“Let Our Forest Heal” march covers 54 miles from Comptche to Ukiah

UKIAH, CA., 10/7/16 – “It’s been a wonderful thing,” said Marggie Chandler, one of the organizers of the “Let Our Forest Heal” protest, as they marched into at Alex Thomas Plaza in Ukiah. From Saturday until Tuesday the group trekked 54 miles on foot, four days altogether from Comptche to Philo to Ukiah, to protest the practice of “hack-and-squirt,” a controversial forestry management practice banned under Measure V last June by 62% of Mendocino voters.

The number of marchers fluctuated between 12 and 20 members despite the first fall rains. Some wore hand-painted cloaks, green and brown, depicting conifer trees and a small group of young men took turns carrying a six foot redwood log and tan oak branches. They walked along the 128 and the 253, greeted by supporters and camping out until they reached Ukiah, where their final destination was the log deck at the Mendocino Redwood Company.