Wednesday Hike Schedule for December 2010

Last Revision 12/15/10

Leave from Safeway parking lot in Ashland at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sunscreen and rain gear. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes = 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, Second Edition

December 1: Bull Gap Loop - Snowshoe Trip
TH: Take Hwy I-5 South to Exit 6, the Mt. Ashland ski road. Up the ski road to the Bull Gap turn off.  Snow Park Permit Required. EDT: 30 min. Description: Loop trail through the woods. Plan to have lunch at an Ashland restaurant of the group's choice.  Distance: 3.5 miles; elev. gain: 650 ft. RT mileage: 40 mi

December 8: Applegate Lake Payette Trail (p. 147 in 100 Hikes) TH: Take Hwy 238 from Jacksonville area to Ruch (8 mi); take Upper Applegate Road 15 mi to Applegate Dam; drive left across dam to French Gulch TH (1.2 mi) and leave shuttle car.  Return to Upper Applegate Road and continue south to T.  Left on Elliot Creek Road for 0.9 miles.  Just past the bridge make a left at the Seattle Bar day use area and follow the road around until it ends at the Manzanita Trailhead; EDT: 70 min Description: Take the Payette Trail northward as it follows the Applegate Lake shore back to the French Gulch TH.  Distance: 9.2 miles; elevation gain: about 500 ft. RT mileage: 100 mi

December 15: Lost Creek Lake (west shore) (p. 82 in 100 Hikes) TH: Take Hwy 62 to Lost Creek Lake; just before the dam, turn left onto Takelma Rd at "Fish Hatchery" sign; drive to end of road and continue on gravel road to TH at the boat ramp, some 2-3 miles from Hwy 62; EDT: 75 min Description: follow Lost Creek Lake trail to our usual lunch bench; return the same way Distance: 9.6 miles; elev gain: about 1,000 feet. RT mileage: 100 mi

December 22: Jacksonville Trail System Leader: Hal Slack. TH: City parking lot in Jacksonville behind post office; EDT: 30 min Description: Close-to-home, pre-Christmas leg stretcher on Jacksonville trail system; includes several steep stretches. Lunch in a Jacksonville restaurant of the group's choosing. Distance: about 6 mi; elev. gain/loss: 850/850 ft. RT mileage: 30 mi

December 29: Snowshoe trip: Mt Ashland Ski Area to Grouse Gap Leader: Hal Slack. TH: Closed gate on FS Rd 20, just beyond Mt Ashland Ski Area parking; Sno Park permit required for drivers; passengers should help pay for it. EDT: 30 min Description: follow level road to Grouse Gap shelter for lunch; return via the lower road (we will definitely find it this year). Distance: 5 mi; elev. gain: around 500 ft. RT mileage: 35 mi