Pilot Rock

April 14, 2018

Pilot Rock is a well known landmark here in Southern Oregon and played a role in helping guide pioneers who migrated north from California on the Applegate Trail. Yet during all of our hiking days here in Southern Oregon, we have only viewed it from other hikes and never hiked along the short but steep trail leading to it's base.  We decided to change that today.

At the start of the Pilot Rock trail and ready to go!

After driving south on I-5 and then along the old highway 99, we followed a rough 2-mile stretch of Pilot Rock Road 40-2E-33 to the relatively new parking lot that used to be an old quarry.  From the trailhead we, along with Glenn's sister Karen and our dog Katie, headed out on the trail with the sight of Pilot Rock looming in the distance.

Pilot Rock looms

The trail was in good shape and started out as a slow slight incline as we slowly worked our way up the slope.  We soon came across a few lingering patches of snow which Katie took advantage of by rolling and frolicking through.  Please note, no other hikers followed Katie in this moment of exuberance, but it was tempting.

Trail view

Katie in heaven on a large patch of snow.

Eventually our trail came to an intersection with the PCT which we followed with a left turn.  The trail now began to gain elevation and became quite steep for this last mile of the hike. At points the trail was a series of rock steps put on the trail to help against erosion (and maybe to help hikers not "slide" down the trail on the descent).  Soon a series of switchbacks ensued to increase the climb until we came to the base of Pilot Rock.

And on to the PCT we go...

Rock step portion of trail

View over the valley as we near the base of Pilot Rock

The look up was incredible and Pilot Rock is huge  -- much bigger viewed at the base than from the freeway or other trails in the distance.  The thought of scrambling up to the top never entered our minds once we arrived at the base despite a few folks coming done from having done so.  NO WAY!  Climbing up would be bad enough, but coming down again in reverse?

View of Pilot Rock from the base.  The climb up is along the crevice in the middle.  Not Happening!

After straining our necks to look up and taking some pictures, it was time to head back down (down being the key word) the trail.  We did see some Snow Queen and Yellow Bell wildflowers along the trail, but as Spring progresses we are sure more wildflowers will make their appearance.

Yellow Bells made an appearance along the trail

A small pond created by snow melt runoff

Well, another new hike in the books for 2018.  If you haven't hiked to the base of Pilot Rock, we highly recommend it, but be prepared for a steep climb. It is one of those amazing sights in Southern Oregon that you need to see in person. Be sure to let us know if you scramble to the top!


Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Lithia Park - Ashland

October 23, 2016

After viewing autumn colors on a short hike at the Jacksonville Woodland Trails on Friday, then hiking an 8.8 mile hike along the Rogue River with The Friends of the Umpqua Hiking Club on Saturday, we decided to drive over to Ashland on Sunday and finish the weekend with a leisurely stroll through Lithia Park.  What a treat!!  Autumn was in full show and lots of other people had the same idea.  So sit back and take a stroll through the park with us and enjoy the pictures.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

PCT: Ashland Meadows--Grouse Gap--Siskiyou Summit

July 6, 2016

10.4 Miles

Since our first 10+ mile hike of the year was done over the Memorial Day weekend and was on the Pacific Crest Trail, we decided to venture out for our second 10+ mile hike over the Fourth of July weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail - just a different segment. For those of you checking, July 6th was a Wednesday. But for Glenn it was part of his company holiday weekend.

To Grouse Gap and beyond!!!

Having checked our hiking history, we found that the last time we hiked the Ashland Meadows-Grouse Gap segment of the PCT was 5 years ago.  It is a very popular segment due to the easy access and the amazing meadows filled with wildflowers.  Hiking out to the Grouse Gap Shelter road and back makes for a nice 6.8 mile hike, but today we decided to go a little further down the trail.

Katie (bottom center) checking out the first meadow.

We parked just off the main road to Mt Ashland after mile marker #7 (this is where the PCT crosses the road) and after crossing the road began hiking the PCT southbound.  The temperature was just 49 degrees when we started with beautiful blue skies - perfect hiking weather.  The trail from our parking point till the Grouse Gap Shelter road travels through either wooded forest segments or open meadows of varying sizes where a wide variety of wildflowers abound during the summer.

One of the many wildflower meadows that make this a great hike!

Some of the unique wildflowers that we saw while hiking included Richardson Geraniums, White Bog Orchids, Orange Agoseris, Cotton Paintbrush, Pussy Paws, Monkshood and Western Bistort.  The most numerous wildflower today was the Scarlet Gilia or "Skyrocket" which appeared in large patches along the trail. Below are some of the wildflowers we saw on today's hike.

Scarlet Gilia "Skyrocket"

Monkshood

Western Bistort

Richardson Geranium

Larkspur

Cobwebby or Cotton Paintbrush

Just before reaching the Grouse Gap Shelter road, we met a couple in their 60's that appeared to be backpackers.  So we stopped and asked them where they had started their hike to which they replied "Mexico".  This surprised us since most of the PCT thru hikers are still 3 or more weeks away from arriving in Oregon due to the heavy snowfall in the Sierras.  However this couple had skipped that segment, thus their early arrival.  We asked what their trail names were to which their reply was "So Far" and "So Good"  Pretty cute!

PCT Thru Hiker trail magic

Normally we turn around at the Grouse Gap Shelter road but today we continued on for a couple of "new" miles to us along the PCT.  The trail began with a steady climb as the segment begins to ascend up to the Siskiyou Summit.  When our trail finally flattened out, we came across a couple of chairs and ice chests that were set up as "trail magic" for PCT Thru hikers.  All of the ice cold drinks had already been consumed, so hopefully they will refill the ice chest in the next week or two.

View of trail in open area leading up to the Siskiyou Summit

This part of our hike was also more open with less trees due to the higher elevation.  A couple of times we heard bells and thought maybe we were losing our minds in the thinner air, but discovered that a group of cows down a ravine were the noise makers.  We didn't hike all the way to the summit, but eventually found a nice place off trail to take a break, eat, and enjoy the views and quiet.  We even saw a couple patches of snow!!

The view during our break.

See the snow??????

Our hike back gave us another chance to enjoy the wildflowers.  Since it was later in the day, the meadows were also alive with many butterflies and busy bumble bees.

One of the many butterflies enjoying the wildflowers.

If you get a chance to try this hike, the best time is usually June - August when the various wildflowers bloom.  Get out and enjoy!!

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

P.S. In 2009, Glenn hiked this trail on the first day of Summer with his brother and nephew.  It was 32 degrees and snowing.  Yes they still hiked out to the Grouse Gap Shelter road and back and met many other hikers out for a "summer" hike.  Here are a couple of pictures from that hike.

PCT: Green Springs Summit to Little Hyatt Lake

May 29, 2016

After getting a taste of hiking the PCT on the Green Springs Mountain Loop trail, we decided it was time to stretch our legs and challenge ourselves with our first 10+ mile hike of the year.  So back up to the Green Springs Summit we went, this time hiking the PCT from the Summit to Little Hyatt Lake and back --- 10.8 miles when done.

What?  Who you calling "trash"?

The first couple of miles took us in and out of various meadows and wooded areas, but both had one thing in common- wildflowers!  This would be the theme for this hike as we were able to identify 34 different wildflower varieties and had about 4 or 5 that we could not identify!  It was absolutely flower filled -see a few samples below.

Wild Iris

Yup, the elusive Mission Bells again!

Oregon Anemone

Striped Coral Root.  Never seen so many on one hike!

Royal Jacob's Ladder

Eventually we arrived at the trailhead for the Green Springs Mountain Loop trail that we hiked a few weeks ago, but this time we continued on the northbound PCT.  It is always interesting to hike the same trail in a different direction, so in a sense, this was new to us too.  We were treated to views of Pilot Rock and still slightly snow covered Mount Ashland.

After departing from the Mountain Loop trail section of the PCT, we continued on, alternating between meadows and forested areas as well as between uphill and downhill.  We even came across one meadow area with some nice rock cairns which we could not pass up without taking a picture.

Another Pitcairn cairn???

No, it's a Katie Pitcairn cairn!

We finally started to hear water and knew we were getting close to Little Hyatt Lake.  How do you hear a lake you ask?  The PCT goes past Little Hyatt Lake just below the little dam and overflow which today made quite a pretty waterfall.  For the backpackers at the lake, it made a nice natural shower.

Little Hyatt Lake dam overflow - great natural shower.

We hiked just a short distance off the trail and found a nice area where we could sit down and drink and eat, while taking in the beauty of Little Hyatt Lake.

Katie posing in front of Little Hyatt Lake.  Ok, begging for food.

Little Hyatt Lake

Downstream from the Little Hyatt Lake dam overflow

Our return hike offered us a second chance to take in all of the beautiful meadows, woods and of course wildflowers that we had seen earlier in the day.  We did cheat a little by taking the connector trail portion of the Green Springs Mountain Loop trail rather than hike the PCT the entire way south.

One of many wooded meadows

As we arrived back at our car we were tired and had some sore feet but we sure enjoyed all of the beauty on this hike.  Sometimes it takes long hikes to get you way out in the woods where you can enjoy the silence and the sounds of nature. Who knows, maybe we will come back again to the Summit and hike the PCT southbound next time.  We hear there's a nice hike to Hobart Bluff that way.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol