I didn't want to muddy the other thread with my general obseravtions from today so I am posting them here... ;D
Well.... I went for a ride in my forest today. For the most part, its in good shape, but I saw some things that upset / frustrated me. More on that in a bit...
I drove up and ate a sammich at 4 corners. It was actually really nice, no rain, little wind, mid 60's. It was good to get out of the house and breathe some fresh air and stare at Mt Hood for a bit.
On the way up to arrowhead I saw this. For the squeamish (sp?) I've linked this instead of embedding it. I guess it wouldn't be unusual for a hunter to leave a carcass, but I've never found one along the side of the road like that. My immediate thought was poacher. Thoughts?
i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv150/Halleaux/Yacolt%20Burn%20Photos/IMG_0098.jpgView from half way up to Arrow Head.
Logging operation and watch man has moved.
Looks like they are getting ready to log above Deer Pin.
Watchman has moved to here at the c-loop intersection.
I came around the corner and saw this. I was going to go to the same poser spot I took my first Jeep pics at, but once I saw this I felt the need to do something.... but what?
This concerned me... but what should I do? I went down and poured some water I had on it. It sounded like the sound your camp fire makes when its not quite out. I also noticed the ground was still pretty warm. Warm enough that I wondered if my shoes would melt. It was in the middle of the burnt area, so I figured it wasn't much of a risk. Still a bit un-settling.
The white part of this still felt warm to the touch and the smoke seemed to be coming from the needles, and twigs and other decay that was in the ground.
Heres where I was... jeeze thats a purty Jeep....
How hot did the fire get?
I guess I should stop here and explain I am not a Fire investigator, and I am not a CSI tech, and I did not stay at a Holiday inn. The following is just Jon's twisted thoughts and observations. While I have e been forced to watch a ton of CSI, you should take the following
commentary as just that.... commentary.
So...... I went over to the gravel pit to see what I could see. Theres definitely signs of bon fires in here.
Several bon fires as a matter of fact. Heres the first one that caught my eye, smack dab in the middle of the pit.
It doesn't look like much from this picture (No those are not my tire tracks), but upon closer inspection it was found to be chock full of big pallet nails.
There was other signs of fires, all of them full of nails.
I couldn't tell what this sign use to be.....
Someone decided that it would be cool to come up and shoot paint cans. Now.... I like guns, and I think its a great thing that America allows you to have a gun. I have nothing against guns. I also have nothing against paint. I like the fact it comes in many colors, and in such neat and tidy easy to carry canisters. I do not enjoy people shooting paint cans in my forest. I don't care how cool it may have looked, or how neat of an idea it may have sounded.... Pick up after yourself for Pete's sake...
Among the rubble of everything I saw this... not sure what to make of it, and again these are just my observations.
Its kinda hard to tell, but theres a paper there in the rock in the lower left hand section. I pulled it out and took a closer look.
I'm not saying anything here about Arborsmith tree care other than I found a blank employee time card in the gravel pit. Theres a gazillion ways this could have got here, and there is certainly a lot of trash there.
Heres a bag of empties as an example.
Bunch of shell casings...
Man thats a pretty jeep...
On the way out of the pit I headed down towards Jackson pass. I thought about checking my transmission, then realized I wasn't in a Ford and figured I'd be fine. ;D
On the way out the pit I ran into a guy heading in in a white pickup. I told him to be careful of the nails. I'm not quite sure he understood what I was saying....
Right after leaving the pit I noticed this. It was a bit faint, and actually looked rather fresh... Again I am not a csi tech, detective etc, so take it for what its worth... Anyway, I noticed these tire tracks veering either off into the ditch or out of the ditch. Once I looked closer I could see there was actually two sets of tracks and while I couldn't figure out which direction they went it was pretty clear to me someone went in the ditch and out of the ditch right here.
Bit of fluid in the road....
This is where they hit the ditch, it makes me think they where coming down hill, but I don't know...You can see the indent and fresh dirt, and the frame of a headlight or maybe turn signal.
View from uphill looking down.
Close up of the impact and left over parts.
I don't know what to make of this... My thoughts, these look to be pretty fresh, IE after the fire. I will say that right above the impact zone there is a burnt area, but looking at the tracks and thinking of all the vehicles that must have been through here during the fire and after the fire I don't see how these tracks would stay in place. I
think this happened last night.... but what do I know... again, just my thoughts.
More pics...
I went down to Jones Creek staging area. Looks like there is still a bit of stuff there from the clean up. I know DNR has been busy, I am sure they will get to this soon.
I don't remember this from the burn? I was going to compare pictures from then and now, but its late....
I remember Tonka pushing these out of the bushes so one of the work crews could get these. These things are heavy. Hopefully they will get picked up soon.
After that I drove back through. Back up across Jackson pass and down to 4 corners then home. I saw a bobcat scamper across the road about 3/4 of the way up from Jones Creek to Jackson Pass. To quick for the camera. I know.... pics or it didn't happen... but I swear I saw it.
Anyway - Jeep back home in the driveway.
It was a day in the woods, and any day in the woods is a good day. It was frustrating though to see how quickly the work we have done can be thrown away. It was frustrating to see the charred landscape. I would say though looking at it, it could have been much worse. Much much worse. Thanks to those who kept it at this ridge and out of the thicker timber.