Summertime In Happy Camp

July 2006 - According to the sign on the east side of town, Happy Camp is the Home of Outdoor Family Recreation and the Steelhead Capital of the World. And summertime is the season when most of the fun happens here. Despite temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees, we've been having lots of good times. Tourists have been coming to and through town with regularity both on the river and on the highway.

The Tenth Annual Karuk Tribal Reunion

On June 24 the Karuk Tribe held their tenth annual reunion. Each year during the reunion weekend dozens of Karuks come here from the coast, from Yreka, and even from other states. Together they celebrate their culture and ancestry at the Karuk Community Center on Second Avenue.

This year's reunion featured games for children and adults, a Karuk traditional demonstration dance, card games, a health fair, a 5K fun run, a 3K fun walk, an open horseshoe tournament, volleyball games, vendors, information booths, and more. Full-blooded Karuk tribal members and Elders were honored. Dinner included traditionally prepared smoked salmon and acorn soup and a dance at the River Park pavillion featured the Merv George band.

For more information on the Karuk Tribe and activities at their People's Center, see the Karuk Tribe Website.

Swimming

Meanwhile lots of people have been out swimming in the creeks or rafting on the river. Nearby creeks with terrific swimming holes include Elk Creek, Indian Creek, Clear Creek, and Dillon Creek. There's no place better to be on a hot summer day. There's something very comforting about being totally wet when the heat outside is raging. A hat helps too.

New 49'er Legal Victory

The New 49'ers Prospecting Club is celebrating its victory in a lawsuit intended to limit dredging rights in the Klamath River. Club founder Dave McCracken announced in his June Newsletter that on June 16, Alameda Superior Court Judge Sabraw issued a written order denying motions from both the Karuk Tribe and Department of Fish & Game (DFG) to enter a judgment which would have shortened or eliminated important suction dredge seasons in Siskiyou County. Now local dredgers are either in the water, or planning to be in it soon. Many are still waiting for the river to slow down. As the water level drops miners get better access to gold deposits.

A January press release from the Karuk Tribe explained that they filed the lawsuit against the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) claiming that the agency was “failing to adequately protect fish from the negative impacts of suction dredge mining.” Their statement said, “The practice harms fish by suctioning up and killing salmon eggs and frye, modifying the streambed, and degrading water quality." Hillman Tripp was quoted as saying, “The overall impacts to miners will be minimal, but the benefit to the fishery and the local economies that depend on the fishery will be huge.”

Dave McCracken and plenty of local prospectors disagreed. According to McCracken's July Newsletter, the New 49'ers Prospecting Club spent over 55 thousand dollars in legal fees to be included as a party to the lawsuit which was filed in Alameda County, and which they'd originally been left out of and not informed of. McCracken has included a comprehensive collection of information on his website to document the lawsuit's progression: Karuk's Challenge to California's Dredging Regulations.

Happy Camp River Run Motorcycle Rally

From June 30 to July 2 the annual Happy Camp River Run hosted dozens of motorcyclists from far away places. The River Run is sponsored by the Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce and gives bikers a chance to visit our area, enjoy the ride on Highway 96, and hang out together for a few days. This year as always there were bike games, a poker run, and pancake breakfasts. Music at Friday night's dance was provided by the local Genuine Draft Band, and Saturday night's dance featured the MTV band. The annual bike show categories were antiques, custom bikes, full dressers, cruisers, sport touring bikes, foreign bikes, and rat bikes.

School Break

Happy Camp children are enjoying their breaks from school. Besides frequent trips to swimming holes they've been seen tubing on Indian Creek, enjoying the Community Computer Center games, and simply hanging out with friends.

Dreamcatcher

One of the big news stories of the year is being suppressed in anticipation of the completion of the project. But if you're wondering what that creative looking thing is at the corner of Davis and Indian Creek, think “Dreamcatcher”. When finished it will join the Bigfoot statue as an amazing and artistic local cultural landmark.

Bigfoot

There have been no new Bigfoot sightings reported to Happy Camp News this year. If anyone has seen something that could have been a Bigfoot in this area, the phone number to call with a report is 510-493-5125. Local Bigfoot researchers are always eager to follow up on sighting reports that sound reasonable.

Wildflowers

The annual parade of wildflowers continues to amaze and delight us. Somehow lupine and golden poppies failed to appear locally this year but the sweet peas and chicory are plenteous. Blackberry season will soon be in full swing so get your pails and pie recipes ready.

Coleman 3-Room 8-Person Tent - 13x13'

Who needs a camper when you've got a Coleman tent? This spacious 3-room tent is perfect for families and sleeps up to 8. Room dividers turn unit into 3 rooms for privacy and organization. Main dome features 2 oversized doors meeting at a right angle, turning this room into a screened-in porch. Smaller sleeping domes attach to the other 2 walls. Ceiling vents provide air circulation throughout entire tent. Rainfly includes coverage of windows and doors. Also features carrying bag, 2 storage pockets, water-repellent thread, webbing and zippers, inverted seams with inside stitching, leakproof welded floor seam, polyurethane-coated fabric, shock-corded fiberglass poles, pole sleeves and frame clips. Sleeps 8. Blue and gray. 27 lbs. No. 9261C133D. Imported. 13'Lx13'Wx72" center height.

Wenger WG31209 Massif II 4-Room Radical Dome Tent

* Measures 18 by 18 by 7.6 feet (W x D x H)
* 4-room dome tent with 172 square feet of floor space
* Polyester taffeta construction with 600mm coating for rain and wind resistance
* 1 main room and 3 satellite rooms; each include a Dutch "D" door for easy exit
* Includes mesh utility pockets, mud mat, and roll-top folding table
4-room radical dome tent made of polyester taffeta tent body and rip-stop design. Rainfly features double pass polyurethane coating. Polyethylene rip-stop floor.

Coleman 8185B559 Taos 25 Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag

The Coleman 8185B559 Taos 25-Degree Tall Sleeping Bag is a comfortable three-season mummy-style sleeping bag. At 32-inches by 82-inches, the tall-size Taos fits most body types up to six-feet-two-inches long. With 38 ounces of Hollofil-808 insulation, this moderate-temperature sleeping bag keeps you warm in temperatures down to 25-degrees Fahrenheit. Features include a nylon cover with a nylon liner, and a stuff sack.

All Coleman sleeping bags are designed with ComfortSmart technology to keep you comfortable. The Taos' ComfortSmart features include: ZipPlow which plows fabric away from the zipper to prevent snags, Fiberlock which prevents insulation from shifting and increases durability, Thermlock which reduces heat loss through the zipper thereby keeping you warmer, and Zipper Glide tailoring which allows smooth zipper operation around the corner. This Coleman sleeping bag is designed to provide the most comfortable overnight stay in cold weather.

K-Cliffs Harvest 7000 Cubic Inch Internal Frame Hiking Backpack

* 12"x15.5"x12" Lower compartment or sleeping bag compartment.
* 2 Zippered Side Compartments (9"x 5"x 4").
* Two waist level water bottle holders.
* Thoracic strap between shoulder straps.
* 10"x 10"x 5" Pocket in top cover.

7000 CUBIC INCHES OF PACK SPACE. Dimensions of Main and Lower Compartments - 39"x12"x15.5". The main compartment is top loading with a flap and top compartment that clip down over it. This includes three draw straps in front which allow for expansion. Lower area is accessible by an outside U-Zipper or by the main compartment from the top. Long-Distance padded shoulder and waist straps. Multiple adjustments on shoulder straps and waist straps allow you to choose a good fit for your back. Also - Shoulder straps can be disconnected at the center of the pack and moved up and down for proper adjustment. Total of 6 adjustments of 1.3" each. Air Flow Back pads for the maximum in comfort. Rear Gigantic ZIPPER acts to compress pack loads for greater stability and comfort. Side, Top, Middle and Bottom Compression straps for the most secure loading. Plenty of extra straps, bungee shock cord and loops for ice ax, walking stick, climbing gear or what have you. Already a popular pack in Asia, new to the US. Two Internal Frame Stays and flexible back panel for one of the most stable and comfortable frame and support systems available. All Stitching is folded and rolled for greatest durability (double stitched at critical points all around the pack ). Complete Rain Cover located in pocket on lower compartment. 100% Okbuybuy GUARANTEE.