Eight hikers convened at the Landreth's parking area on 1400 Ashland Mine Road on a sunny spring morning, ready for a climb up the ridge. Frank Hill Road quickly heads up the first of three "ascents". At the top of the first climb, 180-degree views of the Rogue Valley opened up before us. We waved "hello" to John's house that we could pick out from the valley view.
The snow and ice from the February 27 hike had disappeared so we had a lot easier go this day. The road winds around a first ridge and becomes a narrow dirt road before the second climb heading up the target ridge. That climb ends a couple of excavated but empty home sites.
We then headed up the third and steepest part of the standard hike to a pair of abandoned mobile homes and literally the end of the road at 960 feet of elevation gain at about the 3 mile mark. At this point most of us were ready to head back down the ridge and soak up the sun with lunch and libations on the Landreth back deck while Mike and Mary bushwacked up the final very steep 300 feet half mile through dormant poison oak to the ridge at a road crossing.
Afterwards we celebrated St. Patrick's Day in grand style, complete with Bushmills and Irish cheddar cheese.
Best wishes, Liz
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Ashland Mine
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