Our Guidelines and Instructions:

Scheduled for Fridays, year-round, the Moderate Group is one option under the Ashland Hiking Group. It is for those who need or desire a lightly paced, shorter hike than is customary in the other AHG options. These hikes feature an easy pace for 4-6 miles (occasionally 7) and typically under 800’ elevation gain. Winter snowshoeing distances and elevation gains will be less.

We take a leisurely lunch break to socialize and sometimes share a short poem or other form of inspiration (voluntary but welcomed). On the trail, we stay together for safety and enjoyment. If a hiker wants to stop short of the destination, at least one fellow hiker will join. We recommend a hiking pole or two, and sturdy hiking boots. When driving a distance, we may have a voluntary post-hike experience in the area or on our return drive. Bring lunch, plenty of liquids, sunscreen, hat, and basic first aid items. Seasonal items include bug repellent, raincoat, winter attire and snowshoes.

Leave the Rite Aid parking lot on Ashland Street at 8:30 AM (unless informed otherwise for a given hike). Plan a full day, unless the hike location is close to Ashland. Carpooling is by personal choice, arranged at Rite Aid parking. All hikers must sign a liability waiver, provided by the hike leader, before their first hike with an Ashland Hiking Group, which covers liability for any of the AHG hike options.

While the Covid 19 Pandemic is with us, hikers must be fully vaccinated and bring masks for use when close to others or indoors, and while driving together in an enclosed vehicle.

Leaders: Elisabeth Zinser, 541.646.6109 and Kay Simmons, 202-870-3404.

March 7: Snowshoe on Moon Prairie.   Meet at Rite-Aid by 8:50 AM to arrange carpooling.  Depart at 9:00 AM.
TH: Follow DIM 22 miles to the Deadwood Sno-Park (junction with FS Road 37). Sno-Park Permit required; passengers should help pay for it. Park on Road 37 near DIM. EDT: 45 minutes. Description: Moon Prairie trail is across Indian Memorial (DIM) from the FS 37 Deadwood Sno-Park.  We will snowshoe for 1.5 to 2 miles and then return the same way.  Distance 3-4 miles (elevation gain 400’). Fish Lake  SNOTEL. Weather Forecast. RT mileage: 50 miles. Bring lunch, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

March 14; Oredson-Todd to White Rabbit Meet at Oredson-Todd TH at 8:50 AM; Depart at 9:00 AM
TH: From Siskiyou Boulevard going south, turn right at Tolman Creek Road.  Drive 0.3 miles, turn right onto Greenmeadows Way.  Drive 0.5 miles and then turn left onto Lupine Drive.  Drive to parking  near the Oredson Todd TH.  (You can also park on Sam Evans Place off Greenmeadows Way.)   Description:  Take Oredson-Todd trail via the Upper Trail past the “waterfalls” to the Mike Uhtoff trail.  Continue up the Uhtoff trail to second bench.  Return down White Rabbit trail to Cheshire Cat trail to Uhtoff to Lower Clay Loop and finally to the Lower Trail of Oredson-Todd back to parking. Distance around 4 miles. Elevation gain around 600’. Weather forecast.

March 21 Snowshoe canceled because of warm wet forecast

March 28: Emigrant Lake on the Little Songer Butte Trail Meet at Rite Aid at 8:45 AM; depart 9:00 AM.
TH: Left from parking lot onto OR-66 and continue past Ashland Hills Hotel and intersection with East Main. Stay on OR-66 (Green Springs) for 6.2 miles (past intersection with DIM and main Emigrant Lake intersection) to the OLD Green Springs Highway which is a potholed road that jackknifes off to the left side (2.8 miles past Emigrant Lake Main entrance). Drive the potholed road for ½ mile down to the parking area. The unmarked trailhead is behind the vault restroom. Drive time 20 minutes. Description: Hike the trail northward, parallelling the Lake, hopefully seeing early spring flowers and common teasel. Pass a spur trail to private property, walking along a hillside meadow often used for paragliding. Continue past a spur trail on the left that heads down to the roadbed. Enjoy more of the rolling trail perhaps to the manzanita tunnel entrance to Little Songer Butte. Return the same way until reaching the spur trail down to the right to reach the roadbed near the lake, which veers left on a trail leading back to the parking lot. The hike is a lollypop shaped route covering about 4 miles RT and about 400’ elevation gain. Weather forecast. Driving mileage: 20 miles.