VOLUME 7/NUMBER 3: SUMMER, 2000
THE TIME FOR FESTIVALS HAS ARRIVED!
Summer is festival time. And, the Cascade Geographic
Society has three unique ones that
are being held at Mt. Hood Village, located at 65000 East U.S. Highway 26. So
jot these down on
your calendar:
Mount
Hood Oregon Trail Quilt Show & Old-Time Fiddlers Jamboree
July 22nd, & 23rd 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
TOUR OF THE
PORTLAND UNDERGROUND
Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail Days
August 25th, 26th, & 27th 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Huckleberry
pancake breakfast being served from 8 a.m. to Noon)
Mount Hood Salmon & Mushroom Festival
September 30th & October 1st
MOUNT
HOOD OREGON TRAIL QUILT SHOW & OLD-TIME FIDDLERS JAMBOREE
JULY 22ND & 23RD
The Cascade Geographic Society's third annual quilt show has undergone an
interesting and refreshing transition. It not only has a new name, but has even
added fiddle music. So mark your calendar for the "Mount Hood Oregon Trail
Quilt Show & Old-Time Fiddlers Jamboree" for July 22nd and 23rd, from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Mt. Hood Village, 65000 East U.S. Highway 26, near the
Village of Brightwood, Oregon.
This quilt show features historical quilts from the days of the Oregon Trail and
Old Welches, that has been saved as part of the Cascade Geographic Society's
collection. Many of these could have been lost, but thanks to the kindness of
many far-thinking people, they were given to the organization before they were
lost forever.
Old-time fiddlers will be providing a lot of entertainment through Saturday,
July 22nd. The music will conclude with a "Fiddler's Gospel show"
between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday, July 23rd.
On sale will be some early Christmas gifts. These include history and nature
books (many not available anywhere but through the Cascade Geographic Society),
post cards, note cards, Huckleberry jam and candies, and much, much more, making
this an Ideal event to do your holiday, birthday, and special occasion shopping!
For additional information on the "Mount
Hood Oregon Trail Quilt Show & Old-Time Fiddlers Jamboree", please
give Cascade Geographic Society a call at (503) 622-4798. Hope to see you there!
CGS MEMBERS TOUR
OF THE PORTLAND UNDERGROUND
[the INFAMOUS "SHANGHAI TUNNELS"]
SCHEDULED FOR, Monday evening, July 31st.
CALL (503) 622-4798 FOR DETAILS & RESERVATIONS!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR "HUCKLEBERRY
FESTIVAL"
If you would like to contribute some time to the "Mount Hood
Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail Days", you are needed. There are
plenty of opportunities to help out.
This is the 16th Annual "Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail
Days". And, the jobs are many. Selling and bagging Huckleberries, putting
out signs, making Huckleberry milkshakes, selling Huckleberry jam, candy, and
other goodies, assisting at the music stage, helping out with the "Worldıs
Record-Breaking Watermelon Launch", assisting with set-up and tear-down all
three days, assisting with resale items, giving information, assisting with the
historical tours, running errands, and a lot more. Just give us some time and
we'll give you a job to do.
If you are interested in being a part of the "Mount
Hood Huckleberry Festival & Barlow Trail Days" as a volunteer,
please give Nita Kreuzer a call at (503) 622-4798.
BOTANIST SAYS THAT "RHODODENDRON
MEADOW"
FEATURES RARE HABITAT AND NEEDS CONTINUAL PROTECTION
Cascade Geographic Society's "Rhododendron Meadow" is a
"rare habitat" in today's world, according to botanist Larry Scofield.
Scofield, who retired after 25 years with the Bureau of Land Management, has
been conducting a botanical study of this natural area, assessing past impacts,
and developing a restoration plan.
Larry said that "Rhododendron Meadow" is a wet meadow that was, at one
time, very typical of what you would have seen. However, on Mount Hood today,
they just don't exist anymore They've been developed. This year's survey began
in April and will conclude at the end of October, because plants emerge at
various time periods through the year. However, not only plants, but also
mushrooms and lichens, are being studied by Larry, Already, some rare species
have been discovered due to his efforts.
Larry's initial examination of "Rhododendron Meadow" took place in
1999. At that time there were various vegetative species that he did not
initially observe. However, because of the protection of this habitat, plants
are returning. For example, a crop of Camas was discovered, along with the
extremely rare Wild Crab Apple trees.
At one time, Crab Apple trees lined the segment of the Oregon Trail that passed
through "Rhododendron Meadow". Time, however, caught up with this
unique natural orchard, and developers, wanting to convert this special habitat
into condos, chopped them down. Now, since this special place is in the hands of
the Cascade Geographic Society, they will return through our restoration
efforts.
The work of Scofield has been invaluable. His wealth of knowledge has been an
incredible resource for the protection, restoration, and management of
"Rhododendron Meadow". As Larry continues his vegetative survey work,
more and more is going to be learned about both the historic and contemporary
botanical species in "Rhododendron Meadow". His findings will assist
in returning this habitat to what it was, and serve as a guidepost for the
restoration work.
CGS WEBSITE UP & RUNNING --- members.tripod.com/cgs-mthood
Have you checked out our website yet? As more and more people become connected
to that strange and mysterious world known as cyberspace, the Cascade Geographic
Society decided to go online and change with the technology as we continue to
preserve natural areas, and cultural and historic sites. The website is and will
continue to undergo changes, thanks to webmaster Brian Lehman and Kimberly Seits
of Tigard, Oregon. Keep checking it for updated information on a lot of
Cascade Geographic Society's activities.
The year 2000 marks the 155th Anniversary of the Barlow
Trail over Oregon's Mount Hood --- the Oregon Trail's most infamous route, &
the 154th Anniversary of the first so-called Toll Road over the rugged Cascade
Mountain Range, which was actually an Indian path on which a toll was charged.
If you haven't experienced Mount Hood's Oregon Trail, you need to join us!
Free tours during the "Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival
& Barlow Trail Days", August 25th and 26th.
Please call the Cascade Geographic Society at (503) 622-4798 for details!
WIDENING OF HIGHWAY 26 NEAR BEAR CREEK
More and more calls are coming in concerning the widening of East U.S. Highway
26 between the villages of Zig Zag and Rhododendron. A lot of members are aware
that in this area there is a segment of the Oregon Trail, wetlands, spawning and
rearing areas for endangered Salmon, Native American cultural sites, and the
historic Faubion Bridge. They are also aware that the last time the Oregon
Department of Transportation (ODOT) proposed such a project, all of this would
have been destroyed, but they were stopped.
History refers to the widening efforts that took place on east U.S. Highway 26
in the Eighties as the "Highway Wars". While some people claimed that highway
improvements and the preservation of resources could never co-exist, we always
believed that they could. Today, ODOT is back with another plan, but this time they are working with us.
The goal is to improve Highway 26 without destroying heritage resources.
"We have always said that modern highways and heritage treasures can co-exist,
but you have to be sincere and creative in your efforts," explained Michael P.
Jones, Curator and Cultural & Natural Resource Consultant for the Society.
"We are hoping that the highway improvements between the Villages of Faubion
and Zig Zag will be an example of how entities with different perspectives can
work together to accomplish their desired objectives."
UPCOMING TOURS
(links will take you to tour page, there is no direct link back)
(Dates in yellow are still to come, green have passed us by, but check back with
our next news letter for more.)
Sacred Landscapes & MYTHOLOGY:
Native American
Sites & Cultural Traditions on Mt. Hood -- $15
for CGS Members; $25 Non-Members.
Thursday, July 20 (9-4:30 p.m.), Stage Stop
Road Interpretative Center, 24525 E. Welches Road, Welches, OR.
Living History & FRONTIER LIVING EXPERIENCE FOR EDUCATORS --
$25 for CGS Members; $35 Non-Members.
Tuesday, July 25 (9-4:30 p.m.), Stage Stop Road
Interpretative Center, 24525 E. Welches Road, Welches, OR.
Mt. Hood Wilderness Storytelling Camp -- $25 for CGS Members; $35
Non-Members.
Wednesday, July 26
(9-4:30 p.m.), Stage Stop
Road Interpretative Center, 24525 E. Welches Road, Welches, OR.
Lewis & Clark-Native American Trail of Discovery:
Oregon Coast
Heritage sites - $25 for CGS Members; $35 Non-Members.
Saturday, August 5 (10-5:30 p.m.), Outside the main doors of the Northwest Maritime Museum in Astoria, OR. (on
Highway 30 at 1792 Marine Drive). OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TOUR AND THE NEXT DAY'S EXCURSION:
If you need a place to stay, a special place on Willapa Bay is available with a
limited number of beds for $55 a night, which includes two meals and shower
accommodations; or, you can bring your sleeping bag and sleep on the floor for
$15 a night, which is a great price that also includes two meals and shower
accommodations. Please call Barbara Britton at 360-665-6838 if interested in
accommodations.
Lewis & Clark-Native American Trail of Discovery:
Shoalwater Bay ---
Willapa Bay HeritAge Sites -- $25 for CGS Members; $35 Non-Members.
Sunday, August 6 (10-5:30 p.m.), Outside the doors of the Ilwaco Heritage Museum, 115 S.E. Lake,
Ilwaco, WA.
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Please note regarding payment for classes/tours: Participants should
register in advance so that any update information or changes can be passed on.
Always dress for the weather. Because there is no time to go out to eat, all
participants must bring a sack lunch, something to drink, and snacks if needed.
Cameras are optional, but you should bring extra film. You also need to bring at
least $10 in cash to take care of any museum fees or for emergencies. For
additional information, please call the tour leader, Michael P. Jones, at (503)
622-4798.
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The "Portland Underground" is still undergoing changes. Restoration and
clean-up of these infamous "Shanghai Tunnels" continues, thanks to dedicated
volunteers. Stay posted for updates!