From the Prez
John's Notes & Updates
FS Wants Your Opinion
Pacific Crest Trail Update
Protecting Ecosystems
The Honey of A Question
SGVA Service Area Bigger
Trivia Fun
Book Review

Back Issues:

1998 October
1998 September
1998 August
1998 July
1998 June
1998 May
1998 April
1997 December
1997 October
1997 September
1997 August
1997 July

4-VICTOR is published by the San Gorgonio Volunteer Association, 34701 Mill Creek Road, Mentone, CA 92359. A non-profit organization in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest. The goals of the partnership are to educate the public to preserve and conserve our natural resources.

4-Victor newsletter edited by Ann Robinson

Portions of this newsletter may have been edited to present material applicable to the general viewing public.

JANUARY 1999
Volume 3 - Issue 1

From the Prez
Roger Gossett

I hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday season and are preparing for this New Year ahead of us. We might as well make the most of this year, what with everything coming to a standstill and the total chaos and ruin of switching to the year 2000 when it comes.

I went back to Ohio at Thanksgiving and boy was there a lot to give thanks for. As John mentioned in the last newsletter, Patti donated a kidney to her mom the first of November and by the time I got back there at Thanksgiving her mom was doing things she hadn't done in years. She was really excited about ‘adventures’ you and I take for granted, like going shopping on her own. (And I worry about having an occasional slow day up on the trail!)

On the flight back into Ontario I had an unexpected surprise. You had just had a fresh snow out here. As the plane passed over Calimesa, I had a great view of the San Gorgonio Wilderness area and the section of Momyer Trail we had worked on last season was clearly visible. It made me feel proud of this great group I work with and I started looking forward to another fun season with all of you. It won't be long until April rolls around. Ann Robinson told me just the other day that it has been a long enough break and she is looking forward to doing SGVA ‘stuff'’ again.

Our next Board Meeting will be 6:30 p.m., March 30th, at the Forest Supervisor's Office in San Bernardino. At our last meeting on January 19 we started our planning for the upcoming season, dates and ideas, etc. If you have questions, comments, or ideas that you would like to present to the Board, or if you just want to see for yourself how this unique group of people manages to perform the grueling task of managing this organization's mission, come on out. I really mean that as an invitation to any of you who may be interested. That is how an organization like this continues to grow, through the involvement of its membership, especially as diverse as this group is.

If you have ideas and cannot make it to the meeting, let us know, we want to hear them. You can reach me at home at (909) 797-8812. Please leave a message--I will answer. I can also be reached through e-mail at roger@sgva.org.

Forest Service Wants Your Opinion
John Flippin

According to an October 1998 news release, the US Forest Service wants public opinion about future Forest Service management. From my experience of being on the receiving end of such outreach, I know that while complaints can be useful and are accepted, constructive ideas and suggestions, no matter how seemingly far fetched, are most useful.

The Forest Service is developing the Forest Service Strategic Plan (year 2000). They will be using public meetings, e-mail, letters, surveys, and faxes to gain public insights about how future Agency programs should be managed. US Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck said, "Knowing and understanding the expectations of the American public for Forest Service programs in the 21st century is critical to determining the most appropriate long-term goals and objectives for Forest Service programs. We are committed to seeking public input before we develop our National Strategy."

The Forest Service is asking for written comments and will be conducting a public survey in early 1999. The Agency will be accepting written comments by mail, fax, and e-mail. Chief Dombeck said, "Once the draft strategic plan has been developed, it will be available for public review and comment."

You know the big corporations will get their opinions in. Now is your chance to easily get your opinion heard also. Written comments should be sent to:

Comments can be e-mailed to: resources.program/wo@fs.fed.us or faxed to Kathryn P. Maloney at (202) 205-1546. For additional information, please call (202) 205 -1235, or visit the Forest Service web site.

Pacific Crest Trail Update
Roger Gossett

As many of you know, besides SGVA and the Search and Rescue Team, I also volunteer as a trail maintenance coordinator for the Pacific Crest Trail. I was recently asked to help keep an eye on another stretch of the PCT and accepted the challenge. I was told that they would double my pay. Let's see, 2 times $00.00, what a chance! I now try to keep tabs on the trail from the Interstate 10 crossing at Whitewater up through the San Gorgonio area, out past Coon Creek and over Onyx Summit to Big Bear. If any of you happen to be out hiking or riding on the trail and can give me updates on conditions, positive or negative, I sure would appreciate it. You can contact me about any area of the trail in Southern California, for that matter, and I will be glad to pass on that info also. Thanks.

Protection and Improvement of Ecosystems
John Flippin

During the next couple of years you will probably hear and read about the Southern California Conservation Strategy (SCCS). It is a long-term effort to provide protection and improvement to ecosystems on the National Forests of Southern California. It is a collaborative effort across all Forests, including the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino. These four National Forests comprise what the Forest Service now calls the Southern Province of the Pacific Southwest Region.

The SCCS is an exciting and rewarding effort that will have many long-term benefits for the health of our land and its inhabitants - including humans. It will develop solutions for conserving threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and for improving the health of southern California ecosystems. But it will be challenging, expensive, and time consuming to develop and implement the measures and actions needed to conserve threatened and endangered species and help protect and improve all ecosystems. The land area is expansive and the populations surrounding or living within the Forests are very large. Still, there is no doubt that the SCCS will support the Forest Service mission of "Caring for the Land and Serving People." The overall long-term strategy is to complete amendments to each Forest's Land and Resource Management Plans. These amendments will result in changes to National Forest management which will, in turn, provide protection and improvement of ecosystems.

The SCCS also includes a very important communications plan. This plan will bring this conservation effort to the public, scientists, forest users, and Forest Service employees. There will be much review and collaborative effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, many scientists, and the general public. The information here was drawn from the first SCCS Gazette, Vol. 1, Issue 1, December 1998. Your 4-Victor Newsletter will keep you informed of future significant developments in this very promising Forest Service program.

To Be Bee Stung Or Not To Be Bee Stung? That’s a Honey Of a Question
John Flippin

As you may have read in the newspaper, Africanized honeybees (AHBs) have been found in the valleys around the San Bernardino National Forest. AHBs have been reported in Lytle Creek, Oak Glen, Hemet, and San Bernardino. In mid-December, a man operating some lawn equipment in San Bernardino unknowingly came too close to a hive of bees later determined to probably be AHBs (conclusive identification was to be made by a state lab). He was stung 90 times and three other people nearby were also stung. So now, as if we didn't have enough to be concerned about with rattlesnakes, lime-diseased ticks, and inexperienced hikers, we should also be aware of the possibility of running into some mighty defensive bees.

According to Laura Merrill, entomologist at the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station in Riverside, San Bernardino County should now be considered to be fully Africanized, which means that wild honey bee nests may contain AHBs. Wild nests should be avoided but such nests are almost impossible to spot. Laura suggests that the best defense is always having an escape route if hiking through rough terrain. She said most people can run away from the bees faster than they can put on protective clothing (although you may have to run quite a ways as AHBs will pursue an enemy 1/4-mile or more). If stinging bees are encountered, DO NOT just drop to the ground or just stand there and swat at them. Try to quickly determine where their nest might be and run in the opposite direction. Neither European honeybees nor AHBs attack for the fun of it--both sting in defense of their nests. Unfortunately, AHBs are more sensitive to threats at a greater distance and respond faster in greater numbers. If you suspect that you are allergic to bee stings, it is advised that you carry a head net that you can quickly get to.

I asked Laura whether there were any known elevation limits for AHBs. Laura said altitude is not an impediment to the AHB but cold is. A colony has to be in place for a while (at least a month, usually more) to have enough brood, etc., to be defensive. So maybe late in the summer they could be a problem at the higher altitudes in which we perform our volunteer work in and around the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The bees would have to move up in the spring, which may be a rare event until local valley populations get higher (in a year or two). AHBs have been found at 5,000 feet on the desert side of the Big Bear area.

I will have detailed "Bee Alert" leaflets posted at Mill Creek and Barton Flats. I will also keep volunteers informed of any AHBs reported near where we perform volunteer services.

John’s Notes and Updates 
John Flippin-Volunteer Coordinator

First Aid First

Just a reminder that all volunteers are required to have basic first aid training. Why? Because all volunteers are likely to be out serving the public and working independently (without on-site Forest Service supervision) where they will be 30 minutes or more away from professional emergency medical technicians. Most of us are used to living and working where professional medical personnel can reach us within 10 minutes.

Since most of our first aid cards expire after three years, please check the currency of your first aid training and get it updated as soon as possible, if necessary. For your safety, we cannot allow you to continue on volunteer duty if you do not have a current basic first aid card/certificate.

Training is available at many places including local Red Cross Chapters, junior colleges, and adult school programs in many school districts. Also, the yellow pages list several businesses offering training, e.g., the Center for Healthcare Education in Riverside and the California Health and Education Center in Redlands. The SGVA will reimburse you up to $20.00 for your first aid training.

Volunteer Work Can Be Less Taxing

If you itemize deductions for your federal and state income tax returns, you may deduct transportation expenses for volunteer work. You can deduct 14 cents a mile, or the actual cost of gas and oil, for driving to and from your volunteer work. This deduction is reported on Schedule A (Form 1040).

If you are in the lowest tax bracket (15%) and live close, this deduction could save you a couple dollars for each volunteer trip to the mountains. You'll save even more if you are in a higher tax bracket or live a great distance away like many of our volunteers do.

Of course, Uncle Sam likes records. An easy way to keep him happy is by simply recording your mileage on the volunteer scheduling letters sent to you. Then keep the letters with your other tax papers. Also, don't forget your trips to training sessions, board meetings, the printers, the post office, the supply store, etc.--anything in support of the volunteer program.

Jan Gudgell and Pat Peters, as you have seen, have done an excellent job of reporting, writing, editing, printing, and mailing for the 4-Victor for the past several years. Although they will continue to volunteer out on the trail, we will certainly miss their expertise on the 4-Victor as they move into other community volunteer services.

We've also been very lucky to have Ann Robinson, computer enthusiast, as our 4-Victor layout editor. Although Ann may be moving from southern California for a couple of months, she wishes to continue helping with newsletter layout until we find new editors. Ann has done another great job with this issue.

If you, or someone you know, would like the opportunity to help keep this very important link between volunteers going, please contact John Flippin, Volunteer Coordinator. Someone with the time and desire could handle the entire production. Or the time can be split up in as many as four ways - overall managing editor, layout editor (design and production), print manager, and distribution (mailing) manager. And, of course, we always need more reporters. The 4-Victor is extremely important to the success of the volunteer program. It keeps us informed about what is happening on the forest and what other volunteers are doing, and it helps to keep us a unified team. If you can help in any way, please let us know.

SGVA Photo Contest

Late next summer we plan to have a photo contest with fabulous prizes for 1st - 3rd place winners in several categories. We are giving you advance notice now so you can begin to capture those prize shots in and around the San Gorgonio Wilderness which may include some winter shots (I hope we have some winter). Categories will include San Gorgonio Wilderness Beauty, Volunteers at Work, Forest Visitors, Forest Humor, and Animals Up Close. We will accept only color slides with 5x7 print copies, both will be returned. Photos of people should have been taken after Jan 1, 1998. The contest will be open to SGVA members only, not to include the contest chairperson, judges, or the Volunteer Coordinator. More detailed contest rules and the entry deadline (probably Aug 31) will be announced in a future edition of the 4-Victor. SMILE!

Exotic Mountain Getaway In the Tall Cool Pines

Before you know it we will be starting another exciting summer at the Barton Flat Visitor Center. We are very happy to say two of last year's Visitor Center managers, Glen and Marcia Riddle, will be back with us. Our other managers, Ed and Lane Lutz, hope to come up periodically to lend a hand but Lane's doctor is still not letting her stay for long periods at high altitude. So we are looking for someone else who can bring their trailer or motor home to Barton Flats and help Glen and Marcia on a more permanent basis. Primary duties are light maintenance around the Center and staffing the visitor desk.

Please ask around amongst your friends to see if there is someone who would like to spend some time in this beautiful environment while having fun serving the public. We would like someone who can stay from mid-May through mid-October. BUT if that is not possible, we most need someone who can stay May 14 - 31, a couple of one-week periods during the summer, and September 6 - October 10. Free sewer, water, and electricity hookups are available. Those interested may call John Flippin anytime at 909-790-2157

Many of you know Jim Fuller, a founding director, past vice-president, and past 4-Victor editor for the SGVA. Jim was a patrol, trail maintenance, visitor center, and astronomy volunteer in the San Gorgonio area for over 16 years. Late last summer Jim retired from his paying job and moved to some recently purchased land in the wilds of Oregon.

So if you'd like a change of scenery for your volunteer work or would just like to say hi to Jim, contact him at 334 Jeannie Way, Cave Junction, OR 97523.

"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter, copyright 1976.

Published by University of New Mexico Press, paperback edition is at, or can be ordered by, most bookstores.

A few ACTUAL comments received in the Bridger Wilderness registration sheets and comment cards:

If "Con" is the opposite of "Pro" - what is the opposite of PROGRESS?

Send comments or questions by email