Sad News for the North Fork

[hemingray]

The North Fork American River lost its most eloquent advocate last week. Russell Towle, Dutch Flat resident and a prolific writer about our local gem, was tragically killed in an auto accident last week.

http://www.colfaxrecord.com/detail/90681.html

He was a gentle campaigner for preserving the North Fork, and even as an ATV rider I support the effort to keep certain areas free of motorized vehicles. The North Fork's status has preserved this amazing gem and Russell had much to do with it. Before I got into ATVs, I enjoyed cruising the forest roads and trying to get as close as I could to the canyon, and could only imagine what it looked like from inside. In searching for more information, I ran across Russell's writings and was fascinated by his descriptions of the trails, the history, finding evidence of the mining past of the area. He also restored old trails, investigated the history and wrote about it, and continued to show what an amazing treasure we have in our back yard.

He's also written much about the history of Dutch Flat, and also about some of the San Mateo County coastline - near Pescadero - with the same depth as the motherlode. He also had a mathematics background and interest as well.

I am very sad to not have met this remarkable man, and sadder still for his family's loss.

If you have an interest in the North Fork American, check out his writings at

http://northforktrails.blogspot.com/

Dave