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. Hike leader:Francie Skinner, 541-840-4042
Website: https://ashlandhiking.org
September 6: Southgate Meadow and Gray Butte (Mt Shasta)_(p. 218 in 100 Hikes) 8:00 AM Departure
TH: Drive south on I-5. Take the first Mt. Shasta Exit 740. East on Mt. Shasta Boulevard to the first left and then right on Ski Village Drive over to a left onto Everitt Memorial Highway and then up to the Southgate Meadow- Old Ski Bowl parking area. EDT: 90 minutes. Description: Beat the heat on this high elevation hike. The loop starts at 7,800 feet and reaches a high point of 8,300 feet. Start at Southgate Meadow trailhead and hike 1 mile to The Gate, then another mile to Upper South Gate Meadows. We will stop for a snack break and photo opportunities. Head back to The Gate. Then take a trail over to Gray Butte and then Panther Meadow and back up the road to Southgate Meadows- Old Ski Bowl parking area. Be open to possible Lemurian contacts.
Distance: 7 miles: climbing: 1,800'.
Weather Forecast: RT mileage: 180 miles.
September 13: Mt. Scott and Paikn Falls at Crater Lake 8:00 AM Departure
TH: All the way up Highway 62 to Crater Lake Park entrance on left. Drive to the parking behind the Lodge. EDT: 2 hours.
Mt. Scott: The park's highest peak at 8,929 ft (2,721 m) and the oldest at 425,000 years old. The only view of the entire lake from within the park. Walk through geologic time. See whitebark pines. RT: 4.5-5 miles with 1,250 feet of elevation
Plaikni Falls: An easy stroll through a forest to a waterfall fed by snowmelt. Enjoy a plethora of wildflowers. When the trail bends to the right, listen for picas, marmots, and songbirds. RT: 2 miles. Weather forecast. RT mileage 200 miles.
September 20: Grayback Mountain (p. 160 in 100 Hikes) 8:00 AM Departure
TH: Take Highway 238 from Jacksonville and cross the bridge just beyond the Applegate store. Left on Thompson Creek Road to just past the end of the pavement (11.7 miles) and make a right on Road 1005. After 0.2 miles on 1005 stay left to remain on 1005. It is then an additional 3.7 miles on Road 1005 to the TH. NF 1005 is still in rough shape, but passable with high clearance vehicles. EDT: 1:40. Description: Due to unknown road conditions, be prepared to hike from the lower trailhead. 9 miles with 3,400 feet of gain. We will decide when we see how the road is. Hike up to the Windy Gap trail and then head up the ridge to the summit for panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, to Mt. Shasta, Mt McLoughlin and Crater Lake rim. Return the same way or make a loop of it by going down via the meadow. Distance 6+ miles if we hike from the upper trailhead. Elevation gain 2,500 feet. Weather Forecast. RT mileage 100 miles.
September 27: Kangaroo Lake to Bull Lake Leave at 8:00 AM
TH: Head South on I-5 to exit 766 (Gazelle). Turn left (south) on Highway 99 for 7 miles to Gazelle. Turn Right in Gazelle onto the Gazelle Callahan Highway. Drive 18 miles to left turn for Kangaroo Lake (clearly marked) on Rail Creek Road. The TH parking for Fen Trail is on the left in 6.8 miles, just before the main Kangaroo Lake Parking. The TH is just across the Road. EDT: 1:35. Description: Climb to the saddle beyond Kangaroo Lake and down a short distance to the PCT. Turn left on the PCT and follow it all the way to Bull Lake. Overlooks include entire marble mountains, Trinity Alps and Siskiyou mountains as well as Kangaroo Lake, Robber Meadows, Bull Lake, Shasta and Mount Eddy. Destination Elevation: 7,080 feet. Distance: 8 miles; Elevation Gain :1,200 feet. Total Ascent: 1,400 feet. Optional descent to Bull Lake adds 1 mile and roughly 300 feet of ascent. Weather forecast. RT mileage: 150 miles.