Celebrating With Cherished Friends

It was March, 1927 when I arrived from Oklahoma to a small southeastern Oregon town named Nyssa. My brother Alfred, two years older than me, brought me back with him after spending the winter holidays at our parents home in Oklahoma. My brother had been in this area for two years, as a beekeeper. He promised me some beekeeping work and knew another beekeeper in the area who promised me work in his apiary.

Wilbur Foster was well-established in beekeeping in this area. He and his wife Ruth had a large family. Howard Foster was 13, one year younger than my youngest brother. A family-like friendship developed. Howard and I have been brotherly friends for sixty-six years. We have kept in touch all this time. A rich experience indeed!

The Foster's had a neighbor named Mr. Walters. He was a wealthy stockman and banker. He and his wife had two daughters and two sons. I had not been in Nyssa long before I became acquainted with Grace, their youngest daughter. She was a pretty, blue-eyed brunette. Grace was still in high school.

She and I became close friends. Our friendship was akin to a brother and sister relationship. Grace was near the age of my sister with whom I had graduated from high school, May 28, 1926. In fact, Grace and my sister Floyce resembled each other in physical appearance. Perhaps this fact was responsible for an unpredicted family-like tie of friendship that has lasted a lifetime. One time I showed my sister a photo of myself with Grace and asked her if she remembered when the photo was taken. For a long time my sister thought the photo was of herself and me. I told her how much alike she and Grace looked. She was amused!

During the summer of 1928, the Walters family moved to Riggins, Idaho, a small town in the Seven Devils Mountains through which the mighty Snake River flows. The river canyon is known as Hell's Canyon. It is the dividing boundary between Oregon and Idaho. The only access to this Wilderness at that time was by foot or horseback, if you did not use an airplane.

Howard and I were invited to spend Fourth of July holidays with the Walters family. I had an old Model T Ford pickup truck and we drove to the rugged mountain area for vacation, about 200 miles distance from Nyssa, along the banks of the Salmon River.

A brother of Grace had shot a cub bear near their home the same day we arrived. For dinner that evening we all had a fun-filled experience. We were treated to bear steaks! This was a new experience for Howard and me. We chewed on the steak morsels, but the more we chewed the larger the meat became. The brother teased us by saying, "That's the way we stay healthy. We chew the bear meat so long that it becomes too large to swallow!" On the following days we had different experiences--unforgettable experiences!

After a hearty breakfast on our second day, Howard and I were joined by Grace along with her tiny, white poodle dog, "FiFi." We drove to Rapid River where we parked "Ole Lizzy." The hike up Rapid River was by a narrow, steep, rocky trail. The trail was so steep it was like climbing a stairway, but more difficult because in some places the loose gravel slipped under our feet. For each two steps forward we would slip back one step. The elevation gain was about 1000 feet per mile. It was six strenuous miles to Mr. Walters' cabin on Rapid River. Food and rest were waiting with Mr. Walters as our host at his cabin. We were not accustomed to mountain climbing. The higher elevation caused our difficult breathing. Two miles per hour was very laborious climbing. Our trip back would be much easier. The scenery was beautiful!

The Walters' cattle and sheep grazing area consisted of thousands of acres. The cabin was mountain headquarters for their summer grazing operations.

We would be treated to real mountaineer food. We each had a horse to ride to the edge of Hell's Canyon, a breathtakingly beautiful view.

On the Fourth of July we played on the snow covered peaks. It was great fun sliding down the glaciers which lasted year round. We found snow caves with dripping icicles. On one peak we found a pocket of glistening red garnets. We called them "leaverite gems"--meaning we left them in their natural setting. I'm sure they have been gathered by collectors long ago because this area now has many trails and roads open to vehicles and people. We discovered a prospectors deserted cabin occupied by pack rats. In the pack rat infested cabin we found a few wood carved souvenirs.

Grace related to us an experience she had in this wild country. One evening while riding horseback, her horse came to a sudden stop, then turned the opposite direction at the edge of a pine tree grove. The sudden surprise movement nearly threw Grace off her spirited steed. The frightened horse escaped the charge of a hungry cougar which had been perched on a tree limb. Grace was saved by horse sense.

On a steep downhill trail the horse on which Howard was riding came to a sudden stop. Howard was glad he did not fall from the saddle. A big rattlesnake was coiled, ready to strike from the middle of the trail. The quick action of the experienced trail horse dislodged a stone which rolled toward the venomous reptile. He slithered from his striking position to escape. Another example of horse sense!

Together Grace and I studied the life cycle of the Salmon fly, an insect well-known in Idaho streams. An article on that subject in National Geographic Magazine confirmed we had been correct in our discovery.

In February, 1932, I went to Oregon State College to complete my B.S. degree in Economic Entomology. Grace moved permanently to Riggins. She married Stuart Aitkens, a wealthy stockman. They raised a nice family. Our friendship has continued for over sixty-six years. Paintings of local scenery by Grace Aitkens have become very popular.

My last trip through this wilderness area was by automobile driven by Grace. The area we criss-crossed by well-maintained roads traveled by many vehicles. A small lake stocked with trout was popular with fishermen. A picturesque scene lingers in my mind. Along the curved mountain road's edge I discovered a spotted fawn deer. Its still, lifeless-like body lying in a sunny spot on the road bank. Killed by that downhill pickup truck a few minutes ago we concluded! When I touched the fawn's foot with a stick it jumped to life! It joined its waiting mother on a nearby grassy knoll.

The pioneer residents of this region famous for its wilderness, wildlife and the River of No Return, dislike heavy traffic and the fast growing population that has invaded this peaceful life style of former years. Growth requires change.

A period of three years lapsed without direct news or communication. Many events had occurred in my life as well as in the life of my friend in Riggins. But the chain would not be broken. Howard called me to say he had traveled through that area in May of 1991. Howard related his memory of our visit in July, 1928. He did not recall the address of our mutual friend. This reminder caused me to revive an effort to update information of a long-time friend. Several phone calls were made to the number. I had many years without an answer. Finally on July 15, 1994 I was successful in getting an answer. It was Grace. She was delighted to have received my call. Grace is well and active at age 83. "Harold, you have made my day! Let us not forget to keep in contact. Our lifetime pledge, remember?"

© Copyright 1997 Harold Wm. Wood

This page is maintained by Dr. Wood's son, Harold W. Wood, Jr., of Visalia, California.
My E-mail address is: harold@planetaryexploration.net

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