Kitsap Hidden Valley

Rhododendron Preserve Open House November 5, 10 am - 2 pm

2011-10-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

The 460-acreKitsap Rhododendron Preserve, owned and managed by the Mountaineers Foundation,holds unique stands of Puget Lowland forest, thriving salmon streams, andhistorical buildings. We invite neighbors,educators, and salmon enthusiasts young and old to tour the property. We will walk to the salmon streams, view thehistorical buildings of Hidden Valley, and amble to the Big Tree, an 11-footdiameter Douglas fir tree. In 2012, wewill develop a long-term management plan for the Preserve, including HiddenValley, and we are interested in your ideas for how the property can be used asan educational resource. Join us for a walk in the woods and some salmonviewing!

Whatto bring: Rain gear,sturdy shoes, ideas

Where: 3021 Seabeck Highway NW, Bremerton. From northbound Seabeck Highway, turn leftinto the Mountaineers Forest Theater parking lot and drive to the end of theparking area at Kitsap Cabin. Look forsigns to the Foundation members offering tours.

RSVP: mindyr@uw.edu(encouraged, but not required!)

See www.kitsaphiddenvalley.blogspot.comand www.mountaineersfoundation.org/rhododendron-preservefor more information.

Hidden Valley Photo Blog XII

2011-10-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

When I visited the Valley in September it was more gold than green.

The apple trees are weighted down with fruit

And the beavers are very busy. There were two new dams under construction on Wildcat Creek

This one made mostly of sticks and

This one built primarily of rocks.

I wish I knew more about beavers. As it is I have no idea if these dams are the work of the juveniles learning how to build dams or the work of adults intended to slow the water and protect the main dam.

Speaking of the main dam, it continues to grow.

The confluence of Lost (on left) and Wildcat Creeks (right) as they form Chico Creek.

The tangle of sticks on Lost Creek is just that, a tangle of sticks; no sign of beaver activity

There is another beaver dam; this one on Chico Creek. Here is a an area near the dam that the beavers have clear cut.

Until Next Time

Hidden Valley Photo Blog XI

2011-09-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

Fall is definitely in the air in Hidden Valley. The ornamental maples that are still standing are showing more and more color and seeds abound everywhere.

Grass seeds

Sorrel and grass seeds

Thistle down

Thistle heads

Wild Carrot

Foxglove

The beavers continue to work on the apple tree.

And the dam continues to grow.

The pool is as still as ever.

Although most of the flowers have finished blooming there are still some blooms. Bright yellow tansy

and warm purple oregano.

Until next time.

Hidden Valley Photo Blog VII

2011-08-26T23:04:00.000-07:00

Now that my laptop is back from the shop (finally) here it is Photo Blog VII out of order. This week, around July 29, is all about the dam and how hard the beavers are working.

The rest of the ornamental maple near the old caretaker's house are gone.

This is the only part of those maples remaining on the bank. The rest has either been consumed or added to the dam.

If you look closely you can see how much forage the beavers are storing up near their lodge.

The dam continues to grow.

I wonder what the salmon will make of this fish ladder when they come back to spawn in the fall.

I'm sure the salmon will appreciate this still pool to rest in before they go on upstream to spawn.

These two photos give you a sense of the beavers' ambition as they continue to work on this apple tree.

The trunk has a circumference of 33 inches, almost 12 inches in diameter.

The beavers have taken quite a chunk out of it already and show no signs of giving up.

I like this beavers' eye view of the valley.

There are still lots of blooms in the valley. Fireweed

and pink roses are lovely.

I leave you with this view across the valley. Until next time.

Photo Blog X

2011-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

As Hidden Valley begins the transition to fall the paths through the grass are even more visible.

Work Continues on the apple tree.

Beavers aren't the only ones using the slides. If you look closely you can see the garter snake hurrying to escape my presence.

The dam continues to grow.

The water bugs appreciate all the beavers' hard work since it makes ideal places for them.

The beaver pond is still as glass.

Non-native bamboo grass and native stinging nettles grow along the water's edge

Even though more and more things are going to seed there are still plenty of blooms to be found,

Horse tail ferns continue to provide a fluffy green to the changing valley colors.

Seeds are everywhere in the valley.

Many kinds of grass seed and dandelion abound.

It looks as though the beavers may be adding a dam across Lost Creek.

I leave you today with this charming photo of the shadows creeping over the valley. Until next time.

Collecting all the Photo Blog Links and Looking at How the Dam has Grown

2011-08-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Since the Hidden Valley Photo Blog spent some time wandering around the internet before reaching its permanent home here I thought a collection of links to all the blogs would be in order.

The very first photo blog can be found here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.212409612130882.52549.104782249560286&type=1

At that point the dam was still small and didn't even stretch all the way across the creek.

The next one is located at http://www.flickr.com/photos/33350160@N02/sets/72157627033556608/

Photo Blog III appeared as a YouTube video. Number IV is another Facebook album http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.223736167664893.54721.104782249560286&type=1

It's surprising to see how much the dam had grown in just a month.

There was still a lot of water spilling through at that point.

Photo Blog V appeared in my other blog http://rangerandhiskat.blogspot.com/2011/07/hidden-valley-photo-blog-v.html and number VI was once again a Flickr set http://www.flickr.com/photos/33350160@N02/sets/72157627141476047/ It's easy to see how much taller the dam has gotten.

Photo Blog VII still hasn't been posted because the laptop where all the photos are is still being repaired. Blogs VIII and IX are here.

Until next time.

Hidden Valley Photo Blog IX

2011-08-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

We're privileged to have a special guest blogger this time. My 12 year old son accompanied me on my last visit and provides the photographs and text for this week's blog.

Hidden Valley is a very cool place. I enjoy going there with my mom. You can see beaver slides

You can also look at the beaver dam. Here is a view from above.

And this view is from in front of the dam.

Mom is standing in front of the dam so you can see the size of the dam compared to a 5'6" person.

Here are a couple of close up pictures of the dam. Beavers use lots of things for building material.

It's an amazing structure.

Beavers have very sharp teeth for chewing on trees.

I like exploring the creeks and looking at the interesting patterns of water on rocks.

This Daisy is one of the flowers you can find in the valley. You can see that it is almost done blooming.

The foxgloves are going to seed.

There are lots of things still blooming in Hidden Valley

This is one of the buildings that is in the valley.

I always learn something new when I go with Mom. This time I learned to identify Tansy

Wild Carrot

And Yarrow.

Until next time.

Hidden Valley Photo Blog VIII

2011-08-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been following the migration of Hidden Valley Photo Blogs around the web may notice that Photo Blog VII was skipped. Rest assured, as soon as the computer that is currently undergoing repairs comes home I'll post VII.

Hidden Valley played host to some unusual visitors recently. The Mountaineers Kitsap Branch was holding their Youth Theater Camp in the Forest Theater which is very near Hidden Valley. Campers and staff were given a special guided tour to Hidden Valley to view the beaver activity. Visit this link to see photos of the campers and staff as they view all the work the beavers have done. Hidden Valley Photo Blog VIII on Flickr

It was a remarkable experience for everyone. At least one camper reported that it was the best part of camp. Campers come expecting lots of physical activity, acting, singing, and dancing as they prepare for their end of week showcase but they didn't expect a chance to see a beaver dam and to learn about beavers. With the added bonus of two adults knowledgeable about woodland first aid the kids learned that maidenhair fern or slug slime are good remedies for stinging nettles and that apple leaves have antiseptic properties as well as lots lots more.

Until next time.

Work party Saturday, March 12, 10:00 am

2011-02-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

The purpose will be to attack the foreign invasive plants (weeds) growing there. Primarily we will be hand pulling roberts geranium. This will entail hands and knees work pulling weeds with thumb amd forefinger. For those who prefer or for those who need to take a break, we will have some himalayan blackberry to grub out by hand using picks or steel digging bars.

Meet at the Lodge parking lot at Ten and we will walk down the driveway to the valley. For those arriving later, walk down the drive or take the Theater trail, turn right at the backstage and walk along the trail to the Valley.

Bring work gloves, lunch, beverage, kneeling pad if you need it, optional pick or pruning snips.
Questions? Call Gardner at 425-226-6267 or zap @ gabionbucketworth@gmail.com.

Wildlife in Hidden Valley

2011-01-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

John Klemesrud (john@klemport.net) installed a motion-activated camera in Hidden Valley last November and captured some really fun images-- not only was there an eagle grabbing a salmon, but beavers passed by several times as well as a bear (complete with fogged-up lens). Enjoy!

Info about the Video
http://home.comcast.net/~klemport/movies/wildcatcreek_info.jpg

Wildcat Creek Video - November 2010(5:37 wmv 640x480 high quality version, 86mb)http://home.comcast.net/~jkvideos/WMV-640/WildcatCreek-Nov2010_640.wmv

Wildcat Creek Video - November 2010(5:37 wmv 320x240 medium quality version, 32mb)http://home.comcast.net/~jkvideos/WMV-320/WildcatCreek-Nov2010_320.wmv/

Salmon Walk at Rhododendron Preserve Sunday, November 21

2010-11-12T07:47:00.001-08:00

The salmon are spawning in the Chico Creek watershed! Meet at the parking lot at the Rhododendron Preserve/Forest Theater/Kitsap Cabin at 1:30 pm for a walk or wander.

We'll walk the Big Tree Trail to the bridge over Wildcat Creek, your first glimpse of the forest and the salmon, then continue up Lost Creek to the Big Tree, the 11-foot diameter Douglas fir that is the biggest publicly accessible tree in our area. Lost Creek is also home to thousands of spawning salmon.

On the way back, we'll also walk into Hidden Valley, where you can spend some more time watching the salmon then wander back up the hill at your leisure.

For more information on the Rhododendron Preserve, including a map: http://www.mountaineersfoundation.org/rhododendron-preserve

For directions to the parking area, see: http://foresttheater.com/driving-directions

October 16 Work Party

2010-10-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

The final 2010 work party will be Saturday, October 16. Please meet at the Kitsap Rhododendron Preserve/Kitsap Cabin parking lot off Seabeck Highway at 10:00 am. We'll provide pizza at 4:00 pm as a thank you for your efforts!

The purpose of the work party is to clean up immediate hazards to prepare for winter in the valley:

Winterize the Paschall house
Recycle/dispose of materials in the various buildings, including the caretakers house
Ivy girdling
Himalayan blackberry brushing and disposal
Burn pile cleanup
Sawzall metal tanks (propane, water, etc.) to prep for metals recycling

Please bring your favorite tools-- heavy work gloves, hand clippers, shovels, pick axes, hoes, loppers, etc. This time of year rain is always an option, so have rain gear and waterproof boots to work in. We'll provide drinking water and light snacks, but bring your lunch; we'll feed you but later in the day!

If you can provide any of these items, please contact Mindy Roberts (mindyr@uw.edu) right away): 4WD vehicle, small trailer for hauling trash and recycling up steep driveway, brush hog or heavy-duty mower, sawzall.

A huge thank you for those who helped at the July work party!

Great July 25 work party!

2010-08-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for your help. I can't believe we filled that entire dumpster! The valley is returning to its splendor, and all your work, especially in the heat, is very much appreciated! Kudos to Jamie 1 and Jamie 2, Doug, Jessica, Rebecca, Katha, Deborah, Diane, Paul, Gail, Walt and so many more (Jamie please send names)!

In the Paschall house, we found beautiful fir floors beneath the shag carpet and cleaned out all but the couch frame. Doug opened up some windows and removed some of the people proofing that had been installed.

In the caretakers house, we got rid of the old mattresses and bulkier materials.

Katha and Deborah spent hours carefully looking through the materials of the toolshed and 2-room cabin. Unfortunately, most was not savable, but we did set lots of goodies aside for future historical use and also reuse by other groups (though what Katha will do with the animal teeth is a bit of a mystery).

Jessica led a team that attacked the thistle, Himalayan blackberry, and ivy to the east of the main house. There's still a lot more to do on this, but we made a dent.

Paul and Mindy cleaned up the area around the greenhouse and gathered the reusable pots into the carport.

We also filled the carport with recyclables, including metal and glass.

We're still working on a date for a September work party, and I'll get some photos up to show our progress soon! We didn't want to go any longer without sending a big THANK YOU to the intrepid volunteers.

--The Mountaineers Foundation

Jamie

Work party date set: Sunday, July 25

2010-06-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

We have confirmed that Sunday, July 25, will be the date for a work party in Hidden Valley. Please watch this site for details.

If you can help out in any way, please email workparty@mountaineersfoundation.org.

We need people for a variety of tasks:

mowing pathways through the fields of grass
identifying and labeling native and landscaping plants
mapping gardens throughout the valley
disassembling a small greenhouse
loading burn piles into barrels for disposal
using loppers or chainsaws to girdle the ivy around trees
reviewing personal belongings and recommending options for keeping or giving away appropriate items (particularly if you knew Patience Paschall)
removing ivy from several small buildings
providing drinks and snacks for volunteers (we'll buy)
hosting a thank you BBQ for all volunteers (we'll buy the goodies) at the end of the day

Thanks in advance for anything you can offer!

Progress in the Valley

2010-05-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

An outstanding crew from the Washington Conservation Corps had a busy week beginning April 26!

WCC removed hundreds of feet of wire fences.
They removed household garbage from the mule shed, dismantled the building, and piled up recyclable materials for disposal.
The 70-tire pile behind the mule shed was also dismantled, and the tires moved across the creek awaiting disposal.
They cleaned up several more debris piles around the property, including another 25 tires scattered about.
The WCC crew began unearthing what we thought was an old i-beam, but it turned out to be 30 ft long and likely was an old bridge component discarded in the brush.
They dug up an old empty barrel.
The greenhouse also was dismantled to the concrete foundation, as was the chain link dog run.
Wood from the two downed buildings was piled for reuse (we hope-- if you make birdhouses or other crafts out of old wood please let us know!), and the garbage placed in dumpsters.
There are hundreds of nursery pots that were gathered and made available to the native plant salvage opportunities in early May (and if you know of someone who could use pots from 4" to 18" diameter, please contact me).

We're very excited that the crew unearthed the stone fireplace from the original homesteaders cabin. Unfortunately, fishing debris and construction materials were tossed on top of the ruins over the years. Once those were removed, the outline of the old cabin was evident.

We're still finalizing a date for a summer work party, but tentatively we're looking at July 25-- please keep that date open because we need your help!

May 16 Rhododendron Tour of Hidden Valley

2010-04-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Mountaineers Foundation will be leading a tour of Hidden Valley on Sunday, May 16, from 1 to 4 pm. The rhododendrons should be in full bloom-- deep reds to peach to light pinks, the hybrids are a riot of color. Meet in the parking lot of the Kitsap Cabin and Forest Theater (3000 Seabeck Highway NW, Bremerton). We'll be walking down the steep driveway, so have good footwear and be ready for a little hiking.

We'll give people an overview of the site history and talk about the plans for Hidden Valley for 2010 and beyond. There will be plenty of time to wander the site at your own pace as well.

The buildings are not open to the public and the grounds have uneven terrain so please be aware of the hazards on the site.

For more information, contact Mindy Roberts (mindyr@uw.edu). Spread the word and bring friends!

Hazardous waste removal and Washington Conservation Corps crew prep

2010-04-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

We had a busy day in the valley today! We removed hazardous waste, rolled a water tank down the hill, and prepared the valley for a crew from the Washington Conservation Corps who will be working on debris cleanup and small structure removal next week.

Eugene loaded up the back of his pickup truck with household hazardous waste-- old paint containers, gardening products, mysterious liquids, and a 30-gallon drum of grease. He inspected all of the other containers still onsite, and everything else can be disposed of as garbage. We still have to deal with two 55-gallon drums (empty), dispose of the caretakers' propane tank, take a sawzall to the Paschall house oil tank (empty), remove an empty barrel from the old greenhouse area, and move another large drum from near the Winneford cabin ruins over to the carport for metals recycling.

Mindy and Doug finished flagging the work areas in the valley and identified areas where we'll stockpile non-garbage items. Next week the focus is on the tire pile, mule shed, old greenhouse, and Winneford cabin ruins across Wildcat Creek and several small buildings, some already collapsed, near the carport, caretakers' house, and barn. We hope to remove a layer of debris and ivy from the Winneford ruins and see if there is anything of historical value.

Doug replanted a rhododendron that had been partially dug out, and he discovered the barrel near the greenhouse.

Mindy and Doug pulled wire fencing and barbed wire out of Wildcat Creek and onto the bank so it can be dug up and recycled next week.

Doug arranged for a site visit from Jesse at TRS to discuss disposal options. We'll have a dumpster up in the parking lot (can't make it down the driveway) for the garbage. We'll also stockpile metal waste, tires with and without rims, and concrete waste. Some landscaping materials are still usable, so we'll set those aside and see which of our volunteers can use them.

The trilliums are in bloom, as are several of the hybrid rhododendrons. There are still some daffodils blooming and a few tulips. The apple trees are in blossom, and the Japanese maples have leafed out. One limb of the maple near the barn came down last week, partially blocking the driveway extension to the caretakers house.

As a last hoorah, and to do something rather than just plan, Doug and Mindy walked up the hill above the orchard to an old water tank that probably was tossed from the parking lot. We rolled it down the hill, and the base of it separated and hit the orchard outbuilding with a satisfying thunk. We also picked up some metal waste and started a pile for recycling.

Progress 3/27/10

2010-04-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Four volunteers worked on different efforts in the Valley today tackling some of the preparation work needed in advance of clean up tasks:

Mark Hallman managed the valley's electrical system. He traced the line from the service pole near Kitsap Cabin through the forest (not down the driveway) to the Paschall house, where the main breaker is. He labeled all breakers in the main house and carport, then disconnected the service wires to the caretakers house. He also verified that the 2-room cabin had shorted (he capped those wires) and the barn had been disconnected several years ago.

Eugene Radcliff was in the valley, taking measurements of the various barrels and tanks in advance of disposal.

Gardner Hicks walked the trail from Forest Theater and battled a small patch of scotch broom for several hours.

Mindy Roberts flagged the immediate clean up and disposal sites with orange flagging to prepare for work crews in May.

Hidden Valley Introduction

2010-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Kitsap Hidden Valley blog!

Hidden Valley lies at the confluence of Lost and Wildcat Creeks in the Chico Creek watershed. The valley was home to Patience Paschall and her family, and most recently her caretaker, Harry Murray. Mr. Murray died in November 2009 and the Mountaineers Foundation (www.mountaineersfoundation.org) owns and now manages the Hidden Valley parcel as part of the Kitsap Rhododendron Preserve.

Over the next six months, we will be hosting a series of work parties to clean up the valley and begin to naturalize the site. If you can volunteer your time, either in the planning stages or at the work parties, please contact Mark Malnes (markm@savagecolor.com). Meanwhile, check this blog for status and upcoming activities.