January 3: Castle Crags to Castle Dome (p. 214 in 100 Hikes). Leave at 8:00 AM
TH: South on I-5 to Exit 724, Castella. Right on Castle Creek Road to the state park entrance. Entrance fee is $7 per car for seniors. Continue on 2.1 miles to the Vista Point TH. EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Before heading up the Crags Trail to Castle Dome with views of the Crags and Mt. Shasta check out the short side trail over to Vista Point just off the parking lot. Distance: 6 miles; elevation change: 2,200 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 180 miles.

January 10: Ostrich Peak Loop
TH: park at gate about 100 yards up Hitt Road, off Strawberry Lane.
Description: Full loop going counterclockwise around Ostrich Peak; exact route varies from year to year; snow is possible on higher sections of trail. Distance: 8 miles RT; total elevation gain: 2,250 feet.  Weather forecast. RT mileage: 3 miles.

January 17:  Sterling Mine Trail - Little Applegate TH to Bear Gulch TH (p. 144 in 100 Hikes)
TH: The Ashland hikers will head up I-5 to exit 19, left onto Valley View Road into Talent, at roundabout continue onto Main and then left on Wagner Creek Road (making a right at the Rapp Road intersection to stay on Wagner Creek) for about 1 mile to a right onto Anderson Creek Road.  Take Anderson Creek Road for 11.3 miles up over the ridge and down into the Applegate to a right on Little Applegate Road for 0.3 miles to leave a shuttle car at the Little Applegate TH. Continue on 2.4 miles to the Bear Gulch TH to meet the Medford Hikers. EDT: 50 minutes. Description: Trail starts out uphill, finishes downhill. Good views of the Siskiyous to the south and coastal ranges to the west; Distance: 8.2 miles; elevation gain: 1,100 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 70 miles.

January 24: Pederson Nordic Trail Snowshoe
TH: Take DIM to the PCT crossing / Pederson Sno-Park just past milepost 27. Sno-Park Permit required; passengers should help pay for it. EDT: 45 minutes. Description: Head north on the Pederson Nordic Trail for 2 miles to the Brown Mountain Shelter.  After lunch take the Hyatt / Lake of the Woods trail southwest about 1 mile to the Pederson snowmobile trail.  Follow the snowmobile trail back to DIM. Distance 4.5 miles; elev. gain: 500 feet. Fish Lake SNOTEL. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 60 miles.

January 31: Buck Prairie I - Fawn Hollow Loop Hike Leader: Francie This was going to be a new snowshoe but since the snow has been disappearing we have decided to walk the route - Snowshoes optional but clothing required.
TH: Take DIM about 18.5 miles to the Buck Prairie I Sno-Park. Sno-Park Permit Required; passengers should help pay for it. EDT: 35 minutes. Description: Head east on snow covered Buck Prairie Road past the conveniences to the loop that connects with Buck Prairie II. Distance: 5 miles. Elevation gain 600 feet. Weather forecast.  Howard Prairie SNOTEL. ODOT Road Cam at Buck Prairie I. RT mileage: 40 miles.