Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 The Rendezvous The Newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Forest Service Association
R o s R c r Volume 3, Issue 1 o k e n ck y e io y M n iat ou M ai oc nta ount Ass Winter 2015 in Forest Service Skip Steps Aside In this Issue Skip Underwood Hands Leadership to Kim Vogel
Memorial Grove 3 From Rendezvous in the organize a Region-wide NAFSR News 5 Rockies, Vail 2012 to launching association of Forest Service the Rocky Mountain Forest retirees on the heels of the Rally on the Rio 6 Service Association—what an national reunion. adventuresome few years! The It has been a wonderful enthusiasm and energy of the Harney Peak 8 experience to work with friends people who planned and Lookout who shared this vision of a implemented the national Region 2 association to become 11 reunion in Vail was just Mark Stiles Profile known as Rocky Mountaineers. unstoppable and was bound to The creativity and commitment Ski Day - 1.29.15 15 lead to something of lasting to build an association to value to the Rocky Mountain 17 connect individuals and existing Galapagos Island Region and the retirees who groups of retirees was a pleasure have worked here. Retirees 20 to see. It surely reminded me Remember Sometimes it's easy to drift a that just because you're retired little in retirement and lose from the outfit, it doesn't mean 23 Wilderness touch with friends and you don't have passion and skills experiences that have been a to do great things. Remembrances 25 large part of our lives and have It has been an exciting privilege 31 to some extent shaped who were The Last Word to be part of this first year of are and what we value. The organizing and building a solid invitation I received to help plan base of membership of the the Vail reunion certainly re- “The official newsletter of Rocky Mountaineers. Every engaged me in a very positive the Rocky Mountain Forest member of the initial Board of way that was unexpected and Service Association, Directors has played a key role very rewarding. It seemed a the Rocky Mountaineers.” in this successful beginning. Editions are published Fall, natural progression and was Winter, and Spring and certainly a fun task for a few of posted on-line. us to contemplate and decide to (continued on Page 2)
Page 1 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 1)
We have published four outstanding newsletters Fort Collins, Delta and a few places in between. called The Rendezvous which set a standard of Next year it will be Cody! I look forward to excellence exceeded by none that I have seen. I continuing this fun and rewarding experience as am confident our membership will grow as we add “Past Chair” in 2015 and welcome Kim Vogel into current and new retirees who share the pride of the Chair's position on January 1. You're in for a service and the pleasure of ongoing relationships great year, Kim! of colleagues. I have enjoyed every opportunity to attend meetings and visit with retirees in Denver, Pueblo,
Want to be a Famous Writer? Many folks have asked us how to submit an ar cle to be published in the Rendezvous. The Rendezvous Staff is looking for ar cles on events in the History of the Region; Special People, News Events, Recogni on, and Travel. To submit an ar cle, send your story ideas to: [email protected]. When sending us your ideas, provide us with your name, email address, and a summary of what the ar cle(s) is about. Your ideas will be carefully reviewed and approved and a response will be sent congratula ng you on your prose. If you want help, we’ll help you write the ar cle.
How To Contact “Rocky Mountaineers” Website www.rockymountaineers.us E-mail [email protected] Editor of Newsletter Tom Tompson, [email protected], 303-933-2135 Website Manager Bill Disbrow, [email protected], 303-548-7501 E-Mail Manager Johnny Hodges, [email protected], 970-226-6890 Memorial Grove Steve Deitemeyer, [email protected], 303-456-0799 Membership & Others P.O. Box 270462, Fort Collins, CO 80527
Page 2 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
2015 Memorial Grove Ceremony Planned for May
The 2015 Memorial Grove Committee because of their found on the Rocky Ceremony will be held at the long-time service to the Region. Mountaineers website at historic Monument Work “rockymountaineers.us” under Center on May 2. This year’s Each year we also add names the “In Memory” tab and then planting and recognition of who deserve recognition but the “Memorial Grove” tab, and honorees will mark the ninety- who were not recognized in finally the “Memorial Grove fifth year of the memorial previous years. This “Not Honorees” tab. The listing is service. Well over 1100 Forest Forgotten” category of honorees alphabetized and lists the full Service people have been is included in each year’s name and year the person was recognized for their service to ceremony. To determine honored. Other information is the agency and the country over whether an individual has displayed on the website about that period of time. The previously been recognized or the history of the Memorial planning and conduct of the not and to see a complete Grove and the most recent annual program is a cooperative listing of all the honorees whose honorees. effort of the Pikes Peak Ranger names appear at the Memorial, District, the Pike and San Isabel you can review the listing that is (continued on Page 4) NFs-Cimarron-Comanche NGs unit, the Regional Office, and the Rocky Mountaineers.
A tentative listing of the individuals who have been identified to honor from 2014 is shown below. If you are aware of a potential honoree that is not listed, please let us know as soon as possible so due consideration and evaluation can be made and proper notifications can be done in a timely manner. To be eligible, an honoree must have either: 1/ retired from the Rocky Mountain Region, 2/ worked in the Rocky Mountain Region and returned to reside in the Region after retirement, 3/ have died while working in the Region, or 4/ be otherwise deemed eligible by the
Page 3 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 (continued fom Page 3) 2014 Memorial Grove Honorees
Betty Alexander San Juan N.F. Julie M. Bagan Pike and San Isabel N.F. Herman Edward (Herm) Ball San Juan, Black Hills, Pike N.F.s and R.O. David L. (Dave) Branham White River N.F. and Regional Office Geometronics Raymond Roy Busby Regional Office, Administrative Mgmt./Communications Jacqueline Helen Cables Pike San Isabel N.F., and R-3 Pete Chidsey Bighorn, Black Hills, and Arapaho-Roosevelt N.F.’ s John Charles Englebert Arapaho-Roosevelt N.F. David Lee Girty Medicine Bow-Routt N.F. David V. (Dave) Grove Pike and San Isabel N.F., Cimarron and Comanche NG JoAnn F. Hagan Regional Office Leslie (Jock) Hendry White Rv., Harney, Bl. Hills, Pike, Roosevelt NF and R.O James Everett Jacobson Black Hills and Grand Mesa N.F. Lloyd McNeil San Juan N.F. Norbert V. (Ski) Milanowski San Juan, Bighorn, Routt, GMUG N.F.’s, SPF R.O. David L. Miller Arapaho Roosevelt N.F. David W. Molinaro San Juan and Pike N.F., Regional Office Jack Ott Black Hills, San Juan N.F. Edgar H. (Ed) Palpant Pike NF and Monument Tree Nursery Carolyn J. Peterson Regional Office, Manpower, JCCC, YCC Programs Robert M. Rankin Arapaho-Roosevelt N.F. Stanley F. Versaw Pike San Isabel N.F.
Not Forgotten List to be Recognized in 2015 William C. Hurd (2003) Roosevelt N.F. Susan T. Moholland (2012) Regional Office Lands Leon O. Nelson (1995) Frying Pan and Sopris R.D., White River N.F. Aubrey L. (Bud) Roach (2013) San Juan N.F., Delores R.D. Engineering
For more information or to nominate a potential 2014 honoree or “not forgotten” contact Tom L. Thompson at 303-552-1711 or email: [email protected]
Page 4 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
NAFSR REPORT by Tom L. Thompson, Rocky Mountain Region NAFSA representa ve
The National Association of John McGuire Award is an recognized as outstanding. Forest Service Retirees met in annual highlight of NAFSR and There is no specific deadline Reno, Nevada the last week of nominations are being accepted but if you have a worthy October for a three day Board for consideration of next year’s nomination you are encouraged Meeting. During this meeting a award. The award was to submit it. For more details Plan of Work for 2015 was established twelve years ago by about how to make a adopted and the Board spent NAFSR and recognizes nomination or to submit a considerable time prioritizing dedicated and outstanding nomination, please contact Tom the activities which they deem groups or individuals who have Thompson, the R-2 NAFSR most important to fulfill the a strong commitment to sound Representative. goals and objectives of the resource management and make Association during the coming significant accomplishments in Members of NAFSR in Region year. implementing the mission with 2 are proud to have had two the Forest Service. John McGuire Awards made Darrel Kenops, former Forest since the recognition program Supervisor on the Black Hills was started in 2002, with awards and Willamette N.F.s, has being made in 2003 to Floyd served as the Executive Reed and Dave Bradford on the Director of the organization for Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and eight years and this was his last Gunnison N.F.s and again in meeting. He was presented 2005 with an award to Joe with a letter of appreciation Hartman and Dick Bennin on from President Jim Golden. the Cimarron National Darrel has been very active in Grassland in Kansas. keeping NAFSR headed in the right direction and working to Consider joining in our establish partnerships and eforts! You may join NAFSR (Photo of Darrel Kenops (lef) coalitions that continue to work for the first year with no dues at and Jim Golden, President of on very important efforts to all and if you care to support NAFSR) help the agency, especially in the work and “sustain the regard to budget issues related heritage” of the Forest Service to fire funding. Darrel will be consider joining. Your support Forest Service employees or missed as he retires from this of the work that the members of NAFSR may role, but Corbin Newman, Association does is critical to nominate candidates recently retired Regional our success and increasing our for the John R. McGuire Award. Forester from the Southwest reach and effectiveness. For The nomination must identify Region, will be filling in behind more information contact Tom the responsible Forest Darrel and is looking forward to Thompson or visit the NAFSR Service employee(s) or the challenge. website at fsx.org. organizational unit and must Nominations are open and describe the nature of being accepted for the John the accomplishment, how it McGuire Award. relates to the Forest Service Presentation of the prestigious mission, and why it should be
Page 5 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Rally on the Rio October 11-16, 2015
Program Update some of the great restaurants we have in Monday, October 12th, 2015, is Albuquerque. Columbus Day, and although as a retiree every day is a holiday, it 7:00 am followed by field trips Thursday, October 15th we is your travel day. Monday is the for the remainder of the day. We will once again start at 7:00 am regular registration day and we'll have contracted with with breakfast followed by lots have an All-American Cookout Destination Southwest for of interesting presentations. Tailgate Party dinner that several customized guided tours. Lunch again is included. evening. These are optional and you will Thursday night is the Farewell be directed to the company's dinner gala where everyone The formal program will begin website to make your finds out who won on the Silent on Tuesday, October 13th at reservations. We will also have Auction and gets to bid on 9:00 am. Breakfast and lunch arrangements for several Do-It- items on our Live Auction. are included with your Yourself activities. This might registration. Tuesday evening be a great time to car pool and Friday, October 16th we send will feature heavy appetizers for caravan with some old and new you on your way with a Vaya you to snack on during the friends. That evening after a no- Con Dios Breakfast. A chance Gathering of the Regions. host bar and reception, you are to bid friends a final farewell on your own to meet up with before heading off on your way Wednesday, October 14th friends and take advantage of home. begins with the breakfast at
Let’s Do Lunch
Denver Group San Juan Group Shoshone Group January 14, 2015, Dino’s Italian January 13, 2015, Jack and September 2015, Restaurant, Lakewood Janelle's, Cortez, Nona Dale, Details TBA, Becky Aus, Marilyn Whalon and [email protected], [email protected] Kari Wardell 970-375-6341 307-527-7441
February, 2015, Location TBA, March 11, 2015, Christina's, S. Arizona Group Durango, Nona Dale Ann Bodine and Madera Canyon (Green Valley), Martha Delporte March 2015, Date & Time TBA, Check website or March, 2015, Location TBA, GMUG Group contact Bob Newlin, Bryon and Marlene Shark Summer Get-to-Gather 970-903-7370 TBA, Lee Carr, April, 2015, Location TBA, [email protected] Mike and Marge Clinton 970-261-8609
Page 6 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 News from Around the Region Pueblo Area Custer Area by Karen Bergathon by Frank Cross
The Kansas and Southeast Colorado contingent On October 22 2014; 19 retirees (a class I crew) of Forest Service Retirees met for lunch on attended a get together at the Wrangler Restaurant in Tuesday, December 9 in Pueblo. We enjoyed Custer. It was constant conversation for nearly two each other's company and told many stories, a hours with just a brief round table sharing time when each attendee shared their winter plans. Attending few of which were actually true. Our next were Carol Jorgensen, Marge Baldwin, Terry Reetz, luncheon will be on February 10 at Angelo's Dick and Betty Lou Kessler, Bob and Karen Adams, Restaurant on the Riverwalk in Pueblo, Janice Harbach, Don Kistler, Lee Schmunk, Dave followed by a tour of the Center for American Thom, Brad and Bonnie Exton, Linda and Bill Young, Values. Lynn Kolund, Pat Hattervig, Frank and Sue Cross.
lef side of picture fom font: ! Joe Hartman, Cheryl Klock, Larry Klock A portion of the crew with right side of picture fom font: Linda Casteel, Brad Exton in the foreground. Lindy Hartman, Gail Tameler, Karl Tameler, Al Wasser
Welcome New Retirees
Robert Gall N B Armel Gene Baker Bighorn Shoshone Regional Office Clarke McClung Wayne Ives John Rehmer Bighorn White River Regional Office Dean Young Dave Steinke Don Rivers Black Hills Regional Office Regional Office Gary Shellhorn Melanie Woolever Eveyln Gross GMUG Regional Office Regional Office Michael Hood John Varner Med Bow Routt Regional Office Elmer Montoya Sam Foster Rio Grande Rocky Mountain Station Frank Landis Don Rivers Pike San Isabel Regional Office
Page 7 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Harney Peak South Dakota
! General George and the site to which he Armstrong Custer in returned as an old man, 1874, during the Black accompanied by writer John Hills expedition. Neihardt, who popularized the Custer, along with five medicine man in his book Black other men rode on Elk Speaks. horseback much of the Neihardt recorded Black Elk's way, and Custer forced words regarding his vision as his mount higher after follows: "I was standing on the the others in his party highest mountain of them all, had dismounted, which and round about beneath me one of the party, Harney Peak, rising in the was the whole hoop of the engineer W. H. Wood, later world," he is quoted as saying in center of the Black Hills, is described as "cruel." composed of an ancient granite Neihardt's book. "And while I stood there I saw more than I core. The granite was deposited Named for General William S. can tell and I understood more in the Harney Peak Granite Harney Batholith, a huge body of than I saw; for I was seeing in a molten magma which slowly Harney Peak was named for sacred manner the shapes of all cooled and solidified beneath General William S. Harney, a things in the spirit, and the the earth's crust. The fine- military officer who served in shape of all shapes as they must grained igneous rock is the U.S. Army from 1818 to live together like one being." composed of many minerals, 1863. Harney fought pirates in including feldspar, quartz, the Caribbean, served in the First Recorded biotite, and muscovite. As the Seminole and Black Hawk Ascent magma cooled, large cracks and Wars, and commanded the 2nd Although many Native fractures appeared in the mass, Dragoons in the Mexican- Americans, including Black Elk, which filled in with more American War in the late 1840s. climbed Harney Peak, its first magma, forming coarse-grained General Harney entered the recorded ascent was by Dr. pegmatite dikes. These history of the Black Hills in Valentine McGillycuddy on July intrusions are seen today as 1855 when he led troops against 24, 1875. McGillycuddy pink and white dikes in the the Sioux at the Battle of Ash (1849-1939) was a surveyor with granite surface. The shape of Hollow, one of the first battles the Newton-Jenney Party, today's Harney Peak began of a 20-year war waged against which was looking for gold in years ago when erosive the Plains Indians. After the the Black Hills, and later was an processes began uncovering and battle the Sioux nicknamed him surgeon, who tended sculpting the granite batholith, "Woman Killer" because Army leaving valleys, sharp ridges, women and children were Crazy Horse at his death. He and humped rock formations killed. It's ironic that his name was later mayor of Rapid City on the peak. is now attached to one of the and the first Surgeon General sacred mountains of the Sioux. History of South Dakota. After his Harney Peak is the site of the death at age 90 in California, The first European Americans Sioux Native American Black McGillycuddy's ashes were believed to have reached the Elk's "Great Vision" which he summit were a party led by received when nine years old interred at Harney Peak.
(continued on Page 9)
Page 8 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 8) A plaque reading "Valentine ! McGillycuddy, Wasitu Wacan" marks the spot. Wasitu Wacan means "Holy White Man" in Lakota. Harney Peak was first used as a fire lookout tower in 1911, with nothing more than a wood crate placed at the summit. In 1920, a 12'x12' wood structure was built, and it was expanded to 16'x16' the following year. The Stone Structure Found there today The Harney Peak Lookout Tower was specifically engineered for the granite summit and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 to 1938. Over 7500 Stones were gathered from French Creek and hauled up the mountain on specially built horse-drawn sleds by man and mule to the summit of Harney Peak. In addition to the Harney Peak then for the following two remains at the summit, and is Fire Lookout Tower, a dam, years by Custer State Park. open to those who hike the pump house and stairway were Airplanes, helicopters and Harney Peak trail. The summit constructed upon the other fire towers throughout and Harney Peak Fire Tower highpoint. The reservoir the Black Hills National reside in the Black Elk created by the dam supplied Forest, provided sufficient Wilderness Area, and are only water to the living quarters coverage and the Harney Peak accessible on foot or where were located in the Fire Tower was no longer used horseback. lower level. The comforts of as a fire tower after the electricity, flush toilets, and a summer of 1967. *** central heating system were The USFS did repairs at the incorporated into the remote tower in the early 1990’s to Harney Peak Fire Lookout make it safe for visitors. Tower. Providing excellent panoramic Harney Peak Fire Lookout views of the surrounding pine Tower was staffed until 1965 by covered landscape, the Harney the U.S. Forest Service, and Peak Fire Lookout Tower
Page 9 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
Harney Peak Memories by Frank Cross by Frank Cross - Custer District Ranger 1987-1995
Harney Peak is one of my favorite places in the roofs and building safe access etc… but more world as it is with many people. I have hiked to memorable than either of those events was the the top many times mostly on trail 9 like most of volunteer cleanup day we had at Harney Peak. As the rest of the people but I have also hiked there I mentioned Harney Peak is a favorite place for from Cathedral Spires and Iron Creek trailheads. lots of people. So when we advertised a volunteer cleanup day we had a huge turn-out. We signed up A few of my favorite memories of Harney Peak anyone who wanted to help as a volunteer. We include the year we dedicated the Lookout Tower had over 100 volunteers from 6-80 years old. to be on the Register of National Historic places. We had a small group gather at the Sylvan Lake The lookout was built on a cliff face and 200 Lodge for the dedication. It was one of those below the cliff was a huge pile of litter that had times when you have to pinch yourself and say accumulated from the previous 70 years. Much of “I’m getting paid to do this”. A couple of people the debris was leftover from construction and were there that had staffed the lookout and their maintenance crews that didn’t want to haul surplus stories were incredible. Darrel Kenops was there material out. An archeologist was on site shown second from left in the front row and June recording anything that might have historic value. Johnston the last person to staff the lookout next The 100+ volunteers brought out thousands of to him and Terry Reetz the Forest Trails staff far pounds of garbage that day and every one of them left front row, and Gene Singsaas the Forest had a smile on their face. As I think back on it we Recreation staff far right second row. I’m near the were so lucky that no one got hurt. center next to an old time ranger and this old time ranger can’t remember his name. I remember seeing an elderly man carrying out a bag of litter in one hand with a cane in the other The stories that were told that day were great. and little girls and boys carrying bags of trash. The competition between the traditional way of The picnic afterward was great fun with everyone locating and fighting fires was the most interesting sharing stories about Harney Peak and how they aspect of those stories. Back then the lookout helped clean it up. would spot fires and take initial attack action on the fire. So, if you by chance have never hiked Harney Peak to see the tower, you’re missing out on an When I was the ranger on Custer RD we wrote outstanding venture, not to mention a vital piece the wilderness implementation plan. A very of our own Black Hills History. Happy Hiking! interesting memory and challenge, we also invested several thousand dollars into making it *** safe to visit the tower by replacing beams and
Page 10 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
The Lynx That Wouldn’t Leap and Reflections on a Public Land Career by Andrew Guliford
It was freezing in the San Juan whole career stood poised that non-motorized uses on public National Forest that day on the moment a decade ago. Then in lands. In the northern San Juan Upper Piedra when Mark Stiles the cold, his nose began to run Basin, oil and gas well expansion stood above the cage waiting for and dripped down on the cat. resulted in 68,000 comments. Non-plussed, she refused to He told me, “Thirty years ago I leap to freedom. saw as few as three to seven comment letters on a major EIS Recently I interviewed Stiles, or Environmental Impact who just retired after 32 years Statement; now we’ll see 20,000 with the Bureau of Land to 70,000 comments. We try Management and the U.S. not to do tallies. That Forest Service. He began his perpetuates the voting career trapping mice for an concept,” or the notion that inventory along irrigation land managers will shift their ditches near Delta. After many opinions and decision-making postings and a stint in based on the preponderance of Washington, D.C., he came to comments, many of which are Montrose in 1995 as BLM emailed. Instead, Stiles District Manager and then explained that the comments West Slope Center Manager in they most use when making Mark Stiles, former Forest Supervisor, charge of fire programs, San Juan National Forest long-range decisions have information technology, and detailed analysis showing that the female cat to jump out. He administration. In 2002 he was respondents have thought had the door raised but she assigned to Durango to manage through the issues. wouldn’t budge. She was a the 70,000 acre Missionary beautiful long-haired lynx fresh Ridge Fire and a year later he We all love our public lands, but from Quebec and part of a became supervisor of the San how they are managed can unique attempt to re-introduce Juan National Forest in charge result in fierce debate. On oil Canadian lynx to the southern of 1.8 million acres, a staff of and gas management Stiles said, Rockies. After years of planning, 160, and a $15 million budget. “We spent a lot of time listening permits, and passports, an Not bad for a biologist who to people; then we pushed the endangered species was to be began by looking for mice along envelope on air quality for released on the Western Slope Delta ditches. enforcement for conditions of to establish a major predator approval on individual wells. back into alpine ecosystems. “I like stuff that’s controversial,” That was a new collaborative But after such a long journey the he told me over breakfast. “I breakthrough.” feline just lay in her cage, her enjoyed the public processes. tufted ears twitching. That’s where the edge is, the margin for change.” Stiles and For field biologist and forest his staff wrestled with ATV and (continued on Page 12) supervisor Mark Stiles, his snowmobile use versus quiet or
Page 11 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 11)
Other significant public land ecological re-set button and an Colleges are now graduating issues include climate change important natural force in how fewer students in range and the vital role that Colorado habitats function. management and forestry. Staff forests will play in water hired decades ago are retiring. retention as patterns shift for “Recognize that forests will “Federal systems, statutes, earlier snowmelts and pulses of burn,” he tells me. “In a lot of regulations, policies, are very water flow at different times. cases they need to burn and complex and it takes many years Stiles explained that we need to long term it can be a benefit. to get a handle on them and to think of snowpack like water in Let’s quit talking about learn from your mistakes,” Stiles a reservoir. When it’s gone or catastrophic fire. It’s just fire.” muses. He wonders whether the greatly diminished, where will Under Stiles’ leadership in new work force will be “steeped we get our water? Hydrology has October 2012 a small fire started in the same environmental and long been “the purpose of by the Durango & Silverton natural resource culture national forests” and in the Narrow Gauge Railroad was America saw in the 1960s and future it will be even more allowed to burn up to 11,000 1970s and whether that will critical. In his career he dealt feet and did not die out until make any difference.” with saving habitat for December. On the 25,000 acre endangered Colorado cutthroat lightning-caused Little Sand Stiles made a difference. Both in trout in the Hermosa drainage Fire, Stiles helped change Montrose and in Durango, he north of Durango. national policy. “We made a led his staff to formulate long major difference in how we range decisions for the “Climate change is already real perceive of wildfire,” he says. betterment of public lands. for vegetation. Just look at the Always accessible, willing to impact of bark beetles in dying “We calculated all the values listen, he knew how to hesitate spruce,” he told me. Across and rather than build an and pause, and how to balance Colorado and now increasingly expensive firefighting line we access, energy, and conservation on the Western Slope, we have used sophisticated meteorology values. Perhaps he learned from stands of dead or dying trees to calculate the risks, to that female feline, the lynx who that are hard to access for their understand the probability of wouldn’t budge. She stayed in timber and if they could be cut success, and we let the fire come her cage, sniffing, looking, down, there’s no viable to us. It’s more like a military testing. Finally she ventured economic market for the beetle- model where you fight on the forth. killed wood. high ground.” Yes, there was more soot and ash in Pagosa *** Stiles helped to evolve policies Springs that summer, but the to calibrate the risks of fire to forest is healthier. “Historically Andrew Guliford is a professor of resources as well as risks to we would have fought it, but history and Environmental Studies firefighters prepared to deploy this time we protected the at Fort Lewis Colege. He can be in rugged terrain. The old U.S. structures on private property reached at Forest Service 10 a.m. rule of rather than go further in which [email protected] having every fire out by 10 a.m. would have put more the next morning has resulted in firefighters at risk,” Stiles states. *** too many trees in the forest. We now understand fire as an
Page 12 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
National Museum of Forest Service History Continues to Work to Preserve Your History!
The National Museum of Forest the important role the Forest Service History held its annual Service has in managing this meeting in Salt Lake City on mineral resource while October 7th in conjunction with protecting the other the National Society of important national forest and American Foresters convention. grassland resources. The The Board continues to work exhibit will be in Leadville hard at raising funds to get through the summer of 2015. construction of our building underway and is pursuing new To keep current on Museum happenings and enjoy the stories leads and opportunities. Even written in our newsletters and though we still have significant publications, simply become a challenges in reaching our NMFSH Traveling Exhibit member. We encourage you to overall goal, we continue to be a part of this effort. W e currently have a traveling make progress and our certainly do hope you will exhibit located in Leadville at commitment and dedication to consider becoming a member of the National Hall of Fame of completing this project is as the Museum. The history we Mining. If you are traveling strong as ever. An important are trying to protect is your that way for any reason, stop by factor that influences potential history and your legacy. For and take a look at our exhibit. donors is “how many members more information, go to the They are open Tuesday through we have who provide us Museum’s web site at: support?” So we are working to Sunday from 9 AM until 5 PM. increase our membership and http:// This exhibit is intended to raise would hope that you might www.forestservicemuseum.org/ people awareness about the consider becoming a member if involved/membership.html connection and importance of you are not already one. minerals in our daily lives and We continue to work at protecting our collection of over fifty thousand items. We partner with others to use our collections to help interpret and tell the story of the Forest Service. Our traveling exhibit program allows us to serve our overall purpose of education and interpretation even without having a central facility yet. We Mining Hal of Fame, Leadvile, Colorado
Page 13 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Membership Update December 2014
Membership in the Rocky Mountaineers has now We will begin charging dues in 2015. If you have climbed to 371. We have added new members not paid your dues in advance, you will receive an every month for the past 17 months in a row. invoice from us in late January. Dues are $20 per There are probably still lots of retirees out there household annually or you can become a lifetime that don’t know about us, so continue to spread member for $250 per household. You can pay your the word. dues at any time by dropping a check in the mail to us at – We have gained several lifetime members over the past couple of months – Rocky Mountaineers Box 270462 Jim Thinnes and Cindy Dean, Littleton, CO Ft. Collins, CO 80527 Roger Tarum, Ft. Collins, CO John and Jackie Twiss, Custer, SD Greg and Nancy Warren, Golden, CO
Denver re rees meet nearly every month of the year!
together to somehow fix a few of the drawing winners, mainly each other’s. Anyway, everyone had a great time and Polly Erskine won a birdhouse especially crafted by Tom Thompson and co-hosts Glen and Tedra Hetzel donated a couple bottles of wine to the cause. Roger and Carolyn Jim Thinnes visits with Joyce Skip Underwood, Martha Conde won a year’s membership and Paul Momper DelPorte and Ann Bodin to the Rocky Mountaineers and Skip Underwood encouraged Well over forty retirees enjoyed slated for January 14 @ Dino’s folks who were not members of lunch at the Homestead Golf Italian Restaurant on Colfax and the Mountaineers to join up. Course Grill in Lakewood, CO Marilyn Whalon will be the Dave Steinke gave an update of on November 20. The group host. The group meets every things happening in the had a fun time and the fireplace month except for June and July Regional Office and indicated and holiday décor provided a usually, and if you want to be on that there could be lots of great atmosphere for fellowship. the mailing list for changes in the months ahead as There was a drawing of door announcements of times and far as retirements, including his prizes and it was determined places, send Wayne Wilkens a own. after the drawing that Lloyd note at: Newland and Marti Everett The next meeting of this [email protected] might have been working Denver group of retirees is Page 14 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Second Annual Rocky Mountaineer's Ski Day at Winter Park! January 29th, 2015
Doug Laraby from Winter Park will join us for part of the day and update us on the vegetative management they continue to do on the mountain.
We hope you can join us for this great chance to connect with a bunch of folks who still love the Forest Service and also love to enjoy the mountains whenever we can. If you are interested in staying the night, there may be a chance to get discounts on some lodging if there is enough interest.
Winter Park, 1961 U.S. Forest Service Photo
The Rocky Mountaineers (R-2 FS Association) is planning our second annual ski day at Winter Park on January 29, 2015. Last year we had a wonderful day and had about 30 retirees from across the region take to the slopes.
We have made arrangements with Winter Park for the event in January and we would like to invite any Rocky Mountaineer and friends to come spend the day with fresh powder and sunshine. That is what we have ordered for the day.
If you are interested, let Bjorn Dahl know - [email protected] or 303-526-2822.
Basically, we meet at the Mary Jane base area around 9 am and try to get out to the lift by 9:30 or Some of the skiers at last year’s Rocky Mountaineers Ski Day so. We have lunch at the new Lunch Rock Restaurant at 11:30 am. KEEP CALM AND WAIT FOR SNOW...IT'S COMING! Winter Park will be offering us discounted lift tickets for the day and this is a day you don't want to miss if you like to ski and even if you don't, there is always the cozy fireplace in the lodge and other things to do as well.
Page 15 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Home Again Home Again Regional Ofce Signs Agreement with GSA
Regional Forester Dan Jiron, in a December 1, 2014 He went on to state that they made careful letter to all Rocky Mountain Regional employees considerations after analyzing all the options over outlined the future of the Regional Office. the past few years. He noted Federal Regulations He said, “I am pleased to announce that we have that rule that federally owned space must be made a decision on the future lease for the Rocky considered first before privately owned properties, Mountain Regional Office, National Job Corps, and the analysis showed that Building 53 meets the WO Minerals and Geology Management, CIO, as appropriate size, criteria and cost for the current well as several hosted employees. This decision workforce. results in a significant cost savings for the agency as The new space will feature more collaborative the estimated rent cost and reduced space will spaces with an emphasis on new technology, allow us to invest more in the Forest Service increased mobility within the office, as well as the mission.” ability to work remotely. This design will result in He explained that it took lengthy discussions and smaller personal spaces and will meet and exceed negotiations with the General Services new government mandates for energy, space and Administration (GSA) and leadership did an cost reductions. exhaustive review of available properties in the And the location on the DFC offers many local area. “We have determined that Building 53 amenities such as a light rail station, many bus on the Denver Federal Center (DFC) will best suit routs, onsite day care, a wellness facility, several our future needs. This past week we signed draft food options, walking and biking trails, as well as occupancy agreements with a projected move-in social and fitness activities. date of Winter 2018, after significant renovations are complete,” Jiron explained.
Building 85 8th and Quail 1952 - 1974 1974 to 1993
740 Simms Street 1993- 2018
Page 16 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Retirees Traveling the World Each newsle er we will be featuring a short story about re rees’ whereabouts and travel
Galapagos Islands – Wildlife by Johnny and Elen Hodges
It was our first full day We were visiting in May in the Galapagos which is toward the end Islands. We had spent of the wet/warm season the morning hiking and when the ocean looking at the weird and temperature is in the wild designs on the upper 70’s, perfect for pahoehoe lava fields of snorkeling. Other times Santiago Island, of the year require followed by a snorkeling wetsuits to comfortably trip in Sullivan Bay. The snorkel in these waters. plan for the afternoon was for our boat to move Pacific green sea turtle The Galapagos National over to Bartolome Island and he was about 8 feet long. He Park Service manages the complete a long snorkel trip up disappeared and a minute later Galapagos Islands. A total of 95 the west coast to Pinnacle Rock. he was back and this time he boats are authorized to carry We had no idea what awaited was only about 4 feet below me. tourists and each boat must us. He was so close I couldn’t get all have a licensed guide. Visits to of him in my viewfinder. the islands are strictly We hopped in the pangas and controlled by the Park Service motored around to the south I have seen a few sharks on with routes and times onshore side of the island. The various snorkel trips, but this set in advance. This creates a guidebooks say there is no was my closest encounter ever. wonderfully uncrowded snorkeling or swimming on the Ok, it was only a reef shark and experience and we rarely had south coast of Bartolome Island they are supposedly harmless, more than two other boats in because of the large number of but when they get that close, it the same area as us at any time. sharks and sting rays. We hoped is a bit terrifying. A word of our guide, Mauricio, knew what advice – don’t watch a rerun of We left Bartoleme Island and he was doing. After all, he had the movie “Jaws” before you go headed northeast on the 65 mile led this trip many times. to the Galapagos Islands. overnight journey to Genovesa Island. Our boat had 8 cabins We bailed out of the pangas and The Galapagos Islands straddle for passengers and our group of I barely got my snorkel in my the equator, 600 miles off of the 13 friends occupied them all. So mouth before someone yelled coast of Ecuador. Of the 13 basically we had our own “shark!” I turned on my camera major islands, only 4 are personal “yacht.” and started looking around. inhabited with a total Then a white-tipped reef shark population of 40,000 residents. appeared, passing about 10 feet (continued on Page 18) below me. We later estimated
Page 17 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 (continued fom Page 17) Cruising at 8 knots an hour, the pangas, docked at some rocks, largest island in the Galapagos trip would take us 8 hours. At and climbed up a natural and is formed by six volcanoes. 90 feet long, our boat seemed stairway named Prince Philip’s big, but on the open ocean, it Steps after the Duke of We hit the water for our was non-stop rock and roll all Edinburgh visited here in the morning snorkel trip working night. Just making the trip from 1960’s. our way into Banks Bay. The the bed to the bathroom, which water was beautifully blue, clear was only 6 feet away, was an We hiked through a scrub forest and very deep as we were adventure. of palo santo and croton with swimming along the edge of the birds everywhere - Nazca Ecuador Volcano. boobies, both Great and We began to see huge numbers Magnificent of Pacific green sea turtles frigatebirds, swimming all around us. As we Galapagos swam further into the bay, the mockingbirds, water became shallower and we swallow-tailed saw giant sea turtles lying on the gulls, finches, ocean floor. Their shells looked and the most to be 4 and 5 feet across and famous of all – they looked as though they were the red-footed dead. Most of them were boobies. covered with a thin layer of sand and were not moving. They can Blue-footed actually hold their breath for an boobies are hour or more and they were just found on several sleeping. islands and we had seen a large Along the rocky shore we saw flock of them our first flightless cormorants Red-footed boobie attacking a and lots of penguins. The school of fish the Galapagos penguin must be the During the night we made our day before. But the red-footed most unique bird in the islands. first crossing of the equator, boobies are rarer and Genovesa Why would penguins live on the which is usually a cause for Island is the only place we found equator? celebration. We didn’t make a them. big deal about it because we We saw them on several were all in bed trying to stay A couple of days later, after different islands, but only in horizontal and not roll onto the crossing the equator three more small numbers, perched on the floor of our cabins. times, we woke up to find our rocks along the shoreline. They ship anchored at Vicente Roca arrived here via the Humboldt Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island Point, on the northwest corner Current which flows from is a flooded caldera about 2 of Isabela Island. This is the Antarctica during the dry/cool miles across. After setting season from July to December. anchor, we took off in our (continued on Page 19)
Page 18 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 (continued fom Page 18) The penguins loved to swim and I think 299,000 of them underneath me as my heart with us. They would bob live on Punta Espinosa. attack slowly subsided. around with us on the surface, but once they went underwater, Marine iguanas are black and On our last morning in the they were like rockets. All of scary looking and some of them Galapagos Islands we awoke to my underwater penguin pictures were 4 feet long. They were find ourselves anchored in were a blur. packed head to tail on every Puerto Ayora on the south side square inch of rock. All of them of Santa Cruz Island. To reach Another swimming companion seemed to be staring at us as we the airport on Baltra Island we was the Galapagos sea lion. passed by, ready to attack us by had to drive north which led us They are very graceful the thousands and eat us alive. through the highlands, where underwater and not the least bit Actually they barely moved, but there is excellent habitat for the shy. There were many times I they were probably dreaming of giant land tortoise. thought we were going to have a their next meal. head-on collision, but they We turned off the paved road would always glide by totally in A couple of days later we and drove a couple of miles control. reached Puerto Villamil on the through forest and farmland and south end of Isabela Island. encountered our first giant In the afternoon we headed tortoise sitting in the middle of across the channel to We decided to snorkel nearby in the road. These creatures can Fernandina Island, geologically the bay. The water was choppy live over 100 years and grow to the youngest of the islands and and visibility was only about 3 over 500 pounds. home to La Cumbre volcano. It feet, but we continued to follow Mauricio, wondering Some of the local farmers have where he was taking discovered it is more financially us. beneficial to manage tortoise habitat than to raise cattle and Soon I found myself in crops. They now mow their another “shark alley.” fields of lush grass so the The alley began to tortoises are easier to spot and narrow and it was charge the tourists to come almost impossible to visit. We hiked marked trails turn around, so I kept and found many tortoises. They swimming, with would allow us to approach Marine Iguanas thoughts of fairly closely, but if we got too is the most active volcano and hammerhead sharks close for comfort, they would last erupted in 2009. dancing through my head. I hiss at us. kept peering through the murky We stopped to visit the marine water and all of a sudden Giant tortoises are found iguanas at Punta Espinosa, a something appeared in front of nowhere else on earth. It was a finger of volcanic rock along the me and all I could think about great way to end our trip to the northeast coast. There are an was shark! But it turned out to Galapagos Islands. estimated 300,000 marine be a sea lion and it passed just iguanas in the Galapagos Islands ***
Page 19 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 “That’s the Way I Remember it” Each newsletter we will be featuring a short story about retirees from R-2
Jackie Parks Retiree Class of 2011 – 29 Years of Service
The Rendezvous: Summarize your career in a worked on Main Street! I do remember the paragraph or so. town’s sheriff visiting with me after giving the track boys rides on the running boards of my Jackie Parks: My career was anything but VW bug so they didn’t have to run all the way “normal”. I first began in the field of to the track. He assured me my Dad would community-based mental retardation. I began never know IF I stopped. Alas, all good things my Forest Service career in 1982 as the Driver’s must come to an end! Ed Teacher at Pine Ridge Job Corps Center, Chadron, NE. I was promoted twice at that TR: Tell us about your first job with the Center; to Assistant Works Program Officer Forest Ser vice. and then to Center Administrative Officer. In 1992, I was promoted to the position of JP: I was finishing my Master’s Degree in Administrative Officer on the Nebraska Career/Vocational Guidance and heard about a National Forest and Grasslands and served in job opening at the local Job Corps Center for a that capacity for 12 years. From 1995 to 1997, I Driver’s Ed and World of Work teacher. served as the Administrative Officer for both Luckily, I had minored in Driver’s Ed during the Nebraska NF and the Black Hills NF. In college, so I applied and was hired into a 2004, I accepted the position of Deputy Forest temporary position. I was the first female Supervisor for the Arapaho and Roosevelt Driver’s Ed teacher in the Job Corps Program. National Forests and Pawnee National I was also the first female Assistant Works Grassland. In 2010, I coordinated the Rocky Program Officer in the Job Corps system, and I Mountain’s Regional Bark Beetle Team until I remain very proud of both positions. As retired in 2011. Driver’s Ed teacher, I taught inner city kids who had never even ridden a bike to drive in TR: Where were you born and raised? order to better prepare them for employment. I used to complain to my supervisor that I JP: I was born and raised in central Nebraska, needed ”hazard pay” as quizzes out on the in a little town called Ansley. The town’s highway could be perilous to one’s health! population was 730, so it was the kind of town where you couldn’t get away with anything without your parents finding out - especially when your Dad was the town’s banker and (continued on Page 21)
Page 20 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 20) TR: What kind of fire experience did you have? Do you have a favorite fire story?
JP:I started on a 20-person hand crew while working in the Job Corps program. Then, 3 back surgeries ended that experience. It was only years later, that I “stumbled” into fire information. We had a fire on the Nebraska and the forest’s public affairs officer went out on initial attack! The Forest Supervisor enlisted me as the spokesperson until the IMT arrived. I found that I liked that type of work, helping to tell the story of the fire suppression efforts in “plain speak”. I have continued to keep my fire quals as Information Officer and Liaison courage in seeking out a new path so I could Officer current and continue to accept a couple continue to advance. of assignments each summer since I’ve retired. TR: What was it like moving up and TR: Did your family move for your job or getting more responsibilities in this your husband’s? organization?
JP: My husband, Mike, and I have five JP: For me, the moves were about having the courage to try new things, learn new pieces and parts of the organization that I’d only had a bit of exposure to, and to find mentors along the way to help me become and remain a strong member of each organizational unit. I had wonderful mentors who gave me opportunities to expand my horizons, gave me good and honest advice, and pushed me to move in directions I could never have imagined. I pledged that I would always be willing to make “interesting mistakes” that would help me grow and that I would keep my sense of humor. I learned that the biggest responsibilities include learning how to really actively listen to children. Thankfully, I was able to take everyone and to ask the right questions at the positions in Chadron while they were young, right time. Sometimes, I hit the mark…. Then both with Job Corps and the National Forest/ there were other days… Grasslands. We moved for my job when we moved to Fort Collins. Mike, a letter carrier (continued on Page 22) for the U.S. Postal Service for nearly 20 years, could not make a transfer happen. So as my career took its next step forward, his current career ended. I have always admired his
Page 21 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 21) TR: Where are you living now…and why?
JP: Mike and I live in Fort Collins, CO. Our five children and nine grandchildren are spread from Phoenix, AZ to Omaha, NE; and Fort Collins seems to be a good central location to our family. We also love the outdoor recreation opportunities that are right outside our back door.
TR: What’s in the future for you?
JP: In general, my goal in this chapter of my life is to give back to my family and to attend to my own health. To that end, I have become TR:How about a funny story to leave addicted to “pickleball” and play 3 to 4 times a with? week. If you haven’t heard of this fast growing JP: In 2012, I served as an information officer sport, check it out! It’s fun, fast, and a great on the Hewlett fire, near Fort Collins. I was on way to meet a wide variety of people. the Denver TV stations doing a press TR: Do you have any advice to other conference - the same stations that are seen in retirees? Chadron, NE where my daughter and family live. My then 3 year-old granddaughter, JP: None. I would never think of giving Emmerson, heard a familiar voice on the TV advice to others as I am learning it’s a very and whirled around to see me in "Technicolor personal journey. However, I do realize that I yellow & green", speaking about retardant. have adopted a “live every day to its fullest” She stood for a minute before stating "Well, attitude as NONE of us are getting any what's my Grami doing in MY TV!” When I younger! wouldn't answer her, she stomped off to play - she was totally unimpressed! (My 9 little TR:Do you have any hidden talents? cherubs keep me humble!) JP: So lots of people have heard of the “Fiddlin’ Foresters”, but not many have heard *** of the Infamous “Grassland Girls”. Linda Lovegrass (aka Mary Peterson) and Bertha Bluestem (me) performed on numerous occasions at forest service parties and festivities. We accepted no payment for our original songs about our co-workers as music was our gift to others. We retired the group when we moved apart… that and AFTER being asked to quit by our co-workers!!!
Page 22 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
Life in the Colorado Wilderness: Journal Entry Reflects Rangers’ Experiences in Retracing Arthur Carhart’s First Journey to Trappers Lake
Posted by Kate Jerman, White River National Forest, U.S. Forest Service,
A group of U.S. Forest Service employees gathers together in the Flat Tops Wilderness to reflect upon the idea of preserving wilderness that led to the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Flat Tops Wilderness is in what is known as the Cradle of Wilderness, the area that inspired Forest Service landscape architect Aldo Leopold to recommend designating permanent wilderness areas that could be enjoyed by future generations.
In 1919, landscape architect Arthur Carhart made his first journey to Colorado’s Trappers Lake and the Flat Top Wilderness. His idea of keeping natural areas of beauty free from development inspired the Forest Service to be the first natural resource agency to push for designated wilderness areas.
The grandeur of the area recently inspired Forest Service employees from the White River National Forest to retrace Carhart’s 25-mile hike through the wilderness across trails with names like Wall Lake and Trappers Lake to the Cradle of Wilderness on their way to the lake. Like many a hiker who visits wilderness areas, they were inspired by the variety of experiences they encountered during their pilgrimage.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964, they recorded their thoughts and experiences to share with others. Wilderness rangers from the forest’s Eagle – Holy Cross and Blanco Ranger Districts saw, did, and felt:
“We walked the braided trails across the open meadows to Shepard Lake, circled around Shingle Peak, camped at Wall Lake, and viewed Trappers Lake from the Amphitheater,” said Maggie Vest. “During our journey, we crosscut trees, re-naturalized campsites, and played chicken with the rain – because the rain will always stop if you put your raingear on. We crossed through two districts, which allowed us to see familiar and new areas. The familiar areas brought back memories of coyotes yipping and echoing back on Shepard Lake as the super moon was rising.”
Similarly, Arthur Carhart wrote, “a coyote choir yapped crazily, suddenly hushed their chorus as though echoes of their own yammering flung back, and scared them, then started again their wild, blood stirring chant of backcountry, of wilderness.” (continued on Page 24)
Page 23 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 23) The rangers wrote about their gratitude, to be able to enjoy the experience that inspired Carhart. They recorded many memories of their own while working in the woods:
“… found king bolete mushrooms bigger than our faces and proceeded to eat them.”
“… eyed beautiful geodes scattered about as we walked the ridgeline towards the summit of Flat Top Mountain.”
“… got sidetracked by a bear sighting and completely missed our turn, and ended up two miles off trail.” Often the experience of being in wilderness inspires a treasured perspective.
“Our summer in the Flat Tops has brought a sense of place to all of us, a home away from home where we have all felt deep connections to the small moments and big landscapes we traverse every week,” Vest said. “The wilderness is meant to be a place where man is only a visitor, although as seasonal [workers] we sometimes feel like we are a permanent piece of the landscape.”
“We spend more nights in a tent than a bed, more time off trail than on, and see more sunrises than sunsets,” said Priscilla Williams. “Backpacking may not always be glamorous, but we love our jobs and are so thankful to be wilderness rangers during this time of celebration of our public lands.” Arthur Carhart believed that Trappers Lake should be a place for everyone. His reluctance to develop this area helped to bring about the idea of what we know as wilderness today.
“As we approached Trappers Lake for the first time, we hadn’t yet understood why the lake within itself held the cradle of wilderness,” said Williams. “But as we sat and viewed the lake from the top of the Amphitheater, we began to fully grasp why Carhart was so profoundly moved to protect this place and primitive areas as a whole.” (continued on Page 25) Page 24 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 24)
The rangers expressed hope that all can find passion to help preserve the special places where we can connect with nature and find the courage that Carhart manifested as he stood up to the pressures of the modern day. Despite all the challenges of wilderness, we look forward to another 50 years of preservation and upholding one of the greatest acts in American history. Find the live version of the wilderness rangers’ memorial trek posted on the White River National Forest Facebook.
Remembrances Ruth Jeanette Ginter Shields
Ruth Jeanette where Chester began his career After the death of her husband Ginter Shields was with the U.S. Forest Service. in 2000, she sailed with born May 1, 1925, in Later, they moved to New Elderhostel adventures in the Custer, South Mexico, living in Mountainair, Puget Sound. She pursued Dakota, to Paul L. Taos, and Peñasco. After a year silversmithing, wood carving, Ginter and Cora M. in Boston, the family moved to Native American pottery and (Baske) Ginter. The family Durango, then the Denver area watercolor painting classes in moved to Colorado in 1929. in 1959. New Mexico, houseboating and canoeing. She attended Colorado A&M in The family then moved to Fort Collins, graduating with a Springfield, Virginia, in 1963. She is survived by her two sons, degree in forestry. She worked Patrick Shields, of Cañon City, driving cattle, on a hay crew and Retiring to Durango in 1978, and Paul Shields, of Durango; was proud to have run a stacker they joined the San Juan Basin her daughter, Diane Cassidy, of and dump rake and to have Archaeology Club. She also Durango; sisters Eileen Lorraine finished a green broke horse. volunteered at the Durango Arts Holden, of Fair Oaks, Center. California, and Fay March, of On Nov. 21, 1948, she married Grand Rapids, Michigan; three She played sports, was an avid Chester A. Shields, a forestry granddaughters and several alpine and Nordic skier, enjoyed student from Durango. They cousins, nieces and nephews. moved to Happy Jack, Arizona fly fishing and beekeeping.
Page 25 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Remembrances Jacqueline Helen Cables Jacqueline in 1955, as a GS-1 clerk. She the agency), Special assistant to Helen worked at the Post Office in the Deputy Chief of Research in Cables, 83, downtown Pueblo, Colorado at Washington, Deputy Station a Canon the time and the Supervisor’s Director at the Rocky Mountain City, office for the San Isabel National station in Ft. Collins, Colorado, Colorado Forest was across the hall. and finally back to Pueblo, Co., native, died When the clerical position in as administrative officer on the October 25, the SO opened up, Jackie Pike/San Isabel NFs and the 2014. Jackie “transferred” to the U.S. Forest Comanche and Cimarron was born June 2, 1931 to Chester Service and began her career National Grasslands. She and Hazel Bundy. Pre-deceased with the “outfit”. Rick Cables, retired from the AO job in 1986: by her husband of 48 years, Val retired Forest Service, and promptly became the “AO” Jean Cables and survived by her remembers that at the Forest at Candy’s tortilla factory in five children: sons, Kelly Cables Service’s 100th anniversary in Pueblo. They loved her there (Patricia), Michael Cables 2005, his mom reminisced that because she could do anything. (Jennifer), Rick Cables (Cynthia), she remembered the 50th Andy Cables (Trude) and anniversary – in her first year as Chief Max Peterson once gave daughter, Candy Hazen (Jeff); 14 an employee. Rick this advice, “Rick, you will grandchildren and 15 great- do alright if you have as much grandchildren with a 16th due to Her career took her to positions common sense as Jackie.” arrive shortly. Her son Rick was such as resource clerk (Region 2 Jackie wanted all of her Forest Forest Supervisor of the Pike- RO), personnel officer Service friends how much she San Isabel-Cimarron-and (Coronado NF), Job Corps asst. appreciated the friendships, Comanche in the late 90’s and Center Director (Heber Job work relationships, and support R-2 Regional Forester from 2000 Corps Center), administrative over the years. She lived and to 2011. officer (AO) (Lincoln NF), loved the Forest Service and Region 3 Regional Director of often talked about the wonderful After high school Jackie Cables Civil Rights (the very first opportunities that the agency started her Forest Service career Regional Civil Rights Director in provided.
Loretta Fern Erwin McCorkle Loretta migrant agricultural workers. secretary in the Old McCorkle, Loretta graduated from high Executive Office Building of Redding, school in Stockton, California in Washington, D.C for the CA, died on and college in Longview, Carter administration. She May 11, 2014, Washington. worked in Missoula, MT and in Sanger, at Mt. St. Helens with the CA. She was born in 1946 in She worked with the federal Forest Service in Sacramento Gridley, CA to Jack and Ruth government in several Erwin. Her family worked as as a writer/editor for the Fish different locations. She was a and Wildlife Service; (continued on Page 27) Page 26 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 26) Remembrances on the PSICC in Leadville on Loretta was an avid artist and California and her brothers the District from 2005 until writer. She also enjoyed making Charles "Bud" Erwin of 2009; and then retired from the jewelry, sewing, genealogy Redding, CA and Thomas Erwin Shasta Lake Ranger District in research, and computer games. of Sumner, WA. She was Redding, CA in Region 5 She had a quick wit and a great predeceased by her daughter effective 4/21/2012 and remained sense of humor. Amber, as well as her three in Redding. She is survived by her daughter sisters: Muriel, Christine, and Autumn Bell of Sanger, Jackie.
John H. (Jack) Ott served in the U.S. Army Signal helping out his other children. He John H. Corps as a high speed radio made up for the honeymoon he Ott died on operator during the Korean War. and Mary Ann never had with November Returning to Colorado in 1955, he winter travels, eventually buying a 18, 2014. Of worked out of the Dunton Guard beach condo in Hilo, Hawaii all of Jack Station, then the Animas Ranger where they have spent the last 27 Ott's District as assistant ranger. He winters. In 2004 his name was wonderful transferred to the Mancos read into the Congressional District in 1957. He purchased his Record in honor of his service to land on Mancos Hill in the spring the Forest and his community. accomplishments, his family is of 1959 with winnings from poker Jack volunteered with 4-H, the most grateful for his stewardship games he'd saved over the years Boy Scouts; he was a member of of his land on Mancos Hill land and immediately began the Society of American and for marrying their mother reclaiming the soil and oak Foresters, the Masonic Order and Mary Ann, a young widow with woods. He began building a house the VFW. He served the Mancos five small children in 1959. Jack with the help of his little brother United Methodist Church over was born December 3, 1929 to Pat in June. On December 24, the last 55 years in many Viola and Herman J. Ott in 1959 he married Mary Ann capacities including Treasurer, Grand Haven, MI. on December Rawlings whose husband Bill Sunday School Superintendent, 3, 1929 in Grand Haven, Rawlings, a Forest Service Board of Trusties and perpetual Michigan. He enjoyed a free colleague, had been killed in a handyman. He loved to work, childhood exploring the Grand line-of-duty horse accident near especially on his land and on his River and Lake Michigan with his Stoner earlier that year. The children's homes, he was an avid two little brothers and sister in Rawlings' children are Bill, fisherman, hunter and old tow. He graduated from high Jeannie, Woody, Larry and Mark. fashioned outdoorsman. On school in in 1947, and from Jack adopted these children and November 18, Jack passed Michigan State University School had two more children with Mary peacefully after a short illness in of Forestry in '52. Upon Ann, John, b. 1961 and Grace, his own bed, in the house he built graduation he hired on with the 1964. Jack retired in 1981 after 30 on the land he loved surrounded U.S. Forest Service, heading a years of federal service. He went by his wife and grown children. spruce bark beetle survey crew right to work on his place, He was two weeks shy of his 85th near Kremmling and in the Black helping his son Woody who owns birthday. True to form he met his Hills. He was drafted in 1953 and Ott's Mill and Logging, and death with dignity and no fuss.
Page 27 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
Edgar H. Palpant Remembrances Edgar H. Palpant Pikes Peak district, and then as a reforestation was born October 19th, nurseryman in Monument, CO. In 1966 he joined 1925 in Ypsilanti, the Forestry Department at Penn State University Michigan and died where he did research, growing Christmas trees on October 4th, 2014 in the side and subsequently serving as Executive Buena Vista, Colorado. Secretary of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree His parents, Pierre and Growers Association. He ran his own nursery Elise, were French immigrants and he grew up on outside of State College, PA and international tree the family farm in Michigan called “Terre Haven seed business with many connections in Europe. Farms” where he raised turkeys and milked cows most mornings before school. He went to a one Ed was the founder of WTLR (Way, Truth, Life room school for much of grade school. Radio), a Christian radio station in State College, PA that went on the air January 1, 1978. It Ed joined the Army Air Corp from 1943-46 at the continues to the present day. He obtained the FCC end of WWII. In 1946, he began his degree in license, and constructed the radio station and 109 Forestry at Michigan State, and fell in love with foot mountain top transmission tower. He was a Jeanne Crusinberry, from Adrian, Michigan. Ed mean hand with the chainsaw, until he fell from a flew a small plane and once took Jeanne on a flight tree and broke his neck in 2007. After refusing an with engine failure, ending up in the middle of a ambulance, his daughter and wife drove him to the pasture with the cowling against a barb wire hospital, where he amazingly recovered without any fence. Still she decided to marry him and the two paralysis. Ed and Jeanne subsequently moved to were wed on June 14th, 1947. Buena Vista, Colorado where Ed built lamps on his After graduation, Ed joined the US Forest Service lathe during his later years. His favorite Bible verse and spent most of his career from 1950-65 in the was Proverbs 3:5-6. He is survived by his wife New Mexico and Colorado region. He worked in Jeanne, 6 children, 18 grandchildren and 14 great rural land management, as a forest ranger on the grandchildren.
Betty Grace Alexander Betty Grace degree in Secretarial Science. In Church, Chapter BD, P.E.O., Beers 1966 she began working as a Cowbelles, and V.F.W. Auxiliary. Alexander, 90, clerk with the U.S. Forest Betty is survived by her husband, passed away on Service until her retirement in Noland of Mancos; her children, December 29, 1987. Betty was the District Gwen Hawkins, Brent Alexander 2014 in Cortez. Clerk (later Support Services and Gail Moore; six She was born on Supervisor) on the Mancos grandchildren; and four great May 23, 1924 in Mancos, to District from 1966 to 1987. She grandchildren. She was preceded Clarence Roy Beers and Hattie was one of those iconic District in death by her parents, C.R. and Ann Lucas Beers. Clerks that you found in that era Hattie Beers; siblings, Helen Betty grew up in Mancos where throughout the Forest Service. Neeley, Robert Beers and Mary she graduated from Mancos Betty married Noland Alexander McClellan; a child, Kent High School in 1942. After high in 1946 in Greeley, Colo. They Alexander and great school, she attended Colorado were happily married for 68 grandchildren Chance Hawkins Woman's College in Denver, years. Betty was a member of the and Jace Alexander. Colo. where she received a Mancos United Methodist
Page 28 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Remembrances
Stanley Francis Versaw Stanley Francis Versaw, an active member of the Canon City community, died on Friday, September 26th, at his home in Canon City, surrounded by family. Stan was 75. Stan was born at Del Norte, CO, on October 4, 1938 to Herbert Earl Versaw and Florence Lenora Holland. He met Donna R. (Stoddard) and was privileged to marry her on December 19, 1959 in Lakewood, CO. They were blessed with four sons, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Stan is survived by Donna and their family: Randall F. (Karen), Jacob and Julianna; Douglas W. (Margaret), Levi, Kodi, (Maggie), Aeris; Todd M. (Myla), William, Marcus; Grant L. (Anette), Larissa (Jacob) Blackwell, Lindsay, Spencer and Sawyer. Stan and Donna served together in the Gideons International Ministry for 47 years Stan graduated from Hooper H.S. in 1956 and then attended the Colorado School of Mines where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering and a commission in the US Army Corp of Engineers in 1960. Stan also earned a Master of Science in Natural Resources in 1988 from Colorado State University. He had the honor of serving on active duty for two years as the Commanding Officer of the 697th Engineer Company (Pipeline). After serving in the Army, Stan had a 28 year career with the USDA Forest Service. Stan had four God-honoring siblings who welcomed him into their home and remained supportive of Stan throughout his life: Raymond (Naomi); Dorothy (George) Kirkpatrick; Ardell (Estalita); and Lorene (Ed) Byrd. Stan had many nephews and nieces, as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.
LeRoy Leonard Manley LeRoy Leonard Manley, 86, of Fort Collins, CO, died November 12, 2014. Lee Manley, son of Leonard and Mabel Manley, loving husband of Joan Manley, passed away at Pathways Hospice at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, CO. Lee was first married to Lois Mortensen for 33 years and she preceded him in death. He remarried and is survived by his wife, Joan; a daughter, Sheralyn Dudley (Robert); a son, Tim; a step-daughter, Dixie Sanchez (George); and two step-sons, Paris Powell and Pat Powell (Lana). He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Lee worked for the U.S. Forest Service as Director of Personnel for the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station until his retirement in 1988. He loved photography, the outdoors, working on genealogy, and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Page 29 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 Remembrances Robert M. Bob Rankin Robert (Bob) M. Rankin, skiing. He took great pleasure in do-it-yourself age 81, passed away on projects for the family and others in the December 19, 2014 after a community. He was a member of Golden K lengthy illness. Bob was born Kiwanis and Plymouth Congregational UCC in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Church, where he has been deeply involved. December 27, 1932 to Sam Also, he had been active in the Jaycees, Elks Rankin and Eulene Club, and Habitat for Humanity. Bob will be (Edwards) Rankin, and remembered as a good, caring, special man who moved to Colorado when he was 11. He will be dearly missed (particularly his sense of graduated from Englewood High School, then humor.) served in the U.S. Navy at Buckley Naval Air He is survived by his wife and loved best friend Station. After working at a couple of positions of 62 years, Jodie and children Robb (wife after the Navy, Bob opened his own business in Molly and children Ben and Nick); Darrell Glenwood Springs. In 1961, Bob joined the U.S. (children Rachel, Ashley and Jake); and Jeralyn Forest Service in Buffalo Creek and then in (husband Drew Davis and daughter Kalli). 1963, moved to Fort Collins so he could complete his degree in forestry at CSU, which The family invites you to a Celebration of Life he did in 1967. His Forest Service career took at Plymouth Congregational Church on January the family to Colorado Springs, Aspen, and 10, 2015 at 10:00 am, followed by a reception. then back to Fort Collins in 1976. He retired Those wishing to make memorial gifts can from government service in 1989, then worked contribute to the Plymouth Congregational for RSVP as the Handyman Program Volunteer Church Endowment Fund at 916 W. Prospect, Coordinator, a true passion. Bob enjoyed being Fort Collins, CO. in the woods, especially camping, fishing and
JoAnn F. Hagan JoAnn F. Hagan died on first woman hired by the Forest Service in Region 2 December 30, 2014 in in a professional position in 1965. JoAnn was Lakewood, CO. JoAnn was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the born in 1943 to Joe and highest award an employee of DOI can receive. She Juanita French. She grew up also received the Meritorious Award from the in Louisiana on a cotton farm Department of the Interior. with her seven siblings. She attended the University of She is survived by husband of 51 years, John; and her Louisiana at Monroe, LA, daughter, Lori (Brian) Wardlow of Nebraska, and a graduating with B.S. degree in accounting. son, Todd Hagan (Liz) of Colorado and four JoAnn, in her career as an accountant, was grandchildren, Madeline, Natalie, Grant and Blake. employed by the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) - Minerals A memorial service will be held at 10am on Management Service and the Office of Surface Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Southern Management. JoAnn retired in 2002, working 36 1/2 Gables Church, 4001 S. Wadsworth Blvd, years. She opened doors for women in professional Littleton, CO 80123. positions in the federal government. She was the Page 30 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015 The Last Word “Be Thankful” by Tom Thompson
As this article is written, it is This weekend was all that a 13 the week before Thanksgiving year old could ever hope for. and I muse about all the things Spending time with real “Forest that I am thankful for: my Rangers” not just watching the wonderful family, my health, a fussy black and white TV very satisfying career, a beautiful images of Lassie and Ranger place to live in the Rocky Corey Stuart, but actually Mountains, and many friends having the chance to meet and who add richness to Kitty and talk with a Ranger from the my senior years. But for some United States Forest Service in reason I find myself thinking person. Well, that encounter about and thanking those cemented my dream of “heroes” in my life that truly becoming “one of those” and made a difference in what I did Joe Zylinski took a special and what I became. Visiting the top of many of our short interest in telling me all about with others about the turning lists. what he did and what I should points in their lives, it is obvious do if I really wanted to become to me that we all have had In December, 1959, I was in the a ranger. I still have the letter associations, connections, or 7th grade and had occasion to dated, December 14, 1959, on relationships with certain folks accompany my dad and uncle on my wall that Joe sent to me a who we look back at and are a weekend goose and duck hunt week or two after the hunt and amazed at what a difference near my hometown of Lamar, I read it occasionally just to they made in what we did and Colorado. What was unusual remember that fork in the road what we became. about that weekend was that we fifty-five years ago. I am had a couple of guest hunters amazed today, as I was at the Obviously for most of us, our joining us and they were two time, that he took the time to parents and grandparents were Forest Rangers from the Pike connect with a young boy and at the head of the list, but there National Forest. My uncle was stated in his letter to me that I were those few others who we acquainted with one of the was “wise and have now recognize as having given rangers who was married to a commendable foresight in us the advice, support, or a cousin of my uncle and dad. His planning your career now while helping hand that we needed to name was Bob Lake and he was still in the flexible dies of youth make the right choice or to the Ranger at the Bailey to plan your avocation and head down the trail in the right District. His fellow ranger who profession”. I don’t think I had direction. Perhaps a teacher or was coming for the hunt was any idea what “flexible dies of coach, an uncle or aunt, or a named, Joe Zylinski and he was youth” meant and “avocation” scout leader would be others on the ranger from the Buffalo was a new word for me too. Creek District. (continued on Page 32) Page 31 Te Rendezvous Winter 2015
(continued fom Page 31) Forest Service. He didn’t let his position change who he was and what he stood for. His credibility, his trustworthiness, his principles of fairness and simplicity, his dedication in supporting his people, and unbelievable commitment to the outfit were all characteristics that I admired and truly appreciated. Those qualities made him a leader who influenced many and are remembered now almost twenty years after he has been gone.
Who would be on your short list of special folks that helped and influenced you in your career or your life opportunities? I am sure most of the folks we might put on these lists never once thought that what they were doing at the time was navigating a future for someone or changing the course of a person’s life and most certainly never thought twice about whether it was worthwhile to do it or not, they Forest who took the time to Years later, in the early 70’s, I were just being themselves. connect with a “young kid.” was able to work with Joe in Especially in the Forest Service Alaska, where he became the I think there are so many Director of Watershed and then There were a number of others who I could mention and examples of people who go out in 1985 was fortunate to have of their way to lend their him as a roommate at the first certainly on my list would be Gary Cargill, who was Regional support to others. Most of you Forest Supervisor Meeting in might be surprised to find that Snowbird, Utah. I was then 39 Forester when I came to Region 2 in 1989. Gary, to me, was one you are on many folk’s short and he about twenty years my lists. elder. Joe’s about 85 now, but to of the finest leaders and gentleman that I have ever me he will always be that young *** ranger from the Buffalo Creek known. He stood for all that District on the Pike National was right and good about the
Page 32