Living in sync with nature

He would get up at dawn and watch the sun rise. For Bob Twiss, it set the tone for the day. From an early age, his father instilled in him a love for the out-of-doors, hunting, and fishing. His early years spent in the woods laid the foundation for his life’s work. Bob is dedicated to the preservation and protection of everything that the wilderness holds.

Born during the Depression in Chicago, his family was frugal and hardworking. Eventually they moved out west, with Bob going to high school and then completing his degree in conservation from San Jose State University. In the summer he would go to Yosemite, playing his banjo at sing-along beach parties on the lush banks of the Merced River, continuing and adding to the traditions of his youth.

He served in the US Air Force as a tactical fighter pilot and did photo reconnaissance in the Michigan Air National Guard. “I was 22 years old going 300 miles an hour doing skip-bomb training in a single engine jet.” stated Bob, “It put things in perspective: making it clear what was truly trivial, and what carried actual significance.”

This ability to sort out what was really important served him well throughout his career, particularly in the 40 years he would spend working on projects in Tahoe and participating in the formation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. His continued endeavors with the California Attorney General’s office as a consultant put all of these essential concepts to work.

He received both his master’s and Ph.D. from the School of Natural Resources, University of Michigan. Even though he had two small children, he somehow managed to be part of the “Boll Weevil Jazz Band,” playing banjo. They focused on tunes by such greats as Jelly Roll Morton and Turk Murphy.

“Performing the banjo, I learned to listen to other people, put all the elements together, and make it work,” remarked Twiss, “I used these same skills in all levels of teaching, planning research, and consultation.” Bob is a Professor Emeritus of Environmental Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, and has also served foreign governments and institutions (China, Mexico, Australia), and was a Special Representative of the United Nations to Montenegro. Bob was Faculty Principal Investigator for the research program that put the world’s first web-based Geographic Information Systems into the public domain in 1993. Today, he continues to be a consultant in the field of environmental planning.

Bob and his wife Amy Skewes-Cox were an obvious and natural match when they met in Berkeley. They held the same values, were strong believers in the democratic process, and were willing to take a stand for the environment. They will be married 40 years next August.

Early in their relationship, someone happened to mention to Amy that there was incredible cross-country skiing in Alpine County. Neither she nor Bob had ever been before, but made their way to Sorensen’s Resort, expanding their love for each other to include the wildlands here in Alpine County. The owners of Sorensen’s at that time knew of their commitment and called them when a special parcel of land became available that they felt would be perfect. They were right, and the family camped out in the historic ranger’s cabin overlooking what was to become their meadow, and built their own house on the property four years later.

Amy is the third generation of her family who have lived in Marin County. She had grandparents who immigrated from Chile in 1928, and she has gone to see the beautiful Patagonian peaks and coastal Chilean City of Valparaiso of her ancestors many times. She and Bob still maintain the Marin family homestead, residing there part of the year. Their son, Carson, who is now a resident in orthopedic surgery, attended schools in Marin when he was growing up, yet always kept his heart connected to the Markleeville mountains. As an infant, his crib was set up in the ranger’s cabin, complete with kerosene lanterns.

Coming from a long line of artists and architects, Amy has an innate gift for aesthetics. She lived with a weaver in Denmark, and has long been a  student of natural dyes. Using natural fibers is her passion, and the delicious colors she is able to concoct using dyes made from roots, leaves, and twigs are remarkably rich.

After receiving her degree in the Conservation of Natural Resources at Berkeley, she went on to obtain her master’s in landscape architecture and environmental planning. She has worked on environmental impact reports, initial studies for projects, and the development of Master Plans throughout the state of California. She is an expert in understanding, reviewing, and implementing the California Environmental Quality Act for the state. She has her own consulting business specializing in land use and environmental planning.

Both Bob and Amy work in fields that can generate a lot of emotion over the issues at hand. “Save up any anger,” says Amy, “Do the research and know the actual facts.” This has allowed each of them to accomplish much in their individual careers in a peaceful and productive manner.

Locally, Amy has been the Interim County Planner for Alpine in 1995 and wrote the first Specific Plan for Kirkwood. Both of them feel strongly about Alpine County being able to retain its “High Sierra flavor” over time.

Each freely contributes to the community. Bob is on the Boards of both the Markleeville Public Utility District and the Alpine Watershed Group. Amy is treasurer for the Arts and Culture Alpine County group and supports Friends of the Library. Their lives have been filled with deep appreciation for “the silence of the woods” and the “little bit of heaven” that surrounds them. Their footsteps flow together naturally, and they live in sync with the rivers and valleys in the forested mountains of their home.