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Category: Oregon Caves National Monument

The Gypsy life of a seasonal Park Ranger Summer and Fall 2006

Weaver Mountains Yarnell Arizona
Moon over Yarnell
My gypsy life and winter in Yarnell was over before I knew it, and it was time to return to my…
Gaelyn in visitor center Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon
Gaelyn in Visitor Center 2006 by S. Gladish
…alter-life as a seasonal Park Ranger at Oregon Caves National Monument. But I did more than lead cave tours.
Wild Rhododendron along Myrtle Creek Trail Oregon
Wild Rhododendron along Myrtle Creek Trail
Spring hiking through the Redwoods less than 30 miles away and on the road to the California coast offers biological diversity because of the unique geology.
Darlingtonia Oregon
Darlingtonia are carnivorous
Metamorphic serpentine—a soft waxy rock used for carving—is characteristic of unusual flora and toxic to many plants due to a lack of essential nutrients and high concentrations of heavy metals.
Chateau Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon
Historic Oregon Caves Chateau
After three seasons learning about the cultural history of the area and monument I felt confident enough to develop a living history program.
Gaelyn in Chateau coffee shop Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon
Gaelyn/Darlene with visitors in Chateau coffee shop
I created a composite character of a woman, Darlene (borrowed from a dear friend of the right age), who presumably worked in the Chateau for Oregon Caves Company, a private concessionaire, in 1953.
Gaelyn in Chateau lobby Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon
Gaelyn/Darlene with visitors in Chateau lobby
Dressed as 73 year old Darlene and in character, I shared stories from the past while encouraging visitors to create their own memories as we toured the historic Chateau.
Gaelyn and Darlene on sternwheeler Columbia River
Gaelyn and Darlene onboard
In September I took a long weekend to visit the real Darlene and we celebrated her birthday…
Sternwheeler Columbia River
The Columbia Gorge
…onboard a sternwheeler on the Columbia River out of Cascade Locks, Oregon.
Stevenson Washington from Columbia River
View of Stevenson, Washington from the river
Tie dying in Oregon
Learning to tie-die
Over the summer a friend taught me how to tie-die (I know, where was I in the 60s) as we increased her stock…
Barter Fair Takilma Oregon
Welcome to Barter Fair
…so we could share space at the fall Hope Mountain Barter Fair where I’d sell my jewelry and other stuff.
Barter Fair booth Takilma Oregon
Barter Fair booth
Giant puppets at Hope Mountain Barter Fair Takilma Oregon
Having fun at the Fair
And when the Fair was over I knew winter was coming to Oregon so I would be moving on to warmer climates.
My gypsy life, Oregon, Oregon Caves NM and Chateau , , 29 Comments

The gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger Summer 2004

Ocotillo in the Mojave Desert California

Ocotillo in the Mojave desert

After a month of the gypsy life vacation in the desert I returned to southwest Oregon in the spring for a Park Ranger job leading cave tours at Oregon Caves National Monument.

Siskyou Mountains Oregon

View of the Siskyou Mountains, Oregon

I couldn’t park at the monument like before because a new headquarters building was being built where the only two RV spaces had been.

Headquarters under construction Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon

New headquarters building under construction

The first two months I parked on a friend’s property about four miles out of town.

Cave Creek campground sign Siskyou National Forest Oregon

Cave Creek campground

Then I became the camp host at Cave Creek campground only four miles from work. There are only 18 tent sites and I was never more than half full. I listened to the every changing babble of the water as the summer wore on and the water level dropped. Cold water as it comes out of the 42 degree cave.

Host campsite at Cave Creek campground Siskyou National Forest Oregon

My site at Cave Creek campground

Carson didn’t mind and would retrieve sticks for as long as I’d throw them.

Carson in Cave Creek Siskyou National Forest Oregon

Carson in Cave Creek

The summer season seemed to slip right by and before I knew it was time to head south for the winter.

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The gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger – Fall 2003 and winter 2004

As the fall of 2003 approached my summer job as a seasonal Park Ranger was over and I decided to stay at Oregon Caves National Monument as a volunteer in Resource Management instead of hitting the gypsy life road. I kind of dislike that term as I believe that the resource=environment manages quite well by itself. Yet I had an opportunity to help with the mycology inventory because I’m an amateur edible mushroom collector.

Clustered Coral fungi Oregon Caves National Monument OregonClustered Coral (Ramaria botrytis) growing on down Douglas fir measured about 18×10 inches

I walked the trails photographing the found fungi and then collected specimens.

Cut fungi Oregon Caves National Monument OregonReady for the dryer

Once back in the lab, I took more photos, tried to identify, then cut, dried and packaged for a mycologist in Portland.

Gaelyn in the lab Oregon Caves National Monument OregonMe in the lab

I also went to Seattle’s Cascade Grotto (cave club) with a slide presentation to ask for their volunteer assistance with many projects. The cave needs to be cleaned regularly. LOL! Cleaned? Yes. Every person that walks through the cave leaves a little of themselves behind. This includes hair, skin, and many pounds of lint a year. It’s tedious yet gratifying work. I encourage you to volunteer. And the Grotto has participated in many projects since then.

Lint on cave formation Oregon Caves National Monument OregonClose up of lint on cave formations in Paradise Lost

Winter 2004 came in with a vengeance and in three days Carson and I were buried under 30 inches of snow in my RV.

DOT plowing 30 inches of snow Oregon Caves National Monument OregonDOT plowing out my truck at Oregon Caves NM

After being plowed out…

Snowy trail to Resource office Oregon Caves National Monument OregonResource cabin with lab at Oregon Caves NM

…and finishing my project, I decided to head south for a month to thaw out.

Gaelyn at Joshua Tree National Park CaliforniaMe at Joshua Tree NP

I crawled around in Joshua Tree National Park. Then as spring began to bloom in the desert I needed to return to work.

My gypsy life, Oregon, Oregon Caves National Monument , , 25 Comments

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