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NEWS FROM THE PLAINS
Newsletter of the OregonCalifornia Trails Association Spring, 2015 Volume XXX, No. 2
ByBillMartinNFPEditorTheNationalBoardofDirectorsoftheOregon‐
CaliforniaTrailsAssociationhasunanimously
passedaresolutioncallingforchangestothe
BureauofLandManagement’sdraft
EnvironmentalImpactStatementforthe
proposedBoardman‐Hemingwaypowerline.
Thepowerlinewillbe“anabsolutedisasterfor
theOregonTrail,”BoardmemberandNorthwest
ChapterPreservationOf icerBillSymmstoldthe
BoardatitsMid‐Yearmeetingheldatthehistoric
FourMileHouseinDenverinearlyMarch.
The300‐milepowerlinewillimpactabout270
milesoftheOregonTrailinIdahoandOregon,
NationalPreservationOf icerJereKrakowsaidin
areporttotheBoard.Krakowcalledtheproject
“incompatiblewiththepurposesandnatureof
nationalhistorictrails.”
Thepowerlineanditstowers,ranginginheight
from100to195feet,willimpactanumberofkey
locationsalongtheTrail.(Seeseparatestoryon
page8.)
TheresolutionpassedbytheBoardrequests
thatroutingforthepowerlinebechangedand
thatwhereavoidanceisnotpossible,signi icant
mitigationberequired.
“TheBoardofDirectorsofOCTAopposesthe
‘preferredroutings’asidenti iedinsupplemental
mapstothedraftEISintheareasof…emigrant
trailsclass1through3andintheareasof
undisturbedsetting,”theresolutionstated.
Inaddition,theBoardsaidthatit“rejectsthe
notionthatitispermissibletodegradeordestroy
portionsofthetrailsalongtherouteunderthe
assumptionthatmuchtrailqualityexistsinother
locations.Thisstatementisnotsupportableby
facts.”
(continuedonpage3)
OCTABoardProtestsImpactsofNorthwestPowerLine
NationalPreservationOf icerJereKrakowmakesapresentationtotheOCTABoardmeetinginDenver.
OCTAHeadedToIowain2017TheOCTABoardofDirectorshasapprovedCouncilBluffs,
Iowaasthesiteofthe2017NationalConvention,departing
fromalong‐standingpolicythatconventionsbeawarded
onlytoChapterhosts.
AssociationManagerTravisBoleynotedthatthe
conventionsitewillallowaccesstoanumberofimportant
trailssites,includingtheWesternHistoricTrailsCenterand
WinterQuarters.CouncilBluffsalsowasanimportant
jumpingoffpointfortravelontheMormon,Californiaand
OregonTrails.
Datesfortheconventionareyettobedetermined.The
2015ConventionisscheduledforLakeTahoeinSeptember
andthe2016ConventionwillbeinFortHall,Idaho.
ThedecisiontoconveneinCouncilBluffswasmade
followingareportfromaspecialConventionManagement
ReviewCommittee,whichrecommendedthatOCTAestablish
anationalconventionplanningteamchairedbythe
AssociationManager.
(continuedonpage3)
News From The Plains 2 Spring, 2015
2015 OCTA Board of Directors Cecilia Bell, Silver City NM [email protected] Brian Larson, Paradise CA [email protected] Doug Jensen, Idaho Falls ID [email protected] Jere Krakow, Albuquerque NM [email protected] Don Hartley, Green River WY [email protected] Dick Nelson, Lenexa KS [email protected] Loren Pospisil, Gering NE [email protected] Vern Osborne, Cheyenne WY [email protected] Bill Symms, Yachats OR [email protected]
2014‐2015 OCTA Officers John Krizek, President Presco AZ [email protected] John Winner, Vice President Placerville CA [email protected] Pat Traffas, Secretary Overland Park KS [email protected] Marvin Burke, Treasurer Northglenn CO [email protected] Duane Iles, Past President Holton KS [email protected] Jere Krakow, Preserva on Officer Albuquerque NM [email protected]
NEWS FROM THE PLAINS
Bill Mar n, Editor
706 Country Club Road Georgetown TX 78628 (512) 818‐1609 [email protected]
Published quarterly by the
Oregon‐California Trails Associa on P.O. Box 1019
Independence MO 64051
Phone: (816) 836‐0989 Toll Free: (888) 811‐6282
Fax: (816) 836‐0989 Email: [email protected]
OCTA is a 501(c)(3) Non‐Profit
Summer Issue Deadline
May 25, 2015
Send Materials to [email protected]
FROM THE PRESIDENT byJohnKrizek,OCTAPresidentThisyear’s“HikeTheHill”event
inWashington(February7–11)
wasmy irst,andIcameaway
withanumberofimpressions.
Numberone,Icouldn’thelpbut
beproudtorepresenttheOregon‐
CaliforniaTrailsAssociation.Over
theyearsofdealingwithtrailissuesandthepeople
we’vehadonthefrontlinesofthatcause,the
reputationofOCTAissecure.ToseeBillandJean
Watsonhonoredbythewholetrailscommunityfor
their30yearsofworkonthisfront,wastrulyuplifting.
Thetrustthatdevelopsamongthepartnersinthe
trail“industry,”andtheagenciesthatarethe
custodiansofthetrails—theNationalParkService,the
BLM,theForestService,etc.—ispalpable.Wecouldnot
achievethemeasureofsuccesswe’vehadoverthe
yearswithoutthosepartners,andtheleveragewe
collectivelygenerate.
Onecannothelpbutcomeawayimpressedbythe
sheersizeandcomplexityofourgovernment—andthe
effortittakestogetanythingdone.Inapolitical
environmentwhereCongressandourgovernmentare
besiegedwithwars,pestilenceandvariousdisasters,
senatorsandcongressmenstill indtimefortheirstaffs
tositdownwithwetrailadvocates,tolistentoour
concernsaboutsavinghistory.Toopenthe
conversationwithachartshowinghowthevalueof
allthosevolunteerhoursandcontributionsbyOCTA
membersdedicatedtotrailpreservationfar
outweighanyfederaloutlaysforthesame
purposes—surehelpsleadtoapositivediscussion.
Ofcourse,oneofouragendaitemswastoseek
sponsorshipforabilltostudythefeasibilityof
designatingtheSouthernTrailasaNationalHistoric
Trail.That’sbeenanagendaitemforafewyears,
andwesurehopethateffortpaysoffoneofthese
days.
Anotherlessonisthevalueofmaintainingcontact
withlegislatorsbackintheirhomedistricts—where
issuesaffectingthetrails,theirvaluehistoricallyand
aswellasheritagetourismdraws,islikelytogeta
littlemoreattention.Weliveinanoisyandcrowded
world,wherepressureonthetrailsfrom
developmentandenergyneedswillonlyincrease,
andourdeterminationanddiligence—ourvoice
raisedonbehalfofthetrails—wasnevermore
important.
News From The Plains 3 Spring, 2015
OCTABoard (continuedfromPage1)“TheEISdoesnotproposeanymitigationforadverse
effectsonhistorictrailresourcesthoughitdoesoffera
mitigationplanforsagegrouse,”Krakownoted.“Akey
pointtobemadeabouttheimpactsisthatsagegrouse
reproducebutonceanOregonTrailresourceis
compromised,itisforevergone.”
Inotheraction,theBoard:
Receivedtheresultsofa inancialreviewsupervisedbytheOCTAAuditCommittee(seestoryonpage11).
SpentafulldayreviewingandupdatingOCTA’sStrategicPlan(seestoryonpage14).
Approvedarequestfromanadhoc inancialplanningcommitteetodevelopabudgetplanningpolicyfor
considerationattheBoard’sSeptembermeeting.
RecommendedthattheOCTAPublicationsCommitteeproviderecommendationsforcostreductionsand
revenueenhancementstobeincludedinthe2016
budget.
ApprovednewpolicystatementsfortheInvestmentAdvisoryCommitteeandtheCollections&Library
Committee.BothwillbeavailableontheOCTAwebsite.
HeardthatOCTA’syear‐endfundraisingappealwasoneofitsmostsuccessfulever,raisingmorethan
$37,000asoftheendofFebruary.
WastoldthatthePartnershipfortheNationalTrailsSystem,ofwhichOCTAisamember,isincreasing
OCTA’sannualduesfrom$1,400to$2,200.The
increasewillbeconsideredduringthe2016budgeting
process.
HeardareportfromtheTribalLiaisonCommitteethatwhilethereisactiononmanyfronts,triballistening
sessionswillnotresumeuntiltheNationalParkService
replacestribalprogramcoordinatorOtisHalfmoon,
whoretired.
HeardareportfromtheMapping&MarkingCommitteethatchapter‐leveleffortstomarkhistoric
trailsareunderwayinmanyareas,utilizingOCTA’s
METmanual.
Adoptedlistofrecommendedactionsfromanadhocinancialstudycommitteeasatemplatefordeveloping
the2016budget.
WastoldbyOCTATreasurerMarvinBurkethattheirstquarterofthe2015 iscalyear(October1‐
December31)showedanexcessofrevenuesover
expensesof$3,394.
Conventions (continuedfrompage1)ItwasnotedattheBoard’smeetinginDenverthat
OCTAwasnotchangingthepolicythatconventionsbe
awardedtochapters,butwasmakinganexceptionto
openanareawhereconventionshavenotbeen
previouslyheld.ThereisnoOCTAchapterinIowa.
TheConventionManagementReviewCommitteealso
recommendedseveraladditionalstepstoimprove
attendanceand inancialresultsforOCTA’sannual
conventions.
Thecommitteenotedthatconventionattendance
averaged498andincomeaveraged$32,871between
1995and2004,butsince2005theaverage
attendancehasbeen338andincomehasaveraged
$25,811.PartofthatisattributabletodecliningOCTA
membership,whichhasdecreasedfrom2,700in1999
to1,400in2014.
Amongitsrecommendations,thecommittee
suggestedthatconventionsbescheduledatlocations
thataremostaffordable suchasNationalGuard
Armories,Trails Centers,museums,orciviccenters.
Inaddition,itcalledfor lexibilityofconventiontimes
to allowfortraveltimeonweekendsandrecommended
thatnationallysponsoredsymposiumsshouldbe
revenuegeneratingandheldinconjunctionwithMid‐
YearBoardmeetings.
JohnKrizek,OCTA
VicePresidentJohnWinner,AssociationManager
TravisBoley,andOCTAmembersJerryEichorst,Jean
Coupal‐Smith,andRossMarshall.
—BillMartin
NFP:ElectronicallyYoucanhelpOCTAandenjoyamorecolorful
productbysigningupforfreeemaildeliveryofNewsFromThePlains.YoucanhelpOCTAsavethousandsofdollarsin
printingandmailingcostseachyear.Plus,eachissuedelivereddirectlytoyoure‐
mailaddresswillincludebene itssuchasfour‐colorpicturesandclickablelinkstowebsitesmentionedinarticlesinthenewsletter.Tosignup,justshootanemailto
[email protected],you’rehelpingOCTAbeagood
stewardofitspreservationresources.
News From The Plains 4 Spring, 2015
FinancialPlannersRecommendBudgetChangesAspecialFinancialPlanningTaskForcehas
recommendedawiderangeofstepstohelpaddress
OCTA’s inancialposition,whichhasbeenhitbyde icit
spendingandlaggingmembershiprevenues.
Thetaskforce,createdbyOCTAPresidentJohnKrizek,
waschairedbyDaveWelchandincludedBobSchwartz,
CamilleBradford,CharlesMartin,JimBudde,BillMartin,
JohnWinner,MarvinBurke,GailCarbienerandMelissa
ShawJones.
ThetaskforcereportwasdeliveredtotheOCTABoard
ofDirectorsatitsMid‐YearmeetinginDenver.
Recommendationsareintendedforuseindevelopingthe
nextbudgetforthenext iscalyearstartingOctober1.
Thereportnotedthatintheperiod2010through2014,
expensesexceededrevenuesbyatotalof$112,448
beforedrawsonOCTAEndowmentFundincome,which
reducedthede icitto$47,448.Morethan80percentof
thedrawswereforspecialprojectsapprovedbythe
Board.Noneofthedrawswerefromendowment
principal,butonlytakenfrominterestearnings,which
areattheBoard’sdiscretion.However,thesedrawsare
“unsustainable,”thereportstated.
(GrantsfromtheNationalParkService,which
accountedformorethanhalfofOCTArevenuesinthe
iscalyearendingSeptember30,2014,werenotincluded
sincerevenuesandNPS‐fundedexpensesmatch,havinga
netzerobudgetimpact.)
Thetaskforcenotedthatadministration,including
headquartersoperations,accountedfor49.8percentof
allexpenses.Administrativecostsincludetelephone,
rent,Internetservice,utilities,paperandotherexpenses.
Publications,includingtheOverlandJournalandNews
FromThePlains,accountedfor28.9percent.
Comparingthe2001and2014budgetyears,gross
revenuesdecreasedfrom$159,058in2001to$149,257
in2014;operatingexpenseswere$155,240in2001and
$188,938in2014.
“Thefundamentalproblemisthatwehaveattempted
tomaintain(orevenexpand)programsatlevelsthat
weresupportablewith2,300membersbutarenot
supportablewith1,400members,”thereportsaid.
Amongtherecommendations:
Requireabalancedbudgetwithendowmentdraws
onlyasalastresort
Increasemembershipduesrevenues
Improveconvention inancialmanagement
OCTAEndowmentFundsShowGrowth
OCTA’sthreeendowmentfundstotaled$1,297,308
asofDecember31,2014,anincreaseofalmost$57,000
overthepreviousyear,accordingtoareportbythe
InvestmentAdvisoryCommittee.
ThefundsincludetheMartinFund,restrictedtolegal
expenses,$365,300;theLoomisFund,designationfor
preservationuses,$267,322;andtheundesignated
HeritageFund,$665.686.
TheIACreportshowedendowmentfund
contributionsof$9,365(alltotheHeritageFund)
during2014andwithdrawalsfromearningsof
$24,790,including$$2,790fromtheLoomisFundand
$22,000fromtheHeritageFund.
TheIAChasbeenstudyingendowmentfund
managementoptionsandexpectstohaveareportfor
thenextBoardmeetinginSeptember.Presentlyfunds
aremanagedbytheGreaterKansasCityCommunity
Fund.
TheIACalsoprovidedarecommendedcommitteejob
description,whichwasapprovedbytheBoardandwill
bepostedontheOCTAwebsite(octa‐trails.org).
Highlightsofthecommitteedescription:
Developandperiodicallyreviewaninvestmentpolicystatement
Monitortheperformanceofendowmentfundsinvestments
CoordinatewiththeTreasureronendowmentfundadditionsanduseofincome.
Makerecommendationsconcerningtheallocationofinvestments
ConductperiodicreviewsofinvestmentservicesMembershipoftheIACwillincludetheOCTATreasurerandupto iveadditionalmembers
appointedbythePresidentandapprovedbythe
Board.
CurrentInvestmentAdvisoryCommitteemembers
include
‐BillMartin
IncreaseadvertisinginOCTApublications
Placeastaffemphasisonfundraisingand inan‐
cialmanagement
News From The Plains 5 Spring, 2015
PRESERVATION
News From The Plains 6 Spring, 2015
FourcandidateshavesteppedforwardforelectiontotheOCTANationalBoardofDirectors.TheyareDuaneIlesofHolton,Kansas;MattMallinsonofSugarCreek,Missouri;VernOsborneofCheyenne,Wyoming;andLorenPospisilofGering,Nebraska.OsborneandPospisilareseekingtheirsecondthree‐
yeartermsontheBoard.DougJensenofIdahoFalls,Idahoiscompletinghissecondtermandisnoteligibletorunagain.BrianLarsonofParadise,California,electednottorunforasecondterm.AballotisenclosedwiththisissueofNewsFrom
ThePlainsandshouldbereturnedbyJune15.Fourcandidateswillbeelected.
DuaneIles(EndorsedbyRegDuf in,MarvinBurkeandMarleyShurtleff.)Duaneretiredin2006afterowningandoperatingapharmacyfor25years.HealsoretiredasaU.S.ArmyLieutenantColonelafterserving28yearsinvariouscapacities.HenowdevoteshistimetohisloveofWesternhistoryand
trails.In1993,hewaspartofthegroupthatformedatrusttopurchaseAlcoveSpringtopreserveitandmakeitavailabletovisitors.HewasoneofthefoundersoftheKANZAchapterofOCTA.Hepreviouslyservedthreeyearsadirector,followedbytwoyearsasOCTAVicePresident,twoyearsasPresident,andiscompletingatwo‐yeartermasPastPresident.HehaschairedtheOCTAMembershipCommitteeforanumberofyears.HeisalsochairofOCTA’sTribalLiaisonCommittee.Hewasthe2014recipientoftheGregoryFranzwaMeritoriousAchievementAward.
MattMallinson(EndorsedbyJohnKrizek,RossMarshallandDickNelson.)MattMallinson'sfamilyhasbeenintheSugarCreekareasincethe1850s.Heandhiswifeownedtheirownneighborhoodpharmacyfor27yearsandhewasanationalleaderinthepharmacyindustry.HecurrentlyservesasMayorofSugarCreekandontheIndependenceSchoolBoard.Hehashelpedinstalltrail
markersthroughhisentiretown,withseveraltrailheadsincluded.HehasworkedtirelesslytoresurrectnationalawarenesstoWayneCityLanding,themainstoppingpointwestfromSt.Louisuntilapproximately1851.Heisco‐chairofOCTA’snewEducationOutreachCommittee
andhasworkedtoalterthelocalschooldistrictcurriculumtoincludelocalhistory.
VernOsborne(EndorsedbyJohnWinner,BernieRhoadesandJereKrakow.)VernOsborneisagraduateofKansasStateUniversityinCivilEngineering.HeworkedontheEldoradoNationalForestwherehewasexposedtotheCaliforniaTrailbetweenHopeValleyandPleasantValleyandonintoPlacerville.WhileontheEldorado,hewasinchargeoflayingoutasectionofthe
Paci icCrestTrailbetweenBlueLakesandHighway88.VernhasbeenamemberofOCTAsince1984.HeisachartermemberoftheKANZAchapterandits irstpresident.Hehelpedwithtraillocationandmappingandservedaschairmanofthe2003OCTAconventionheldinManhattan,Kansas.Heisamemberof iveotherOCTAchaptersandservedontheOCTALegislativeCommitteeandhasparticipatedin"HiketheHill"inWashington,D.C.In1997hewaselectedtotheKansasHouseofRepresentativesandservedfourterms.
LorenPospisil(EndorsedbyBerylMeyer,DougJensenandCamilleBradford.)LorenwasbornandraisedinSouthDakota.HemajoredinhistoryandreceivedadegreeinEducationatDakotaStateCollege.Hehasworkedinlibraries,parksormuseums
since1977.In1986hecametohissensesandmovedtoNebraska.HeistheSiteSupervisoratChimneyRockwiththeNebraskaStateHistoricalSociety,apositionhehadheldsincethecenter'sopeningin1994.InOCTAhehasbeentheNebraskaChapterPresidentandco‐chairedthe2007OCTAConventioninGering‐Scottsbluff.Hehasbeencollectingtraildocumentsandnowhasover3,000.HewouldliketoseeOCTAtaketheCOEDprojecttothenextlevelandmaketraildocumentsavailableonourWebsite.WhathelikesbestabouttheOregon,California,andMormontrailsarethestoriesofthepeopleinvolved.Hesaysfewotherhistoricalsubjectsaresoheavilybaseduponparticipants'experiences.Also,fewothersubjectsaresoinclusiveofthestoriesofwomenandchildrenaswell.Outsideofwork,someofhisfavoritethingsareclassicalmusic,singlemaltscotch,feedingbirds,andhehasalove‐haterelationshipwithyardwork.
FourCandidatesforOCTANationalBoardofDirectors
News From The Plains 7 Spring, 2015
FROM THE ASSOCIATION MANAGER ByTravisBoleyAssociationManager
Weareexcitedtoreportlotsofnew
developmentsfromOCTAHQ!
InteractiveMapsFirstandforemost,theNational
ParkServicehascompleted
interactivemapsfortheOregon
andCaliforniaNationalHistoric
Trails(amongothers).Themaps
arebeingintegratedintoour
OCTA‐Trails.orgwebsiteandshouldbeavailablebythe
timethisissuehitsyourmailbox.Youcanzoominon
anypointonthemapandinmostcases indastreet
address,awebsite,aphotographandaccess
information.Asyouworkthroughthemap,makenoteof
thesitesthatdonothaveallofthisinformationandsend
themtoussowecanincorporateitintothewebsite.For
example,manysitesdonotyethaveaphotograph.Ifyou
haveahigh‐resolutionimageofaparticularsitethat
doesnothaveaphotograph,pleasepassitalongandwe
willincludeit.Also,ifyouknowofsitesthatarenot
listedatall,pleasesendthatinformationtousaswell
andwewillworkwithourNationalParkService
partnerstoaddthem.
OCTA‐Journals.orgLastsummer,OCTAinternKelsySackreyscanned
numerousdiaries,journals,reminiscencesandother
19thcenturyprimarysourcematerialsthatwerepartof
ourMerrillMattescollectionattheNationalFrontier
TrailsMuseuminIndependence.Inatypicalyear,
perhaps ivetotenindividualscameintousethese
collections.However,manyofthesedocumentsarenow
availableonanewwebsiterecentlylaunchedbyOCTA,
www.octa‐journals.org.Theentirecollectioniskeyword
searchable,andyoucanalsoclickthe“MerrillJ.Mattes
Collection”icontoseetheentirecollectionasalist.
SimplyclickonthediaryyouwanttoreadandaPDF
willopen.
OCTAintheClassroomThisspring,theIndependence(MO)SchoolDistrict
reinventedits8thgradecurriculumforsocialstudies
basedontheavailabilityofthesecollections.All850
studentsinthedistrictwillcreateanoriginalresearch
projectbasedontheseprimaryresourcematerials.With
theadditionofthisnewwebsite,OCTAhasgreatly
increasedtheuseoftheMattescollection.TheCave
SpringAssociationinRaytown,Missourialsoprovided
dozensofjournalsmorefocusedonIndependenceand
JacksonCountyandwehaveincorporatedthoseintothe
websiteaswell.Weenvisionawebsitethatcontinuesto
growwithnewcontent,reachingnewaudiencesthe
worldover.Wealsostronglyfeelthatthepilotprogram
wehavejustlaunchedinIndependencecanbeeasily
replicatedinschooldistrictsalloverAmerica.
OverlandJournalThenewwebsitehasanotherexcitingfacet:PDF
copiesofeverysingleissueoftheOverlandJournal,from1983tothepresent,areavailablefreeforOCTA
members.(Simplycontactussowecanverifythatyou
areamemberandwewillprovideapassword.Pleasedo
notshareyourpassword,asweenvisionthissectionof
thewebsiteasanopportunityforrevenueand
membershipgrowth.)Thoughthecontentofthe
OverlandJournalwillbekeywordsearchableinanysearchengine,accesstotheactualarticleswillberestrictedto
thosewhohavetheproperaccess.Wewillofferpay‐for‐
accessforindividualjournals,butwillalsoheavily
promotethefactthatamembershipinOCTAgivesyou
freeaccesstooverthreedecadesworthofarticles.Each
oftheseprojectswerecompletedwithfundingfromour
primaryfederalpartner,theNationalParkService.Itis
greatworkinginpartnershipandheartythanksare
certainlydue!
NewMembersFinally,OCTAHQisexcitedtoreportontwonewand
exceedinglyenthusiasticmembersthatwecultivatedand
recruitedoverthecourseofmany,manymonths.Sugar
Creek(MO)MayorMattMallinsonandAudreyElder,
ownerofPasttoPresentResearchandarealtorwho
specializesinhistorichomes,arenowheadingupanew
EducationOutreachcommittee.(Seestoryonpage13.)
OneareatheyarefocusingonisworkingwithBoyScouts
ofAmericatoensurethathistorictrailsprojectsare
availablenationwide.Ourtrailsareaperfect itforthe
Scouts’HistoricTrailsaward,thearchaeologyand
geocachingmeritbadges,andinnumerableEagleScout
projects.
Pleasehelpusspreadthewordonallofthesenew
toolswenowhaveatourdisposal.Thecombinationof
theseprojects(andothers)willhelpusaswegrow,
recruitnewmembersandadvocates,and indnew
streamsofrevenue.
News From The Plains 8 Spring, 2015
ByGailCarbienerWehaveseenthisbefore:athreattotheTrail.All
threatsarebad,buttheproposedBoardmanto
Hemingway(B2H)powerlineblanketstheOregonTrail
fromtheSnakeRiverinIdahototheColumbiaRiverin
Oregon,over300miles.Thisisamassiveprojectwith
constructionlastingoverthreeyears,startingatboth
endsandworkingallyear.
AnapplicationheadedbytheIdahoPowerCompany
withhelpfromBonnevillePowerAdministrationand
Paci iCorp,isnowpendingwiththeBureauofLand
Management’sValeDistrictOf iceinEasternOregon.A
DraftEnvironmentalImpactStatementwasissuedin
December,2014,withpubliccommentdueMarch19.
SeveralOCTArepresentativessubmittedcomments.A
inalEISisdueinearly2016.
Canwestopit?Maybe.Canwein luencepartsofit?
Certainly.Youcanseemaps,routesandallthedetails
here:www.boardmantohemingway.com/
documents.aspx
Perhapsthemostsigni icantdamagewillbetheviews
fromtheFlagstaffHillInterpretiveCenternearBaker
City.200‐foottowerswillberightinfrontoftheviewing
windowandevencloserwhenyouwalkthepathdownto
theswales.
OtherOregonTrailsitesdamagedwillbeWellsSpring,
EchoMeadows,BlueMountainCrossing,HilgardJunction,
FarewellBend,BirchCreek,TubMountainandAlkali
Springs.
TheBLMhasstatedthis:“Themagnitudeofthemilesof
theOregonNHTthatwouldbevisiblewithinthe
foregroundoftheProposedActionandthealternatives
wouldrangefromnegligibletomoderate(upto80
percent).TheProposedActionandalternativeswould
havedirect,long‐termadverseimpactstothevisual
settingwiththeforegroundoftheOregonNHT.Fromthe
middlegroundoftheTrail(0.5milesto5miles),the
ProposedAction,andalternativeswouldbevisible
greaterthan80percentwithintheportionoftheOregon
NHTwithintheanalysisareasoftherespective
alternatives.TheProposedActionandalternativeswould
dominatethelandscapeintheforegroundofthetrailand
createstrongvisualcontrastascomparedtoother
featuresintheexistinglandscape.”
AsdescribedintheDraftEnvironmentalImpact
Statement;“TheB2HProjectisneitherrequiredto
supportanyparticularnewpowergenerationprojectnor
justi iedbyanyparticularexistingpowergeneration
project.Rather,theB2HProjectwouldmeetIdaho
Power’sobligationstomeetFederalEnergyRegulatory
Commission,OregonPublicUtilityCommission,andthe
IdahoPublicUtilityCommissionrequirements.”Isn’tthis
amazing?Theprojectwillcostabout$1billion!
EvenmoredisturbingisthiscommentintheEIS;“The
in luenceofthealternativesunderconsiderationwould
haveminimalimpactwhencomparedtothequalitiesof
theentire2,170‐milelongcongressionallydesignated
trail,the529.2milesoftrailinIdaho,orthe519.5miles
oftrailinOregon.”
Thisstatementseemstoimplythatlosing“justalittle
bit”oftheTrailisacceptable.Thepowerlinecrossesthe
Trail11times,withits250‐footwideclearing.
SageGrousereproduce,eventreesregrow,butthe
Trailoncegonenevercomesback.
PowerLineThreatensOregonTrailinNorthwest
OnMarch14,theNorthwestChapterBoardpassedaresolutioncallingontheBureauofLandManagementtoprotectcriticaltrailresources.TheresolutionalsocalledontheBLMtoeliminatethecommentabouttheprojecthavingminimalimpactcomparedtototaltrailsresources.IturgedtheBLMtoconsideralternativeroutesthateliminatemultiplecrossingsoftheOregonTrail.
News From The Plains 9 Spring, 2015
responsetostoptheamendmentorchangethelanguage
inthebilltore lectprotectingkeylandscapesand
settings,plusoutdoorrecreationopportunitiesand
eventsbytrailenthusiasts,”saidOCTANational
PreservationOf icerJereKrakow.
Sen.HatchandtheAirForceappeartoberesponsive
tothehistorictrailscommunityforinsuringaccess,
scheduledevents,andkeysitesandsegmentsofthe
HastingsCutoff,thePonyExpressTrail,andinraising
awarenessofthecomplexofhistorictrailsinthatpartof
Utah,Krakowsaid.
Crossroadsmembersactivein ightingtheissue
includeT.MichaelSmith,LindaTurner,GarElison,Terry
Welch,ChuckMillikan,JessPetersemandRoyTea,with
helpfromPatHeartyoftheNationalPonyExpress
AssociationandSteveEricksonoftheGreatBasinWater
Network.
TheUTTRisjustoneofseveralthreatstothetrailsin
Utah.TheChapterisalsomonitoringtheproposed
CanadianMesaBountyPotashmineandtheYaryca
masterplannedcommunitythatwouldimpacttrailsin
MorganCountyeastofSaltLakeCity.
ProgressMadeAgainstUtahAirForceExpansionPlansQuickworkandattentiontodetailbytheUtah
CrossroadsChapterhashelpedslowaneffortbythe
U.S.AirForcetoexpandatrainingrangetolandsthat
includethehistoricHastingsCutoffontheCalifornia
Trail.,aswellthePonyExpressandCentralOverland
Stageroutes.
Lastfall,Utahtrails,agricultureandrecreation
interestslearnedthatUtahSenatorOrrinHatchhad
submittedandamendmenttoaDepartmentofDefense
billthatwouldgivetheAirForcecontroloveran
additional600,000acresofpubliclandsinUtahforits
UtahTestandTrainingRange(UTTR).
Theresultcouldhavebeentorestrictaccessto
NationalHistoricTrailsinthearea.
AfterconcernswereexpressedbytheCrossroads
chapterandothers,Sen.Hatchwithdrewhis
amendment,whichwasavictoryforhistorictrails
preservationists.TheChapterhasreceivedwordthata
revisedamendmentwillretaincontroland
managementbytheBureauofLandManagement,
whichthechapterprefers.
“OCTAmembershaveledastrongandongoing
TheprocessforselectingOCTA’sOutstanding
EducatorAwardrecipientshasbegun.Lettersand
announcementsweremailedlastfalltoschools,
universities,andparks&museums.Thenecessary
formsforOutstandingEducatorAwardarealsopermanentlylocatedandavailableonOCTA’swebsite
undertheLearnandthenOpportunities.Weareagainlookingforwardtosomeverygoodcandidates.
ApplicationsweredueattheendofMarch.The
selectioncommitteewillreviewtheformsandmake
theirselectionbythebeginningofJune.Their
announcementwillbemadeinearlysummerwiththe
presentationsoftheawardmadeduringtheLake
Tahoeconvention.
Forourbuddingartists,ourstudentcalendar
contestdeadlinewasApril15th.Itisopentoprimary
school‐agedchildren.Thethemeforour2016
calendaris“EmigrantandIndianChildren’sGames
andToys.”Informationandguidelinesforthe
WesternCalendarcontestisalsoavailableonOCTA’swebsiteundertheLearnandthenOpportunitiessection.Noticesweremailedtovariousschooldistrictslastfall.Students,withtheir
EducationAwardsPlanningUnderwayteachers’guidance,areencouragedtoresearchthe
themeortopicandthensubmitartworkdepictingit.
Individualstudentsmayalsoparticipateeveniftheir
schoolorclassdoesnot.
InMay,twelvetofourteendrawingsdepictingthe
children’sgamesandtoyswillbeselected,andeach
individualstudentwhoseworkischosenwillbenoti ied.
Eachstudentwhoseentryisselectedwillreceiveacheck
for$50andacopyofthecalendar.Thecalendarwillbe
printedandshouldbereadythissummerbeforethe
conventionatLakeTahoe.Eachyearthecontesthas
drawnmoreattentionandparticipation.Encourageyour
childorgrandchildtoparticipateeitherthroughtheir
schoolorontheirown.Tellyourlocalschoolaboutthe
project.Thisisagreatwayforstudentstolearnabout
thewestandselectedaspectsofdifferentcultures.The
calendarissuretobeanotherinterestingone!Wewill
announcethestudentwinnersinalaterNewsfromthePlainsandalsothetopicfornextyear’scontest.Thecalendarswillbeavailableforpurchasethroughthe
OCTAstoreatheadquartersandduringtheconvention.
‐‐BillHill
News From The Plains 10 Spring, 2015
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM
OCTALeaders“HikeTheHill”ByJereKrakowNationalPreservationOf icerInearlyFebruary,theannualPartnershipforthe
NationalTrailsSystem(PNTS)meetingwasheldin
Washington,D.C.,followedimmediatelyby“HiketheHill,”
anopportunitytopromotetrailsissueswithmembersof
Congressandtheirstaffs.
ThePNTSistheadvocacygroupforabout30national
trails,bothhistoricandscenic,andhassuccessfully
championedcongressionalsupport,aswellas
representingthetrailsamongfederalagencieswhohandle
trailsissues.
AsOCTA’sof icialrepresentative,IattendedthePNTS
PolicyCommitteeandLeadershipCouncilmeetings.
Severalspeakersupdatedusaboutnumerousprograms
thatsupportconservationacrossthenation,inparticular
theLandandWaterConservationFund(LWCF)andthe
FederalLandTransactionFacilitationAct(FLTFA).We
alsoheardreportsfromseveralgovernmentagenciesthat
administerandmanagenationalhistoricandscenictrails.
Traillandprotectionstrategiescomposedakeysessionas
didthePNTSpolicyregardingdevelopmentissues,
includingthesettingofthetrails.Youthprogramsarenow
underwayalongmanyofthenationalhistoricandscenic
trails.Newapproachesandactivitiesarebeingusedin
severalinstances.Expansionofsuchprogramswas
stronglyencouraged.AkeypartoftheactivitiesinWashingtonwasthe
annual“HiketheHill”carriedoutbyapproximately60
individualsrepresentingPNTSorganizations.Dozensof
Congressionalof icersheardthattrailvolunteersdonated
1,054,022hoursvaluedat$23,768,196,plusprivate
contributionsof$12,116,029.OCTA’scommitmentwas
100,379volunteerhoursvaluedat$2,263,546andprivate
contributionsof$686,060.Thevolunteersupportisin
additiontofundingprovidedbythefederalgovernmentto
trailspreservationandactivities.
OCTArepresentativescalledonover30of icesandmet
withmembersofCongressorstafftoexpressthanksfor
pastsupportoftheNationalTrailsSystemandurge
ongoingsupport.Werecommendedre‐authorizationof
theLWCFprogramandtheFLTFAprogram,and
continuedtoseekasponsorforaFeasibility‐Suitability
StudyoftheSouthernTrails.
Ournonpartisaneffortshowedtheongoingworkof
OCTAandourcooperativepartneringwithprivate
Continuedonpage26
TrailsAdvocacyWeekByBill&JeanneWatsonLegislativeLiaisonChairsTrailsAdvocacyWeek2015endedour30interesting,
challengingandrewardingyearsrepresentingOCTA
andourtrailsbeforeCongress.Fourtimeswewere
invitedandtesti iedbeforeHouseandSenate
SubcommitteestosupportauthorizingtheCalifornia&
PonyExpressNationalHistoricTrailsandtosupport
theFourTrailsAdditionalRoutesStudyAuthorization.
Anothertime,wehelpeddefuseanenergyindustry
protestagainstmoretrailsinWyoming.Longterm
actionsbyourPreservationOf icerandtheWyoming
chaptermadeitasuccessfulventure.
WewereverywellreceivedonCapitolHillbyHouse
andSenatestaffmembers,whoweredelightedtohear
thatOCTAcontributedover100,000VolunteerHours
in2014plus inancialcontributionsthatCongress
valuesat$2.7million.ManythankstoallOCTA
membersandChapterswithVolunteer
HoursCoordinatorswhoreported.Theseresults
allowedOCTAPartnershiprepresentativeJereKrakow
torequestincreasedFiscalYear2016fundingforour
Continuedonpage26
NationalPreservationOf icerJereKrakowpresentsabouquetoflowerstoJeanneandBillWatsontocommemoratetheir30years
ofservicetoOCTAonCapitolHill.
News From The Plains 11 Spring, 2015
Anindependent inancialreviewofOCTAproceduresand inancial
statementshasidenti iednomajorissuesbutsomeareasfor
operationalimprovements.
ThereviewwasconductedbyDarinCrull,CPA,withtheKansasCity
irmofEmerick&Company.TheworkwassupervisedbytheOCTA
AuditCommittee,consistingofBillMartinaschair,JeanCoupal‐Smith,
BarbaraNetherlandandDonHartley.
TheresultsofthereviewweredeliveredtotheOCTABoardof
DirectorsatitsMid‐YearmeetinginDenverinMarch.
TheaccountantreviewedOCTA inancialstatements,aswellasan
InternalControlChecklistthathadbeenpreparedbytheAudit
Committeeandcompletedbyheadquartersstaff.
Areasreviewedandexamineddealtwiththehandlingofmail,
checks,deposits,chapter inancialreports,creditcardsand
endowments.
The inancialreviewwasnotanof icialaudit,whichwouldhave
requiredtheCPA irmtoexpressanopiniononaccountingrecordsbut
wouldhavebeenconsiderablymoreexpensivetoprepare.
OCTAFinancialReviewCompletedAwardsNominationsDueJune1
byvisiting
Questionsabouttheawardsprocess
shouldbeaddressedtoDickNelson,
AwardsCommitteeChair,at
OCTAHallofFameTheballotfortheinauguralOCTAHallofFamethatwasincludedintheWinterNewsFromThePlainsshouldbe
returnedtoheadquartersbyJuly1.Ifyounolongerhaveyourballot,youcansimplywritethenamesofyourchoices
onapaper(asimpleyesornovoteisrequired.Thereisnolimitonthenumberofcandidatesforwhichyoucanvote)
andsubmititwhenyoureturnyourBoardelectionballotenclosedwiththisissue.Theresultswillbeannouncedat
theSeptemberconvention.
The ivecandidateswhohavebeennominatedareHowardDriggs,notedwesternhistorianandauthorandformer
presidentoftheOregonTrailMemorialAssociation;GregFranzwa,thefounderofOCTAandanotedauthorand
scholar;WilliamHenryJackson,aproli icartistandphotographerwhoseworkexposedtheAmericanWesttothe
UnitedStates;MerrillMattes,thepreeminentoverlandscholarandauthorofPlatteRiverRoadNarratives;andEzraMeeker,anOregonTrailpioneerof1852andfounderoftheOregonTrail
MemorialAssociation.
OCTA’sHallofFameCommitteeischairedbyRogerBlair.OthermembersareDaveWelchandBillMartin.Allare
formerOCTAPresidents.Whenyousubmityourballot,thecommitteewillbegratefulforthenamesofothersyou
thinkshouldbeconsideredfortheHallofFame.
VisitOCTAontheInternet
OCTA‐trails.org
OrournewJournalssite:octa‐journals.org
News From The Plains 12 Spring, 2015
Editor’snote:TheOCTAEducationPublicationsCommitteehasbeenreorganizedwithexpandedresponsibilitiesastheEducationOutreachCommittee.TheEducationPublicationsCommitteewasformerlychairedbyBillHill,whoisnowchairoftheOCTAPublicationsCommittee.AudreyElderof SibleyMissouri, andMatt
Mallinsonof SugarCreekMissouri ,havebeen
appointed andaccepted thepositions ofCo‐Chairs
ofOCTA’sEducationOutreach Committee.
MattMallinson isapharmacistbyprofession and
ownedhisownneighborhood
pharmacy for27years.Heis
anelectedmemberofthe
IndependenceMissouri School
Board andtheMayorofSugar
Creek,whereWayneCity
Landing islocated.As Mayor
hehasworked togetsignage
andtrailsheadmonuments
placedthroughhisentirecity
andbeyond.Matt’sson,Danny,wasthereceipient
oftheYoungOCTAnAwardattheKearney
convention(seestoryonpage13).
AudreyandMatt areprimarily focusingonBoy
ScoutsofAmerica's EagleScoutinvolvement,
educational curriculum changes inschoolsnationwide
to include localhistory, and increasingOCTA
membership.
BoyScoutInvolvement: Awebpage/linkshouldbesetuptoallowOCTAchaptersto submitEagleScout
worthyprojects.Thesewill followtheScouting
guidelinesandmustbeapproved asaworthy Eagle
Scoutproject. TheEagleScoutcandidateswillbeable
to accessthesiteandsearch foraproject thatwould
beappropriate forthemandtheirtroop to sponsor.
EachScoutisresponsible fororganizing the project
andobtainingtheneededmaterials.Remember,
every Scout,leaderand familymember involved isa
potentialmember.Wewill recommend thateach
OCTAchapterhasanappointed representative to
h
EducationOutreachCommitteeReorganizes
News From The Plains 13 Spring, 2015
ByJohnKrizekOCTAPresidentExpandingopportunitiesandworkingrelationshipswith
theBoyScoutsofAmericaandotheryouthgroupswillbea
majorgoalofOCTA’snewEducationOutreachCommittee.
ChairmanMattMallinsonandco‐chairAudreyElderwill
becoordinatingthenewinitiative,workingtomatch
chaptersandtrailprojectswithlocalscoutslookingto
achievemeritbadge,EagleScout,orHistoricTrailbadge
recognition.
“Workingwithscoutstohelpthemachievetheirgoalsas
wellasoursisatremendousopportunityforOCTA,”
explainsMallinson.“Remembereveryscoutleader,family
memberandfriendsarepotentialmembers.”
TheIdahoChapterhasworkedwithBoyScoutsfora
numberofyears,accordingtochapterpresidentJerry
Eichhorst.
“TypicallyweareinvolvedinanEagleScoutproject,orfor
ayoungmantoachievetheHistoricTrailsbadge,”Eichhorst
said.“Projectshaveincludedsettingconcretepostsalongthe
mainOregonTrailBackCountryByway,settingcarsonitesin
easternIdaho,replacinganinterpretivesignnearVale,
Oregon,andstraighteningconcretepostswhichwere
leaningbadly.
“WehaveworkedwithtroopsfromBoise,Nampa,
MountainHome,andIdahoFalls.Inallcases,theyoungmen,
andanoccasionalgirl,havebeengoodworkersand
enjoyabletosharethehistoryofthetrailwith.Itwasoften
funjusttowatchthreeorfouryoungmenstruggletocarrya
concretepostacrossthedesertwhichwasasheavyasany
oneofthem.”
DuaneIles,OCTAPastPresident,alsoreportshaving
workedwithscoutgroupsonprojectsatAlcoveSpringin
Kansas.TheremaybeotherinstancesofOCTAchapters
workingwiththeScouts.
TheScout’sHistoricTrailsAwardisintended“tofoster
appreciationoftheideals,principlesandtraditionsthathave
helpedmakeourcountrystrong,”accordingtoScout
requirements.“ItalsoconnectsScoutswithalocalhistorical
societyorassociation,pointingthemtowardfurther
explorationofhistory.”
“Thatsoundslikeitwasdesignedwithusinmind,”adds
Mallinson.TheCommitteewillbedevelopingawebsiteand
providingfurtherdetailsontheBoyScoutinitiative.
Oversightoftheneweducationcurriculumproject,
wherebytheschooldistrictinIndependenceis
incorporatingMerrillMattescollectionmaterialintothe8th
gradehistorycurriculum,willalsobearesponsibilityofthe
EducationOutreachCommittee.
EducationOutreachTargetsBoyScouts
IdahoBoyScoutsworkingtoinstallanewtrailmarker.
DannyMallinson,winneroftheYoungOCTAnAward,withhisEagleScoutproject,themarkerinSugarCreek,onthetrailfrom
theMissouriRiverlandingtoIndependence.
News From The Plains 14 Spring, 2015
OCTAUpdatingStrategicPlanPreservingthehistoricoverlandtrailsandtheirstories
andrespondingtothreatstothetrailswerethefocusofa
day‐longstrategicplanningsessionheldbytheOCTA
BoardofDirectors,Chapterrepresentativesand
Committeeleaders.
ThesessionwasheldthedaybeforetheBoard’sMid‐
YearmeetinginDenverthe irstweekofMarch.The
planningwasledbyGretchenWard,LeadPlannerforthe
NationalParkServiceLongDistanceTrailsof iceinSanta
Fe.
Thefocuswasupdatingastrategicplanthatwaslast
revisedin2010andincludedfourgoals:
PreservethehistoricemigranttrailsBeaneffectivehistorictrailsorganizationthroughappropriatepartnerships
ImproveorganizationalandmanagementeffectivenessKeepOCTA’smembershipenergizedThegroupaddeda ifthprimarygoalforthe
organization:“Preservethestoriesofthetrails.”
Wardcollectedtheinputfromtheplanningsessionand
willre‐drafttheOCTAStrategicPlanforconsiderationby
theBoardatitsSeptembermeeting.
OCTAHeadquartersReportByKathyConwayHeadquartersManagerManythankstoourheadquartersvolunteers,
includingaccountingconsultantTurnerRivenbark,
membershipchairDuaneIles,andlocalvolunteers
VirginiaandJohnPoeandJeanCoupal‐Smith.
Throughthe irstofMarch,theyear‐endfundraising
letterhadnetted$37,034,with$27,050designatedfor
thegeneralfund,$500foreducation,$735forthe
endowments,$3,450forpreservationand$5,300
restrictedforspecialuses.
SinceOctober1,theOCTABookstorerecorded$4,890
insales,withtheInPursuitofaDreamvideobeingourbestseller.
Inthatsameperiod,Headquartershasprocessed622
nationalmembershipdues(including48newmembers)
and550chaptermemberships,representing$46,000in
revenues.
CorrectionAstoryintheWinterissueofNewsFromThePlainsaboutthepassingofJanieRhoades,thewifeofformerOCTASecretaryBernieRhoades,incorrectlystatedthatshediedinOregon.Shepassedawayatthecouple’slong‐timehomeinEdgewood,Washington.NFPregretstheerror.
RememberOCTAinYourEstatePlan
Duringourlifetimeswe indmanycausestosupport
withourdollarsandourtime.Whenweleavethisgood
earth,wehopethatwehaveleftenoughfootprintsfor
otherstofollow.OnewaytodothisistoincludeOCTA
inyourestateplanwithaspeci icgift,orasthe
bene iciaryofanoldlifeinsurancepolicy,orevenan
IndividualRetirementAccount.
Yourintenttoleavefootprintsforotherstofollowcan
bebackedupwithdollarsorappreciatedgifts.Whatis
anappreciatedgiftyouask?It’sachancetogiftastock
oranassetthathasbuiltupasubstantialgaininit.
Whenyougiftittoaquali iedcharity,yougetthewhole
deduction,andthecharityreceivesthewholegift.Itcan
beawin‐winforbothgroups.JustkeepOCTAinmind
whenyoudoyourplanning.We’llevengiveyouamap
toshowyouhow!
Theopportunitytoleavealegacyonthetrailswelove
iswhyOCTAestablishedthe“TrailsLegacySociety.”TheLegacySocietyisdesignedtoencouragesupporters
anddonorstoleaveabequesttoOCTAintheirwills,
withfundsdesignatedforOCTAEndowments.
It’saneasywaytohelppreservethetrailsforfuture
generations.ThroughtheTrailsLegacySociety,100
yearsfromnowyoucanstillbesavingthetrails.
TolearnmoreabouttheTrailsLegacySociety,visit
www.OCTA‐Trails.organdclickonthelinkunder
Preserve. ‐‐MelissaShawJones,FundraisingChair
News From The Plains 15 Spring, 2015
PioneerRe‐IntermentSetForMay2
ThePlatteCountyHistoricalSociety,in
conjunctionwiththeDaughtersoftheAmerican
RevolutionwillplaceamemorialmarkerattheBox
Elder/AlderClumpcampsiteontheOregon/
California/MormonTrailinWyomingonMay2.
Aspartoftheceremony,theremainsofthree
pioneerswillbereinterredatthesite,wherethey
wereoriginallyburied.Aftertheywerediscovered,
thebodiesweresenttotheUniversityofWyoming
AnthropologyDepartmentforstudy.Twounknown
womenandayoungman–JesseCole,age15,who
wasburiedin1865andidenti iedbyastoneplaced
onhischestatburial–willbereinterred.
ThechapterisgratefultoMrs.RobinRankin,
ownerofthesite.Theceremonieswillbeginat1p.m.
Formoreinformation,call(307)322‐9365or
CA‐NVSpringSymposiumToBeHeldApril30‐May2
TheCalifornia‐NevadaChapteroftheOregon‐
CaliforniaTrailAssociationwillholdaSpring
SymposiuminChico,CA,onApril30,May1,andMay2,
2015.AllmeetingswillbeintheOxfordSuites
conferencerooms.
OnThursdaytheChapterBoardofDirectorswillmeet
inthemorning.The2015OCTAconventionplanning
meetingwillbeginintheafternoonfollowedbyano
hostreception.OnFridaytheGeneralMembership
BusinessMeetingwillbeinthemorning.Therewillbea
buffetluncheonintheconferenceroom.Theafternoon
willbethefollow‐upoftheOCTAconventionplanning
meeting.
OnSaturdaymorningwewillhaveatalkbyHistorian
DaveFreemanonLassen’sRanch.Thiswillbefollowed
bylunchonyourownandatouratSierraNevada
Brewery.Therewillalsobeanoptionaltourof
theAbbeyofNewClairvauxinVina,CAwhichincludes
winetastingandatourofsomeoftheLassenRanch
sites.
Self‐guidedtoursofChico’sdowntownareaincluding
DiamondAlley,wallmurals,andtheChicoState
ArboretumarerecommendedaswellasaBidwellPark
drive‐thruandatouroftheBidwellParkMansion.
Registrationis$30perpersonforCA‐NVChapter
membersand$35fornon‐members.Formore
informationandtoregister,visitcanvocta.org.The
registrationdeadlineisApril19.
SymphonyatAlcoveSpringOnSeptember6
AlcoveSpringplanstohosta“ConcertontheOregon
Trail”onSunday,September6,featuringthe70‐piece
TopekaSymphonyOrchestra,sponsoredbythe
MarshallCountyArtsCooperative.
Theprogramwillbeheavilyweightedwitholdwest
musicalnumbers,includingsomewell‐knownmovie
themes,patrioticandupliftingnumbers.
Adaylongeventisplannedwithself‐guidednature
walks,wagonrides,snacksreenactorsandmuch,much
moreatthehistoricsitenearMarysville,Kansas.
Afull‐sizedstagewillbelocatedinalargemeadowin
theeasternportionofthepark,withprofessional
staging,soundsystemsandprogramming.
Forticketinformation,call(844)252‐6830.
CAAutoRouteProgressTheNationalParkServiceNationalTrails
IntermountainRegionhasannouncedthatithassigned
thelong‐pendingagreementwiththeCal‐Transtobegin
placingauto‐tourroutesigningin23Californiacounties
alongtheCalifornia,OregonandPonyExpresstrails.
The$350,000cooperativeagreementwillutilizeOCTA
andPonyExpressAssociationvolunteerstoplacethe
signs.Avolunteertrainingmeetingwillbeheldin
Sacramentothissummer.
News From The Plains 16 Spring, 2015
BonanzaofTrailsLeadstoLakeTahoeThe2015OCTANationalConventionwillbeheldontheshoresofLake
TahoeSeptember21‐25.Fullregistrationinformationwillbearrivinginyour
mailboxshortly,buthere’satasteofwhattoexpect:
BustoursoftheCarson‐JohnsonLoops,Coloma/Placerville,theDonner‐
TruckeeRouteandahikeontheHawleyGrade‐LutherPass.
Plusspeakersontopicsasvariedasfurtraders,pioneerwomen,theCarson
RiverRoute,J.GoldsboroughBruffandmuchmore.
TheconventionwillbeheadquarteredatHarvey’sLakeTahoe.Convention
informationisavailableonthechapterwebsiteatcanvocta.org.
Theconvenienceoffollowingthe
east‐to‐west lowingHumboldtRiver
acrosstheBasinandRangeProvince
ofNevadabroughttheCaliforniaTrail
totwoeasterly lowingrivers
originatingintheSierraNevada.The
TruckeeandCarsonRiversprovided
thebestapproachestothemassive
wallsofgranitecreatedbythe
upliftingoftheSierraNevadaRange.
FromtheWasatchRangeinUtahto
theedgeoftheSierra,theterrainis
characterizedbynorth‐southtrending
mountainrangesseparatedbyvalleys.
Incontrast,theSierraNevadahas
beenupliftedandtiltedwestwardby
volcanicandearthquakeactivity,thus
creatingaverysteepeasternedgeand
anextendedwesternslopedraining
intoCalifornia’sgreatCentralValley.
Manyriversandtheirtributaries,
lowingdowntheseslopes,have
exposedandconcentratedthegold
depositssoughtbytheminersinthe
mid‐nineteenthcentury.Oncethey
crestedtheSierra,thegoldseekers
didindeedcreateaBonanzaofTrails
tositesalongtheserivers.
LakeTahoe,belongingtothevery
westernedgeoftheBasinandRange
Province,wascreatedbynorth‐south
faultingnearitswesternshore.Minor
volcanic lowstothenorthblocked
thefaultzonedrainageastheland
subsided,thuscreatingthelake.Ata
maximumdepthof1,645feet,itisthe
seconddeepestlakeintheUnited
States(Oregon’sCraterLakeis1949
feetdeep.)Itsnorth‐southlengthis
22miles;itseast‐westwidthis12
miles.Itssurfaceelevationis6225’
abovesealevel;itssurfaceareais
191squaremiles.Thelowestpartof
thelakeisactuallylowerthanthe
CarsonValleytotheeast.
Withthelakebeingthemain
tributaryoftheTruckeeRiver,why
wastherenomajortrailalongits
shores?Theonlyemigranttrailin
thebasinwasanoffshootofthe
CarsonTrail,establishedin1852by
JohnC.Johnson,skirtingthe
southernshore(throughthe
conventionsite,noless)and
directingtravelerstohisranchnear
Hangtown(Placerville).(Youwill
hearmuchmoreaboutthistrailat
theconventionfromadirect
descendantofMr.Johnson.)
TheemigrantsalongtheTruckee
riverroutewereheadedwestward,
andtheriver lowedduenorthfrom
thelakeforabout15milesbefore
aligningitselfwiththerouteof
emigration.Thelogicalroutewasto
followalessertributarytothewest
whosesourceisthepresentDonner
Lake.Therewasnoreasontotravel
southintothelakebasininsearchof
analternateroute.
—BobEvanhoe
ConventionKeynoterGaryF.Kurutz,retireddirectorof
theSpecialCollectionsBranchofthe
CaliforniaStateLibrary,willkeynote
the2015OCTAConventiononthe
topicof“OntheExtremityof
Civilization:TheGoldenWordsofthe
Argonauts”
KurutzisanativeofLaCanada,
California.Previoustohisretirement,
hemadearrangementswiththeCA‐
NVChapterofOCTAin2001to
establishitsWesternOverlandTrails
CollectionattheSpecialCollections
BranchinSacramento.
Currently,KurutzistheExecutive
DirectoroftheCaliforniaState
LibraryFoundation,throughwhich
theCA‐NVChapterworkstomaintain
the“OCTAcollection”atthestate
library.
Kurutzalsoischairofthe
CollectionsCommitteeofthe
CaliforniaHistoricalSociety,andan
honorarymemberoftheSocietyof
CaliforniaPioneers.Previously,he
servedasheadlibrarianoftheSutro
LibraryinSanFrancisco,library
directoroftheCaliforniaHistorical
Society,andBibliographerofWestern
AmericanaattheHuntingtonLibrary.
Kurutzhaswrittenextensivelyon
CaliforniaandtheWest.Foremigrant
trailresearch,HisTheCaliforniaGoldRush:ADescriptiveBibliographyofBooksandPamphletsCoveringtheYears1848‐1853isofmajorimportance.
WhyAreThereNoTrailsonTahoe’sShores?
News From The Plains 17 Spring, 2015
COLORADO-CHEROKEE CHAPTER TheColorado‐Cherokeechapterco‐hostedawell‐
attendedsymposiumwiththeRockyMountainMap
SocietyatthehistoricFourMileHistoricParkin
DenveronMarch7.Long‐timeOCTAmember
CamilleBradfordhelpedorganizethesymposium
andservedasmasterofceremonies.
Anentertainingseriesofspeakersprovided
backgroundonearlyDenveranditspersonalities,on
theimportanceoftheSouthPlatteRiverRoadtothe
settlingoftheDenverarea,onhowthe1859Gold
RushputColoradoonthemap,andtheeffortsof
cartographerstomaptheAmericanWest.
SpeakersincludedRobertLowdermilk,who
portrayedNedWynkoop,onetheearliestresidents
ofDenverCityin1858;TomNoel,ahistoryprofessor
whoiswellknownforhisappearancesas“Dr.
Colorado”onPBSinDenver;WesleyBrown,a
founderoftheRockyMountainMapSociety;and
ChristopherLane,whooperatesthePhiladelphia
PrintShopWestinDenver.
Theseminar,“TrailsToShiningMountains”
coincidedwithOCTA’sMid‐YearBoardmeeting.
Robert Lowermilk as Ned Wynkoop at the Colorado‐Cherokee symposium at
Denver’s Four‐Mile Historic Park.
News From The Plains 18 Spring, 2015
CALIFORNIA-NEVADA CHAPTER ByMarkWilsonChapterPresidentTheCA/NVchapterisplacingmostofitseffortinto
theplanningoftheNationalConventionatLakeTahoe
duringSeptember19‐25,2015.Convention
CoordinatorDickWaughhasorganizedmany
volunteerstotake‐onthemultitudeoftasksanddetails
requiredforsuchanevent.Wehavealmostmonthly
planningmeetingsandaremakinggoodprogressto
hostingamemorableevent.
Thetrailshavenotbeenneglected.Therehavebeen
outingstolocateandsurveyseveraltrailsegments.At
ourSeptember,2014chaptermeetingnewprojects
wereproposed.Oneofthoseprojectswastoestablish
moretrailinterpretivesignageinhighlyvisible
locations.TothatendFrankTortorichrecently
submittedaproposaltoworkwithKirkwoodSkiarea,
throughwhichrunstheCarsonTrail,todevelop
interpretivesignsatitslodgeandalongsomeskitrails.
AdayafterourSeptemberchapterboardmeetingwe
learnedthatthelongdelayedCaliforniaAutoTour
RouteProject(CA/NVOCTAtitle)hadnewmomentum.
TheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation,Caltrans,
waspreparingtotransferfundstotheNationalPark
Service,tocompleteplanning,signproductionand
trainingofchaptervolunteersintheuseofacomputer
programtoestablishsignlocations.ImetwiththeCaltrans
ProjectCoordinatorandsuggesteditwouldbegreatto
havethededicationofthe irsthighwaysignduringour
NationalConvention.Anaf irmativeanswerwasnot
receivedatthattime.Wearelookingforwardto
completingthenextphaseoftheprojectwhichwillbethe
computertrainingworkshopwiththeNationalPark
Service.Thisshouldbesometimethisspring.
DuringMarch12‐15,theChapterwillrepresentOCTAat
theannualconventionoftheSocietyforCalifornia
ArcheologyinRedding,California.Itisexpectedthat
around400archeologistswillattendthisevent.Lastyear
JohnWinnergaveatalkattheconventionemphasizingthe
goalsandobjectivesofOCTA.Thisyearthechapterwill
haveaninformationaldisplay.WehopetofurtherJohn’s
presentation,recruitnewpartnersandmembers;aswell
assellafewmapsandbooks.
Thechapterwillholditsannualmembership/board/
symposiumgatheringalongwithaconventionplanning
sessioninChico,CAduringApril30‐May3,2015.The
symposiumwillfeaturerevelationsofsomenew
archeology indingsatPeterLassen’sRanchowhichisnear
ChicoontheSacramentoRiver.Weshallconcludewitha
tourofJohnBidwell’sMansion.
Advertisingopportunitieshavebeenrestructured
forOCTA’stwoprimarypublications,theOverlandJournalandNewsFromThePlains.Forthe irsttime,bothpublicationsareoffering
“businesscard”‐sizedads,comparabletoone‐eighth
page,for$75.Alsoavailablearequarterpage
($120),halfpage($200)andfullpage($325)ads.In
addition,afull‐coloradonthebackpageoftheOJis
availablefor$500
Asaspecialinducementforadvertisers,the
publicationsareofferinga10percentdiscountfor
twoadsinconsecutiveissuesanda25percent
discountforfourads.Also,ifanadvertiserbuysan
adinbothpublications,therewillbea50percent
discountonthesecondad.Asanaddedincentive,
OCTAmembersreceivea10percentdiscountonall
advertising.
Bypolicy,advertisedproductsshouldhavesome
educationalvalueassociatedwithOCTA’smissionand
goals,althoughthatstandardisfairlybroad.For
instance,adestinationthatpromotestourismintrails
areaswouldbeacceptable,aswouldbookpublishers
andotherswhotargettheirproductstoOCTAmembers.
BoththeOJandNFParepublishedseparatelyfour
timesayearandeachreachnearly1,500OCTAmember
households.
Camera‐readyadvertisementsshouldbesubmittedon
aCDorviaemailinahigh‐resolutionPDF,.epsor.rif
formatwithaminimumresolutionof300dpi.
ForinformationaboutadvertisinginOCTA
publications,contactOJEditorMarleneSmith‐Baranzini
[email protected],NFPEditorBillMartinat
[email protected],orOCTAheadquartersat
AdvertiseWithOCTA!
News From The Plains 19 Spring, 2015
WYOMING CHAPTER ByTomReaWyomingOCTACompanyof icials,federalof icials,OCTAandother
privatehistory‐mindedgroupswrappedupnegotiations
inlateFebruaryoverjustwhattheAnschutz‐af iliated
PowerCompanyofWyomingwillberequiredtodoto
makeupfordamagetohistoricsitescausedbythehuge
wind‐powerprojectplannedonpublicandprivateland
southofRawlins,Wyoming.
The inalagreementontheChokecherry‐SierraMadre
projectdoesnotprovideforanynewpublicaccesstothe
historicOverlandTrail,whichcrossesthemiddleofthe
affectedarea—eventhoughhalfthelanditcrossesis
public.ButaBureauofLandManagementof icialhastold
ussincethe inalcommitteemeetingthattheagencyand
thecompanyarestilltalkingabouttrailstoursthrough
thearea.“ThesewouldbeBLM‐ledtours,”saidBonni
Bruce,theBLMarcheologistwhooverseesthe
negotiationscommitteeprocessoutoftheagency’s
RawlinsFieldOf ice.
Toursmightbeconductedasoftenasonceortwicea
year,Brucesaid.TheywouldrunwestfromtheOverland
Trail’sintersectionwithWyomingHighway130northof
SaratogatothehistoriccrossingoftheNorthPlatteand
onthroughabout20milesofcompany‐controlledlandto
TetonReservoir,afewmileseastofBridgerPass.
The350square‐mileprojectarearunssouthfrom
Rawlinsforabout25miles.The1,000turbines,450feet
hightothetipofthetoprotatorblades,willdominatethe
skylinesouthofI‐80fromRawlinswestfor20milesto
CrestonJunction.Theprojectisonlandonwhichsquare‐
milesectionsalternateinacheckerboardpattern
betweenpublicandprivateownership,thankstothe
patternofearlyrailroadlandgrants.Thispublic‐private
mixcomplicatesalllandmanagementinthearea.
Besidesthetrailitself,otherpropertiesthatwillbe
adverselyaffectedbytheprojectincludethetrail’sNorth
Plattecrossingandanearbycemetery,thesitesoftwo
stagestationsonthetrail,andashortstretchofthe
historicLincolnHighwayeastofRawlins.
Tomitigatethedamagetothehistoricintegritytothese
sites,thecompanyhasagreedtopayforavarietyof
projects,electronicresourcesandpublicseminars.These
includesignageatthethreespotsmentionedabove;
brochures;anextensivehistoricnarrativeaboutthetrail
intheareawithanannotatedbibliography;awebsite
dedicatedtothehistory;substantialarticlesonthe
varioushistoricsitesavailableforuseonotherwebsites;
and—probablythemostexpensiveofthemitigations—
acurriculumunitforuseinpublicschools,developedby
ProjectArcheologyatMontanaStateUniversity,called
“UnderstandingMigration.”
Thecompanywillalsopaytohostaworkshopand
seminarforupto25peopleonhistoricevaluationsof
landscapes,tobecenteredaroundthetrail’sPineGrove
StageStation.Remnantsofthe1860sstationstillexiston
privatelandontheThayerfamilyranchnearthe
southernedgeoftheprojectarea.Thecoursewill
examinethestagestationandnearbycemeteryandwill
evaluatetheneedtoupgradethestation’s1970s‐era
listingontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.
Connectedwiththeseminarwillbeanarcheology ield
school.Ifconditionsseemtowarrantit,thecompanywill
alsopayforuptotwosemestersofworkfromagraduate
studentinterntoupgradetheNationalRegister
nominationforthestationandthecemetery.
Negotiationsgettingtothispointhavegoneonfor
morethanfouryears.Inthesummerof2012,theso‐
calledRecordofDecisionwassigned,formallypermitting
theprojectbutleavingthedetailsofhistoricmitigation
stillunde ined—anunusualstep.
Inmid‐2014,theBLMhiredJessicaClement,a
mediationspecialistfromtheUniversityofWyoming,to
helpwiththeprocess.ByFebruary2015,thecompany
wasreadytoagreetothemitigationplan.
Fourmainplayershadtoagreetotheplanforittogo
forward—thecompany,theBLM,theWyomingState
HistoricPreservationOf iceandtheAdvisoryCouncilon
HistoricPreservation,asmallfederalagencythat
overseesenforcementofthefederallawrequiring
mitigationfordamagetopropertiesthatarelistedor
continuedonpage21
ThisswaleisonthewestbankoftheNorthPlatteRivercrossingatPickBridgeNorthofSaratoga,Wyoming
News From The Plains 20 Spring, 2015
ByDickNelsonChapterPresidentThingshavebeenalittleslowwhatwiththecolder
monthsuponusbutchapteractivitieswillpickup
soon.OurannualmeetingwasheldinNov.with
electionofof icersfor2015.
Theyare:President,DickNelson’Vice‐President,
JeanCoupalSmith;Secretary,MaryConrad;and
Treasurer,ArnoldCole.AnExecutiveCommittee
planningmeetingwasheldinJanuarytosetanagenda
fortheyearandplanforeventsandactivities.
WeplannedachaptermeetinginlateMarchatthe
NationalFrontierTrailsMuseuminIndependence.It
willbeajointmeetingwiththeMissouriRiver
Out ittersChapteroftheSantaFeTrailAssoc.Oneof
thethingswearetryingtodoasachapterispartner
withtheotherlocaltrailsorganizationsintheKansas
Cityarea.Itisfeltbydoingthisthatwecan
accomplishmoreforthetrailsherethaneachgroup
couldworkingonitsown.ManyTrailenthusiastsin
TRAILSHEAD CHAPTER
theKansasCityareabelongtoallthehistorictrailgroups
anyway,sowhynotworktogetheronprojects?
Oneofthecurrentinitiativesissignageofthethree‐trail
corridorfordriving,hikingandbikingpurposesaswellas
providinghistoricinterpretationforthepublicaboutthe
trailrunningthroughthemetroarea.
Severalmilesofthishavealreadybeenaccomplished
anditisanongoingprojectwithCity,County,National
ParkServiceandlocaltrailassociationsheavilyinvolved.
Currentlythesignageportionisveryclosetobeing
completedtotheKansas/MissouristatelineatNewSanta
Fe.WhencompletetheTrailitselfwillrunfromWayne
CityLandinginSugarCreek,MO.toGardnerJunctionin
JohnsonCountyKS.
Thechapterisalsofocusingonmemberretentionand
addingnewmembersgoingforward.
SOUTHERN TRAILS CHAPTER ByJackFletcherChapterPresidentAgroupofTrailTurtlesspentanOctoberweek
investigatingsoutherntrailsintheLordsburg,New
Mexico‐to‐ApachePass‐in‐Arizonasegment.Fromthe
report:"Thegoalofthetrailmappingtripwasto
continuethespring2014workdonemainlyontwo
routestoApachePass.”
OneroutelefttheDoubtfulCanyonrouteeastof
Lordsburg,traveledthroughGraniteGapandjoined
againeastofApachePass.Thisrouteprobablypre‐
datedtheroutethroughDoubtfulCanyon.Again,we
werenotabletogetaccesstoaportionofthetraileast
ofBarney'sStageStationsite.Onedaywasspent
revisitingSiphonCanyonleadingtowardsApachePass.
Onedaywasspentworkingonanareaeastofthe
LordsburgPlaya.
TrailTurtlesincludedRoseAnnTompkins,Tracy
DeVault,RichardGreene,NealandMarianJohns,Cam
Wade,BrockandLevidaHileman,MikeVolberg,Donand
GeriTalbot,GregMcEachron,andClaudeHudspeth.The
totalreportandalloftheDesertTracksissuesareavailable
ontheSouthernTrailswebsite:southern‐trails.org.The
January2015issueofDesertTracks,journal/newsletterof
theSouthernTrailsChapterisavailableonlineonthe
SouthernTrailswebsite.
Thiscurrentissueincludesarticlesonmappingwith
drones,theTrailTurtlesmappingtrip,anupdateon"The
Butter ieldTrail"projectstudies,andaninterviewwith
AaronMahr,theSuperintendentoftheNationalPark
Service.
ThenextchaptermeetingwasscheduledforApril8‐11,
2015attheWesternNewMexicoUniversitycampusin
conjunctionwiththeSouthernTrailsSymposiuminSilver
City,NewMexico.
Ourmembershipnumberscontinuetoincrease.
News From The Plains 21 Spring, 2015
ByJerryEichhorstIOCTAPresidentandWebmasterWithwinterenvelopingthestate,theIdaho
chapterwaspseudo‐dormantforafew
months.Oncetheweatherwarmsand
sunlightbrightensourdays,thoughtswill
turntogettingoutonthetrailsandenjoying
thehistoricsiteswithinthestate.
Workisbeingdonebehindthescenesin
planningforthe2016OCTAconventionat
FortHall.Muchmorewillhavetobedone
thisyearasweneedtomarktrailsand irm
upbustourroutesinEasternIdaho.Other
ideasbeingconsideredforoutingsincludea
ToanaFreightRoadtour,aJeffrey‐Goodale
tour,andsearchingapossiblealternateroute
oftheOregonTrailnorthofVale,Oregon.
Over20peoplearesignedupforthetwo
CommunityEducationclassesonthebyway
andNorthAlternateOregonTrailIwillbe
teachinginmid‐MarchinBoise.Thespring
meetingisbeingplannedforSaturday,May
9,inFortHall.Activityupdateswillbepostedonthechapter
websiteatwww.IdahoOCTA.orgastheybecomeavailable.
Thechapterapprovedmatchingpersonaldonationsforthe
preservationoftheCanyonCreekstagestationatthefall
meetinginOctober.Iampleasedtoreportthatwehave
received$6,000indonationssincethatmeeting.Withthe
chaptermatch,wewillbecontributing$9,000totheIdaho
HeritageTrustfortheirmatch,thusprovidingupto$18,000
infundingforpreservationwork.Itisextremelygratifyingto
seesuchagreatresponsefromthechaptermembershipfor
thisworktosaveawonderfulpieceofIdaho'strailhistory.
WearedevelopingapartnershipwiththeIdaho
GenealogySocietytoassistthemwiththeirprogram
ofprovidingOregonTrailCerti icatestohonor
peoplewhotraveledtheOregonTrailthrough
Idaho.Thechapterwillreceiveasmallfeeforour
researchtoattempttocon irmthattheperson
traveledthetrail.Ianticipatethatthispartnership
mayyieldnewactivityparticipantsandpossibly
newmembersasbothgroupsshareastronginterest
inhistory.
IDAHO CHAPTER
IdahoChaptermembersatCanyonCreekStageStation
couldqualifyforlistingontheNationalRegisterofHistoric
Places.
Othersmallergroups—OCTA,theAllianceforHistoric
Wyoming,TRACKSAcrossWyoming,theFrontierPrisonin
RawlinsandtheCarbonCountyHistoricPreservation
Commission—hadaformaladvisorystatusandwerealso
representedthroughoutnegotiations.MostactiveonOCTA’s
partwasFernLinton,ofGreenRiver,Wyo.,treasurerof
WyomingOCTAandformerboardmemberofthenational
organization.WyomingOCTAPresidentTomReaalsotook
part.
Constructionontheprojecthasnotyetstartedand
islikelytotakefourto iveyears.Costshavebeenprojected
ataround$5billion.The1,000turbineswouldproduce
about3,000megawattsofelectricity,roughlyas
muchasfourconventional,750‐megawattcoal‐ ired
powerplantsthesizeoftheDaveJohnstonplantin
Glenrock,eastofCasper.Thepowerisaimed
primarilyatmarketsinNevadaandCalifornia.Anew
high‐voltagetransmissionline,TransWestExpress,is
plannedtotakeitthere.It,too,willcrosshistoric
trails.Theformalprocessfor iguringouthistoric
mitigationforthatprojecthasnotyetbegun.
ThankstolongtimeOCTAnLesleyWischmannof
theAllianceforHistoricWyomingforanearlier
reportthatprovidedmuchofthematerialforthis
one.TheAlliancehasinterestinthehistorictrailsand
otherissues.
Wyoming (continuedfrompage18)
News From The Plains 22 Spring, 2015
ByOscarOlsonThenewyearatCrossroadshasstartedearlywith
activities.AboardmeetingwasheldinJanuaryandplans
fortheyeargotstarted.
Oneofthebigthingswastomakethelong‐awaited
rail‐stocktransfer.Toexplain:someyearsagowemade
apurchasefromCaliforniaofsomerailstomakemore
railpostsformarkingtrailsites.Therailturnedouttobe
unacceptable—toooldandrusty.RoyTea,VicHeathand
otherswereabletolocateascrapdealerinSpringville,
Utah,whowouldtradeusonepoundofacceptablerail
fortwopoundsofscrap.Adealwasmade.But,whento
doit?TheoldstockwasinTooele,Utah.Machinerywas
necessary—aforkliftaswellasatruck.Acoupleofyears
passed,butit inallycametogetheronFebruary7,2015,
asJessePetersenfromTooelegotwithhisson‐in‐law,
JeffPashley,andhiswork(WollamConstruction)to
donatetheequipmenttomakethetransfer.Atruckand
forkliftandafellowemployee,ChrisClegg,worked
throughthedayonSaturday,February7,toloadthe
scrapandtakeittoSpringville.RonWesthoffhelped
unloadandreloadtherailsforthereturntriptoTooele.
Goodjob!Welldone!Andalongtimecoming!Thanks,
Jesse,Roy,andVicforhelpingseethisthroughaswe
havemanysitesyettomarkinUtah.
March19isplannedforourspringmembership
meetingandplansfor ieldtripswillbeforthcoming.Our
speakerwillbeScottChristensenwhowillspeakonthe
Indian/Emigrantrelationsonthetrails.Heisa
recognizedauthorityontheShoshone.
Thereareothersinthestatewhoareworkingtohelp
marktrailsandsites.Wemustnotoverlooktheirefforts.
LindaSmith,HistorianofMorganCounty(Utah),has
plansformarkingsomeofthetrailsitesthroughher
countywhichwouldbetheHastingsRoad/Mormon
Trail,andChrisHaramotoofEastCanyonStateParkhas
similarplanstomarktrailsitesthroughthestatepark
property.Wesalutethemandtheireffortsandwillgive
themoursupport.Letusknowwhatyouneed,please.
Nothingpleasesusmorethantoseeanoldfriendand
trailssupporterunexpectedly.WhileinCoalville,Utah,
recentlyanoldtrailhistorianwasspottedina
restaurant.Forthosewhorememberhim,FrankCatelan
wasseenandvisitedwith.Heistheone‐manbandof
Echo,Utah,whohassupportedthehistoryoftrails,the
railroad,androadsthroughEcho.HeoperatedtheEcho
CafeandBusStopforyearsandnowisagingbutstill
getsarounddrivinghis1989Cadillac.Itwasgoodtosee
him.HestilloperatestheEchoCityMuseumduring
summermonths.
HopeWelch(wifeofPresidentGary)willbetaking
overthetaskofrecordingourvolunteerhoursand
milesforNational.NylaEldredgeaskedtobereleased.
Thanks,Nyla,foragoodjob!
UTAH CROSSROADS
JessPeterson,right,withRonWesthoffwhilehelpingmoverailsinSpringville,Utah.
FrankCatelan,left,andNateOlson.
News From The Plains 23 Spring, 2015
MerleAnderson,MtShasta,CA
RuthAtkins,LakeElsinore,CA
FrankBeltran,Crestwell,OR
JonBoursaw,Topeka,KS
CraigBromley,Lander,WY
WilliamBuckalew,Tooele,UT
JohnCarter,Lincoln,NE
LoisCohorst,Marysville,KS
JoanConzatti,Sacramento,CA
MariaCosta,GraniteBay,CA
SharonDennis,Sacramento,CA
DonDingman,Kearney,NE
AudreyLElder,Sibley,MO
SteveandTheresaFisher,Kent,WA
DavidFullerton,Sacramento,CA
JudyGamble,GraniteBay,CA
NancyGillis,Walthill,NE
EmilyGlassburn,Tillamook,OR
RichardGould,Republic,KS
LindaGrimm,Aurora,CO
Jerry Hallstrom,Carmichael,CA
ElectaLHare‐RedCorn,Pawhuska,OK
DanHoltz,NebraskaCity,NE
GeneLRasch,Topeka,KS
CarolRempp,Lincoln,NE
MeredithRenard,Orlando,FL
JerryRogers,SantaFe,NM
NickandLindaSchmitz,Beattie,KS
CalliSmith,Reno,NV
DarwinandLaDawnSorensen,Riverton,UT
MaryFlournoyStrohm,Patagonia,AZ
JackandKarinTraylor,Dayton,TN
MartaUllman,Sammamish,WA
ScottVail,Placerville,CA
KyleWatson,SanRafael,CA
ColeWatson,SanRafael,CA
SusanWeber,Lincoln,NE
DonandConnieWerner,Horton,KS
JudyWickwire,Markleeville,CA
JackHultquist,Minden,NE
DaleandJackieJohnson,Sandwich,IL
DouglasandSueJohnson,Sycamore,IL
MarkandGinaJones,Davis,CA
JoshKean,Antioch,CA
LeslieLarson,Cupertino,CA
BobandShelleyLencioni,Auburn,CA
MatthewMallinson,SugarCreek,MO
JohnMore,Eudora,KS
KarenMurphy,Martinez,CA
CindyNickles,Eugene,OR
LindaNuessle/TVCC&JasperWestfall
Museum,Westfall,OR
DawnaOurada,Kearney,NE
ThomasKOwen,Campbell,CA
RichardPariset,BeaverCrossing,NE
RonParks,Manhattan,KS
EricaParson,SilverCity,NM
DalePedersen,Graham,WA
TerriePeets,Markleeville,CA
PetePobor,Sacramento,CA
NancyPowell,Albany,OR
PuebloCity‐CoLibraryDist,Pueblo,CO
WelcomeNewOCTAMembers
OCTAAnnualFundAppealReachesRecordLevelsOCTA’sannualfundraisingappealhadraisedmorethan$37,000throughthe irstweekofMarch,settinganew
recordformembersupport.Wearegratefulforthetremendousgenerosityofourmembersacrossthecountry.
ContributorssinceDecember1include:
HarryAbraham
BarbaraAbrahamer
EvaAllen
BillyandJacqueArends
JacquelineBall
JimBarr
DellaBauer
LorraineBennett
RoyandZelmaBernd
ThomasandDeeBirch
GaryJBjorge
RogerBlair&SusanBDoyle
CarolynBowser
WilliamBraden
DennisBrown
TimothyABurns
GailandMurielCarbiener
JohnandRoseannCarpenter
GeorgeCarruthers&MarilynGaddis
DRobertandLyndiaCarter
DrLynnCorsonandDrJanetAyres
LindaandHerbCrew
GeorgeWDavisFund
RichardM.DavisFund
JamesWDayley
RonaldODowns
DouglasVDuncan
RaymondandMauraEgan
FrankandJackieEllis
JoyceEverett
TeriFeasel
JohnandThelmaFromm
SusanGardner
CurtisandNancyGrant
JohnPGraves
SharonHanson
GlennandCarolHarrison
WilliamGHartley
BarbaraHesse
RobertHovey
LuAnnHunter
ArtandKathyIworsley
BillieJohnson
MelissaShawJones
LeonJones
PollyNKennison
MaryBKorpi
JereLKrakow
MichaelLaSalle
RichardHLachmann
EricALauha
HughandCarolMarch
RossandShirleyMarshall
BillMartin
JohnGaryMaxwell
CaroleandKarenMcClellan
MicheleMcGeeney
GordonandCarolynMcGregor
KendallMcNabney
PhilMillerMD
JerryMogg
PaulMoreno
JudsonMygatt
DavidandDonnaNewberry
WilliamandMargieNolan
AlmaO'Hare
RichardOlson
JamesOwen
LetheneParks
JudsonParsons&DianaGardener
JerryPPeppers
JessandNancyPetersen
DickandPenelopePeterson
HenryandGlennaPittock
ThomasRea
JamesandSallieRiehl
LouiseHammerRossi
RichardSchmidt
RobertandJaniceSchwartz
RobertandAliceShellenberger
MarleyShurtleff
DeanSoenksen
BillSpeiden
JilStark
JamesTompkins
CampbellWade
LornaWaltz
SteveandKathrynWang
GilandMaryWard
DavidandWendyWelch
NolaWilkerson
MaxWillard
JohnandHazelWillmarth
GarethandDeannWilson
KirkeandAnneWilson
JohnandSusieWinner
News From The Plains 24 Spring, 2015
OCTA2013‐2014FinancialStatements
FinancialPosition—YeartoyearasofSeptember30,2014
News From The Plains 25 Spring, 2015
StatementofActivities
FiscalYearEnding9/30/2014vsFiscalYearEnding9/30/2013
News From The Plains 26 Spring, 2015
landowners,federalagencies,andgovernmentatall
levels.WedidnotseeknewfundingfortheOregonand
CaliforniaTrails,althoughwedidcallattentiontouses
madeofcurrentfederalfunding.ThroughthePartnership,
wedidaskInteriorAppropriationsCommitteesinthe
HouseandSenateforfundingatcurrentlevelsplusthree
percent,similartorequestsmadeinthepast.
ThoughwedidnotachieveasponsorforaStudybillof
theSouthernTrails,wecontinuetoraiseawarenessof
theirnationalsigni icanceandoncemoredemonstrated
ourpersistenceinseekingaStudybill.Someencouraging
exchangesoccurredandweheardkeyrecommendations
forgettinglettersofsupportfromlocalhistorical
organizations,chamberofcommerceof ices,andlocaland
stategovernment.
ItwillberecommendedthattheSouthernChapterof
OCTAnameachairoftheSouthernTrailsCommitteeand
embarkonacampaignofgettinglettersthatshowlocal
supportforaStudybill.AmemberofCongressfrom
NebraskahasintroducedasimilarStudybillthismonth
fortheChiefStandingBearTrail.
TheExecutiveDirectorofthePartnership,GaryWerner,
reiteratedtheincreaseinduesformemberorganizations.
ForOCTAtheduesincreasewillrisefromthecurrent
$1400peryearto$2200,orabout$.60permemberper
year.OurmembershipinPNTSisofconsiderablevalue
includingsupportforlegislationonthehorizonforan
amendmenttodesignateAdditionalRoutesandaStudy
billfortheSouthernTrails.
OthersparticipatingonOCTA’sbehalfwereBilland
JeanneWatson,BoardmemberCeciliaBellandher
husbandJohn,AssociationManagerTravisBoley,and
OCTAPresidentJohnKrizek.TheWatsonswerepresented
withanawardfromthePartnershipfortheir30yearsof
service.
HikeTheHill ContinuedFromPage6
NationalParkServiceTrailsTeaminSaltLakeCityand
SantaFe,includingfundingforOCTATrailProjects.
AllOCTAmembers,PLEASEcontinuetorecordor
estimateyourVolunteerHoursandFinancial
ContributionsandreporttheminDecemberto
Headquartersoryourdesignatedchaptermember.
Wewanttothankeachofyouwhohelpedusmakeof ice
visitsonCapitolHill.Specialthankstoour"silent
members"whoquietlycontactedtheirCongressional
delegationinsupportofOCTAlegislationwheneverasked.
AndthankstotheOCTAmemberswhowrotelettersto
Congressinsupportoflegislation.Threetimeswhilewe
triedtogettheCaliforniaTraildesignatedyousupported
uswith300‐500letters.Withallyourhelpand
encouragementwehaveachievedsigni icantOCTA
legislative&federalfundingobjectives.
ManythanksforourOCTAMeritoriousAchievement
AwardandSpecial27thAnniversaryTrophy.Wearealso
proudofourPartnershipfortheNationalTrailsSystem
LifetimeAchievementAwardandourDepartmentof
Interior‐TakePrideInAmericaAward.
Unfortunately,ourCo‐ViceChairsVern&CarolOsborne
havebeenunabletojoinusinWashington,thepasttwo
yearsforTrailsAdvocacyWeek.Ourprayersandbest
wishesremainwiththem.
Thirtyyearsago,OCTAPresidentTomHuntaskedusto
createandleadtheLegislativeLiaisonCommittee.Ourage
andstageinlifehavecaughtupwithus.Wecanhelpwith
coordination,listeningandadvice.Butwerecommendthat
OCTAnow indtwoLegislativeTeamLeaderseachwilling
andabletomakea4‐5yearcommitmenttheirproject:
AdditionalRoutesStudyTeamLeader‐Tofocuson
studiescompletionincludingpublicmeetingsandprepare
Congressforitsimplementation.
SouthernTrailProjectTeamLeader‐To indaHouseor
Senatesponsorforastudyauthorizationbillandlaythe
groundworkforCongressionalauthorization.
EachLeaderwillneedateamofOCTAmembersfamiliar
withtheroutesinvolvedandwillneedOCTAbudget
supportfortheirlegislativeactivities.
AdvocacyWeek ContinuedFromPage6
BusinessSponsorshipsForjust$50ayear,youcanbecomeabusiness
sponsor,connectingyourbusinesstotouristsfollowing
thetrails.
BusinesssponsorsreceivealistingontheOCTA
website,awindowdecal,aframedwallcerti icateandan
OCTAtrailmap.Tolearnmore,contactOCTA
headquartersat(888)811‐6282.
Currentbusinesssponsorsinclude:StateBankofBlueRapids,BlueRapid,KS
LittleHap’sBar&Grill,Home,KS
LewisSeed&Fertilizer,Home,KS
WagonWheelCafe,Marysville,KS
WaverHotel,Waterville,KS
TrailsNRails,Marysville,KS
HeritageInnExpress,Marysville,KS
FirstCommerceBank,Marysville,KS
YLoopRoadTrips,Wapiti,WY
AmericanFire&Safety,St.Joseph,MO
ScottsBluffAreaVisitorsBureau,Gering,NE
MorrillCountyVisitorsCommittee,Bridgeport,NE
SurveyorScherbel,Ltd.,BigPiney,WY
BarnAnewBed&Breakfast.Mitchel,NE
News From The Plains 27 Spring, 2015
Nonpro itOrg
U.S.Postage
PAID
KansasCity,MO
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