September has been a gruesome month in my home state of Oregon. We were traumatized by wildfires and smoke that began Labor Day Weekend staying in our homes for 10 days to avoid breathing the toxic cloud of air that descended over the state. Thousand of people were evacuated from their homes. The fires ravaged over a million acres of land burning several 2800 structures including homes and businesses. About 11 people lost their lives. Many are homeless and without jobs. The towns of Detroit Lake, Talent, and Phoenix were decimated as with many communities up the McKenzie River Hwy. Many of the larger fires are still burning.
Particularly heartbreaking to me is knowing that some of my favorite places were hit especially hard; the Breitenbush Hot Springs Community, the McKenzie River corridor, and the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center and Wilderness. These were places that recharged my soul. Nature will renew them- but not in my lifetime. It looks like my ashes will be scattered among the ashes.
Continue reading “What We Lost in the Fires”
In the aftermath of the Las Vegas shootings last week (on top of everything else going on in this country) I needed a big hug from nature.
The Shiny Rock Mining company operated in the midst of this forest in the 1930s from the “town” of Jawbone Flat. In its heyday, about 50 souls lived & worked there. The relics of the town still remain.
pushed legislation through Congress in 1996 before he retired forming the Opal Creek Wilderness Area. The Shiny Rock Mining Company deeded over their holdings to the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center whose mission it is to educate children and others on the value of old growth forests.
Where the only news you will hear
When you look up through
By Alanna Pass 
![https://wordpress8512.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/oc-rudd.jpg"](https://wordpress8512.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/oc-rudd.jpg"){kind=link}