The morning started a little different with only 4 hikers at Rite Aid, but we picked up 3 more in Phoenix and were greeted by 9 more at the Jacksonville Public Parking Lot. Sixteen were ready for the drive up Highway 238 to Williams in JoCo and right down East Fork Road then right on Panther Gulch Road up to the T-intersection at the top.

The trail starts about 100 yards back down the road. A short uphill grade and you're on mostly level ground next to the old ditch.

In the ditch and along the trail we saw Red Indian Warriors, Blue Hounds Tongue, Purple Henderson's Shooting Stars, Pink Manzanita blossoms, waxy Yellow Buttercups, and Seep Mimulis Monkey Face.

Yes, the Layton Mine Ditch Trail was giving us our first spring hike after the winter. Temps ranged from mid-40s to mid-50s but felt like more out in the sun.

The abandoned Marijuana greenhouses were still straddling the ditch trail, but a long bypass took us down and then back up to the main trail.

We were spread out along the trail but eventually, we all arrived at the historic Chinese wall for lunch.

Here's Sunny's recount of the construction of the Chinese retaining wall. "Perfect day for an almost seven-mile hike on the Upper Layton Mine trail to the Chinese Wall. The historic Chinese wall’s construction allowed the ditch water to complete its journey to Layton Mine in Ferris Gulch. A huge rock outcropping stood in the way of the ditch, Chinese laborers used dynamite to blast a rock ditch in the outcropping; then with the rock fragments built a retaining wall to allow the water to continue flowing to the mine on the other side of the ridge."

At lunch, we discussed the hardships and appeals for help from local trail maintenance organizations. A matching fund grant for the Siskiyou Mountain Club will help them get through this difficult year.