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#191475 - 07/27/15 04:12 PM Why a local hiking forum can be great
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
In the Portland, OR area, we have a forum called oregonhikers.org (formerly portlandhikers.org). It covers SW Washington as well. Sometimes it can perform a really useful function.

Anyway, yesterday there was a panicky post from someone whose 5-year-old son had lost his stuffed seal pup up near Mt. Jefferson (that's the next volcanic peak south of Mt Hood). Now that may sound funny to some of you, but if you're a parent or grandparent, you know very well how a young one that age can get attached to a stuffed animal, and how noisily he will grieve if said animal goes missing.

The poster wanted to know how to contact the wilderness ranger up there, and gave his name. Now said ranger just happens to be "Balls" of the "Balls and Sunshine" Triple Crown hiking team, and I have his email address from several years ago. So I emailed (as did another OR Hikers member who knows him) and promptly received a reply (evidently his iPhone got reception up there). We both posted the results on the forum. To make a long story short, the mother of the little fellow was contacted, Eric sent her a photo of himself and the seal, and they arranged to meet Thursday to get the seal pup back home to the little boy.

I can't post the photo, but you can see it here.

I love a happy ending, don't you?


Edited by OregonMouse (07/27/15 05:47 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#191476 - 07/27/15 05:53 PM Re: Why a local hiking forum can be great [Re: OregonMouse]
Glenn Roberts Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 2208
Loc: Southwest Ohio
That not only speaks well of the forum, but also of the ranger.

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#191479 - 07/28/15 12:18 AM Re: Why a local hiking forum can be great [Re: Glenn Roberts]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
IMHO, Eric ("Balls") is one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet! He and his teenage daughter ("Sunshine") earned their Triple Crown; she's still probably the youngest Triple Crown winner. I met them while they were hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and did a little trail angeling for them.


Edited by OregonMouse (07/28/15 12:20 AM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#191480 - 07/28/15 11:00 AM Re: Why a local hiking forum can be great [Re: OregonMouse]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
More pics on that same Oregonhikers thread of Smokey the Seal's further adventures!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#191562 - 08/05/15 03:34 PM Re: Why a local hiking forum can be great [Re: OregonMouse]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
On returning home from a week at the Washington Coast, I found that Ranger Eric met with young Liam last Thursday to return Smokey the Seal Pup. Liam's family gave Eric a basket of cookies! According to a news article, Liam said: "I'm just going to go home and cuddle with him in my bed."
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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