Leave from Safeway parking lot in Ashland promptly at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat, sun-screen and rain gear. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; RT = round trip; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes is 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, 3rd edition
Leader: Alex Maksymowicz: 541-482-1964. Website: http://ashlandhiking.org/
December 6: Toothpick, Catwalk, and Lamb’s Mine (above Ashland)
TH: Take Tolman Creek Road 3.1 miles to Toothpick TH; watch out for potholes along the way. EDT: 20 min.
Description: Start out on the Toothpick trail, then make a left onto the Catwalk and climb steadily uphill to its end; turn right onto Ashland Loop Rd. and follow it downhill to Lamb’s Mine TH; hike to end of Lamb’s Mine trail for lunch; return to our vehicles on the Toothpick trail.
Distance: 5.5 miles; elev. gain: 1000 ft. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 15 miles.
December 13: White Rabbit/Alice-in-Wonderland Trails Loop (100 Hikes, p. 144) Meet at Safeway at 10:00 AM.
Change of trailhead from top of Park St to the parking lot of Our Lady of the Mountain Church on Hillview St. This avoids the steep drive up Park St, where the main hazard, apparently, is not ice but marble-sized chunks of gravel. From the trailhead we will walk to the Viani's house, where Nick will join us and guide us to the usual trailhead at the top of Park St. Note that this will increase the total elevation gain for the hike somewhat.
Expect snow, probably of the crusty variety, on the trail system. Gaiters might be useful. We should be back in downtown Ashland for lunch at the Standing Stone around 12:30.
Distance: 6.5 miles; elev. gain: 1200 ft. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 5 miles.
December 20: Jacksonville Woodlands Trail RT (100 Hikes, p. 150)
TH: City parking lot in Jacksonville behind post office; EDT: 30 min.
Description: Close-to-home, holiday season leg stretcher on the Jacksonville trail system; lunch in a local restaurant after the hike or in Ashland.
Distance: 5.3 miles; elev. gain/loss: 1115 ft. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 35 miles.
December 27: Ashland City Streets and Trails Ramble
TH: Safeway parking lot; EDT: 0 min.
Description: take N. Fork Rd. to Glenview to Granite; walk up Heart Trail to Ditch Trail; go right on the Ditch Trail; cross Strawberry Lane and take first left to the top of Strawberry Hill; proceed to the Maksymowicz residence (310 Skycrest Drive) for hot beverage and cookies; return to Safeway on the route of your choice—including spousal pick-up.
Distance: 4-5 miles RT; elev. gain: 500 ft. Weather forecast. RT driving mileage: 0 miles.