Ashland Watershed Loop 2-25-26

Photos by Bob

Ashland Hiking Home

We caught a bit of a break for our Wednesday hike: low clouds and a light, misty rain. It was just enough to keep a rain jacket on, though the temperature in the low fifties which made a bit of a "sweat". The scenery was incredibly picturesque, reminiscent of a Japanese watercolor, with the mist softening the silhouettes of the surrounding hills.

It was a long, steady uphill climb on the Wonder Trail—about 2,000 feet of gain—to reach our "dragon egg" lunch stop at the summit. The descent down Fell on Knee was perfect; it remains one of the best 1.7-mile stretches in the watershed. We finished the loop by taking the old Acid Castle Rock trail to a quick jog on the ditch trail, followed by the Hart trail back to the parking lot. All told, it was just under ten miles. Fun, fun, fun; we will definitely do it again in the fall.

Bob