The Canyon Weekly February 8, 2012
Volume 3, Issue 6
News and Life - For Our Side of the Mountain!
Serving the communities of Lyons, Mehama, Elkhorn, Mill City, Gates, Niagra, Detroit, Breitenbush, Idanha and Marion Forks
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Lyons firefighters climb stairs to raise funds for blood diseases Two local volunteers train for the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb, collect cans and organize a “Fill The Boot” collection to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
By Michelle Gates
Two local firefighters, Byron Brown and Walter Dyer, are getting ready to climb almost 800 feet of stairs to raise money for a little girl named Lilli SkinnerTrippe, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive leukemia at just eight months old. It’s part of the annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb, which
Detroit resumes bike way plans Average “credit card cyclist” spends $30 a day, could lead to huge economic boost for the area By Michelle Gates
Residents and business owners in Detroit are resuming efforts to distinguish the town as a stopping point for bicyclists coming
organizes local fundraisers to climb 69 flights of stairs - in full gear - at the Columbia Center in Seattle on March 11, 2012. The top climbers can make it in 11 minutes. But even the fittest participants had a hard time last year, said Byron Brown. “It’s fun, but it’s intense. We just pace ourselves...we’re not setting any land speed records.” To prepare, the (cont’d on page 2) north from Estacada, along Hwy 46 and down Breitenbush Rd. To do that, they’re working with state and local agencies to designate the 70 mile scenic hwy as an official bike route. The route will be called the Estacada/Detroit Lake Bikeway and the Detroit Lake Bikeway Committee wants to integrate the cycle-friendly concept into area businesses - with bike accessible hotels and stores that carry replacement equipment. “We want visiting cyclists to say ‘Wow, they get it’,” said Sarah Miller, bike path organizer and manager of The Lodge at Detroit Lake. “We want them to see a community that respects
Walter Dyer (top) and Byron Brown (left). riders and rider safety.” Financially, their efforts could bring an economic boost to the area. “We already have a lot of services available,” said Jessie Kiefer , manager at Cedars Restaurant. There’s the potential for tour guides, too. And the growing trend of “credit card cycling” could bring an influx of spenders. “These people average $30 a day,” said Kiefer. The group is aiming for state designation of the highway from Estacada to Detroit. The City of Estacada is planning to partner with them since over there, they developed park-n-ride in place. Most of the route is managed under the USFS and takes about
a day to ride. To get the bicyclefriendly designation, the group needs to secure route signs and create a map - and they’re looking for avid cyclists to help them create stopping points and localized route difficulty ratings. And while some might consider the highway a safety challenge, the USFS will not give it a designated bike lane - it’s rated better than downtown Portland, said Grady McMahan from the USFS, Detroit Ranger District. “The forest service sees it as a way to get people through the forest,” said McMahan, at a recent area meeting. “It’s a slower way...so people can really enjoy it.” Info: sarahnoellemiller@gmail.com.
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