September 2: Mt McLoughlin (p. 110 in 100 Hikes) - Meet at 7:00 AM Hike leader: Jim Wayman
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: We haven't done this since 2012 because of smoke; keep your fingers crossed. 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. 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. Climbing to the summit is not mandatory, there are two nice lunch / turn around spots which make for a shorter hike.  Distance: 9.5 mi; elevation gain: 3,975 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: about 90 miles.

September 9-11: Hiking Group Two Night Overnight in Bend

Wednesday: Paulina Peak - East of La Pine Meet at 8:00 AM - New Hike Hike leader: Gary Swanson
TH: Up I-5 to the North Medford Exit 30. North on Highway 62 past Union Creek and then straight onto Highway 230 past Diamond Lake to a right onto SR 138 for 18 miles over to a left onto U.S. 97 heading towards Bend. Just north of La Pine make a right onto Paulina Lake Road and follow the Paulina Lake Road/Newberry Crater Road/Forest Service Road 21 for about 13 miles to Paulina Lake.  Park in the day use lot on the left across from the Visitor Center. EDT: 3:30. Description: We will start with lunch overlooking Paulina Lake before heading up to Paulina Peak for 360o views of the Cascades and High Desert. Distance: 6 miles; elevation gain: 1,600 feet. Weather forecast.

Overnight at the Bend Three Sisters Inn & Suites Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Please call the hotel directly at 541-382-1515 and make your own reservation. Identify yourself as part of the Ashland Hiking Group for our special group rate of $89.99 + tax per night for either a King room or a room with two Queen beds. Breakfast is included in this rate. 

Thursday: Green Lakes Basin in the Three Sisters Wilderness - New Hike Hike leader: Gary Swanson
TH: Take Highway 46 / Cascade Lakes Highway 1.8 miles past the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area to a right on gravel Road 370 for 1/2 mile to the Todd Lake TH. Leave a shuttle car here.  Return to Highway 46 and continue another 3 miles west to the Green Lakes TH on the right. EDT: 30 minutes. Description: Head up the Fall Creek trail, so named because it passes a series of waterfalls, with views along the way of South Sister and Broken Top. Lunch overlooking the Green Lakes Basin. Make a loop out of this by returning via the Broken Top and Todd Lake trails. Distance: 10.5 miles; Climbing: around 2,000'. Weather forecast.

Friday: Smith Rocks - New Hike Hike leader: Gary Swanson
TH: Take Highway 97 north for 21 miles to a right in Terrebonne onto Smith Rock Way and follow the signs for 3.3 miles to the park. EDT: 30 minutes. Description: We will be doing a clockwise loop of this world class rock climbing Mecca. Taking the River Trail to the Mesa Verde Trail passing Monkey Face. On to the Summit Trail, Burma Road Trail and finishing on the Wolf Tree Trail. Distance: 7 miles; elevation gain: 1,100'. Weather forecast.

Saturday: South Sister Hike Leaders: Steve & Maria
Steve & Maria are offering an exciting and extra credit add-on hike on Saturday. If the weather is promising and their legs are still in decent shape, they are planning on backpacking at Moraine Lake on Friday and Saturday nights and climbing South Sister on Saturday. If you are planning on joining them please let them know ahead of time.

Mileage: Round trip from Ashland to Bend is 370 miles.  For the hikers the mileage is 460 miles.

September 16: PCT around the West Rim of Crater Lake - Meet at 8:00 AM
TH: Drop a shuttle car at Rim Village. Continue around the lake to the PCT crossing at North Junction. EDT: 2 hours. Description: Follow the rerouted PCT around the West rim of Crater Lake back to Rim Village. Distance: 7 miles; elevation gain: 1,650 feet, including the trip to the top of The Watchman. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 180 mi

September 23: Seven Lakes East  (p. 108 in 100 Hikes) New Hike. Meet at 8:00 AM Hike Leader: Keeley Kirkendal
TH: Up DIM to Highway 140. Right on Highway 140 for 5.9 miles to a left on West Side Road. North on West Side Road for 16.8 miles to the sweeping right curve where West Side Road becomes 7 Mile Road. (Note: the NF road signs to the TH are NF-3100 and NF-3134 but on maps they may be shown differently). Left on gravel West Side Road / Seven Mile Road /NF-3300 / NF-3100 for 3.1 miles to the intersection of NF-3300, NF-3384 and NF-3334.  Jog right and continue north on NF-3334 / NF-3134 for 5.8 miles to the Seven Mile hikers TH. EDT: 1:45. Description: We have hiked into Seven Lakes from the west at least three times and looked down on the basin from the ridge above Lake Alta. This hike takes us to the valley floor and into the middle of the 5 lake cluster. Distance: 10.6 miles. Elevation gain: 1,300 feet. Weather forecast.  RT mileage: 140 miles.

September 30: Devil's Peak (p. 106 in 100 Hikes) New Hike. Meet at 8:00 AM Hike Leader: Keeley Kirkendal
TH: Crater Lake Highway to the Butte Falls Highway into Butte Falls.  Continue through town for 1 mile, left on the Prospect Road for 9 miles.  Right on Lodgepole Road 34 for 8.5 miles, straight on Road 37 for 0.4 miles and then right on gravel Road 3780 for 4.1 miles to the Seven Lakes TH. EDT: 1:35. Description: Last week we hiked into the Seven Lakes basin. This week we are going to head to Devil's Peak for an overview of the whole area.  Alpine meadows and lake vistas. Hiking poles are useful on this hike. Distance: 11 miles RT; elevation gain: 2,600 feet. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 140 miles.