Hike Recap: Feeling the Geologic Rhythms of the Monument with Jad D’Allura

Hike & Learn 2016 Coordinator Katie Boehnlein tells about the geology hike led by Jad D'Allura. You can use her notes when you next hike Greensprings Loop.

It was a chilly morning as we ascended into the clouds that cloaked the Greensprings Summit. Twenty of us stalwart hikers were in for a treat as Jad D’Allura, emeritus professor of Geology at SOU, led us along the Greensprings Loop trail and Pacific Crest Trail in a journey back in time to the Monument’s geologic beginnings.

Geologist Jad D'Allura shows us the rock beneath the Monument's biodiversity.

A climb on the columnar joints

As we climbed a slight incline through the fire forest of Douglas Fir, Snowberry, Trillium, and end-of-season Fawn Lilies, Jad helped us imagine the tumultuous events that created the bedrock upon which the Monument’s biodiversity has emerged. The west side of Greensprings Mountain, where we began our hike, was formed by volcanoes eons ago, but has since been eroded and covered by forest. We were lucky, at times, to see evidence of this geologic movement rising above the soft, needle-strewn trail. Just a mile or so into our walk, we could see a lava flow rising above to our right. We were amazed to hear that these remnants of the Western Cascades have been tilted 25° to the north-northeast! This is because Klamath Falls is actively (though gently) sinking off to the east as the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains lift off to the west. The cooling fractures splitting the rock face into distinct bands were perfect for the littlest among us to climb up for a better view of the valley off in the distance.

Along many of the ins and outs of the Greensprings Trail, the landscape changes dramatically, from open slope to oak woodland to hardwood groves. The Monument is famous for this biodiversity, but through the eyes of geology, our multifaceted journey around Greensprings Mountain exists solely because of the diversity of rock types. These varied types of rock break down to form the diverse soils that host so many different kinds of flora and fauna.

White bands of quartz in the rock sample

The open oak woodlands show us distinctly how the volcanic bedrock has weathered dramatically downslope over the years. Picking up rocks off the trail, we can look for white crystals called plagioclase feldspars, which tell us that the magma in this area cooled slowly as it rose from the Earth’s core. Darker minerals, like the dark green augite, and later forming quartz crystals, are best seen under a hand held magnifier (loupe).

At our lunch spot at Hyatt Meadow, protected by Douglas Firs, we watched Keene Creek become sodden in the deepening mist and drizzle. We had progressed to the boundary of two rock formations, the Roxy Ann and Wasson Formations. The new rocks of the Wasson Formation presented themselves to us: soft, white rock littering the creek bed. We learned that these rocks were formed by solidified ash that billowed out of nearby vents 24 million years ago. Imagine standing in the way of molten clouds blowing by at 200 miles per hour!

Our hike ended at the then rain-soaked Little Hyatt Reservoir. The dramatic finale was climbing up a small rise to see columnar basalt formations that ring the edge of the water. Imaginations buzzing, we headed back to our cars to warm up, eyes now open to the ancient history always underfoot.

Earth Day 2016 Recap

Earth Day 2016 hike on Greensprings trail images by katie boehnlein © 2016

Children eagerly stroked the animal pelts, bones, and feathers while studying with magnifying glasses. Several students exhibited high proficiency in recognizing the animals from which these originated. 
   Thanks to our Friends of CSNM volunteers who hosted our booth at Rogue Valley Earth Day on April 23, 2016! Parents and adults signed up for our Hike and Learn events, and joined our membership. Though the weather was chilly, breezy and intermittently sprinkling, it did not deter Earth Day enthusiasts this year!  Many folks requested maps and more information on hiking in the monument. 
   
We joined KS Wild to hike the Greensprings Mountain trail on April 24. Though the snowy weather discouraged most while approaching the monument, the hike was spectacular. 
   We saw lots of signs of spring life poking through the snow—flowering current, calypso orchids, blue dicks, snow queens, yellow and purple violets, larkspur, several varieties of yellow lomatium and trillium. Hikers watched clouds stunningly rise to reveal the green and purple hills of the Rogue Valley. 
   Following the scenic hike, hikers convened in the Greenspring Inn toasty warm yurt for a fabulous public lands video and talk by Dave Willis addressing the monument’s lands.

   -- Susan Roudebush, Friends of CSNM Boardmember

Public Process: Dialogue with BLM

BLM OPen House Hosted Community members to review and comment on Roads in the Monument. Images by Matt Witt © 2016     

On April 6, 2016, BLM held an Open House for the public to comment on its recently released Draft Transportation Management Plan and Environmental Assessment.  
     Approximately 80 people came and listened to introductory comments by Joel Brumm, Assistant Monument Manager. He described the four alternatives about how BLM could handle the management of roads within the Monument while also considering uses of trails, Pacific Crest Trail; trail maintenance, hunting, and snowmobiles. 
   Joel said, “Through this process we will try to find the right combination of road and trail systems to protect the monument features, accommodate resource management, and provide access for community and recreational uses."
     Participants spoke about their concerns and asked questions about the Transportation Plan at the various stations set up around the room. Each station displayed maps showing the 4 alternative proposals and suggested road treatments. Several longtime sport hunters who have hunted in a proposed closed road area were able to talk with Kathy Minor, one of the Transportation Plan’s planners.
     Information exchange between public and BLM is crucial to be considered before final decisions are made.   
     Lisa Rice, BLM Archeologists, showed historical and Native American objects collected in and around the Monument area. This exhibit highlights the historical importance of the Monument with current efforts to protect biodiversity.

    -- Terry Dickey, Friends of CSNM Board Chair

Hunter, resident and volunteer firefighter Mark Flotho writes about road closure in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Mail Tribune article (April 10, 2016) 

Fall-in-the-Field Inspires Care

Fall in the Field school group learns about Cascade Siskiyou National Monument biodiversity from SOU Environmental Education graduate student leader. T Dickey 2016 image.

Our thanks to our partners, SOU Environmental Education graduate student leaders who conduct Fall-in-the-Field environmental education programs at the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM)! See the photos and read their comprehensive Final Report of Fall-in-the-Field 2016.

Here's an excerpt, about the CSNM, from their Final Report:

    "By far the most popular site for Fall in the Field day programs, CSNM is a hotspot for biodiversity. This year, students explored the Monument like never before. Students engaged in “Nature CSI” to discover the truth behind several mysterious objects found on the Monument. They employed their observations skills as they hunted for the elusive habitats of Great Grey Owls, Douglas Squirrels, Western Fence Lizards and Bark Beetles. Students even discovered the overwhelming biodiversity on the Monument for themselves as they were challenged to see who could find the most species with a given amount of time. They were amazed by the fact that they own part of this rich public land and were inspired to care for it after learning what makes it so special. 
     The largest addition to the CSNM program this year was the idea of lesson choice for teachers. Teachers could choose between lessons on weather and climate, geology, or watersheds to best adapt the Program to what they were teaching in the classroom. This added an extra dimension to the experience by giving teachers a say in what they thought would be most valuable for their students."

--Excerpt from Fall in the Field 2015-16 Final Report

Fall-in-the-Field 2016-17 is open for registration. Teachers can sign up for programs at
Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and two other sites.

DRAFT BLM Plans for Public Review

The BLM Medford District Office released the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Draft Transportation Management Plan (TMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 45-day comment on March 25th. The draft TMP/EA describes and analyzes four alternatives for future management of the monument transportation system. The final decision will be made only after consideration of the comments received. The decision maker may choose one of the alternatives or can select an alternative that blends components of one or more of the alternatives. 
     The planning process will address motorized/mechanized uses of the transportation system including off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, bicycles, and non-motorized/non-mechanized uses including hiking and Nordic skiing. 
     According to Joel Brumm, Assistant Monument Manager, “Through this process we will try to find the right combination of road and trail systems to protect the monument features, accommodate resource management, and provide access for community and recreational uses."

For additional information, contact
Joel at (541) 618-2256 or jbrumm@blm.gov

The public is encouraged to review the Draft TMP/EA and provide comments. To help people understand the alternatives, the BLM prepared a summary or Reader's Guide. Both documents are available on BLM's ePlanning website.
     An informational open house for the CSNM Draft Transportation Management Plan will be held at the

Bellview Grange
1050 Tolman Road, Ashland, OR
Wednesday, April 6, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the open house, the public will be able to discuss the proposed alternatives, talk to BLM resource specialists, and provide written input.

Making Sense About Roads

Assistant Monument Manager Responds to Closing Roads Inquiry

Dear Joel Brumm,
     Someone just told me that they heard on the TV News that the BLM is closing all of its roads in the Monument because it cannot afford to maintain them.
     What do you know????
                                        -- Barbara Ann

the draft Environmental Assessment will Be Released; followed by a public comment period of at least 45 days.

Dear Barbra Ann,

Well, like most good rumors, there is a kernel of truth buried deep there. We are in the midst of a transportation planning process for the Monument, and we are continuing with work that we identified in the 2008 Resource Management Plan as needing to be completed. Kathy Minor, myself, and several others went before the Jackson County Commissioners in early February to discuss this plan in advance of the draft Environmental Assessment that will be released for public comment on March 25, 2016.
     The BLM is NOT planning on closing all the roads in the Monument. We have one alternative, the one that proposes closing the most roads would close 164 miles of the 412 miles of roads currently in the Monument. As you can see, even this alternative leaves approximately 3/4 of the current Monument roads open. These are largely old logging network roads that are not needed under our Monument designation because we are no longer commercially harvesting timber. Major arterial roads such as Soda Mountain, Emigrant Creek, Jenny Creek, etc. will not be affected. We also are proposing, under one alternative, to close the gate on Skookum Road past the Soda Mountain Lookout road, which would hopefully help address the OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) trespass in the corridor between the power lines going down towards Agate Flats.
     We have very limited funding for road maintenance in the Monument, and that is one factor driving this process. We would prefer to use our limited road maintenance funds for important roads and not to maintain the maze of old logging roads, particularly north of Hwy 66. If left unmaintained, these roads will deteriorate, culverts will clog, roads will eventually wash out, and sediment will end up in the Monument aquatic systems causing significant deleterious impacts. 
     There was a news article about the briefing we had with the Jackson County Commissioners that generated a lot of interest. On March 25, we will release the draft Environmental Assessment followed by a public comment period of at least 45 days. I encourage anyone to comment on the plan.
     In summary, the BLM has no plans to close all the roads, but we also suspect the current transportation system is in excess of our needs going forwards as a National Monument. 
     Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

--Joel Brumm, Assistant Monument Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Medford, OR 97504
jbrumm@blm.gov

Soundscape in the Monument

Colin Malloy was awarded a 2015 Grant from the Friends Student Research Fund. He describes his work in the field, and now in the studio.

Colin Malloy, at Southern Oregon University. Artist provided photo.

"I took several trips out to CSNM with a portable recording device and made field recordings of interesting sounds. This included wildlife, insects, myself walking over various terrain, the trees, etc. I also took photos along the way.
    "I am in the process of editing the sounds together to make a 3-channel soundscape. When it is played back, there are three sound sources. Stereo has two sounds sources (left and right); 5.1 surround has 5 sound sources. The soundscape will accompany the live performance.
     "I am creating the score and parts based on the photos I took. Some examples of this will be to transform the horizon or the shape of a path from a photo into a line that the performer interprets musically.
     "I have made the photos and recordings. Now I am working on the (slow) process of editing the soundscape and creating the scores. We are planning to workshop the piece in April [2016]. The premiere performance is planned is scheduled in May at SOAR, Southern Oregon University (SOU)."

                    --Colin Malloy, Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from SOU
First prize in the 2014 James P. and Shirley J. O’Brien Endowment Composition Competition hosted by University of Arizona.

A “Peak Experience” on Public Land

Light Show on Pilot Rock in Winter         © 2016 Matt Witt

Shine a Light
Pilot Rock
2016 © Matt Witt

Our public lands are a place to commune not just with nature but with each other.
     My son and daughter and I have been hiking together since they were old enough to sit in a pack, and backpacking together since they were in their early teens. 
     Because there is a Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, my son and I were able to celebrate the solstice season by snowshoeing around to the south side of Pilot Rock from Old Highway 99.
     The sunlight was filtering through clouds and fog, creating an ever-changing light show on the pristine new snow. Camera in hand, I waited for the clouds to drift into alignment to create this dramatic spotlight on the snow-covered peak.
     I had seen Pilot Rock many times from other vantage points and in other seasons, but never with this grandeur. It was a special treat to be able to share this “peak experience” with my son, and it redoubled our commitment to help protect and expand these sorts of opportunities for more people in America and around the world.

                             Photographer Matt Witt, has contributed photographs of the monument to publish in our Friends of CSNM newsletter, website, and blog during the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument's 15th anniversary year.

Monument Rocks & Music: Friends Research Fund

Dr. Jad D'ALLURA with Spencer Jones during Field Research at the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. S Jones 2015 PHoto

Colin Malloy (L) and SOU Professor of Music, DR. Terry LongShore (R). SOU Department of Music 2015 Photo

How are rocks and music related to three university students during the Monument’s 15th anniversary? These faculty-supervised research were funded by the Friends Research Fund. The projects enhance an understanding, appreciation, preservation, or protection of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The 2016 Friends Research Fund application is now available.
     Megan Mortimer-Lamb and Spencer Jones, both University of Oregon undergraduate students of geology were supervised by SOU Emeritus Professor of Geology Dr. Jad D’Allura. Megan and Spencer each received $600 for their research investigating general geologic rock unit distribution and geochemistry, fault and fracture distribution, surface and groundwater characteristics, permeability of different rocks and soils, and landslide hazards within the Monument. Both Megan and Spencer plan to present the results of their research at the 2016 FCSNM Research Forum hosted on the SOU campus on March 3, 2016.
     Colin Malloy, an SOU graduate student of music was supervised by SOU Professor of Music, Dr. Terry Longshore. He received $300 for his proposal to compose a percussion score that is produced and performed live as an interpretation of the Monument’s visual landscape. A 3-channel musical soundscape made of natural sounds recorded in the Monument will accompany the live performance. Each channel in the score represents each of the three ranges - Cascade, Siskiyou, and Klamath Mountains - that occur in the Monument. Colin plans to showcase the premiere performance of his composition at the SOU Southern Oregon Arts and Research symposium in May 2016.

March 15, 2016 is the deadline for 2016 Friends Research Fund. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply. Individual grant awards range from $250 - $1500. Download the application.

For additional information:
Peter Schroeder, Chair, Friends Research Fund
pschroeder@sou.edu
Tel. (541) 552-6871

You can donate to make possible these educational programs about the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument!

Malheur & Public Lands

Around 120 Jackson County residents gathered in Ashland on Saturday [January 24, 2016] to stand in solidarity with the communities in Harney County. See more rallies of support in Oregon at Oregon Wild.

Although the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1908, The occupation of Malheur teaches us some valuable lessons. As Friends groups who support our local public lands, we need to expand community knowledge and engagement broadly. This heritage of public lands requires all of us—to work together.

Here are two ways you can give to make a difference. 
     Support the Conservation Lands Foundation’s Crowdrise campaign that invites donations “to support veterans, youth, and Native Americans who want to work as conservation stewards on BLM’s National Conservation Lands. The Conservation Lands Foundation also provides support to the Friends Grassroots Network, a group of 58 Friends organizations, like us, who champion our local public lands. 
     If you prefer to help strengthen your local Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, you can renew your membership or make a donation.  Please contact us about volunteering your talents and skills with us!
     Help us educate, advocate and protect the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. For 2016 we are in the process to show the:
•    Need and ways to advocate, protect, and conserve our public lands. 
•    Scientific and cultural benefits of our public lands, including biodiversity, clean air, water, and land.
      

Thank you for your continued support!  

Giving Tuesday 2015 - Give Green!

Snowy Pacific Crest Trail.

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to giving to support the organizations you care about. We invite you to give local--our Friends of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, a non-profit dedicated to spreading awareness and educating the public about the biodiversity in the region.
     Launching on Tuesday December 1st, our season of giving is kicking off, and we need your help to reach our goal of $3,000!
     Our thanks go to an anonymous donor for matching all donations that are over $30. We are honored to have your support, and the opportunity to make every dollar go twice as far in our mission to educate, research, and spread awareness about our local National Monument. 
     Cascade—Siskiyou National Monument is located at the crossroads of the Siskiyou, Klamath, and Cascade Mountain ranges in Southern Oregon. The convergence brings together the different rock strata, plant, and animal communities of each region creating an incredibly varied and diverse landscape.

Butterfly on Lepidopterist Dana Ross' Hat Rim During our Bioblitz at the Monument.  2015 File Photo

Your donation supports our education, research, and conservation efforts for the Monument. 
     Education: providing learning opportunities for all ages so we can understand the importance of Biodiversity. Education programs include seasonal Hike & Learns for the community, as well as bus funds for Fall in the Field, which focuses on getting local school students between 2nd and 8th grade to explore the Monument.
     Research: expanding our knowledge of sciences, arts, and humanities about the benefits of our monument. Funding supports the Student Research Fund, providing small grants for students to gather data, explore, and learn more about the monument.
     Conservation & Preservation: encouraging awareness and learning about the history and continued evolution of the Monument in relation to climate change, and cultural significance.
     Exploration and Discovery: exploring and appreciating the monument as a citizen scientist to become better stewards of our public lands.  

Give Green! Giving Tuesday, Giving Grateful! 
The Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a 501-C3 organization,
and your donation is tax deductible.

Student Research: Jenny Creek Area

JAD D'ALLURA AND MEGAN MORTIMER INSPECT A 15’ DIKE, JUTTING UP FROM THE HILLSIDE. 

SPENCER JONES  AND JAD D'LLURA TAKE A HAND SAMPLE FROM AN OUTCROP.

MEGAN FINDS AN IGNEOUS DIKE ON HER SECOND DAY IN THE FIELD!

   Spencer Jones and Megan Mortimer-Lamb, undergraduate geology students at the University of Oregon, were awarded $1200 from the Friends of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Fund for undergraduate research in May 2015. They report about their field work in the Jenny Creek area. 
 
     “Greetings to all! This summer we had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Dr. Jad D’Allura in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. We were fortunate to have been awarded grants from the Friends Research Fund. That gracious support allowed us to purchase equipment for our field study, travel to and from the Monument, and have samples sent to a lab for geochemical analysis. 
     Our research objective was to determine the characteristics and importance of the 22 million year old Western Cascade and much younger High Cascade volcanic rocks. Analysis included field mapping, microscopic examination of thin slices of rock, and pulverizing selected rock samples for geochemical analysis. We worked alongside Dr. D’Allura for over a month to complete geologic mapping and data collection in the northeastern part of the Monument.  
     We learned new field techniques in challenging terrain! Megan enjoyed learning a new skill as she prepared thin sections for analysis—techniques not usually taught to undergraduates. Spencer enjoyed traversing steep hillsides through dense forest to suddenly break through the trees to a steep cliff of sheer rock, often representing a boundary between two very different rock units.
     Thanks are given to Professor D’Allura for his unwavering support and patience and to the Friends for enabling us to develop our own research projects in such an incredible place. Our research has contributed to the knowledge of how the geology affects the diverse topography, soils, and hydrology of this part of this geo-and bio-diverse Monument. We look forward to speaking to and sharing with the Friends during the research symposium in 2016.  

     All 2015 Images courtesy of Spencer Jones and Meagan Mortimer.

Sarah Burns: Drawing From Nature

Sarah Burns, (2nd from left) demonstrates a landscape sketch at Hobart Bluff, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument.

       "...it will slow you down and cause an increase in your powers of observation, so you get a connection with nature, a deeper understanding of it.”  Sarah F. Burns, Daily Tidings interview.

At Hobart Bluff: Twisted tree and Sarah Burns' sketch. Images by RShaw 2015. 

Sarah F. Burns, local artist and art teacher, led the program beginning with a lecture on Friday night. She spoke to an audience of over 25 community members on the importance of capturing landscapes in art and why so many famous artists do. Through a slide show featuring art from both historic and present-day artists, Sarah took the audience on a tour of different techniques that could be used in situ the following day in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. 
     After talking about why artists draw landscapes, Sarah introduced the concept of Blind Contour – a technique where the artist sketches a shape without looking at the paper. Sarah explained that many children draw in symbols instead of drawing what they actually see, for example to draw a table a child will draw a sort of bracket to represent a table. “If you ever find yourself drawing in symbols instead of visually recording what you see, blind contouring will help you switch over to recording what is actually there.”
     Other topics covered included scale, proportion, scope, tonal qualities, light effect, perspective, and atmospheric perspective. The lecture, while only an hour long, showcased many stunning pieces of art. 
     The next morning, Sarah Burns led a hike through Hobart Bluff in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The smoke did not deter the 15 community members who joined her to sketch the beautiful landscapes seen along the Hobart Bluff trail. Sarah began the day by doing a demonstration. She chose an intricately twisted tree and set up her easel commenting on the strong winds that had shaped the tree but would also influence her sketch. 
      By the end of the hike, every community member had created his or her own sketch as a souvenir of the morning’s hike and awe-inspiring beauty of Hobart Bluff. See some of the sketches on our Facebook page.
                                                                              --Rosetta Shaw, Friends of CSNM Board Member

Read John Darling's article at the Daily Tidings.  Sarah Burns teaches art classes in Ashland and you can learn more at Sarahfburns.com. 

 

Caring Volunteers Needed - National Public Lands Day - September 26, 2015

2013 National Public Lands Day Volunteers re-route the Pacific Crest Trail to restore a meadow habitat at Hobart Bluff in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument

2012 Volunteers on National Public Lands Day are from diverse ages, work and life experiences.

Our partners, the Medford District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites you to join a volunteer project to celebrate National Public Lands Day, September 26. Meet at the Pilot Rock Parking Area from 8:30am-2pm. There will be a variety of tasks for various skills and abilities.
     
This event will celebrate both the 15th anniversary of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and the National Conservation Lands System. The event will be held in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument where volunteers will work on a variety of projects including trail work on the Pilot Rock and Pacific Crest Trails, vegetation cleanup, newly delineated parking area completion, and wilderness vehicle scar removal. 
     National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. This event keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September. Last year, NPLD volunteers nationally:

• Collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants
• Built and maintained an estimated 1,500 miles of trails
• Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
• Removed an estimated 500 tons of trash from trails and other places
• Saved taxpayers an estimated $18 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country 

Bring a friend or family; or come make a friend and help to care for our Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
     Meet at the Pilot Rock Parking Lot: Go 8 miles south of Ashland, on I-5. Exit at Exit 6. Go south on Old Hwy 99 for 2 miles. Turn left onto BLM Rd 39-3E-32.3. Go down this road for 2 miles until you reach the parking area. 

Witt: Monument Views

photographer Matt witt. image courtesy of the artist.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary year of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, photographer Matt Witt is sharing images each month from his hikes in the Monument's varied environments. Witt has photographed in wilderness areas throughout the West. He now lives in Talent, Oregon and has spent many hours exploring the monument, enjoying its rugged backcountry and feeling grateful to those who have worked so hard to protect it. More of his images can be seen at his website.
   Sign up for the E-newsletter of the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument; and see Matt's images.

A Quiet Personal Wild

Sisters Charlotte and Amelia Goff. at Pacific Crest Trail. TPD 2015 photo.

Going Up Pilot rock. Charlotte reflected about her work with children, “While connecting underserved individuals to financial resources is key to this work, it is equally crucial to connect them to environmental education, including access and exposure to amazing places like the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is necessary to foster the development of our next generation of environmental change makers and stewards." TPD 2015 Photo

Sisters Charlotte and Amelia Goff wanted to celebrate Charlotte’s 2015 graduation from Macalester College with a sister-bonding trip. Amelia was on her semester break from the Yale School of Nursing before her summer job started. Their hike to Pilot Rock and along the Pacific Crest Trail gave them time to reflect on health, work and family tradition.
C: “I needed a pause from trying to “figure out” the next step in my life. I had never been to the Pacific Northwest but had always hoped to have the opportunity to experience the area’s famous natural beauty”
A:  Public lands and preservation of wilderness is often undervalued by our younger generation, as urbanization becomes the accepted ideal. Walking the Pacific Crest Trail and admiring the new trails in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is so meditative, strikingly beautiful, and ecologically diverse.
C:  “An unexpected surprise of the experience of hiking the PCT was the excitement I felt identifying the wildflowers and birds I spotted along the way!”
A: “Charlotte and I both share a deep love of the outdoors. We enjoy being active. Going into the nursing profession as a nurse practitioner so much of the focus is on preventative medicine and the links to better health outcomes if people can embrace healthy lifestyles--I really value being out in the natural environment to stay healthy.
C: “Amelia and I had hiked part of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the high sierras almost exactly four years ago. It was the summer before I started my first year of college. To then hike a different part of the trail right after graduating was wonderfully symbolic in a way that neither of us had anticipated! 
A: Charlotte and I get to carry on our family’s tradition, and we hope to do more of the PCT together in the future.

The book Wild by Cheryl Strayed, and the movie, starring Reese Witherspoon has energized a number of hikers on the PCT. From the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, you can access the PCT--19 miles. 
     The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a place where each individual can explore at their own pace and experience their own personal wild--several days or a just a few hours. Hike for your health; hike to share a family tradition.

Conservation: Health and Safety

Zach Million - BLM
TPD 2015 Photo

Hikers walk up Stone steps on Pilot Rock Trail. WWC 2014 Photo

Hobart Trail’s new gravel parking lot and planned restroom facilities will prevent degradation of the environment from the numbers of cars and visitors. The Pacific Crest Trail was re-routed around the parking lot. 2015 TPD photo.

Zach Million, Monument Outdoor Recreation Planner for the BLM Medford office is passionate about making the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument accessible to the public. From upgraded trails, parking and restroom facilities, to a centralized reservation system for the Hyatt Lake Recreation, Zach’s planning has improved the user experience, from aesthetics and ease to health and safety—all to conserve the Monument’s natural environment and biodiversity.
    “I want people to see and hike the trails we have in the Monument. When they call to report concerns about conditions--that means they care and take ownership for our public lands. Caring for the monument is a big job, and I need everyone to help me know how it’s going out there,” he said. 
     At the Pilot Rock Trail, he worked with the Siskiyou Mountain Club and the Jackson County Job Council to reroute the trail from the Pacific Crest Trail to the base of Pilot Rock. An old logging road from the parking lot to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was transformed into a walking trail. A BLM sign states "improvements reduce damage, improve visitor safety and protect the wilderness values."
   The Bean Cabin area was re-wilded by taking out an old cistern that collected naturally flowing spring water. The spring water now feeds directly into a nearby creek, which is still available for PCT hikers to replenish their fresh water supply.
   Zach integrated Hyatt Lake’s Recreation Area with the online or central phone call reservation system, much like other BLM campsites—one that international visitors can easily use. 
    We thank Zach for his work that we now enjoy during our 15th anniversary year of our Monument. He will be nearby as he transitions within BLM Medford to work with environmental and trail groups in the Applegate Valley area. 
   Next time you hike the trails, check out these improvements at the Monument that make the place safer and better protect the land.

Help care for the Monument by practicing Leave No Trace. We need everyone's help to care for the Monument.

Mariposa Lily Botanical Area - Weed Removal

Many thanks to Our Conservation Service Project Volunteers at the Mariposa Lily Botanical Area. Front Row (from left to right): Hike and Leaders Jeanine Moy (KS Wild Adopt-A-Botanical Area Coordinator), Armand Rebischke (BLM Botantist), and Julie Spelletich (SONPS Botanist). 2015 Image by P. Schroeder.

Greene's Mariposa Lily   Calochortus greenei     2015 IMAGE BY P. SCHROEDER.

Yellow Star Thistle  Centaurea solstitialis  BLM Image.

Triple-digit temperatures did not stop a dedicated work crew from removing the yellow star thistle that threatens the Greene’s Mariposa Lily in the Mariposa Lily Botanical Area. Fortunately, early and scattered cloud cover slowed the day's warming so volunteers didn't suffer too much during the nearly four-hour work period.
     The Friends of Cascade Siskiyou National Monument partnered with Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild), Southern Oregon Native Plant Society (SONPS), and Bureau of Land Management Medford District (BLM) to collaboratively organize and lead a Hike and Learn within the Mariposa Lily Botanical Area. We observed and learned about the rare plants and worked to remove Yellow Star Thistle, an invasive introduced plant that can potentially displace the plants rare and endemic to the area.
     The 222-acre Mariposa Botanical Area is a designated conservation area (botanical preserve) that lies within the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. It was first acquired in 1993 through a unique land exchange between The Nature Conservancy and cooperative ranchers in the Rogue Valley. 
     The botanical preserve provides protection for two rare endemic plants, Greene’s Mariposa Lily (the Botanical Area’s namesake) and Detling’s microseris. Greene’s Mariposa Lily grows only in southern Jackson County, Oregon and northern Siskiyou County, California while Detling’s microseris exists only in select areas of Jackson County, Oregon. The preserve also provides year-round habitat for blacktail deer and a small elk herd and contains portions of the historic Oregon-California Trail. 
     The invasive star thistle had not yet flowered so BLM Botantist Armand Rebischke showed us how to pull the plant up by the roots. This was not a particularly easy task since star thistle has a vigorous taproot! We bagged the pulled thistle and removed it from the site to prevent any of it from setting seed. A pulled thistle can set seed if the flower head is developed enough.
     The Mariposa Lily Botanical Area Hike and Learn Friday (June 26) talk was presented by Jeanine Moy (KS Wild Adopt-A-Botanical Area Coordinator), followed by a Saturday educational day-hike and service-learning event co-led by Moy and BLM Botantist, Armand Rebischke and joined by Julie Spelletich (SONPS Botanist) and Peter Schroeder (FCSNM Board Member) and 5 members of the general public.

--Peter Schroeder, Friends of CSNM Board Member

This Hike and Learn service project continues our series of events celebrating our 15th Anniversary of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument.
     We invite you to visit, submit your story or photograph or make a gift and join us to educate, conserve, and care for this place of biodiversity!
 

BioBlitz 2015 - Butterfly Views

Southern Oregon University Students surveyed butterflies at Boccard Point, with a view of Pilot Rock.

Butterfly Survey at Scotch Creek.

Jherime Kellermann, Oregon Institute of Technology Professor of Biology leads a Group of Citizen Scientists.

male Western Sulphur (Colias occidentalis chrysomelas). Citizen Scientists Learned how to handle and document Butterflies for the Survey during the Bioblitz 2015.

On June 6, 2015, the Friends of Cascade Siskiyou National Monument hosted the first ever BioBlitz in the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument! This special event marks the beginning of our 15th anniversary year since the establishment of the Monument in 2000.     
     At the end of the day, participants cataloged 70 butterfly species representing 9 major groups of butterflies. One species found, the Gorgon Copper (Lycaena gorgon), was one of the earliest sightings of this species in the Monument. 
     Fifty citizen-scientists, student volunteers, and butterfly-enthusiasts from the region met at Pinehurst Elementary School in the morning. We separated into seven groups; each led by a trained lepidopterist. We scouted for butterflies within various areas of the Monument ranging from creekside meadows to high elevation mountaintops. 
     Thanks to our intrepid leaders for making the day fun and full of learning: Kathleen Donham, David Hagen,  Lois Hagen, Lori Humphreys, Jherime Kellermann, Dana Ross, Joseph Smith, John Villella, and Dianne Keller. They are experienced lepidopterists who traveled from Corvallis, Eugene, and Klamath Falls to guide our BioBlitz.
     Results from this survey, together with previous and other planned scientific studies, will help identify patterns of butterfly diversity, abundance, and phenology that will in turn assist biologists to develop the best strategies for protecting, preserving, and restoring the natural health of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument.

     --Peter Schroeder, 2015 BioBlitz Coordinator and Friends of
         Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Board Member

Thanks to our BioBlitz 2015 Sponsors!
Grants from US Bureau of Land Management and Conservation Lands Foundation 
Event sponsors: Pinehurst School, Indigo Creek, Wiley's World; Northwest Nature Shop, Sign Dude, and Printfast.

Our monument is part of the National Conservation Lands--also celebrating a 15-year anniversary. These landscapes are recognized for "outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values," and we all share in the mission to conserve, protect and restore them.
     Make a gift or donation and help us to educate, conserve and protect the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument during our 15th anniversary.