ER Closed tonight

 Re-opens 7:00am Wednesday.

Tuesday coming home........

 

Roadside Mowing

YRB had a contractor mowing beside the road on the weekend. A grader with a hinged mower.

Definitely an improvement for the stop sign, but won't make a difference for the local who thinks the sign doesn't apply to him.

 

Trails for Human Power

The various trails around here are maintained by volunteers, and are for walking, snowshoeing, and in some cases cross-country skiing.

Motorized vehicles are prohibited on alpine ski runs as well.

If you know who has been ripping through the trails on a dirt bike, and using the Dividend for a "hill climb" please speak to them.

One dirt bike track on a ski run creates a channel that can create a much bigger problem during snow melt. 

Re-frame that thought...........

A few times recently I have encountered folks in the village who start the conversation "They want us to clean up our lots.........."

Who is "they?"

• during the 2021 fire, structure firefighters looked at our village and said they could not save it - too many trees, and cabins too close to each other
• Insurance costs are increasing, and there have been instances where a home catches fire because of the non-firesmart home next door, and the insurers are suing each other
• It is in all of our best interests to do as much as we can to FireSmart our properties. Yes most of us have insurance, but who wants to be here if the place we love is incinerated.

"They" could be changed to "we" want the community to clean up our lots.

Close by disposal of forest debris of course is the desired situation. More clean up will be done if there is a disposal site nearby.

The solution to this will not come from the Strata Council, but through the ongoing efforts of the FireSmart Committee and the Community Association.

They were working on a nearby site, and I got the details from a forester for this area. Mother Nature has delayed the work that would have to be done before the site could be provided, and it appears unlikely that we would have it soon.

If you limb the trees you want to dispose of, and pile logs around 5 ft long by the road, others will take it for firewood. You can submit for posting here, or post on the cabin owners FB page.

Larix Tree services out of Greenwood has a chipper, a boom truck, a stump grinder, a dumpbox trailer, an excavator with a rake attachment, and more. If you get together with neighbour(s), and book ahead, Larix could be an option for you.

I can fill my utility trailer with stuff from the community garden in Oliver, and dump at no charge. The same size load taken to the Rock Creek transfer station has cost me $4.00 to $4.50 to dump.

FOG FAIR Conflict

When the Festival of the Grape first started, it was the first weekend in October. 

Now, coupled with the Cask and Keg, it is the same weekend as the Rock Creek Fall Fair.

When attending any of those events, be sure to stop by the Baldy booth and thank the Baldy team members for all that they do.

OIB and Gorman Partners in forest management east of Oliver

https://www.castanet.net/news/Oliver-Osoyoos/630710/Osoyoos-Indian-Band-takes-greater-role-in-forest-management-east-of-Oliver

From Castanet:

"The Osoyoos Indian Band is playing a greater role in local forest management by partnering with the Gorman Group.

In a Monday press release, OIB's Nk'Mip Forestry said it formally signed the Tree Farm Licence agreement with Gorman Group through Similkameen Forest Products on July 20.

The area, TFL 59, is east of Oliver. The licence allows for OIB to have a direct role in forest planing and management in the area.

“This partnership will help create more jobs, specific training opportunities, and longer-term revenue for the
Osoyoos Indian Band and our people,” said OIB Chief Clarence Louie, in the press release.

“This agreement gives the OIB a stronger and more involved role in the forest economy within our traditional territory and helps us build the skills and experience needed to take on greater responsibility in the future. Our goal is to make sure more of the economic benefits from forestry in the OIB’s backyard stay in our community.”

Nk'Mip Forestry noted the agreement will allow OIB to operate with cultural values and combine knowledge, experience, priorities, and resources.

“This partnership agreement is an important step in the shared management of Tree Farm Licence 59,” said Norm Druck, Gorman Group south zone woodlands manager, in the press release.

“This specific licence is part of the cultural heartland of the Osoyoos Indian Band and supports traditional food, medicines, jobs, and spiritual well-being.

"The land also provides timber for the Gorman Group’s regional manufacturing facilities. This agreement brings those priorities together and gives the Osoyoos Indian Band a stronger role in how forestry work is planned and carried out.”

Nk'Mip will be proposing harvest areas, wildlife habitat, water quality, forest health, wildfire resilience, pile burning, and environmental monitoring.

Additionally, the OIB company will be carrying out cultural and field assessments ahead of designating harvest sites, working with OIB community members to gather knowledge, concerns, and priorities.

Both OIB and the Gorman Group will be providing employee training, mentorship, and career development.

The newly established Osoyoos Forest Nursery will provide seedlings for the area east of Oliver.

“We have a lot to accomplish,” said Dan Macmaster, OIB forestry manager.

“Both the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Gorman Group will continue working with the Province of British Columbia to explore a long-term tenure model that can provide certainty for both partners to carry out this work well into the future.”

Ski Swap in Penticton

 

From the other side...........

A friend and classmate sent me this image taken from Miradoro, Monday night.

 

Trail Project Sunday

Another great trails work day yesterday, about 14 adults and several young ones.

The new trail maps were installed at critical junctions on the east side (Sugar),  and trail markers placed along the trails. A couple of folks who were out helping have said they have never hiked out on that side for fear of getting lost but now will be very comfortable. 

There are still a few gaps to fill over the next while but this completes the work done as part of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC Grant, There have been 168 work hours recorded over the summer to get this work done. Thanks to the many adult volunteers and to the younger generation helping and learning.  

Look forward to feedback on missing links as well as suggestions for future trails work, thanks to all, Baldy Mountain Community Association