Leave from the Safeway parking lot in Ashland at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sunscreen and rain gear as appropriate. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes = 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, Second Edition
September 5: Mt McLoughlin (p. 110 in 100 Hikes) - Meet at 7:00 AM; TH: Take DIM to the end at Highway 140. Turn left (west) onto 140 for 1.9 miles to Fourmile Lake Road (FS 3661), turn right towards Fourmile Lake for 2.9 mi; then turn left on FS 3650 for 0.2 mi to TH parking lot; EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Up, up, up and more up all the way to the top; only the last 1.2 mile, 1,300 feet elevation gain portion is really steep; climbing to the summit is not mandatory. We are knocking 50' off the hike this year; you only need to climb to 9,440' to summit instead of the historical 9,495'. This is a demanding hike. Please bring enough water to stay hydrated (3+ liters). Hiking poles are useful on the descent of the upper mountain as we come down over the boulder field. Distance: 9.5 mi; elevation gain: 3,975 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: about 90 miles.
September 12: Abbott Butte (p. 89 in 100 Hikes) - Meet 8:30 AM Hike Leader: Margita LaGrotta. TH: Take Hwy 62 towards Crater Lake past the 51 mile marker; turn left onto Woodruff Meadows Road #68 12.8 mi (last 7.7 mi are one-lane gravel); EDT: 105 minutes. Description: pleasant woods and flower-filled meadows, great views on the way to lunch below the abandoned lookout tower on top of Abbott Butte; return the same way RT: distance: 7.5 miles; elevation gain: 2,500 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 165 mi
September 19: Blue Lake Basin (p. 112 in 100 Hikes) Take DIM to its end point at Highway 140; turn right (east); after approximately 3 miles go left on FS 3651 8.5 miles; turn left onto FS 3659 1.3 miles to parking area at TH; EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Hike through Sky Lakes Wilderness Area towards Blue Lake; return same way. Should be good huckleberry picking. Distance: 10.6 miles RT; elevation gain: moderate, since this is a gently undulating trail. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 115 miles
September 26: Union Peak - Crater Lake National Park (p. 77 in 100 Hikes) Meet at 7:00 AM; New Hike; TH: Take Highway 62 towards the south entrance to Crater Lake National Park. The trail begins approximately 1 mile west of the entrance on Highway 62 at the Pacific Crest Trail crossing. Description: We were snowed out on this one last year, so we are going to give it another go. Follow the PCT for 3 miles to the Union Peak trail junction. Follow the Union Peak trail to the summit. Distance: 10 miles; elevation gain: 1,600 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage 180 miles.