Category: Klamath National Forest

Outdoor Family Fun and hikes around Happy Camp!

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A view of Happy Camp, California - from the top of the town trail, on the south side of the Klamath River.

After climbing the Town Trail, you get to rest at the top at a picnic table, and enjoy this beautiful view of Happy Camp, California


by Judy Bushy
The beautiful little town of Happy Camp is a very well kept secret! The theme has always been Outdoor Family fun! This area along the Klamath River certainly lives up to that.

We traveled 729 miles this week within three days, leaving Thursday and coming home Saturday. The one best thing about a grandparents Christmas is the joy in seeing the tykes and getting all those hugs! At the same time, t was good to get back to the quiet forest, and be able to find the post office, and be close to home!! Reminders of how nice it is to live in Happy Camp, among our Klamath Neighbors!. Only thing better would be if all the children and grandkids could be airlifted in on a regular basis and not so very far away.

Earlier in the week, Jeff Ellison at the Happy Camp District of the Klamath National Forest shared news about new signs. Signs have been added along Highway 96 to welcome visitors to our community. . The Forest service has new signs that help travelers know where to go for information and restrooms. CalTrans has added the information that the Road over the hill goes to 199 the Redwood Highway, in only 38 miles, but that snow isn’t cleared in winter.

That is vitally important for travelers not accustomed to our area. Just the week or so before there was a case of a couple and children and dog who followed their GPS up the road from the Oregon side of the mountain. They got stuck. There was no cell service. They had to spend overnight there, but thankfully, were fine when rescued the next day. They were happy that even though they didn’t have cell phone service, 911 works anyway!!

Jeff is the Recreation expert at the local Forest Service office. He also shared a wonderful new handout for visitors to our area. Not only does it welcome them but shares the ample opportunity’s for everyone, boating, fishing, swimming, biking, the museum, recreational mining, scenic drives and the hikes. The community river Walk is a nice easy hike with an interpretive information following along the Klamath River.

Then there are the moderate hikes, up Town Trail, Elbow Springs, Elk Creek up at Sulphur Springs, Fort Goff, Grider Creek and the Benjamin Creek Trail going from just over a mile to five and a half miles. For more strenuous trails one can follow clear Creek into the Siskiyou Wilderness over 23 miles from which I’ve seen beautiful photos taken. The Bear Lake Trailhead is also nearly three miles climbing into the Marble Mountains to the Pacific Crest Trail.

Come to think of it, one who wanted a very long strenuous trail (for months) to take the Pacific Crest Trail to Mexico or to Canada. And to think that it all is available right here in Happy Camp. One can start with the easy, move up to the moderate and end up hiking for an extended summer vacation!

Thanks to Jeff for all the helpful information to share with travelers who contact the Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce all the time. They keep us busy answering letters, e-mails and phone calls!

Klamath National Forest, Uncategorized

Elk Complex Fire’s New Team Updates Happy Camp Meeting

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The crwods are thinning at the Happy Camp Town Meetings at the Grange. There was no one from the Sheriff’s Department to tell us about evacuations. There was no one from Emergency Services telling us where to go for emergency shelter if we had to leave our homes. There was not even anyone from Mike Dietrich’s Team 1 National Team as they completed their two weeks and went home, or are going home now. Yesterday Kent Swartzlander, who was the original Incident commander on this fire, took over again.

Phulis Swanson, with Park Service patch on her shoulder, introduced the speakers. Don Hall, Deputy District Ranger for the Happy Camp District had just returned from a few days off. We were glad to see Don back, and glad that he had some time off and time for photos and jazz and “non-fire” activities.

Kent Swarzlander showed how all the fire’s are contained. There is a little concern on the east side of the Wingate/King/Titus whjere the fire had been spotty and some fuels left. But all in all, it is under control at this time. Even the little 80 acre Hummingbird Fire, although it never had bulldozers working on it has remained right at 80 acres and isn’t going anywhere. They need to keep monitoring, patrolling and mopping up. But with due diligence, it is not expected that anything will get away with flaring up and causing more problems.

 Harold Tripp mentioned that all the smoke is down in Somes Bar. That’s not pleasant, but the smoke has to go somewhere. Harold mentioned that he used to be against the backburn but has seen how well it works and has won him over.

Staffing on the fires is down from about 1200 to 900 and will likely go down to 500 strong before next weekend.  There was concern about repair and restoration that will be discussed further at the next meeting. The most common comment was to thank the firefighters, for their work and skills and professionalism. We also appreciate their help in keeping us informed about what was happening.

ONE LAST THING, is the appreciation for our own Fire Safe Council. Without the work that they and the Forest Service have done in removing fuels for a perimeter around our community this story could have had a much more disastrous ending. Duane put up a sign to thank the Fire Fighters, but we need to thank Duane Armbruster, George Harper, Carol Sharpe and all the people working on the Fire Safe Council helping year round to have our community prepared in the case of (inevitably) a wildfire. Tell them, “Thanks” when you see them, and volunteer to help them.. Next time, you may be glad that you did!!

Fire Fighting, Fires, Forest Fires, Forest Service, Klamath National Forest , , ,

Your Input on Healthy Forests Needed!!!

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Happy Camp District Ranger Tom Mutz at Meeting to Discuss Goff Fire

by Judy Bushy, Editor.

by Judy Gushy
Before Christmas there was a meeting to discuss the Goff Fire Healthy Forest Restoration Act Project. The Project deals with the area of last year’s Goff Fire near Seiad Valley.

The next meeting is Thursday at 6:00 pm at the Seiad Valley Fire Department located at 44601 Highway 96, Seiad Valley, CA. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to make recommendations and share relevant information with our.

Forest Service workers who must plan and develop the purpose and propose actions for the project. The collaboration process is intended to be a problem-solving process in which a diverse group of interested parties work together early and throughout the planning process to develop widely supported solutions to questions of concern. Do some research on the Website under the Goff HFRA project where Public comments are available for viewing.For more information about this project and the collaboration meetings call Lisa Bousfield, (530) 493-1766, or email at lbousfield@fs.fed.us.

February Events

Another coming event is the Valentine’s Community Market on February 14th. Last year Kathy Harvey had flowers and plants as well as her beautiful photography and special Valentine treats for the Community Market by the Chamber office. Maria Straus had delicious cheesecakes also, yum! See the Chamber Office weekday afternoons if you have gift ideas for sweethearts on this special day that you’d like to put up a table for the Valentine’s Community Market.

Ruth Bain said that the Grange is also planning a dinner for that special day. So be sure and ask your Sweetheart out to dinner to celebrate Valentine’s day. It will be here before you know it!

See Also:

See also news of Rockin’ the Klamath on Art & Entertainment page (contents on left)

Sorry that the Calendar hasn’t been working but it will be updated by Groundhog Day!

Forest Service, Klamath National Forest, Uncategorized , ,

Ranger Harris Comes to the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll District

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It was a pleasure to run into Ken Harris at
the Pizza House today!! We have enjoyed Alan Vandiver as our
District Ranger, and Don Hall as acting Deputy District Ranger. Don
Hall has planned to retire the end of the year and we will really
miss him a great deal. Alan has moved to the coast.

Now Ken Harris will take the helm as the new District Ranger on the
Happy Camp and Oak Knoll Ranger District. Ken was just on the
Salmon/Scott River Ranger District.
Ken’s a long-time resident of Siskiyou County, Etna precisely. His
career began as a firefighter on the Angeles National Forest and he
spent a year in Alaska before coming to the Klamath for the first
time in 1978. After earning a degree in Forest Management from
Humboldt State University in 1980, he worked on the Scott River,
Ukonom, Salmon River , and Oak Knoll Ranger Districts. Harris also
served on the Lassen National Forest before coming back to the
Klamath to work on the Goosenest Ranger District in 2006. That is
where our son Stephen has been working summers and met Ken Harris.

Ken even took a break in his Forest Service career, as my husband
Dan did, and also taught school during that time. Harris was a
consultant for private landowners as well as teaching. Theresa
teaches school at Scott River Junior High School in Fort Jones .
Together they have three children: Kari, a college student in San
Diego ; Staci, who lives and works in Etna; and Ashley, a college
student in Kansas.

As a District Ranger, Harris looks forward to working with all
interested publics and people who have different viewpoints. He
said, “The Happy Camp/Oak Knoll District has phenomenal resources.
It’s possible, and desirable, to bring differing interests together
to work toward solutions so we can manage these resources wisely.”
Harris has been a member of the Etna Lions Club, coached sports
teams, and officiated at high school and youth football in Siskiyou
County .

Personnel are changing all over the Klamath Forest . Patty Grantham,
Deputy Forest Supervisor since February 2007 and acting Forest
Supervisor for the past five months, has been named as the new
Forest Supervisor for the Klamath National Forest .

Forest Service, Klamath National Forest, Uncategorized

Happy Camp Complex Forest Fire Update

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Fire Retardant Drop

Fire retardant drop in the Happy Camp Complex fires. Photo by Ken Black of the Deadwood Strike

August 24, 2006, 11:00 am

From the Northern California Joint Incident Information Center

Current Situation: A weak low pressure trough over northern California will move east today and high pressure will build in behind it. Low humidity with gusty winds is expected. The air mass in northern California remains stable and dry with temperatures in the upper 80s and mid 90s.

Visitors need to be aware that there are numerous road, trail and area closures in place. Before heading out, please contact the local Forest Service Unit or log onto Inciweb.Org for additional information about fire-related restrictions and closures.

Air quality monitoring stations are in place. For additional information, please visit the following website: http://gacc.nifc.gov/oncc/predictive/weather/airquality.html.

No active Fire Weather Watches or Warnings are in effect today in Northern California.

The Joint Incident Information Center will no longer be staffed. However, the daily summary will continue to be updated and e-mailed to the current mailing list. Please visit Inciweb.Org for information related to all incidents and to obtain local contact information.

Northern California Region Active Totals

  • Major Incidents / Complexes: 4
  • Acres Burned: 54,448
  • Cost of active fires: $49,763,305
  • Personnel Committed: 1,328
  • Firefighter Injuries: 22
  • Fatalities (Aerial Firefighting Personnel): 2

Resources Committed

  • Engines: 16
  • Firefighting Crews: 29
  • Dozers: 3
  • Helicopters: 17
  • Overhead Personnel: 532

Between July 23rd and August 24th a total of 8 large fire incidents have occurred in the Northern California Region. Those large fires have burned more than 74,122 acres costing over $72,738,673 in suppression efforts.

INCIDENT SUMMARIES

Orleans Complex: Six Rivers National Forest; 15,710 acres; 70% Contained; Estimated Containment Date: 9/30/06; Total Personnel: 366; Cost to Date: $15M; Type 2 Incident Management Team (Sinclear) is assigned. Limited interior burning continues, primarily in the upper portions of Pearch Creek drainage. Firefighters continue to hold containment line on Highway 96 and Salmon River Road. Cultural resources remain threatened. A public meeting will be held tonight at 7p.m. at the Karuk Community Center in Orleans to introduce the incoming Incident Management Team. For more information on this fire, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/370.

Bar Complex: Shasta-Trinity National Forest; 20,289 acres; 46% contained; Estimated Containment Date: 9/15/06; Total Personnel: 523; Cost to Date: $15M; A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Dietrich) is assigned. Fire continues to move easterly toward Limestone Ridge and south from Pony Butte/Salmon Mountain Ridge. Residence and historic mining sites continue to be threatened. Heavy smoke remains over the communities in and around Weaverville and as far away east as Redding. For more information, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/357/

Uncles Complex: Klamath National Forest; 14,631 acres; 35% contained; Estimated Containment Date: 10/3/06; Total Personnel: 106; Cost to Date: $9M; A Fire Use Management Team (Hahnenberg) has been assigned and will continue to manage the incident under suppression strategy while planning long term fire assessment. Fire fighters are working diligently ahead of the fires to protect historic and recreational structures. For more information on this fire, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/348/ .

Happy Camp Complex: Klamath National Forest; 3,818 acres; 85% contained; Estimated Containment Date: 9/1/06; Total Personnel: 333; Cost to Date: $9M; A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Garwood) is assigned. No increased fire activity. This will be the last incident summary for Happy Camp Complex unless there is substantial change. For more information on this fire, please visit http://inciweb.org/incident/361/.

Additional Northern California Fire Information can be found at the following weblinks:
California Fire Information
California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

Fire Fighting, Forest Fires, Forest Service, Klamath National Forest