Wednesday Hike Schedule for December 2013

Last Revision 12/16/13

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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

December 4: Stewart State Park Boat Launch to Needle Rock - TH: Take Crater Lake Highway / SR62 for 33 miles to Stewart State Park.  Follow signs to boat launch area and park.  EDT: 1 hour.  Description:  follow trail along lake to the bridge over the Rogue.  Cross the river and then left for a bit on Lewis Road and then up to Needle Rock for lunch.  Watch for falling boulders. Return the same way.  Distance: 9 miles; elevation gain about 1,000 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.

December 11:Snowshoe trip: Mt Ashland Ski Area to Grouse Gap TH: Closed gate on FS Road 20, just beyond the Mt Ashland Ski Area parking lot; Sno-Park permit required for drivers; passengers should help pay for it. EDT: 30 minutes. Description: We are going to start our snowshoe season with an easy loop on the backside of Mt. Ashland. From the ski area back parking lot take FS 20 to where it forks with the service road to the Mt. Ashland summit. Head up the service road to the ridge and then follow the ridge past Rabbit Ears. Follow the contour over to where it drops down to the Grouse Gap road and head to the Grouse Gap shelter for lunch. Return via FS 20. Distance: 5.5 miles; elevation gain: around 600 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 45 miles.

December 18: Rogue River Trail, northeast from Peyton Bridge (p.79 in 100 Hikes) New Hike. TH: From Medford head up Highway 62 to the TH on Lewis Road just past the Peyton Bridge and leave the hikers at the TH. Then continue up Highway 62 for 5.1 miles to Katydid Road which is just after the power lines cross the highway. Right on dirt Katydid Road over to Mill Creek to leave the shuttle car near the intersection. Return to Highway 62 and head back to the TH to rejoin the hikers for the hike north. EDT: 60 minutes. Description: We usually do this as an out and back but this time we will continue a bit farther NE along the river to return to the shuttle car. Distance: about 6 miles; total elevation gain: about 1,500 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 130 miles.

December 25: Hooray!!! - No Scheduled Hike - Christmas

Christmas Tree