Well I survived the first two weeks of being a "renta cop" style Forest Ranger. I am employed by Northwest Land Management a company out of California. They specialize in contracts with park agencies, national, state and local. My job entails making sure that people are camped in the proper sites and that the fees are paid. I also maintain the grounds ensuring that liter is picked up, by me, and that the restrooms are clean, sanitized, and well stocked with toilet tissue. That last item was a challenge this weekend - 4th of July.
I handle 3 sites, all within a few miles of each other on the same road that runs aside the Bumping River. I usually travel 33 to 45 miles a day between them. I am settled at Soda Springs, with 24 sites and 4 biffies. There are Cedar Springs with 15 sites and Cougar Flat with 12 sites. These are all 'dry camps' - no electricity, water our sewer connections available. There are 'Biffies', glorified outhouses, and water pumps at each campground.
I must rely on my solar collectors for available power, lights, stereo, cooling fan and heater, which has frequently been needed in the early morning. The weather was temperate then it got hot, in the high 80's, then it cooled back down to a comfortable 70 during the day and chilly 60's after sunset. Being walled in by substantially high hills and mountains, the sun rises late and sets early.
As a result of the limited sun exposure caused by our location and the tall trees around the motorhome, I have had to use the generator a couple of times to boost the battery voltage up to normal. Not a problem, I just have to keep an eye on the meters and do what is needed.
The river has actually risen a foot since I first arrived, mostly due to a few days of rain, which also quickly melted some of the remaining snow on the surrounding mountains. Most of the mountain run-off goes into Bumping Lake and is then released into the river. It is probably a foot above normal for this time of year. It really look cool with active rapids - if it weren't so cold I'd love to go rafting down it.
Below are a few photos of some of the sites we enjoyed during our life here in the forest.
As you can imagine the weekends are busy, especially on Fridays when most people check-in for the weekend, and then leave by Sunday afternoon. This past weekend people came as early as Wednesday and there are still a few staying until Monday. Here, Soda Springs, there were three groups for family outings, most reserved and used 3 adjoining sites. People were coming and going all week long with these groups. And did they ever use up my supply of toilet tissue! It was unbelievable. I had to refill the biffies at least 3 times a day.
Other than that it is fun. I have met some really nice people, I work with nice people and the environment is great. Typically I have little to do Tuesday and Wednesday, just oversee the few campers and take care of some minor maintenance issues. I try to make Tuesday my 'go to town' day for shopping, internet access, and making phone calls. So I will make my rounds to the 3 campgrounds and then head to town. On this past Monday I offered to drive one of the campers into Yakima so he could get his brother-in-law to rescue his truck which broke down in one of the campgrounds. I took this opportunity to do amy shopping, but I still needed to drive into Naches, a little closer, so I could send out this email and cash my first paycheck. WOW!
I will send more information of the area in the next episode of our adventures here at Soda Springs.
Bye for now.
Bruce, Molly and Digit
Link back to my "Bruce The Nomad" page.