The Interpreter

The Interpreter
Summer 2014
Finding History in the Forest
Singing Stone Um-bula-Ki
Forest Walker Program
Use Plants in and Around the Forest
President’s Message
Page 2 and 3
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Page 4 and 5
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Page 7
In Remembrance – Richard “Dick” Brock
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“The mission of the Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association (ENFIA), a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping the Eldorado National Forest serve the
public.”
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Finding History in the Forest
When hiking in the Eldorado National Forest or even driving on a forest road, you may have seen one of the “T” markers placed by
Trails West Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to marking the Emigrant Trails to California. Each of these markers is placed on or
alongside the route of one of the historic emigrant trails into California. Markers are on the Carson River Route, also known as the
Mormon-Emigrant Trail and several “cut-offs” from this main route. They include: The Grizzly Flat, The Johnson’s, and the Luther Pass
Route. Currently in the research stage is the Georgetown Packtrail and the Volcano Road. All of these routes were in use from the
time of gold discovery in California until well into the late 19th century.
These markers are fabricated from steel railroad rails, cut and welded with a cross member at the top to form the characteristic “T”
appearance and to provide a place to bolt the aluminum inscription plate. To keep them in the ground, there is another cross member
on the bottom. A completed marker weighs over 200 pounds. While an attempt is always made to put the markers in places convenient
to the public, it is more important to place them on the historic route. Therefore, sometimes these heavy markers have to be carried by
hand to their final position.
Each has an inscription that identifies the location and emigrant route. In addition, each plate has a quotation from an emigrant’s diary
about that section of the trail, letting you share in the actual emigrant experience. Read the words of this 19th century traveler, then
stand there a moment, look around you and let your imagination take you back to that time. Think about the hardships and dangers
they encountered. Occasionally there is an emigrant grave nearby. Think about what it would be like to bury a loved one and leave their
grave in the wilderness, knowing you would probably never be back. Here are examples of quotations from emigrant diaries. The first
one is from a marker on the Carson Route, Marker CR-42:
CARSON TRAIL – RED LAKE
“WE HAVE A GOOD ROAD TO RED LAKE . . . AT THE FOOT OF THE DIVIDING RIDGE THEN UP THE STEEPEST HILL FOR A
WAGGON ROAD I EVER SAW (CALLED BY SOME THE DEVIL’S LADDER).” ARETAS J. BLACKMAN, AUGUST 1, 1849
Feel the compassion and sense of helplessness expressed by this woman emigrant on Marker CR-44:
CARSON TRAIL-TO LAKE VALLEY
“WHILE I WAS IN CAMP, THERE CAME ALONG A MAN WHO HAD LOST EVERYTHING. HE HAD ONE PINT OF CORN MEAL
LEFT. HE WAS WITHOUT SHOES, AND HIS FEET WERE TIED UP IN RAGS . . . I ENCOURAGED HIM TO . . . TRY TO GO
FORWARD.” MARGARET A. FRINK AUGUST 29, 1850
Finally, as you are standing in front of the marker, you will see a decal
encoded with a Quick Response Code. If you have a smart phone with you,
you will be able to read the code and let it take you to the website of Trails
West where you can learn more about the markers and the Trails West
organization.
Each trail is carefully researched before the markers are placed. Besides reading
emigrant diaries and reviewing old maps, much fieldwork is done. The entire
length of trail will be evaluated using the nationally accepted guidelines provided
in the Mapping Emigrant Trails manual. The location of the emigrant trails is an
important historic resource. The westward migration in the middle of the 19th
century is considered the largest peacetime migration in history. In addition to the
educational aspects, following the trails is an enjoyable experience.
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Finding History in the Forest - continued
Trails West produces trail guides and smaller driving guides for most of the trails. Because of the depth of research required to
produce these guides, at this time only the Carson Route driving and trail guides are available for the trails on the Eldorado National
Forest. Guidebooks can be purchased directly from Trails West at www.emigranttrailswest.org. They are also available at select visitor
centers, museums and bookstores. There are guidebooks available for several other routes outside of the Eldorado National Forest.
Trails West began placing markers on the California Trail and its branches in 1970. Trails West has placed and maintains over 600
markers along 2,000 miles of the California Trail, from southern Idaho, across Nevada and into Oregon and California. Some markers
are on private property. There is even a marker in downtown Placerville! Trails West welcomes new members who are fascinated by
the covered wagon era and who are willing to work marking trails.
If you would like to learn more about the California Trail go to the Trails West website, also check out the Oregon California Trails
Association (OCTA) website: www.octa-trails.org. If you had an ancestor who made the journey to the gold fields, you can look for him
or her on the Paper Trail, a web site created by OCTA from thousands of trail-related documents written by pioneers traveling to the
American West: www.paper-trail.org.
Why not go out into the forest to look for the “T” markers? Try to see how many you can find. Perhaps follow one of the routes for its
entire length. Or just take special note of the ones you happen upon as you enjoy the forest, because now you know their significance.
Ellen Osborn 08/2014
Singing Stone Um-bula-Ki
Provided by Guy Nixon
This picture is of the Singing Stone Um-bula-Ki . It is out on Squaw Creek and is a County Historic site. This stone connects through
to another and was part of the Native American communication network. Using this system the news of the arrival of Fremont and
Varson at To-Go-No (Sly Park) was known by folks as far south as Murphys and as far north as Georgetown on the same day. Sound
only travels 300 meters per second or so in air but travels over 3000 meters a second in stone--kind of like listening to rail road tracks.
Neat Technology-- --beats the pony express or smoke signals.
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Forest Walker Program
Goals & Objectives: To create a Volunteer Trail Walker program forest-wide to
accomplish visitor education, trail monitoring and maintenance on the Eldorado
National Forest. The 2014 season is intended to setup the structure of the
program to support the volunteers and define the scope of the work that can be
accomplished by our volunteers. The focus of this group is trail monitoring, trail
condition surveys, light maintenance, visitor education and information, and visitor
safety on forest trails and related areas.
Background: In 2007 a new program of service was added to the Eldorado National Forest Interpretive Association’s
Carson Pass program on the Amador Ranger District. Volunteers that had been trained and involved at the Carson Pass
Information Station (CPIS) walked the trails in the Mokelumne Wilderness and surrounding areas including the Meiss
country (LTBMU), and the PCT. Their purpose was to be “eyes and ears” of conditions in the field and to be available to
answer questions for visitors. It has been a very popular program. By the end of the 2013 season 151 walkers provided
4,106 hours of service. ENFIA is expanding and formalizing the Forest Walker program forest-wide.
Projects:
Boots On-the-Ground: Many volunteers are needed to provide the information needed to manage the trails and educate the
visitors.
 Initial Season Trail Check for conditions and damage. Identify downed trees, trails damage, drainage issues, and
other repairs.
 Light Maintenance – Using loppers, clearing culverts, etc.
 Trail Monitoring – Out on the trail during the season.
 Public Education and Information – Visitor contact at trailheads or on the trail.
Trail Map Development:
Develop information and create maps for a one page (back and front) handout for visitors on the more popular trails. These
will be available in-person, on the web, and serve as a basis for trail condition surveys by our volunteers.
1. Sayles Canyon area (including Brian Meadow and Round Meadow)
2. Pyramid Creek area
3. Ralston area
4. Cody Meadow area
5. Trestle Trail
6. Caples Creek area is being developed by the Forest Service now (includes Government Meadows, Hay Flat and
Buck Pasture).
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Forest Walker Program
continued
Special Projects: These projects are known needs as identified by the District staff:
 Lover’s Leap Trail: West side of trail needs signs and monitoring. East side is handled
by the climbing group so only education/monitoring needed on that side.
 Photo log of all the signs on each trail with latitude/longitude and identified on a map. This will make it easier for
inventorying trail and replacing signs.
 Ralson Trail: Needs new signing.
 Pyramid Creek: Develop low impact directional signing/markers for trail on lower portion and installing them.
 Trestle Trail: Review and possible replacement of interpretive and directional signing. Leoni Meadows private
camp does the light maintenance through an Adopt-A Trail agreement. Trail would need monitoring and public
education/information patrols.
 Cody Meadows: Currently, environmental analysis is underway for managing the area. Possible projects needed
are signing, trail work, monitoring, public education, and closing and rehabbing user-created off-shoot trails in the
area.
 Website Development: Develop a website similar to Desolation Wilderness Volunteers, www.desowy.org that
provides public information on hiking, safety, trail conditions and serves as an organizational and communication
tool internally (by password profiles) for the Forest Walker volunteers. Volunteers should be able to sign up for
activities, input trail reports and trail conditions, communicate amongst the group, have discussion threads, training,
report hours worked, etc.
Administration: Volunteers are needed to be part of the structure that pulls this program together. This is starting
small but the intent is to grow this program Forest-wide and eventually these positions will be needed. Possible
positions are….
 Program Coordinator – Provides the organizational energy to pull together the various components of the
program.
 Project Coordinator/s – Coordinates the overall special projects section of the program. Individual project
leaders will also be needed
 Trail Work Coordinator/s – Coordinates overall trail work needs as determined by the Forest Service and from
the Trail Reports and Condition surveys submitted by the volunteers. Individual project leaders will also be
needed
 Training Coordinator – Either becomes a trainer and/or coordinates training for volunteers in various areas,
such as, trail maintenance, public contact, GIS training.
 Publications Coordinator – Coordinates folks working on creating the handout maps and other
education/informational needs. Develops content for website.
 Worker Bees – Lots of eyes and feet on the ground.
For more information contact Dawn King, ENFIA Forest Walker Leader @ 530-644-3149 or Kristi Schroeder, ENFIA Forest
Service Liaison @ 530-295-5610 (desk) or 530-305-6864 (cell).
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USES OF PLANTS IN AND AROUND THE FOREST
Reprinted from 1993 Interpreter, by Candice Cantin Packard
Native use of plants as medicine is often looked upon as something of the past which has little relevance to our current
needs. However, as a professional Herbalist and Member of the American Herbalist Guild I would like to share with you
many of the plants that are still in use by herbalists like myself. These plants have pertinence to our times because of their
long history of safe use as applied to many ailments and conditions. I will discuss some of the plants that are familiar to
most people and that grow in the Sierras.
The manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) can be found all over California. The name manzanita
means “little apple” as it has small reddish berries which are ripe late in the summer. The tea
or alcohol extract of the leaves is used for cystitis (bladder infections) which is due many times
to an over-alkaline urine from improper eating habits. The glycosides in manzanita, especially
arbutin, are metabolized and excreted in the urine as hydroquinone, an antimicrobial waste
product that is most active in an alkaline ph. Take a handful of the leaves and place them in 2
cups of hot water and let steep for 5 minutes. Taken along with some cranberry juice, this will
re-acidify the urine and help you to get rid of the bladder problem. Due to the high tannin level
in manzanita leaves, any more than two or three days of the herb will start to irritate the lining
of the stomach and even the kidneys. The smaller leafed, ground cover manzanita,
artostaphylos uva ursi, is slightly milder and has a less harsh action. It has the same smooth reddish bark, pink flowers and
leathery leaves as the larger manzanita varieties. Manzanita should not be used during pregnancy due to its strong action.
I have also used manzanita tea externally as a wash to treat outbreaks of poison oak. Its astringent properties are helpful in
drawing out impurities and tightening up the skin.
Another California native is the elderberry (sambucus nigra). The flowers are gathered when
they are in full bloom and are used for colds, flu, fever and cleaning the skin. It can be used
both internally and externally. Elder flowers, mixed with equal part of mint and yarrow
blossoms is an excellent interal cleanser for detoxification of flu and colds. Elder flower oil
and ointment is made by covering the flowers in a little olive oil and storing in a warm place
for two or three days. Take some cheese cloth and pour the oil through it. Discard the herb,
and save the oil, heat the oil, do not boil it, and dissolve a little bee’s wax in the oil to
achieve an ointment consistency (one cup oil to ¾ oz of bee’s wax). This ointment is excellent for burns, cuts, scratches,
abrasions, and chapped hands.
The red elderberry (sambucus racemosa var, microbotry) found in the very high regions of the Sierra is considered toxic and
is not used as a medicinal.
Candice Cantin Packard is a registered herbalist and works out of her home and herb garden in Placerville, California.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
This has been a terrific summer with some exciting new additions and changes to
ENFIA. Dennis and Roxi Price have done a wonderful job of stepping into Bob & Ginny
Youels’ shoes and handling all the challenges of opening and operating the Carson
Pass and Silver Lake Cabin this year. With a terrific group behind them they have done
a wonderful job and we owe them a big “thank you”. Another big “thank you” goes to
Dawn King for getting the ball rolling on the Forest Walker Program out of the Placerville
Ranger District. This type of activity on the Hwy. 50 corridor is something that I have
personally wanted to see implemented for a long time and I’m excited she has made it
happen. Within the next year or so this program will be expanded to the entire Eldorado
National Forest so there will be lots of activities to keep you busy. Questions? Contact
Dawn King at 530-644-3149.
As you’ll notice in this edition of The Interpreter we lost one of ENFIA’s early pioneers
and good friend, Dick Brock. He will definitely be missed by so many people.
There are also several other new activities that are in the planning stages for ENFIA so
check the website now and then to see what new is happening.
Enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
Kathie Piaszk
In Remembrance - Richard “Dick” Brock
My friend and fellow long time ENFIA member, Dick Brock, passed away June 12, 2014. Most of
you probably know Dick through his fantastic book, Hiking in the Carson Pass Area, but I want to
share some other things about Dick with you. First, Dick was one of only four ENFIA members to
have over 3000 volunteer hours. He earned these hours mostly between two activities. Building
the Carson Pass Information Station and writing and updating his book. He was also a board
member for several years and a willing and knowledgeable docent at Carson Pass. While working
on the information station he and Joel Knowles had an ongoing game of one-up-man–ship going.
They were always trying to outdo each other regarding who had the newest and most useful new
tools to use on the project. This resulted in a better built cabin and a lot of toys for both of them.
Second, did you know that Dick donated all of the rights to his hiking book to ENFIA? He never
charged us for the books and never took a penny of the profits. He even updated the book over
the years without asking for anything in return. Third, he was the biggest coffee drinker I have
ever met. It did not matter what time of day it was he always had his coffee. Fourth, Dick was a
retired professor. He worked at California State University in the Management Department with a
specialty in Marketing. That is where Joel and I first met Dick many years ago. Fifth, he never
would admit he had a hearing problem. One time while working up at the pass, we told Dick he
was sharing the Silver Lake Cabin that night with Syd Perryman. Unfortunately he did not hear us
correctly and thought we said something else. So, that night while taking a shower at the cabin
he was very surprised to see her come in the cabin door. He jumped out of the shower, got
dressed, grabbed all of his gear and dashed home! Dick was also active in Trails West where,
through his research, he helped
in the development of numerous books and maps.
I will miss Dick. He was a real supporter of ENFIA and a very good friend. Mary Knowles
Mary Knowles
Board Members
Kathie Piaszk
(530) 295-1500
kpiaszk@gtoast.net
Ted Christy
ted.christy@gmail.com
Dawn King
(530) 644-3149
dawn_king@comcast.net
Jim Hacker
(209) 295-4024
jim@birdhouse.org
Linda Gonzales (209) 296-3629
lsgonz@gmail.com
F.S. Liaison:
Kristi Schroeder (530) 295-5610
kschroeder@fs.fed.us
Business Manager:
Ron Piaszk
(530) 295-0700
rpiaszk@toast.net
Retail Manager:
Kathie Piaszk
(530) 295-1500
kpiaszk@gtoast.net
Publicity Manager:
Ron Piaszk
(530) 295-0700
rpiaszk@toast.net
Carson Pass Manager:
Dennis Price
(209) 304-0892
pinesrus@volcano.net
Membership Coordinator:
Temporary - Linda Gonzales
(209) 296-3629