Leave from the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street promptly at 9:00 AM unless otherwise indicated. Bring water, lunch, hat and sun-screen. TH = trailhead; EDT = estimated drive time; RT = round trip mileage; PCT = Pacific Crest Trail; DIM = Dead Indian Memorial Highway. 100 Hikes is 100 Hikes in Southern Oregon, 3rd edition Coordinator: Liz Landreth 707-332-2699. Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
The wildflower walks focus on botany, geology and ecology. On these walks there is plenty of time for stopping and discussion as well as for taking photographs and birding so birders are encourage to bring their binocs. There are no specific walk distance or time targets because the walk lengths depend on the number of species encountered. We get our exercise running off into the underbrush.
June 2: Cascade National Monument from Highway 66 towards Little Hyatt Lake.
TH: Drive Highway 66 14.5 miles to the PCT crossing at Greensprings Summit. EDT: 45 minutes. Description: On the best of authorities, the elegant, elusive Mountain Lady Slipper (Cypripedium montana) has been spotted on thesthe PCT from the Little Hyatt Reservoir Road trailhead to Little Hyatt Reservoir so we are going to take a look. Lots of flowers are reported as well on the trail along the way. Bring lots of water with electrolytes, hat, sunscreen, lunch. Please let Liz know if you plan to join the group. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.
June 16: PCT from Baldy Creek TH towards Little Pilot Peak
TH: Head up Highway 66 for about 8 miles to a slight right onto Buckhorn Springs Road for 2 miles. Continue straight onto Tyler Creek Road for 2.5 miles to a right onto Baldy Creek Road for 4.1 miles to the PCT crossing. EDT: 1 hour. From the TH we will head NE on the PCT for 2.4 miles to Peony Hill and Little Pilot Peak. From there we can decide whether to go further towards Hobart Bluff or retrace our steps and then try a new (for me anyway) section of PCT towards Porcupine Mountain. The terrain is rocky and up and down with some off-trail stuff, so if you are not comfortable with that, you may wish to skip this one. There is parking for only about 4 cars at the PCT access point. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles.
June 30: Steve Stark's Mountain Meadow
Steve wasn't much of a flora person until he purchased his lovely 40-acre property last year. Now it's our chance to do a bona fide plant survey. With a large seasonal pond, forest and prairie habitats, we'll have a grand old time identifying plants for Steve and his many visitors.
TH: Take Dead Indian Memorial Road almost to the 20 mile mark to Steve's private road and 1/4 mile dirt road to the property site. EDT: 40 minutes. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 40 miles