We arrived
at Camp Alpine on October 31, 2013. Our first day at camp was one of awe and
peace. It was the second most beautiful place we had been to on earth, only
second to Kauai. We were blessed to live in the beautiful home at the camp. It
was a place where we felt immediately comfortable and anxious to get to work.
Some of the most memorable experiences we recall…
During our
first winter, we received over 24 inches of snow in three days. We didn’t think
we would even see snow in Oregon, but it was labeled a “60-year event”. The
camp hadn’t received that much snow for 60 years. It caused widespread damage
to the forest, breaking limbs, topping trees and bringing many trees down. A
large tree fell across the Rainbow Creek Road, blocking the entrance. We could
not get out and no vehicle could get in. Using our Polaris ATV and chainsaws,
the elders were able to clear the path. This storm created hazardous trees that
had to be removed. We cut up and split approximately 50 cords of fire wood
resulting from the above damage. We
spent many hours cleaning up the forest and burning slash. We had a great fire for hot dogs and
marshmallows. (Picture 2). During that
time, we also discovered bobcat tracks going through the lower confidence
course and up the boundary trail. Many hours were also spent cleaning and
trimming the area known as the Christmas Tree Plantation, an area that was
replanted after the harvest of the Christmas trees that paid for the purchase
of the land for Camp Alpine. As we winterized the camp, we updated the written
plan to correct mistakes and provide clear information to those who would
follow us. We located key points on the water line and labeled the circuit
breaker box at Helaman Hall. It was a tedious process, but one we used
constantly. The Confidence Course elements were repaired, maintained and
improved during our mission. Our confidence course directions were rewritten
and clarified. Changes were made to bring each element in line with Oregon
Safety Codes. When we arrived, the five miles of hiking trails had just been
completed and were marked with magic marker signs. Elder Tolman made permanent wooden signs,
clearly marking the trails and redesigned the trails map. He helped Elder
Tucker place wood chips on all the trails, making them safer for hiking. Together, in the rain, Elder and Sister
Tolman built a roof over each of the 1-cord sheds in the shop area. These sheds
are for fire wood donated to widows and needy people in the 3-stake area. It
kept the wood dry and not growing mushrooms. Elder Tolman built a small shed in
the shop area to store donated lumber used to make camp repairs. We installed a
pegboard in the tool shed and organized the tools on it.
Now for the
MOLES!!! They are such a pain. Elder Tolman took on the moving of these pests
to the “other side” with real intent. He tried gassing them, burning them and
finally found some traps that worked. Here is a pic of his “wall of fame” on
the retaining wall of a few of his trophies.
They stayed there for a while, when they became too gross and he put
them in the dumpster. He trapped many,
many moles in the summers we were there. The UPS delivery man commented each
time he made a delivery, until he told us they were looking very sad!
Eagle
projects are a big thing at Camp Alpine. Many, many scouts completed hours and
hours of service, making the camp a much better place. Elder Tolman worked with
several scouts on their Eagle projects. One we really remember is completing
the retaining wall behind the residences. It was quite the challenge and
improved the residential area.
In June of
2014, we received a request from our directors to add Camp Alpine to the
on-line reservation system on the church website. Reservations had been made by phone and word
of mouth up to this point. Sister Tolman
worked many hours with the help of the Lord and church technology headquarters,
setting up, organizing and moving existing reservations to the new system. Camp
Alpine went to the online system on September 15, 2014. From that time through
the end of August, the usage doubled as it made it easier to both book and pay
for a reservation on line. It reduced the amount of office work by a bunch!
In February
of 2015, the floors were replaced in the house. New tile was laid in the
kitchen area and both bathrooms. All furniture and personal items were removed
from the house, and new carpet was laid throughout the other rooms, making the
home clean and updated.
In June of
2015, we had an accident at camp when one of the participants using the pond
zip line fell through the safety net at the starting platform. The zip line was
immediately shut down and plans were made for repairs, update, or shutdown. The
prospect of having it closed during the summer months of YW camps was a
possible reality. Having to contract the work and paying for it was not
feasible, or timely, as the zip line is the number one attraction during the
summer. Elder Tolman and Elder Stapley, with the managing skills of Elder
Tucker (who was not allowed to lift a finger due to a broken neck injury)
rebuilt the platform for the zipline in 3 days.
The repairs were guided by the Lord, as neither elder had much
experience in this type of structure. They were also under his protection
during the process, hanging over edges and pounding upside down. They were
truly inspired at every point. Later,
when it was inspected by an engineer, it passed the state inspection.
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