On the lower end of the wild and scenic Rogue River trail on the Gold Beach Ranger District is a Forest Service cabin at Brushy Bar. It was used by Forest Service personnel doing trail work and checking for abandoned camp fires in the various camp sites along the trail. During the summer of 1986 a seasonal employee by the name of Jeff had the job of patrolling this lower section of trail and stayed in the cabin. He had struck up a friendship with a female seasonal employee working on the District. On her days off sometimes she would hike up the trail to see Jeff, including spending the night. After one of these nights there was a knock on the door the next morning. As Jeff opened the door he was greeted by the Forest Supervisor and some of his staff assistants, who had been hiking down the Rogue River trail checking on things. In the back room of the cabin the young woman could hear the conversation and jumped out a back window to hide in the brush. The management staff seem to be happy with what they saw and continued on their way down the trail. Jeff told the story later and thought it was the end of his job as the staff people looked through the cabin having no idea the young woman was hiding outside in the brush. Jeff thought she was still in the bedroom, maybe hiding under the bed.
A collection of stories from the life of Michael Burke. He worked for the Forest Service in Alaska, California, and Oregon. He lives in Oakland, OR. His wonderful wife, Celia, passed in May of 2021
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FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY
It is four years today when Celia left this word, something I think about every day. It is not all sorrow as I think back on her humor, w...
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It is four years today when Celia left this word, something I think about every day. It is not all sorrow as I think back on her humor, w...
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In my early days with the Forest Service we were called upon to fight fires with little choice in the matter, especially on our days off or ...
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One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was when I lived in Eugene from 1991 to 2000. My two children were with me on Thanksgiving of 1992...
It can get rather lonely working out there in the woods!
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