Craig and Liza Jane Nichols
As one of the photographers for OFG, people always ask me “where’s your favorite place in Oregon”. There is never a great answer because I have so many favorites. Overall, I always love going to the ranches of eastern Oregon. The ranchers are always so friendly and hospitable. At the top of that list has to be Craig and Liza Jane Nichols of the “Six Ranch” on the Wallowa River. They are featured in an upcoming segment about a restoration project on the Wallowa River where it runs through their ranch. From the moment we met them to the moment we left, they were both incredibly hospitable people, and as genuine as they come. Their story is scheduled to air Thursday November 12th, 2009, repeating Sunday November 15th 2009.
Bighorn Controversies Flame Anew
Bighorn sheep are still dying of pneumonia in eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Field Guide covered this in October of 2008.
(More photos from our bighorn encounters here.)
Now one of the chief researchers in Idaho is under investigation and a new Idaho law proves difficult to enforce.
First, rancher Mick Carlson spotted an aging wild ram who was also very sick. Mick appeared in our story and told us how his family has raised domestic sheep for more than 80 years and relies on grazing his domestic herds on public lands. The trouble is, many scientists believe domestic sheep act as a carrier for a disease that doesn’t hurt domestics but can kill wild sheep. Mick doesn’t believe it. In the mean time, he’s been fighting to keep access to public grazing. Rocky Barker at The Idaho Statesman did a comprehensive report on how hard it is to track sick wild rams and to enforce a new state law. The law says instead of keeping domestic sheep off the wild herd’s lands, they’ll kill sick wild sheep to keep them from spreading disease around their own herds.
Waldo Lake in court again
Did you hear OPB’s Pete Springer’s latest report on the radio last week on Waldo Lake? This pristine jewel near Eugene has landed in court more than once. 
This time the fight is over a new ban on all motorboats on the lake. Boat engines leak oil. And Waldo has some of the most pristine waters you’ll ever see.
But there’s also a question over who controls the lake. The state vs the feds. The family of the late Stubb Stewart is suing so they can continue to motor across Waldo.
Field Guide reported on Waldo Lake many years ago, after another lawsuit forced the state to stop stocking fish in a lake which has almost no nutrients for fish.
Waldo Lake is considered one of the purest bodies of water in the world, in the same league as Oregon’s Crater Lake.
The court put off a decision in the current case. That means the Forest Service plans to go ahead and ban motorboats until the judge says otherwise.
Wind and Skeeters
Which would bother you more? Howling wind blasting ash dust in your eyes or standing in a cloud of mosquitoes leaving welts even under your long sleeves and long pants?
Sound the winner’s bell!
Ding Ding Ding!
You win both! Wind plus mosquitoes.
Lucky Nick Fisher, long time Field Guide videographer, got to battle both during stories airing this week on Field Guide.
Read More…
A Great Perk: Sightseeing
There’s a great perk that comes from working for Oregon Field Guide. When the day’s videography is done, we sometimes have time for sightseeing. And we’re often in the most beautiful parts of the state to start with.
After a day with fossil hunters this summer, we managed to see some of central Oregon at its finest as the sun dropped and cast its golden-hour rays on remarkable rock formations. One you’ve heard of, one I’ll bet you haven’t.
Both are part of the John Day Fossil Beds. (Did you know there are three fossil bed locations separated by many miles?)
The less-known spot is a canyon known as Blue Basin. (Click any photo to see more images.)
We hiked the 6/10ths-mile Island in Time Trail up past rock formations unlike any others in the region. The shapes may mirror many other canyons. But their color doesn’t. The rock itself carries a distinct blue hue. A creek that runs often looks green. Be sure to look for the replicas of the fossilized tortoise and saber-toothed cat which lived in this area millions of years ago. There’s a longer hike up on the Overlook Trail but we didn’t have time for a 3-mile walk.
The much more well known spot is The Painted Hills. We made it here in the last hour of sunlight just before shadows began to obscure the mounds of amazing colors.
The Painted Hills stand out mainly for the deep red, orange and yellow stripes in the hills. You’re really looking at a time machine; it’s a glimpse of Oregon 30 million years ago. While the videographer slept the next morning, I decided to return at 6 a.m. to take some more photos. If you want to see The Painted Hills at their most vibrant come out just after sunrise or just before sunset. The colors will amaze you.
