Ten Friday moderate hikers tackled the Big Red Mountain hike on the Siskiyou Crest and loved it. Our driving route was via Talent – Wagner Creek Road/FS22. After the relatively long drive on gravel roads to get to Siskiyou Gap for the TH, we were more than ready to start the climb into the woods and across the mountain sides.
The views are magnificent, and we had a crystal blue ski, having left the smokey air behind. This PCT trail starts at 5,900’ and steadily climbs to above 6,800”. Kate noted that each elevation gain on Big Red Mountain brings special wildflowers. Earlier on the trail we saw seeps filled with blooming corn lilies and yellow sneezeweed. Midway up the mountain we spotted blooming pink Siskiyou willowherb and Siskiyou penstemon. Red spotted seedpods of the balloon milkvetch were along the trail.
We stopped for snacks in a favorite outcrop providing shade and more views, then continued up across the higher meadows awash with wildflowers. Abundant bear grass stalks still stood proudly erect even though most of the flower plumes had matured. Above 6,500’ we were delighted to find the blue or Mountain bog gentian. A hiker noted that the brilliant blue gentians are the color of Crater Lake. Also, there were orange agoseris and pale pink sickletop lousewort.
The flower meadows attracted the white, alpine butterfly – Rocky Mountain Parnassian feasting on the coyote mint. The orange fritillaries were also on the mint. We turned around near the base of the climb up Big Red to return to the shady outcrop for lunch before returning back down the mountain side. We’d hiked 5 miles RT and mastered 1,070’ elevation gain. Clearly, this hike is among the jewels in the extensive repertoire of hikes taken often by Ashland Hiking Groups. Those new to it were in awe; well, of course, so were the veterans.
Elisabeth and Kay