2019 People of the Big River Field Class

On 7/19/19    Some people went in the by the beach at 5 am to do some beachcombing but only a few ended up going. We woke up to eat a big breakfast with such as pancakes, bacon, hash-browns, and some other stuff from previous diners we ate and get our stuff organized and putting our stuff away. After, we were told we have a certain amount of time to do inventory. Because of this everyone hurried as quick as they could because some of us wanted to go back in the beach but most just wanted to leave and go back home. We didn’t have time to go back in the water, so I was bummed but as we left I felt the people in our van bonded closer together. Later we made it to Heritage University and I gave all my friends some chokecherry jelly to remember those two weeks.

On 7/18/19 We woke up to eat breakfast some people had cereal and some people had fruit, I was washing dishes and I ate some oranges. After I helped load up the cooler and we moved all of our stuff into the vans and left collier camp, just wanted to say the camp was good and it had showers and restrooms only problem is watching those chipmunks and remember the rules and regulations. As we left we first stopped at a rest stop toke some pictures and stretched. Here on the bottom is a Potato Beetle we found it on the restroom on the way out of Klamath falls. There were also moths and what looked like a cockroach.   We then could leave we had to stop at a gas station and fill up. Next, we stopped near Eugene Oregon to fill up on some groceries and supplies before we continued our journey to beachside state park. Then, we stopped at a public library to work on our blogs and publish them. After we got something to eat and then made our way back to beachside state park, it was only t

On 7/17/19 We had cereal and some eggs and hash browns. After breakfast we made our lunch. After we made our lunch we decided to go to the Klamath tribe building where we watched a presentation of the Klamath, Modoc, Yahooskin. While watching the presentation I learned the Klamath and the other tribes have 5 different types of suckers, they were also a huge food source for specifically the Klamath people. The people who were presenting was a worker for the Klamath tribe he was named Alex Gonyaw and Brad Parish, a Heritage University Graduate and a tribal member of the Klamath and almost enrolled Yakama. After the presentation we went to go see the hatchery they have for the suckers there we saw from small to average to a little bigger. Next, we visited a dam, at the dam we saw wildlife such as ducks and ocean birds we also saw wild plums that were not ready yet, Alex said they would be ready in August. Soon after we left and made our way to the amp theater and noticed there was nobo

On 7/16/19 We picked up the trial camera’s and found some interesting stuff such as a deer, birds, and possibly a white person or trespasser messing/tampering with our camera’s. After that we decided to go to crater lake to go for a hike and do some sight seeing that was fun. For dinner we had chicken fajitas it was good after that, my group had to clean some dishes that was not so fun that had taken us 1 hour. Finally we attempted to watch a movie then went to bed. I hope that the next day will be a little better. 

On 7/15/19 We woke up at 6:30 am and had some breakfast along with some lunch meat. After, we signed some volunteer form’s, so we could go work with the botanists. While working with the botanists there we met Marlow fisher- botanist, plant manager for the U.S. forest service and she is from bend/fort rock. Next, we met Charlene, she is a botanist for the district. First, we were given some back-round information for example in the year 1994 they collected 87 samples of the green tinted paintbrush that information was interesting because that was the only time they had counted those trees. We were also told the paintbrush can only be found in central Oregon so that was cool. Next, we were counting plants specifically the green tinted paintbrush. I asked a question “what does this plant do for the ecosystem?” I was then told she doesn’t quite know but she does know the plant must survive with a host or the plant will die because Charlene said, “The plant has a root that connects to

On 7/14/19 We woke up to find that there was only bagels for breakfast because we were informed that we would have a big lunch. We went down to the Deschutes river near town there we decided to do a hike just before David left. While there we got confused about directions, so we got lost for a bit but returned safely, later we got to a friend of Jessica’s and ate there while playing games. Right after everyone ate we were told to work on our blogs. After she checked them, we made our way back to the camp where we relaxed and some of us went to bed early because the next day we would get up extra early and go work with foresters and those in the field of botany. 

On 7/13/19 We were able to sleep in until 8:00 am today. After for breakfast we had bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans, oatmeal, and tortillas. After we spilt into our original three groups and set up camera traps again. We found two good spots with birds, butterflies, honeybees and flowers. While the other spot has 2 cameras with lots of deer and elk poop we hope to see some animals come to the area because the poop looked like it was only a few days old. (Possibly when we first showed up). We then went to a pool to enjoy our day off for the rest of the day. 

On 7/12/19 We ate oatmeal for breakfast and then decided to work on our blogs. After we decided to set up some trial cams so we could see some deer, birds, and possible a cougar/ mountain lion. We ended up going to Newberry national forest, there we toke a hike, checked out the museums, and I watched a presentation about the types of rocks and it was interesting. After we toke a trip up to the top of the mountains there, it was fun to see certain mountains and how big the national forest was. I would like to say the staff was friendly and had great information and great service. Later at night we ate tacos and I told more stories of Sasquatch, I hope I didn’t scare anybody that night. 

On 7/11/19 Before we left the fire station we made the journey to warm springs forestry service, there we were given a talk from a man by the name of Claude Smith he was a timber sales man and he showed how everything worked from measuring and reading charts and reading the land. After this Claude and Evet showed us different types of forestry machines that turn trees into logs. It was interesting to watch how the machines worked because I had only seen them once. They even showed us slash piles and Evet gave us description of her life and what she has been through plus about her new book she had published around warm springs. After, we went to the warm springs museum there we saw Native American elders unfortunately, we showed up a little late and a little announced, so we did not get to hear many stories. It was a great experience and I hope to do it again. Later we stopped at a frybread stand where a few people had some frybread for the first time. After the crew came back fro

On 7/10/19 We decided to move camp somewhere else because a homeless person was shaking one of the tents. We stayed in a public park where they were many people and many trails, along with abandoned houses so it was a pretty bad spot, but that was all we could do. After we left we ended up going to the warm springs fire management building where we were given a great tour of the building. After we decided to go to another area it was along the warm springs reservation and I just wanted to say it was very beautiful, it almost reminded me of the reservation/ back home on the Yakama reservation. After checking out the two areas one with healthy trees plants and the other half had healthy trees but the plants were to old to eat for the deer and elk. There we talked about all the interesting things like maybe the fire greatly affected the plants and trees because they were no pine needles and plants started to regrow just like huckleberries. Then after we finished we headed over to the

On 7/9/19 We ate breakfast (it was cereal) after that we had to set up our lunch for the day. Next, we started to load everything back up into the vans and the trailer. Then when we finished with the clean up we then went to go and collect our motion cameras to see what we found, unfortunately to our surprise we found nothing, it seems that for two of the cameras the files did not save so that was a bummer. After that we left too Glenwood, there we came across the road where everything was broken up and trees with some slight burns and some cut indicating there was a fire and a possible cutting down trees. We then stopped and got supplies from Safeway and a gas station, after we decided we would stop at white salmon, the Dalle’s, then arrive at warm springs. We set up our camps and decided to stay at a park for the night.

On 7/8/19 We woke up to find that the breakfast crew had made chocolate chip pancakes. The seemed very sweet and high in sugar usually I am not picky but for me it was to much sugar. After we ended up cleaning up everything that was a bit slow, but we got it done in the end. After that we loaded up everything and started to head off, because our plan was to walk up potato hill and inspect or make observations as to why there are not many huckleberry bushes. (My theory) When I was a kid I noticed there was no trees on the flat part of the mountain so maybe when all the trees came out of nowhere they sucked all the water from the bushes. Then maybe they lit everything on fire to help out the growing process. But then as the bushes were growing they ended up dry or possibly could not grow due to the tress such as western larch, ponderosa pine, and pine trees. After we hiked up there was a long journey trying to get downhill. We ate lunch later then tried to go to Mosquito Lake, but I

On 7/7/19 We woke up I and my group which is group #3 cooked breakfast for everyone because we are on shifts. After we decided to put out bait with cameras, we wanted to find animals, foot prints, beds, and maybe something we have never seen such as Sasquatch? Aliens? Ghosts? What will we see I wonder? After we set up our traps we went to camp chaparral to do some volunteer work for the camp because we were expected kids very soon. We finished what work we could and returned to camp to be with friends and to talk amongst ourselves. I told stories of Sasquatch around 10:00 pm and found out that I along with a few others might have scared a few of them that were there for the night.  

On 7/6/19 we waited for Jessica/ Dr. Black and other people to show up for the trip we were going on. We unloaded everything such as sleeping bags and other gear. Before we left Jessica was waiting for a package, so we went to a store to get some extra supplies. When we returned Jessica was there ready to leave for the big trip. As we entered we saw a brown bear (possible yearling) it ran away as he had been kicked out by his mother. After, we reached camp chaparral there we camped set up our tents and ate smores and talked. After we talked my friends heard me tell stories of Sasquatch, they wanted to hear so I told them some personal stories and stories told by family and close friends after the stories I believe I convinced two people that the creature existed, but most were very skeptical. After listening to all the story’s, we all went to bed.