Part 3! Spring Forward and Plan Ahead!

The snow is melting rapidly as the weather warms up and the spring rains come through.  I am reluctantly realizing that it is time to put the snowshoes away.  This isn’t all bad news though.  It also means that it’s time to continue planning for summer!

The last couple of blog posts have looked at what kind of events and activities you could expect if you were planning a trip to the park this summer.  There is enough going on to plan a full day trip, but with the price of gas rising many folks might be looking to making the most of the miles they’re traveling and plan for a longer trip.  Don’t cross Sumpter off your list then, because there is more to do out here than meets the eye.

For the history explorer:

The visual display of inventive mechanical wonders and pioneer spirit does not stop with the Dredge.  Sumpter hosts the Sumpter Municipal Museum and the Cracker Creek Mining Museum both exhibit displays showing the lifestyle and technology of the Oregon Gold Rush.  Further examples of the Sumpter Valley Golden years can be seen scattered throughout the area; places like the pond up towards the old Mining town of Bourne which holds the remains of the second dredge hull or the Fremont Power house located 7 miles outside of Granite.  The remains of several ghost towns, such as: Whitney, Granite, Boune, and Auburn, are scatter throughout this area.  Compliment this area’s history by making a trip to Baker to visit the Baker Heritage Museum, The Oregon Trail Museum, and the Eastern Oregon History Museum.  In the latter part of the summer, when the snow has melted in the Elkhorns, this trip could be made in a day along with a tour of the beautiful Scenic Elkhorn Byway which cuts through the Elkhorn Mountains to Anthony Lakes and loops around from Sumpter To Baker.

Gunsight Mountain over Anthony Lake

For the outdoor explorer:

If your interest is more directed to exploring the great outdoors and taking in some of the clean mountain air there are many options for you.   Whether it’s hiking, ATVing, camping, or fishing; the Sumpter Valley and the Elkhorn Mountains has something for everyone.  Just eight miles east of Sumpter is the Beautiful Phillips Reservoir.  Open to boats, fishing, and sporting a 20 mile hiking/Mountain biking trail surround it, this lake is a great place to bring the family on those hot Eastern Oregon days.  There are several great swimming holes around the lake and the hiking trail is easy enough for a quiet hike on your own or a family picnic outing with younger children.  Olive Lake and Anthony Lakes are also great places to take the family to relax and explore nature. Motorized water craft are not allowed on these lakes, but both areas have hiking, fishing, and swimming galore.  Hundreds of miles of hiking and ATV trails will take you off the beat path and off into some of Oregon’s hidden lakes, waterfalls, and geological wonders.

The Accommodations and Amenities:

 With so many things to explore and do (and we haven’t even looked at other Events across the county…) of course a person would need several days to even put a dent in the list of things to do and see.  Our area’s accommodations and amenities can set anyone up for a comfortable stay it’s indoors or camping.  The Scoop-n-Steamer cabins, The Stockade, The Depot Inn, or the Lodge at Granite are a few of the lodging accommodations in Sumpter besides several vacation home rentals.  Visitors can have a great meal after a day of exploring at the Scoop-n-Steamer, Borellos, or The Elkhorn restaurants.  Folks at the Gold Post store or the Stage Stop gas station can help you stock up on supplies and fuel before you head back into the hills.  Sumpter also has a laundry mat and public showers for those especially dirty days.

These are just a few of the things to through into the pot of exploration opportunities in this area.  For more information about these places and more consider checking out the following websites:

http://www.historicsumpter.com/

http://www.basecampbaker.com/

http://www.visitbaker.com/

Stay tuned for the next installment featuring more events!

Spring Forward and Plan Ahead: Part 2

Having covered the park basics in the last blog entry, let’s take look at the icing on the cake…the park activities and events.  Yes, between the Railroad and the State Park, it is difficult to find a weekend that doesn’t have a little something extra going on.  So, let’s look at what’s in store for the summer.

Opening Day, May 1^st:  Join us for refreshments and be the first to see the new things at the Interpretive Center.  Join us as we open the park and see what’s in store for the new season.

May 1st marks the opening of the park and the beginning Dredge tours on the weekends!

Memorial Day Weekend, May 25^th -28^th: The first BIG weekend of the summer season in the whole of Sumpter Valley.  Coinciding with the City of Sumpter Flea Market, this weekend also marks the beginning season of the Sumpter Valley Railroad.  A great weekend full of fun!

Train Robberies, June 2^nd, 3^rd, 16^th, 17^th:  The Gold Rush Bandits ride again this summer!  Come experience a real old-fashioned train robbery when you ride in on the Sumpter Valley Railroad, or watch from the Parking lot at the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park.  A lot of fun and a great photo-op.

Fourth of July Weekend, June 29^th,  30^th, July 1^st, 2^nd: One of the few fourth of July weekends that starts in June!  If you missed the Memorial Day Flea Market or want to have more Sumpter fun, we do it all over again in July!

Fourth of July Train, July 4^th:  Is it difficult to come over on a weekend to ride the train or get a dredge tour?  Then come over on Wednesday, July 4^th when we’ll be doing BOTH…and on a Week day!

Train Robberies, July 7^th and 8^th:  More train robberies!  Someone needs to catch those Bandits!  In the mean time, if you missed the fun in June you have another chance in July, or ride again and bring your friends!

 

Sumpter Valley Dredge Heritage Day, July 21^st: Come join the friends of the dredge for food, stories and fun.  The Dredge Heritage Day is in honor of the men who worked on the Sumpter Valley Dredge, their families, and the people who grew up and now live in our little town.  Hear stories of how it was, how it is, and of course..there is always good food.  All are invited!

MORE Train Robberies, August 4^th and 5^th:  You would think someone would catch them by now, but they keep coming back!  And you can too!

Starlight Express, August 8^th:  Experience a beautiful summer night in the Sumpter Valley by taking a train ride.  Beginning  at 8:00pm in the waning light and ending in the starlight this is a great chance to check out the beginning of the Perseids Meteor Showers.

Train Robberies, August 18^th and 19^th:  Yes, there is more!

Labor Day Weekend, August 31, September 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd:  The last big weekend of the Summer Season.  Come wrap up your summer vacation with a bang with the Flea Market, Dredge Tours, Train Rides, and Gold Panning.

Train Robberies, September 8^th,  9^th, 29^th, and 30^th:  They are relentless, those Bandits, but it means that if you missed it this summer or wanted to bring a friend, you get another opportunity!

Another event to keep your schedule open for will be the Sumpter Valley Dredge Campfire programs.  Dates still to be determined but a lot of fun for everyone.

Please before to check into the following websites for updates and changes before planning your trips.

Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park:

http://sumpterdredge.wordpress.com/

http://www.friendsofthedredge.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sumptervalleydredge

 Sumpter Valley Railroad:

http://sumptervalleyrailroad.org

http://www.facebook.com/SumpterValleyRR

Stay tuned for the next addition to this blog series where we look at what there is to do outside of the park.

Spring Forward and Plan Ahead

Spring usually reveals itself subtly, here in the mountains.  We don’t see it explode like on the west side of the state where Cherry Blossoms, Trilliums, Daffodils, and such have been showing off their colors for the last few weeks.  No, spring’s approach here is usually quiet, hiding under the remaining snow drifts and frosty nights.  But there are some signs if you know where to look.  The call of the geese as they fly over, it’s still light out at 5:00pm, and of course, there is the upcoming Daylight Savings Time.  DST is not just a good time to change your clock or check your smoke alarms; it’s also a great time to start planning your trips for summer.

Everyone wants to make the most of their vacation time and nothing is more disappointing than getting to your destination to find the things you were looking forward to doing are not available or that there is an event that you REALLY want to go to…just it’s next week.  While there never is enough time to do it all, knowing what your options are can help you plan so you can do MOST of it.

The next few blog entries will be dedicated to providing you information concerning, local attractions, events, travel routes, and amenity options to help you plan.

Let’s start with RIGHT HERE:  Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park.

First: The Basics:

The park is currently closed, but unless winter decides to dump 3’ of snow on April 30^th, we will be open May 1^st.  The park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00PM.  We close the gate at night so if you’d like to stay and explore the trails after dusk or watch the stars come out by the Dredge, please be sure your vehicle is outside of the park before 7:00 PM.

The Dredge is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily. Weekdays, visitors are welcome to access the dredge on their own.  Interpretive panels inside the dredge and on the trail around the dredge pond tell about how the dredge moved, worked, and how it got here.    On the weekend, you have the option of a guided tour, going through on your own, or just picking the brain of the closest park ranger.  Tours are scheduled between 10:00 AM  and 2:00 PM.  We will post the Tour Schedule on the Blog and Friends of the Dredge Website at the beginning of the season.

Gold panning is also available in the park.  By obtaining a free gold panning permit from the interpretive center, you will be able to try your hand at gold panning at the designated gold panning sites along the river.  (This park ranger would strongly recommend that folks would consider waiting till July or August to pan in the river as the water is very cold, deep, and fast.)  Not sure where to start with gold panning?  On weekends we offer free lessons behind the interpretive store between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

If you are planning on bringing a large group to the park for a tour and gold panning we can help you make your plans, but please be aware that it is VERY important to schedule with us in advance. Because of limited staffing during the week, we cannot guarantee someone will be available for your group if we do not know you are coming in advance.

Second: Wait, there’s more…

Besides that intriguing floating piece of mining machinery, known as the dredge, cool trails, and gold panning; something else also shares the park…The Sumpter Valley Railroad!

Who doesn’t love trains?  Well, I suppose if they ran right by your house…  Yes, the track for the historic, narrow-gauge steam engine ends right in our park.  The train only runs on weekends but that works out perfect to plan a tour, gold planning lessons, AND a ride on the train.  Schedules and Fares can be viewed at the Sumpter Valley Railroads new website: sumptervalleyrailroad.org .

So, that covers the basic.  Stay tuned for the next blog to cover upcoming events and activities.

Time To Get Your Birding On…

We’ve been excited to note that it is not getting dark until after five o’clock in the evening, this being one of the first (and most welcome) signs that winter is on its way out and spring is coming.   The second sign is the beginning of the incessant chirping and twittering that has been following us through the park as of late.  This can only mean one thing….

It’s TIME to get your BIRDING on!!

Birding is one of the best ways to get those winter-stiffened muscles loosened up for the summer, boost up on some Vitamin D after being crammed inside, and at least for this park ranger perhaps, walk off some of those left over pounds from the holidays.  And there is no better place to come than the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park and the surrounding Sumpter Valley.

If you’re an avid, experienced birder then you might have had your gear set out by the door, ready to go, since the end of January if you haven’t already been out in our unusually warm weather.  But, if you’ve been interested in birding but don’t know your birds or what to do, getting started might seem like a daunting task.   Many bird lists out there seem to be designed for the more experienced aficionado. (i.e. What exactly do they mean by Turdus Migratorias? See photo below).  This is even more intimidating when to the untrained eye, all of these little bobbing chirpers look alike.   FYI-the official park ranger term for the look-a-like birds is “Little Brown Jobbie”…at least until we figure out what it really is.

Ahh! That is a Turdus Migratorius!

Well, we are with you.  We’re not experts either, we just love discovering which of our feathered friends make the park their home.  But we do have some tips to make it easier to get started:

• Pick a bite-sized area to get started in. A back yard is a good place or maybe you have a daily walk you like to take.  A certain state park is also a great place (hint hint) ehem.
• Start with what you know.  Pulling up a local list with 100 + birds listed can be intimidating.   How can there really be THAT many birds in an area??  You’d be amazed the birds you’ve never noticed.  Instead of trying to look for all the birds at once, start keeping an eye out for what you know.  Most people are familiar with robins, black birds, or other local birds.  As you begin to watch for these birds you will start seeing the other species who show up or cohabitate with the familiar ones.
• Pick up a few good birding guides from your local book store.  There are many great books out there like “The Birds of Oregon: Field Guide” by Stan Tekiela or The National Audubon Society’s “Field Guide to Birds: Western Region”.  Both are smallish, fitting nicely into your backpack or jacket pocket, and easy to search as the birds sorted by reference of color.  Note:  They are FULL of pictures!
• There are many great online sites as well, such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at www.allaboutbirds.org .
• Make a birding bag.  Always know you have everything you need before heading out.  Pick up a small back pack or hip pack to stash all of your birding gear like; binoculars, note paper, pencils, a poncho, local bird list, a pocket bird guide, camera,  and anything else you’ve found comes in handy… this park ranger usually likes a snack, for me of course, never for the birds as they have their own food.
• Get involved.  We’re learning too!  As we work to launch a birding program at the park, we’re assembling a “site-specific” bird list for Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park.  We hope to have compiled photos, identification, and habit information for a majority of the birds that call this park their home…or at least their vacation home.  Let us know what you find and if you’ve found one of those Little Brown Jobbies, maybe we can tell you who it really is!

Snow Shoe Update

The winter always feels the longest when we get into February.  Without the activities that usually accompany the holidays, time seems to slow down, the walls close in, and a person begins to understand how “All work and no play can make Jack a dull boy”.  (Btw…don’t read “The Shining” by yourself in the dead of winter. *shivers*)

But there is a ray of light…Grab your snow shoes (or cross country skis) and get out to check out the snow shoe trails in the park and around Sumpter.  Below is the latest area map outlining the current trails through the park.

The blue trail outlines where the current snowshoe trail is. The Red trails are where the actual park trail is, but this area has not been gone through with snowshoes yet. The yellow trail is where the snow mobile trail cuts through.

If you’re interested in joining other avid snowshoers, check out the Sumpter snowshoeing web site at   http://www.sumpter.org/menu/sumpter_snowshoeing.html for information about upcoming guided hikes and trail conditions.

As always, be safe and hope to see you out there.

Holey Granite Rocks, Batman!

Massive granite boulders are one of the beautiful components of the scenery out here in the Elkhorn Mountains.  But, occasionally you might come across some with numerous holes like the one pictured below.  Some of the holes might be an inch or two deep and some could be at least a foot or more!  How did these solid chunks of rock become full of holes?  Aliens?  Some crazy, geological formations?

Granite rocks punched with holes can be found in the park and the City of Sumpter

Nope!  These are called Fourth of July stones.  They are the remnants of Stone Drilling Contests held in Sumpter during the Fourth of July Festivals.   You might think of a drilling contest using a large hole-boring machine with a big drill bit, but this was not the case.  They used HUMAN drilling machines!

As they prepare, note the granit stone in the center with the long spikes resting on it. photo is courtesy of the Baker Co. Library Photo Archives.

The contest begins! Photo Courtesy of Baker Co. Library Photo Archives

As you can see in the photos, a platform is built around the granite boulder.  One man hunkers down to hold a tall metal spike in place while another stands above and pounds the stake into the granite with a large maul.

Action Shot! Photo Courtesy of Baker Co. Photo Archive

The contest was a tribute to the strength, endurance, and hand/eye coordination of the miners.  I, for one, would not want to be the man holding the stake.

What Does a Train Have to Do With a Dredge?

Gold was discovered in Sumpter in 1862.  For most of us the vision that statement might bring to mind is reminiscent “paint your wagons” or a similar old-timey gold rush film; one of mass populations of miners flooding the valley singing and dancing as they came, huge rowdy mining camps springing up overnight and within months a city appears out of thin air riding on the golden wealth flowing out of the hills.  It sounds pretty exciting!

In reality it wasn’t that fast or exciting or musical.  In fact, the actual mining boom wouldn’t take place for another 30 years!  The reason for this was because of Sumpter’s remote location.  It was just close enough to the Oregon Trail and other travel routes for word of the gold to slip out and entice those passing by; but the access to Sumpter, being limited to rough narrow trails and roads over or through the mountains, left something to be desired. This severely limited the ability to establish large mining operations, as well as as merely bringing in the supplies needed to support large groups of miners with food, housing, and the general comforts one would want if one wants to live in comfort out in the middle of nowhere.

The Mining town Of Sumpter, late 1880's

So, that said, the mining operations plodded along at a slow pace until just before the turn of the century.  The catalyst that finally pushed the Sumpter Gold Mining off of its trickle pace and off on a rush actually wasn’t even gold.  It was WOOD!  The vast forests that stretched over this portion of the Blue Mountains was enticing lumber companies, namely the Oregon Lumber Co., to make their way into the mountains and from this ambition the Sumpter Valley Railway Company was born.  The railroad not only provided the Lumber Companies access to the forests, it also opened the Sumpter Valley to the outside world allowing the little mining town of Sumpter to Boom to a large city almost overnight!

Sumpter Valley Railroad Company Making Their Way Through

 

The City of Sumpter After the Mining Boom

Unfortunately for Sumpter, even though the train continued to chug through the valley until 1947, the boom was short-lived.  The gold industry that had built the town depended on began to decline shortly after the turn of the century.  The railroad helped bring in the equipment needed to build two large dredges which could tap into the abundant vein of gold buried deep beneath the valley floor, but even this did not stop the decline.  In 1917, a fire destroyed most of the business district bringing the golden age to a sudden halt.

The Railroad continued back and forth From Baker City to Prairie City seeing the continued dredging of the Sumpter Valley, the burning of Sumpter, the rise and decline of other towns supported by its trek, including; Whitney, Tipton, Austin, and Oregon Lumber Company’s own company town, Bates.

With advancements in transportation, such as cars and trucks, better roads made their way through Sumpter Valley and on up over the mountains to the west.  In time the need for train transportation waned and as previously mentioned, the Sumpter Valley Railway Company made its last trip through the Sumpter Valley in 1947.

 

But wait!  That’s not the end!

 

In 1971, a nonprofit organization named Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Inc. was established and through blood, sweat, and hard work they were able to find, rebuild, and restore several original Sumpter Valley Railway Co. cars and engines, as well as about eight miles of narrow gauge track from the old McEwen station back into Sumpter just shy of its original location (The Oregon Deptment of Transportation frowned on the idea of reconstructing the railroad track on the now existing Hwy).

The Depot

At the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park, just shy of its original location, sits the replica of the Sumpter Depot.  With train rides scheduled each weekend throughout the summer months, it is a great addition to a visit to the City of Sumpter and the State Park.  For more information please visit the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration’s web site http://www.svry.com/ and they can also be found on Face Book.

The No.3 Making it's way from Sumpter to McEwen