderness or an active campaign to Oregon’s people have long been protect them as such. ere in Oregon, we share many leaders in working to protect the The living’s easy things: a love/hate relationship wildlands, wildlife, and wild rivers we Hwith rain; a love/hate relationship for all value. In 1902, Crater Lake The outstanding quality of life the Ducks and Beavers (depending became one of the country’s first associated with our state’s wild lands on your affiliation); a love of craft National Parks. In the 1970s, and waters brings both people and beer, local wine, and sustainable food; Oregonians led efforts to conserve businesses to Oregon. Pristine and maybe most unanimously, an farmland and other resources. Today, drinking water and phenomenal appreciation for the outdoor Oregon has more than 600 outdoor recreation factor particularly environment that makes this state environmental-related non-profit heavily. such a special place. While not organizations working to protect land One of our most basic needs as everyone is a sports fan, microbrew from development, restore wetlands humans is clean water to drink. In drinker, or public transit user, and streams, advocate for wildlife, Oregon, two-thirds of our tap wherever you live in Oregon, we share provide environmental education, and water comes from surface waters and enjoy our natural legacy. save old-growth forests. – much of these from watersheds In the 2013 Oregon Values & Beliefs located either completely or partly in 1 Oregon’s outdoor cultural identity is Project survey, a strong desire to so strong in fact, that the state’s public forestlands, including protect the environment for future official tourism organization, Travel designated Wilderness. These intact generations was one of the unifying Oregon, has invested $3 million to forests serve as natural reservoirs: john waller Wilderness is a shared value in values found across Oregon’s “promote the scenic splendor of absorbing, storing, filtering, and Oregon. Our state’s diverse landscape is intrinsic geographic and political divides. The to our quality of life and brings us together with Oregon” with its 7 Wonders of Oregon gradually releasing water to forest unmatched opportunities for outdoor adventure. poll found that 78% of Oregonians campaign (see sidebar page 6). streams. This protects the purity of identified “natural landscapes,”

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 4 the water and consistency of its outdoor recreation. The most popular from any major highway pass to flows. forms, by a 2:1 margin, fall into the venture into five different Central “quiet recreation” category according Cascades Wilderness areas. A 20 These forests do such a great job that to a survey of National Forest users minute drive from Bend gets you to a two of Oregon’s protected drinking in Oregon. Hiking, fishing, hunting, trailhead in the Badlands watersheds - greater Portland’s Bull backcountry skiing, kayaking, and Wilderness. Amazing! Run and Baker City’s Elkhorn Front more can all be enjoyed in designated - require no filtration and little Wilderness and other backcountry Of course when solitude is what you treatment. Drawn from the areas. crave, Wilderness offers us that too. McKenzie River, the Eugene area’s Whether hiking to a remote lake in drinking water has been rated Though Wilderness is often thought the Strawberry Mountain amongst the best in the nation. of as “out there,” away from Wilderness to fish, backpacking into About a quarter of the McKenzie civilization, Wilderness in Oregon is the remote and rugged Kalmiopsis watershed is protected as Wilderness, amazingly accessible from population Wilderness, stalking elk in the North and much more is National Forest centers. Drive 45 minutes east out of Fork John Day Wilderness, or simply with some restrictions on logging. Portland and you practically step out taking in the jaw-dropping view of your car into newly designated from the top of the Kieger Gorge in Oregon’s Wilderness also enhances additions to the Mark O. Hatfield the Steens Mountain Wilderness – our quality of life through high Wilderness in the Columbia River these remote places offer us another quality, diverse and accessible Gorge. Access the Pacific Crest Trail way of experiencing this beautiful state. Though we often can’t get out to enjoy Oregon’s wildlands as much as we’d like, the scenic and intrinsic values of these places are just as important. Just knowing they are out there contributes greatly to our lives here in Oregon. A strong economy

In Oregon, outdoor recreation generates nearly $13 billion in consumer spending annually, and includes 141,000 direct jobs, bringing in $955 million in state and local tax revenue.

leon werdinger Humans aren’t the only ones who need protected Wilderness – Outdoor Industry Association for better quality of life. Wilderness provides critical habitat for Oregon’s native creatures, and creates migration corridors vital for wildlife as they adapt to It’s no coincidence that the root of changing environmental needs due to climate change. “ecology” and “economy” is the same.

5 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 Wilderness links these concepts too. have to be mutually exclusive. Oregon’s protected wildlands and Wilderness specifically can be an These findings are simply common Wilderness protections in Oregon Economists have weighed in for years outdoor culture help draw new economic boon to a region. Studies sense for many businesses in Oregon. not only benefit the ecology of our on the numerous economic benefits businesses to our state. A recent have found that protected public They understand that protections on state – water, soil, plants, and wildlife of protected areas. In a letter to Headwaters Economics’ report shows lands play an important role in the Deschutes and Rogue Rivers – they also benefit and drive Oregon’s President Obama in 2011, over 100 how business location decisions stimulating economic growth and are mean more opportunities for fishing economy – commerce, jobs, and careful leading voices in the field stated that increasingly are tied to quality of life associated with some of the fastest and the related tourism economy that use of resources. “federal protected public lands are and natural amenities in particular. growing communities in the West. comes with it. They understand that essential to the West’s economic Businesses are more likely to locate in Wilderness designation also enhances employees will relocate (and stay) in a The 2013 Oregon Values & Beliefs future, attracting innovative a place where their employees are nearby private property value, and is place where they can be sure their Survey found that 57% of companies and workers, and happy, and where they can pursue associated with rapid population, families will drink clean water and be Oregonians believe environmental contributing a vital component of the shared values and activities with income, and employment growth able to enjoy the outdoors on the protections are more important than region’s competitive advantage.” fellow workers and their relative to non-Wilderness counties. weekend. economic growth. But these do not communities. Business support for adding protections to the Wild Rogue in southwest Oregon, for example, has Oregon’s Wonders that highlight the vast and varying terrains of multitude of outdoor opportunities available been a major part of that Wilderness Oregon. throughout the state. campaign. Surrounding communities Linea Gagliano, Global Communications rely on the recreation and tourism the Manager at Travel Oregon Though we have always promoted Oregon’s For the most part, rural businesses and river supports– river recreation alone greatest attributes to visitors, the 7 Wonders communities are the beneficiaries of such generates $30 million annually and Oregonians value our amazing natural resources, campaign is definitely our biggest push to recreational opportunities and marketing provides 445 jobs. Dozens of local and they also want to share its scenic beauty promote Oregon’s outdoor splendor. More cities campaigns. Travel Oregon consistently works to rafting and fishing guides, lodges, and with others. We find that once visitors and towns now look to tourism to generate enhance the economic benefit tourism can bring other local businesses have signed on experience Oregon’s exceptional natural much-needed economic impact and meaningful to rural communities through our to support adding Wilderness and wonders, they’ll also form a stronger affinity for jobs, while showcasing and thus preserving the innovative Rural Tourism Studio. Wild & Scenic River designations to Oregon and its products, people and Sustainable tourism is not only this area. places. beneficial to Oregon, but is also Even in cash-strapped Curry County The 7 Wonders of Oregon campaign is increasingly of interest to travelers. on the southern Oregon coast, where designed to inspire explorers to visit With that in mind, we created the call for increased logging on some Oregon’s most iconic sites, and the the Travel Oregon Forever program, public lands goes hand-in-hand with many points in between. Choosing giving tourism businesses access to the public outcry over any proposed tax between Oregon’s many natural most current sustainable tourism increases, businesses recognize the wonders was an arduous task. We chose resources and an opportunity to give importance of protecting wild places. Mt. Hood, the Coast, Crater Lake, back to Oregon communities. With The Port Orford/North Curry Painted Hills, Smith Rock, the businesses committed to sustainable County Chamber of Commerce Wallowas, and the Columbia River practices and the stewardship of our supported the campaign to protect Gorge based on their unique features state, we can make a better Oregon for the Copper Salmon Wilderness, visitors and for Oregonians. designated in 2009, because it recognized that anglers from all over

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 6 wildlands surrounding Crater Lake National Park, preserve the Wilderness What? biodiversity of our one-of-a-kind Kalmiopsis region, protect the Put your wildlands knowledge to the test with our Owyhee Canyonlands, and defend Oregon Wilderness Quiz! [Answers on p. 11] our remaining old-growth forests across the state. If Oregon is to 1. Currently, 15% of the state iconic Oregon rivers have remain a state defined by its natural of California’s land mass is their headwaters in the designated as Wilderness. In Proposed Crater Lake beauty, quality of life, and Washington, that number is Wilderness? commitment to preserving our wild 10%. What percent of heritage, these places and more must Oregon is protected as 5. Which Wilderness is the be set aside and safeguarded. Wilderness? home of Faith, Hope, & Charity? It is doubtful that anyone will ever 2. What is Oregon’s largest look back and accuse our generation Wilderness? 6. Which Wilderness contains of protecting too much. But we can roughly 40 miles of the be sure that future Oregonians, and 3. Which Wilderness Pacific Crest Trail and is visitors, will thank us for preserving permanently protected in also the home to Dinah-Mo the wildlands, wildlife, and waters 1996 helped shine the and Grizzly Peaks? that they, too, can share in. national spotlight on the need to preserve the last of 7. Which Wilderness’s our old-growth forests? namesake peak has been 1 Oregon Values & Beliefs Project, dubbed “the Lightning Rod oregonvaluesproject.org/ 2013. 4. Oregon Wild has crafted a of the Cascades”? * For a full list of resources, visit proposal to permanently www.oregonwild.org protect over 500,000 acres 8. Which three Oregon jeff kennel Wilderness is Oregon. If we don’t stand up to protect what is left, Wilderness areas overlap we’ll lose much more than our favorite places to play. Let’s protect and preserve of the Crater Lake our incredible landscape for Oregonians and visitors today, tomorrow, and for Wilderness. What three another state’s boundaries? generations to come. Take Action! Help us celebrate 50 years the country come to fish for salmon more work to do. Despite our green of Wilderness in Oregon by in the Elk River, employing local reputation, we lag far behind attending our Wilderness people in numerous businesses. neighbors Washington and Idaho Conference, taking the 50 Without protections for the river’s when it comes to protecting Hikes Challenge, or headwaters, those economic benefits unspoiled lands as Wilderness. We wouldn’t exist. can and must do better. participating in any number A brighter future of other special events this We need to finally protect places like summer. Find out more at the proposed Devil’s Staircase and Wildness is a shared value among Wild Rogue Wilderness, connect the www.oregonwild.org Oregonians – but we have much scott smorra

7 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 Oregon Wild proudly presents Saturday, June 7 Opal Creek Wilderness Ancient Forest Oregon Wild Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 5-7 miles) summer 2014 Saturday, June 7 Tamanawas Falls 40 years. 40 hikes. Find your wild. Leader: Bridget Callahan To register visit www.oregonwild.org or call 503.283.6343 (Easy, 4 miles) Oregon Wild summer outings are guided by experts and Sunday, June 8 require online reservations. Please leave pets at home. For wilderness week French Pete Creek your comfort and safety, please wear appropriate attire, bring Leader: Chandra LeGue scott larsen plenty of water, a lunch, and your sense of adventure! (Moderate, 5-8 miles) Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. Thursday, June 12 Thursday, June 26 Salmon River Mount June and Sawtooth Presented by KEEN Footwear. Wildflower ID Ridge (Roadless Area) Special thanks to Willamette Week. Leader: Wendell Wood Leader: Chandra LeGue (Moderate, 4 miles) (Moderate, 5 miles) Saturday, June 14 Sunday, June 29 Angel’s Rest to Pine Bench/Boulder Wahkenna Falls Creek Wilderness Leader: Wendell Wood Leader: Chandra LeGue (Strenuous, 6.4 miles) (Moderate, 6 miles) Monday, June 16 Thursday, July 3 Larch Mountain Bull of the Woods Wildflower ID Wilderness Leader: Wendell Wood Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 5.5 miles) (Moderate +, 6.6 miles) Saturday, June 21 Thursday, July 10 Tilly Jane/Cloud Cap Eagle Creek Saddle (Columbia River Gorge) Leader: Margo Earley Leader: Bridget Callahan (Strenuous, 6 miles) (Moderate, 4.5 miles) www . o reg n w ild. rg eric nomura register at  www.oregonwild.org  Save these dates! Saturday, July 12 Tamanawas Falls With so many milestones and June 12-15 Leader: Erik Fernandez anniversaries, we need just as Fifth Annual Wolf Rendezvous regis t er at many ways to celebrate them. (Easy, 4 miles) (Northeast Oregon) Mark your calendars and join Sunday, July 13 us for these special events June 28 Olallie Mountain throughout the summer and fall: Great Old Broads for Leader: Chandra LeGue Wilderness Family Hike to Tamanawas Falls (Moderate, 7 miles) May 1 – October 31 50 Hikes Challenge (Portland) Sunday, July 13 (see p. 10) (Trails across the state) June 29 Boulder Lake Grizzly Peak Botanical Hike May 15 – September 19 Leader: Erik Fernandez with KS Wild 10th Annual Oregon Wild (Moderate, 5 miles) Outdoor Photo Contest (Ashland)

Saturday, August 2 (see back cover) July 4th Weekend Klamath Basin Canoe & Rooster Rock/ (Trails across the state) Kayak Trip Menagerie Wilderness June 5-7 Leader: Chandra LeGue The 2014 Oregon (Klamath Marsh NWR) Wilderness Conference (Difficult, 6.5 miles) October 17 Call of the Wild annual benefit Thursday, August 7 (see back cover) Serene Lake/Roaring (Eliot Center, Portland) (Leftbank Annex, Portland) June 7-14 River Wilderness We hope you can join us as sue parsons Oregon Wild hikers enjoy the view at Wilderness Week & Leader: Jonathan Jelen the top of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge. we celebrate the Year of Oregon Wild Summer Kickoff (Moderate, 6.6 miles) Wilderness. For the full list of Thursday, August 21 Sunday, September 7 (Trails across the state) 2014 happenings visit Saturday, August 9 www.oregonwild.org/hikes_events Vista Ridge Rooster Rock/Table Shale Ridge/Three Sisters- Leader: Erik Fernandez Rock Wilderness Waldo Lake Wilderness Leader: Jonathan Jelen Leader: Chandra LeGue (Strenuous, 8 miles) rob klavins 2013 Wolf Rendezvous participants. (Moderate, 5.0 miles) (Easy-Moderate, 5.5 miles) Tuesday, August 19 Horsetail & Triple Falls Saturday, September 6 Sunday, September 14 (Oneonta Gorge) Patjens Lakes/Mount Diamond Peak Wilderness Leader: Bridget Callahan Washington Wilderness Leader: Chandra LeGue regis t er at Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 3.3 miles) (Strenuous, 12.5 miles) (Moderate, 6 miles) protected proposed wilderness wilderness

 rg o ild. w n o reg o . www 50 Hikes Challenge – #iamwilderness Marielle Cowdin, Outreach & Membership Coordinator

To know wilderness is to love it.

And people who love wilderness, like so Registration is free, but Oregon Wild member many Oregonians, are the best folks to help challengers will receive great prizes upon protect it. This is why Wilderness is you. As completing different 50 Hikes Challenge we enter peak hiking season in this Year of levels including: Wilderness and celebrate 50 years of the Wilderness Act, Oregon Wild invites you to • An Oregon Wild Klean Kanteen explore, hike, and win in our 50 Hikes (10+ hikes) Challenge. • A Columbia Sportswear backpack How to join the adventure: (25+ hikes)

• Register for the Challenge at • VIP tickets to Call of the Wild www.oregonwild.org/50hikes (25+ hikes)

• Hike in as many of the 50 Oregon • A pair of KEEN shoes Wilderness areas listed as possible (50 hikes) between now and October 31 and earn You must be an Oregon Wild member to get great prizes – not to mention serious these great incentives, and you can become bragging rights! a member when you register for the • Take photos of your adventures to show Challenge online. which Wilderness area trails you made it *All 50 Hikes challengers will be recognized to and upload them to Instagram using Track your adventures and get credit for your 50 Wilderness hikes at Call of the Wild where we’ll announce the using Instagram with the hashtag #iamwilderness. the hashtag #iamwilderness.* [Top: SJOERD VANDENWORM Frazier Lake; Bottom: MARIELLE COWDIN Cummins Creek Wilderness] winners of the Oregon Wild Outdoor Photo • Use the 50 Hikes Challenge Log to track Contest, including the best #iamwilderness your progress. 50 Hikes Challenge Instagram photo as a special fifth category. So get out there, know your Oregon Wilderness, and win!

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 10 Bill's Excellent Adventures Climb Mount Bailey! William Sullivan

How could we allow a and fork left on unmarked Road 380 jewel like this to be for 1.5 miles. lost on the border of Oregon’s only national The trail skirts a snowfield in a park? Hike up Mount 300-foot-wide crater and climbs to william sullivan Bailey to see what’s at Mount Bailey’s south summit. If you’re risk. not wearing boots with soles that grip well, consider turning back here. Keep it wild, keep it free The 2.7-mile trail to Ahead, the path dips across a cinder William Sullivan william sullivan the top gains a healthy saddle, climbs along the left side of a Hiking for a living has taught me a great truth. Oregon’s 2,330 feet of elevation, 30-foot rock wall with a window-like Wilderness is a fragile gift. Hiking would seem to be one of the but is full of surprises peephole, edges briefly across the few sports that is free. But it’s not really free if the land isn’t wo major mountains loom just — passing a hidden crater, a rock slippery top of a talus scree slope, and really protected. north of Crater Lake National garden of wildflowers, a double summit, then climbs steeply to a ridgecrest and Park:T Mount Thielsen and Mount That’s why I’m asking you to join me in supporting Oregon and a rock wall with a window the true summit, a broad rockfield with Bailey. Hikers everywhere fear the scary Wild, the statewide conservation group with a 40-year track overlooking Diamond Lake. alpine dandelions. summit spire in the designated Mount record of Wilderness preservation success. Without Oregon Wild, it’s safe to say we wouldn’t have the Hells Canyon Thielsen Wilderness, the “Lightning You’ll need a slightly rugged vehicle to From here you can scan the entirety of Wilderness, the Opal Creek Wilderness, or the new Clackamas Rod of the Cascades.” But a much drive to the trailhead. Take Highway Crater Lake National Park, but you can Wilderness. Right now, Oregon Wild staff is leading the fight for prettier hike, and a fairly scary traverse, 230 west from the Diamond Lake also survey the proposed Wilderness a Crater Lake Wilderness that protects the borders of our only leads to the summit of Mount Bailey in turnoff toward Medford 3 miles. Near that would save the park’s borderlands, national park, a Devil’s Staircase Wilderness in the wildest an undesignated wilderness threatened milepost 21, turn right on gravel Three including beautiful Mount Bailey. corner of the Coast Range, and a Zane Grey Wilderness on by logging, snowmobiles, and all-terrain Lakes Road 3703 for 2 miles, turn right endangered parts of the Rogue River. For more hikes in this area, pick up vehicles. on rutted dirt Road 300 for 0.2 mile, This year, on the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, join Bill’s 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon. me in helping Oregon Wild make our favorite places safe forever.

Take Action! Send a special gift using the envelope between pages 8 and 9 and join Bill in helping protect Oregon’s wildlands for generations to come.

Answers to quiz on p. 7: 1. 4% 2. Eagle Cap 3. Opal Creek 4. Rogue, Umpqua, Klamath 5. Three Sisters Wilderness 6. Mount Jefferson Wilderness 7. Mount Thielsen 8. Hells Canyon (Idaho), Wenaha- lois settlemeyer Tucannon (Washington), and Red Buttes (California)

11 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 Can’t stump us now – an O&C forest round-up Steve Pedery, Conservation Director

Forest Plan and undercut both the As Wyden struggles to advance his Endangered Species Act and logging plan, many Oregonians are National Environmental Policy Act wondering where our other Senator, in order to provide cheap timber to Jeff Merkley, will come down on logging interests and revenues for these proposals that use clearcutting county politicians. of America’s public lands to bail out county budgets. So far, Merkley While Oregon Wild has worked hasn’t taken a position, but he is closely with Senator Wyden on a under fierce attack by logging whole range of pro-environment interests and some county politicians legislation, when it comes to who want to see him abandon the clearcutting public lands in Western Northwest Forest Plan and embrace Oregon, Wyden has gone off the more logging. rails. Take Action! Oregon Wild has been working hard Ask Senator Merkley to oppose alan hirschmugl Pristine, publicly-owned forestlands like Alsea Falls, key for clean water to push back against the Wyden the current O&C bill, and protect and recreation in our local communities, remain threatened by Senator Wyden’s O&C proposal. clearcutting proposal. In February, the Northwest Forest Plan and Executive Director Sean Stevens carbon-storing forests. Visit www. n April 1st, a mysterious group high time we put these trees to opposed the bill in testimony before oregonwild.org to act now. known as STUMP (Sustainable work.” the Senate Energy and Natural OTimber from Urban Municipal Resources Committee. In March, Parks) unveiled a shocking proposal Fortunately, STUMP was just an Wilderness Coordinator Erik to clearcut public parks around April Fools’ joke put together by Fernandez met with Oregon and Oregon to generate money to bail some mischievous Oregon Wild Washington Senate offices and with out local government budgets. staffers. Unfortunately, the STUMP Obama administration officials to STUMP wanted to target Forest proposal was identical to US Senator highlight problems with Wyden’s Park in Portland, Spencer Butte in Ron Wyden’s plan to double logging plan. And it isn’t just Oregon Wild Eugene, and Lithia Park in Ashland, levels on Western Oregon O&C working to block the bill – dozens of and the group’s spokesman, Saul lands, including a form of conservation groups from the local, Umber, was quoted in their press clearcutting euphemistically called state, and national level recently “variable retention regeneration Executive Director Sean Stevens testifying release saying “…we can no longer signed a letter to the Senate on behalf of our threatened public stand by and let nature run wild on harvest.” Wyden’s plan would opposing the plan. forestlands before the Senate Energy and these parks and public lands. It is abandon the Clinton Northwest Natural Resources Committee in February.

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 12 Wildlife round-up

Oregon Wild is working with With a focus on non-lethal conflict prevention, partners this year to make sure Oregon’s known population increased to 64, and Wildlife Reform brett cole Home to over Rob Klavins, Northeast Oregon a hundred different species the US Fish & Wildlife only 5 cows were confirmed lost to wolves of birds, the Klamath Basin Service prepares and (owners are eligible for full compensation). Field Coordinator hosts upwards of 80% of implements a management Perhaps the most exciting piece of news was the migrating waterfowl The mission statement of the plan that puts wildlife first. confirmation of wolf tracks on the slopes of using the Pacific Flyway. Oregon Department of Fish and Doing so will give all of us Mount Hood! Wildlife reads surprisingly like our who care about the refuges a own. Despite its broad voice in the process. Despite a refreshingly positive year, it’s not all good news. All but one known wolf are confined conservation goals and the fact A good little wolf update to the Northeastern corner of the state, and an that the vast majority of wildlife is Rob Klavins, Northeast Oregon classified as “non-game,” only Field Coordinator outbreak of parvovirus, poaching, and hunting in Idaho took their toll. We’re still a long way from 4% of the budget is spent on Last May, after 17-months of full recovery - efforts are underway at the state conservation and habitat. negotiations, we announced and national level to strip basic protections from The agency now finds itself in a To action in the Klamath settlement of our legal Oregon’s wolves. death spiral, lacking public trust, Quinn Read, Wildlife & Wetlands Advocate challenge to Oregon’s wolf killing program. For However, with your help, we’ll keep wolf and unable to fulfill its mission the second year in a row, no wolves were killed by While visiting the Klamath Basin’s National recovery on track here in Oregon. – the result of an outdated the state. Wildlife Refuges last March, eleven Oregon funding mechanism, declining participation in consumptive Wild members witnessed the spectacle of spring pursuits of wildlife, and political migration in the heart of the Pacific Flyway. pressure. Braving rain, sleet, snow, and wind, we witnessed thousands of geese taking flight over Tule Lake After years of failed solutions, and identified 79 different bird species. conservation-minded Oregonians including Oregon Wild are getting The Klamath Basin is a special place, and visiting involved. As we work with its refuges reminded us that the remaining stakeholders across the wetland habitat is incredibly precious. However, spectrum, we aim to reform the 2014 is shaping up to be a rough year: Governor public agency to represent all Kitzhaber declared drought in February, Tule Oregonians and be a strong Lake NWR already experienced an outbreak of quinn read Drought was already declared in the ODFW Wolf recovery stayed on track in 2013, but voice for conservation. Stay avian cholera, and Lower Klamath NWR will be Klamath in February. Wildlife in the region will need it wasn’t all good news. OR-17 seen here was killed an even stronger voice as the year continues. for sport in Idaho, and none of the pups in her tuned. completely dry before summer is out. pack are known to have survived.

13 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 Forest restoration and Tim Lillebo’s Eastern Oregon legacy Steve Pedery, Conservation Director

But much of my time working with Tim was With Tim Lillebo’s untimely passing, there not spent going to battle against the Forest has been much reflection on the past decade, Service, but rather working to quietly reform and on his legacy. Many, particularly in the agency so that it could become a force for government agencies, have focused on his good - a tool to undo some of the damage collaboration with the Forest Service to done by 150 years of abusive logging, fire argue that hard-nosed advocacy is no longer suppression, grazing, and mismanagement. needed. We don’t need conservationists who will go to court to defend old-growth, or Despite Lillebo’s mountain-man beard, work in Congress to designate Wilderness, rod dines A recent controlled burn in the Glaze cigars, and the battered felt hat (which Meadow Project. Fire contributes to the ecological they argue. We just need more folks willing health of Eastside forests when managed wisely. looked like it had been on the losing end of a to be collaborative. wolverine encounter in the Wallowas), he was also a man of science. Throughout his They miss the point. career, he was always willing to rethink his positions if new information came along. Lillebo did not represent Oregon Wild in This led him to acknowledge the reality that countless hours of meetings with Forest past abuses, particularly old-growth logging Service collaborative groups to avoid conflict, and fire suppression, had made a mess out of or because we thought hard-nosed advocacy Eastern Oregon forests. In the age of climate to stop old-growth logging or protect more change, Tim argued that it wasn’t enough to Wilderness was no longer needed. We just save the few remaining old-growth participated in those meetings precisely Elizabeth Feryl forests and roadless areas. We must also work because science increasingly tells us that our to restore areas damaged by past remaining old-growth and wildlands are mismanagement. more important than ever. It isn’t enough to hen I first came to work for Oregon simply save the few fragments Oregon has Wild back in 2004, I was excited to And so it was that Tim came to lobby left; we must work to heal the damage done Wbe part of an outfit with a proud history of Oregon Wild’s staff and board to embrace by past mismanagement and abuse. defending Oregon’s old-growth forests, this restoration vision for Eastern Oregon wildlife, and Wilderness. A big part of that forests, and to work collaboratively—where it That is the real vision that underpinned history was the work of Tim Lillebo, who was possible—with the Forest Service and Tim’s work in collaboration with the Forest had always been a tireless and fearless other interests to advance this goal. Those Service, and I am proud to say Oregon Wild advocate for the protection of Oregon’s were not easy conversations, but in the end will continue down the trail he blazed in the wildlife and wild places. years to come. Tim, and his science, prevailed. US forest service

Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 14 Tim Lillebo: in our hearts vegetation, its beauty and its wildlife—especially the majestic and on our maps, always bighorn sheep. Andy Kerr Later, I whispered, “Tim, Home In 1976, Tim Lillebo and I went to work for Creek sounds exquisite. I really Oregon Wild. We were then two of four Oregon need to get up there!” To which nature zealots in need of the legitimacy provided by Tim whispered back, “So do I!” having common stationery. Prodded by Tim’s oral argument, T im Lillebo in 1986. the BLM established the Home Creek Wilderness Study Area, granting interim protection. In 2000, Congress designated Home Creek a part of the Steens Mountain Wilderness, safeguarding it forever. Home Creek is just one place where Tim Lillebo left his indelible marks both on the Oregon map and in our hearts Over the course of the day, Tim worked his magic and minds. From the Strawberry Mountains to the on the two of them. He talked hunting with one, Middle Santiam Wilderness, celebrate his legacy comparing notes on elk, deer, and turkey. The other and redouble your efforts to protect more. was only concerned about the bottom line. Tim In the late 1970s, the Bureau of Land Management spoke his language and walked him through (BLM) was inventorying lands to protect as Tim Lillebo’s Magic restoration plans and projected thinning volume. Wilderness Study Areas status, but missed millions Steve Pedery, Conservation Director of acres. Oregon Wild’s formal protest led to By the end of the day, the Boise execs were smiling informal field visits with local BLM staff in hopes Several years ago, Tim Lillebo and I took two Boise and cracking jokes with Tim like old friends. As we of convincing them to reconsider. Cascade logging executives on a tour of his Glaze shared beers on the tail gate of his pickup, I was in Meadow restoration project in the Deschutes awe of his ability to bridge the divide with those Lillebo and I arranged one of those trips. It was a National Forest. Tim showed in his green Toyota two men, and to create a connection where they gonzo trip in early spring, and we’d stopped the pickup wearing his battered hat and waving around could hear his point of view and know he was BLM rig at the base of Steens Mountain where an old green camp mug. The Boise guys arrived in a hearing theirs. Oregon 205 crosses Home Creek. The canyon big diesel pickup, and quickly expressed their mouth looked very enticing through the windshield That was Tim Lillebo’s magic, the unique gift that While Tim was not solely responsible disdain for environmentalists and projects like for the protection and expansion of and snow flurries, but I’d not personally been up made him both a delight to be around and a Glaze. the Oregon Wilderness areas above, that creek so I had nothing to say. In both great formidable champion for Oregon’s wild places. many are safely on the map today detail and eloquence, Tim described the canyon, its due to his efforts.

15 Spring/Summer 2014 Volume 41, Number 2 NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Portland, OR 5825 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217 Permit No. 226

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Printed on recycled paper with soy based ink. This summerOregonWildbringsbackasignature d Visit www.oregonwild.org/wilderness50 toregister or Wilderness Act:theOregon Wilderness Conference. the conferencewilltake place June6th,2014inthe contact Bridget [email protected]. conversation, andplenty ofrecreationalopportunities, event inhonorofthe50th Anniversary heart ofPortland. Featuring wide-ranging paneldiscussions,engaging an ie l sl oan returning sponsor returning Thanks to our

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