Oregon Hikers

Bosterson wrote:Meanwhile, what exactly does this mean, and is it a good thing or something that threatens the strength of the Gorge's wilderness designation? His reference to the "value of the timber" makes me think it's a bad thing. Is "reforestation" something that's even necessary?

[Oregon Republican congressman Greg] Walden, a former chairman of the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, said the Gorge’s status as a National Scenic Area means there are barriers to quick reforestation. That’s a problem, he said, because timber with any potential monetary value could end up going to waste if crews can’t begin the work of replanting burned areas quickly.

“What I hear is that if this were state land or county land or private land, the land managers would be in right away,” Walden said. “Too often on our federal lands, the process is such that it could take a year or two, and by that point you’ve lost the value of the timber. And so you lose the financial resource that we need to be able to pay for the restoration work.”

Don Nelsen wrote:The west wind has cleared the air so I headed out to the Gorge today for some views.

aircooled wrote:

Don Nelsen wrote:The west wind has cleared the air so I headed out to the Gorge today for some views.

Great pix - thanks, Don!

Looking at the condition of Oneonta canyon, it's amazing that anything survived at Nesika. The ridge above Waespe Point (burnt) will no longer provide the protection from winter winds it once did. I'll be curious to see Waespe Point. The view will certainly have changed.

Angel's Rest: Appears the private pee spots in the scrub on top will be gone. But we may have great 360 degree views for a while now!

That ridgeline shot looks like the ridge where Cougar Rock Trail meets Elevator Shaft. That area will take on a whole new character now.

Bosterson wrote:
Meanwhile, what exactly does this mean, and is it a good thing or something that threatens the strength of the Gorge's wilderness designation? His reference to the "value of the timber" makes me think it's a bad thing. Is "reforestation" something that's even necessary?

[Oregon Republican congressman Greg] Walden, a former chairman of the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, said the Gorge’s status as a National Scenic Area means there are barriers to quick reforestation. That’s a problem, he said, because timber with any potential monetary value could end up going to waste if crews can’t begin the work of replanting burned areas quickly.

“What I hear is that if this were state land or county land or private land, the land managers would be in right away,” Walden said. “Too often on our federal lands, the process is such that it could take a year or two, and by that point you’ve lost the value of the timber. And so you lose the financial resource that we need to be able to pay for the restoration work.”

Don Nelsen wrote: Cascade Locks can't seem to get a break:

Burn-out operations are also continuing near the town of Cascade Locks. This may temporarily increase smoke levels in the afternoon, but will greatly assist in the protection of structures and private property.

VanMarmot wrote:
This is nonsense - natural restoration will proceed just fine - albiet more slowly and in its own direction - without our help. The Gorge at the end of the 19th Century and the start of the 20th Century was a logged-over mess (think of all those old logging railroads Don Nelsen has found) but it came back - it just takes time, lots of time.

Dawn Stender, a trail crew supervisor for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, tells The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday that trails will likely be off-limits until spring because of landslide risk and fire damage.

Don Nelsen wrote:The west wind has cleared the air so I headed out to the Gorge today for some views.

Angel's Rest



Many of the ridgelines on the Oregon side look like this:



Looking directly up Horsetail Canyon with Oneonta Canyon on the right.



dn