Entering their third full season, the Canyon Keepers are
looking forward to their most active summer yet. Organized
in the fall of 1998, based on the conception of the late
Frank Olrich and Auburn State Recreation Area Managing Ranger
Jill Dampier, and with the active support of PARC, the Canyon
Keepers needs more members to fulfill its mission. The Canyon
Keepers conduct a volunteer docent program for the North
and Middle Forks of the American River, supplementing the
professional ranger staff. The group provides information
to visitors on local history, plants and animals, trail
locations and conditions, safety concerns, conservation
and preservation practices. The Canyon Keepers help administer
a Junior Ranger program (entering its second year) open
to all area youth for seven consecutive Saturdays beginning
mid July. According to Volunteer Coordinator Jim Ferris,
“two exciting new projects this year will find interested
members helping to develop a Self-Guided Nature and History
Trail in the vicinity of the Confluence as well as a comprehensive
Hiking Trail Guide for the Auburn State Recreation Area.”
If you enjoy hiking the trails of the American River Canyon
or would like to learn more about the area, and are interested
in its preservation…consider joining this volunteer group.
The next training for volunteers will be held on June 16
and June 23 Only two training days are required to qualify
as an ASRACK docent. For further information please call
Jim Ferris at (530) 885-3776 or check the ASRACK Web site
http://www.psyber.com/~asra/asrack.htm
Native
American with weight on heels i step down dusty
trail beneath pine and oak sampling manzanit's sweet,
globular flowers until canyon bottoms out at bouldered
river banks of ancient maidu puma and forty-niner still
i leap into cool, turquoise pool surface as lungs give
out a warrior's howl crawl onto granite slab and warm
this baptismal rite repeated along upriver scramble until
day darkens into night and i lie gazing at pine tree tops
fingering the sky tickling Orion at the belly and listen
to the american river giggling -Rob Hanson
Many of our members look forward to the American River
prose of poet Roger Groghan. Roger is on an extended vacation
with his wife Sue in Huddersfield England. While somewhat
limited by the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease they
have been exploring their local watershed and will bring
back stories and poems for future mirth.
Confluence Display Complete
Congratulations to CA State Parks and Recreation Rangers
Greg Wells and Mike Lynch who collaborated to complete the
information panel at the main Confluence parking area. One
half of the panel contains a first rate history complete
with pictures of the various bridges that spanned the river
in the Confluence area over the years. The remainder of
the display is devoted to the ultra-precise trails map of
the Auburn State Recreation Area produced by Russ Stein
and Lewis Werher. Thanks to all for your sustained efforts.
