 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
As a result, the mule - tough, intelligent, individualistic, often maligned, but the mainstay of the many packers and outfitters working in Wallowa County - was elevated to center stage for the first annual Hells Canyon Mule Days celebration on September 19 - 20, 1981. Hells Canyon was an appropriate title because that area owes most of its early settlement and development to the mule which predominantly served as a major means of transportation to gain access to this rugged region of the county. Given the well-known independence of Mule Days’ long-eared star, the entertaining, action-packed event has met its initial goal - both mule skinners and spectators a like can be part of this family oriented mule show, with events and games for all ages. HELLS CANYON MULE DAYS 1981 – WADE HALL & ETHEL THOMAS 1990 – JOE ONAIDIA & GUS MALAXA 2000 – FRED TALBOTT Written by Juanita Waters It’s been an interesting life for Carmen Kohlhepp... from being born in a tepee near the Canadian border in 1930... to becoming the 2009 Grand Marshal of Hell Canyon Mule Days. But, of all the stories that Carmen could tell you of her life, we’re going to focus mainly on the time she spent living in Hells Canyon and the nearby canyon country with her husband, Morris Kohlhepp. Carmen first met the love of her life, Morris Kohlhepp, while she was driving a taxi cab in Clarkston, Washington, as a young woman, and he’d come out of the canyon for a short trip to town. Morris went back to his stockman’s job in the canyon, and he and Carmen didn’t meet up again until 21 years later. This time she married Morris and followed him - as his wife- into the Kirkwood ranch where Morris was working for Bud Wilson. During her six and a half years in the canyon, Carmen cooked for the lambing and shearing crews at Kirkwood. Lambing and shearing usually lasted for about forty days... which was all the owner was willing to pay for. Carmen loved lambing season and seeing all the baby lambs come into this world! She came by her love for sheep naturally as her grandfather had owned two bands of sheep with his two brothers in the Methow Valley of Washington state. Shortly after lambing season the bands of sheep were trailed into the Seven Devils’ region of Idaho; and during her first few years in the canyon, Carmen learned to pack up and move camp by herself as they moved from one sheep camp to another. When young son, George, came along Carmen stayed at Kirkwood that summer of 1971. However, after that summer George trailed along with his mother and father following the sheep. In July of 1976 the young family left the Idaho side of the Snake River and Morris began working for Greg Johnson on the Oregon side of the river. The winter of 1976-1977 was spent at Sluice Creek. When George became old enough to begin school the family moved out of the canyon to Imnaha, where Morris worked for Will Wilde, and Carmen helped out by driving the car for Will’s wife, Kate, whenever Will was too busy with ranch work, as Kate had never learned to drive. After Morris passed away in 1989, Carmen ran a restaurant in Joseph, Oregon, known as Kohlhepp’s Kitchen until she sold the restaurant in 1996. She continued to cook for others while working at Alpine House in Joseph until 2002. She still occasionally rode the steep country between here and Imnaha helping her son, George, whenever he was short-handed and she had time. Once he put her on a pretty salty gelding which bucked with her... she stayed on! As you meet with visit with Carmen, enjoy her colorful down-home similes... such as “I’m about as happy as a chicken in a bug patch”, and then listen for her happy giggle! That this spunky lady still enjoys the outdoor lifestyle is evident in that she spent a ‘working vacation’ helping past Honorary Grand Marshal, Gene Westberg and his wife Bonnie, while cooking and camping out during summer cow camp near Ukiah. Carmen firmly believes that you are only as old as you feel! Congratulations, Carmen! You are well deserving of the recognition as the 2009 Grand Marshal of Hells Canyon Mule Days!
For Three Days of
Family Fun
|
|
©2007 Hells Canyon Mule Days info@hellscanyonmuledays.com 1-888-323-3271 | P.O. Box 50, Enterprise, OR 97828 Original website design ©2004 Hells Canyon Mule Days/LB Productions, Inc. website maintained and hosted by second chance productions |
In the Spring of 1981, local ranchers and packers
met with representatives of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce
and USDA Forest Service to explore the idea of putting together
a new county event. 