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Mt. McLoughlin from Siskiyou Peak (May 2026)
When we first arrived at the summit of Siskiyou Peak, Mt. McLoughlin was covered in clouds. Before we descended, 30 minutes or so later, we got a peek at the peak.
US Geological Survey Bench Mark from 1932
You’ve heard of the Siskiyous, but did you know there is an actual Siskiyou Peak? I didn’t, until I was standing on it a bit over a week ago.
Spreading Phlox on the Big Red Mountain portion of the PCT (May 24, 2026)
I found the “Big Red Mountain” trail on AllTrails and headed to it without further research. Big mistake. Although the trail itself was great, getting there and home was a bit of a nightmare. There is a reason you will encounter no other hikers on this section of the PCT; it is remote! Getting there from the Mt. Ashland parking lot requires over 7 miles of driving on an unpaved road (Forest Road 20). That road is mostly OK, but there are portions that are not fun to drive in any vehicle. Another option is to take Wagner Creek Road to NF-22 to NF-20. That way is almost 14 miles on dirt and rocks. I intended to go home that way, but I didn’t research things in advance, and there was no cell service up there. I went the wrong way on NF-20, and ended up not taking the road to Wagner Creek Road. Instead, I ended up on the Siskiyou Summit Road, eventually getting dumped out in the Applegate somewhere, after 15+ miles on unpaved roads. Maybe 15+ miles doesn’t sound like that much, but my average speed was well under 20 miles per hour, and was frequently under 10 miles per hour. There were a few really nasty (rocky) parts. 4WD with a high clearance is highly recommended, but I didn’t have either.
Anywho, the wildflowers were the highlight of this hike. Sometimes the trail was literally lined with them on both sides. Most wildflower trails that I have been on have three or four different kinds of wildflowers. This one had more than 10 varieties! You’ll want layers if you decide to do this hike. In the shade, it felt like about 60 degrees. In the sun, it felt like more than 80 degrees (although I’m sure that it wasn’t really that hot–it just felt hot as the sunnier sections were also the steeper climbing sections).
Grants Pass, Oregon (May 2026)
Mike Beagle leading the way down from Wagner Butte (April 2018)
Mike Beagle and I went on several hikes together (until I fractured three vertebrae in my back in February of 2019). I’m not the greatest hiking companion, as I don’t tend to walk as fast as whoever I’m with, and I like to stop and “smell the roses” (AKA take photos) more than they do. After my back injury, I opted out of Mike’s hiking invitations. Recently, I’ve been able to resume hiking, but I can no longer do the 10+ mile trails. With Mike’s passing a week ago, I now really regret not telling him that I was able and ready to do some shorter routes with him if he would be willing to have me behind him on the trail again. Alas, that opportunity has passed, and I’m sad for it.
Rookie near Little Hyatt Lake (January 2026)
partially frozen Little Hyatt Lake (January 2, 2026)
For whatever reason, it took us almost 25 years to visit Little Hyatt Lake for the first time in 2025. However, we just drove by because a scary-looking truck was parked there, and it wasn’t our destination on that day anyway.
Flash forward a few months to warmer-than-usual January temperatures, and we decided to go again. This time we hiked in on the PCT.
Looking north from Lewis Loops (Gyre) Trail
My hiking companion on the day this image was created questioned why I would want to do such a thing as capture this scene. Which is why I prefer to hike alone.
