Leave from the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street 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
November 2: Sky Lakes from the Cold Springs Trailhead (p 118 in 100 Hikes) Meet at 8:30 AM.
TH: Take DIM to 140, right (east) for 3.2 miles and then left (north) on 3651 for 10.1 miles to the TH at road end. EDT 75 minutes. Description: Loop trail into the Sky Lakes Wilderness passing a half dozen lakes. Distance: 8 miles, elevation gain 700 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 110 miles.
November 9: Siskiyou Peak from FS-40S15 and the PCT crossing.
TH: Drive past the ski area and bear left on NF-40S15 for 0.4 miles to the PCT crossing. Estimated drive time: 35 minutes. Hike Description: Follow the PCT west past Grouse Gap to the Siskiyou Peak summit (7,149'). Return the same way. Distance: 8 miles round trip; elevation gain 1,200'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 45 miles.
November 16: High Lakes Trail (p. 122 in Hiking Southern Oregon)
TH: From Rite Aid take DIM to Highway 140. Left on 140 for 0.9 miles to a left onto NF-3601 at the Brown Mountain Trails sign. Follow signs 0.6 miles to the Brown Mountain Trails TH and leave a shuttle car. Return to 140 and turn left (west) for 6.4 miles to Highway 37. Left on 37 for 0.5 miles to the North Fork Campground TH parking area on the left. EDT: 1 hour. Description: Follow the trail along Little Butte Creek (part of the Medford Irrigation District) up to the dam and turn left onto the High Lakes Trail. Follow the High Lakes trail past Fish Lake and across the Brown Mountain Lava flow back to the shuttle car. Distance: 9.3 miles; elevation gain 900'. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 100 miles.
November 23: Pilot Rock Road to Porcupine Mountain.
TH: Take Mt Ashland exit 6 off I-5; follow old Highway 99 under the freeway for just a little over 2 miles; go left onto Pilot Rock Road and drive one mile to first crossing of PCT at the power line; EDT: 30 minutes. Description: Hike east on the PCT past Pilot Rock to the top of Porcupine Mountain; return via the trail and road. Distance: about 7.5 miles; elevation gain: about 2,000 ft. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 30 miles.
November 30: 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. Big Red SNOTEL. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 45 miles.