From: wengland@stephsf.com (Bill England)
Subject: Re: National Forest Recreational Report (OKANOGAN)
    <1992Aug13.102316.21975@stephsf.com> <1992Aug13.102629.22011@stephsf.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 02:58:56 GMT
Organization: Stephen Software Systems Inc., Tacoma/Seattle, +1 800 829 1684
X-Bytes: 8123

  This report is the latest in a series provided by the  US
  National Forest service with which I have _no_ affiliation.

  These reports are intended for Network release, primarily
  Fido-Net, and I am forwarding them to Usenet at large.

  If you have questions regarding the report contents please
  contact the Forest Service.  Problems with the Posting format
  etc are entirely mine.

  Enjoy,

  Notes:

  1>   Other questions or comments may be directed to Craig
       Buckman, craigb@stephsf.com  whose brainstorm these
       reports originated from.

  2>   The "area" covered by the report is will be added to
       the subject line in parens for future reports.

----------
>Forwarded message:
>From somewhere!sprint.com!/s=m.ewer/ou=r06f08a/prmd=usda.fs.x400/admd=attmail/c=us/ Thu Aug 20 09:18:46 1992
>From: /S=M.EWER/OU=R06F08A/PRMD=USDA.FS.X400/ADMD=ATTMAIL/C=US/@sprint.com
>Date: 12 Aug 92 15:30:38 UT
>Priority: urgent
>To: /OU=X400/PRMD=USDA.FS.X400/ADMD=ATTMAIL/C=US/@sprint.com
>Subject: OKANOGAN REC REPORT
>Message-Id: <"IW-ICANNX"*@sprint.com>
>Importance: high
>
    
    RECREATION REPORT - OKANOGAN NATIONAL FOREST - CONTACT MAYDENE EWER OR
    PATTY BUREL (509) 826-3275
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    RECREATION REPORT                                           August 12, 1992
    
    
    Warmer weather will be greeting campers, hikers and forest visitors this
    week on the Okanogan National Forest.  Temperatures are predicted to be in
    the 90's and may surpass the 100 degree mark.
    
    Many families and groups are holding reunions and annual picnics at larger
    campgrounds.  For the remainder of the month, campers should try to arrive
    at campsites by Friday noon to guarantee a good camping spot for the
    weekend.
    
    Visitors are enjoying the many flowers blooming in the alpine meadows near
    Hart's Pass.  Both campgrounds at Hart's Pass are now open, one across from
    the guard station, and Meadows, a short drive south of the pass.  Both
    sites have tables, fire rings, and outhouses.  Visitors are reminded
    trailers are not allowed into the Hart's Pass area past Ballard campground.
    
    If driving a high clearance vehicle, visitors to this area may want to
    drive down into Chancellor area.
    
    
    BERRY PICKING
    
    The berry season is on in the Okanogan, with reports of ripening
    huckleberries, black caps, serviceberries, strawberries, chokecherry,
    salal, salmonberry, thimbleberry, twinberry, Oregon grape, ocean spray,
    blackberry and mountain ash berries.  Some of these berries have passed
    their peak at lower elevations due to an early season this year.
    
    Not all of these berries are especially toothsome, some requiring lots of
    sugar or mixing with fruits such as apple.  Also, not all of the berry may
    be edible; the pit of the chokecherry, for example, being loaded with
    cyanide.  Some make excellent jams or jellies.
    
    As with mushrooms and gold, berry patches are where you find them, pickers
    do not divulge their favorite "hot spot".
    
    The creatures of the forest also find these forest goodies tasty.  The
    human picker should be wary of sharing berry grounds with, especially, the
    black bear.  A black bear can command lots of respect when warning off
    intruders from a favorite patch.
    
    Wild currants and gooseberries are very popular - except for one which
    causes violent vomiting, according to Russ Mohney in his book, WHY WILD
    EDIBLES?  Mohney notes that Ribes viscossissimum is inedible.  It differs
    from other currants in that it has "a sticky substance on the leaves,
    twigs, and fruits.  Because of this, it is commonly called the sticky        currant.  It is best identified by the few fruits that are covered with
    short bristly hairs that make it quite unappetizing."
    
    Not all elderberries are good eating.  The red elderberry is alleged to
    cause poisoning.  It is the darker berries which have filled the home
    crocks and dainty jam and jelly glasses.  The elderberry ripens at lower
    elevations in late summer, so it is too early to pick them.  Fully matured
    berries are ready in early to mid-September.
    
    As with all wild edibles, pickers must be absolutely certain of their
    identification of the wild foods they consume.
    
    
    HIKING TRAILS
    
    Nearly all hiking trails are now accessible on the Okanogan forest.  Some
    snow does remain in high passes, but are hikeable.  Before taking stock
    onto trails with high passes, visitors should check with the appropriate
    ranger district, as some are impassable to stock.
    
    The War Creek trail no. 408 is temporarily closed due to fire which
    occurred in the area a couple of weeks ago.  There are still problems with
    rolling rocks and falling snags in this area.  Other trails on the Twisp
    District have had downed trees removed and are maintained.
    
    Trails on the Winthrop District have nearly all been maintained.  Cady Pass
    trail have hazardous rocks in the area; East Creek is undergoing some
    construction projects in the first 4 miles; East Fork has some blowdowns in
    campsites; Frosty Creek has areas of mud and brush.
    
    All trails on the Tonasket District are in good condition.
    
    
    VANDALISM OR THEFT
    
    Theft and vandalism have become an unfortunate fact of life at the
    trailheads, both those in remote locations and those along well-travelled
    highways.
    
    If you plan to park at the trailheads, do not leave anything of value in
    your vehicle.  If you have left personal items in your vehicle, lock them
    in your trunk so they are out of sight and not accessible if your vehicle
    is broken into.
    
    Should you have a vandalism or theft incident, report it to the Okanogan
    County Sheriff's Department at (509) 422-6778, or the nearest Forest
    Service station.
    
    
    FOREST ROADS
     
    Logging trucks are traveling on many forest roads this time of year.  Some
    are hauling six days a week.  Forest travelers are urged to contact the
    appropriate ranger district for information on specific roads.        
    On the Winthrop District, logs are hauled on Sweetgrass Butte, Cub Pass,
    Cub/Goat, Baldy Pass, and Bromas Creek roads.  Bromas Creek no. 3700800 is
    being oiled this week.
    
    Travelers can expect to see logging trucks on Beaver Creek/Volstead, Black
    Canyon, Gold Creek, and Buttermilk roads on the Twisp District.
    
    Logs are being hauled on Myers Creek, Lyman Lake, North Fork Salmon Creek,
    Gibson Creek/Middle Mtn., Crawfish Lake, West Fork of Salmon Creek,
    Bonaparte Lake, and road no. 30 into Aeneas Valley on the Tonasket
    District.
    
    
    INFORMATION OFFICES AND HOURS
    
    Forest offices in Okanogan and Tonasket are open weekdays, 7:45 am to 4:30
    pm.  Twisp and Winthrop are open six days per week.  Early Winters and
    Washington Pass Visitor Information Centers are open seven days.
    
    Okanogan National Forest                    Twisp Ranger District
    Supervisor's Office                         P.O. Box 188
    1240 South Second Ave.                      Twisp, WA  98856
    Okanogan, WA  98840                         Phone:  (509) 997-2131
    Phone:  (509) 826-3275
    
    Tonasket Ranger District                    Winthrop Ranger District
    P.O. Box 466                                P.O. Box 579
    Tonasket, WA  98855                         Winthrop, WA  98862
    Phone:  (509) 486-2186                      Phone:  (509) 996-2266
    
    
                                      - 30 -     


-- 
-- 
 +-  Bill England,  wengland@stephsf.COM -----------------------------------+
 |   * *      H -> He +24MeV                                                |
 |  * * * ... Oooo, we're having so much fun making itty bitty suns *       |
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