NPSO 2019 Annual Meeting

July 12-14     Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains

Field Trips

Friday July 12, 2019    11:15 - 4:30                    Field Trip # 6

Difficulty:     Moderate  (5 miles)

Elevation:     The trail begins at 2600' and we will hike up to about 3600', for an approximate elevation gain of 1000'.

Group Size Limit:     15

Trip Description:     From Star Ranger Station we will drive along the mainstem Applegate River, up to Applegate Reservoir, and then up the Middle Fork of the Applegate River, a spectacular river canyon below the Red Buttes Wilderness Area. The area contains abundant old-growth forests below the towering rocky summits of the Siskiyou Crest.

We will drive to a viewpoint and discuss the role of wildfire in shaping and maintaining landscape level vegetation mosaics in the Siskiyou Mountains, then take a short hike through spectacular old-growth mixed conifer forest in the Whisky Creek canyon. We will hike the Whisky Creek Trail through the cool, shaded canyon of Whisky Creek, as it tumbles down bedrock cascades and into beautiful bedrock grottos. The hike will focus on forest and fire ecology, with botany identification along the way.

Floristic Highlights:     The hike will explore dry and moist mixed conifer forests, riparian habitats and the response of common forest species to fire. Species found in this area include old-growth Douglas fir, sugar pine, ponderosa pine and large, old hardwoods such as live oak and madrone. We will also see Aralia californica (California elk clover), Aruncus diocus (goatsbeard), and other riparian species, as well as understory plants associated with old-growth forests in the Applegate Siskiyous, including Keckiella lemmonii (bush beardtongue).

Appropriate Footwear:     Sturdy footwear is advised.

Special Considerations:     The Whisky Creek Trail does require one small stream crossing. By July, we should be able to cross the stream on rocks or with an easy ford. This hike will be shaded, but if you are sensitive to heat be prepared for hot summer temperatures in interior southwestern Oregon.

Restrooms are available at the meetup location at Star Ranger Station but not at the trailhead.

Plant Lists:     You can view a partial plant list for the Whisky Creek Trail at the link below.

Meeting Place and Time:     Trip # 6 leaves at 11:15 from Pacifica.

Alternate Meeting:     To accomodate trip members who aren't staying at Pacifica, this trip will also pick up members at its first stop at Star Ranger Station at 11:45, (6941 Upper Applegate Road).

Driving Directions:     Directions to meetup location from Pacifica: From Pacifica, head right (southerly) across the Applegate River and through the town of Applegate on HWY 238 about 18 miles, turn right on Hamilton and go past Cantrall-Buckley County Park. Turn right on Upper Applegate Road and proceed 4.9 miles to Star Ranger Station on your left. Meet the hike guides, and from there the group will carpool to the trailhead for another 30 minutes or so.

Driving miles from Pacifica to trailhead:     38 miles one way from Pacifica (Drive time about 1 hour.)

Leaders:       Dr. Dennis Odion & Luke Ruediger

Dr. Dennis Odion is a botanist turned fire ecologist. He acquired most of his training and botanical knowledge in Santa Barbara, California. His primary area of expertise is with post-fire regrowth in fire-specialized ecosystems like chaparral.

Luke Ruediger grew up in Southwest Oregon and began exploring the region's unique habitat and terrain at an early age. Luke has long worked to preserve, restore, and protect the ecological integrity of the Siskiyou Mountains, through environmental activism and land stewardship. He is the author of the hiking and natural history guide, The Siskiyou Crest: Hikes, History & Ecology. Luke is Program Coordinator for Applegate Neighborhood Network and Director of the Siskiyou Field Office of Klamath Forest Alliance, where he advocates for the forests, wildlands, wild rivers and biodiversity of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains. Luke is co-owner of Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds and Siskiyou Ecological Services. Luke lives in a remote, off-grid homestead at the headwaters of the Applegate River and spends his time in the backcountry enjoying the area's beauty, botany, and biodiversity.

Hiking through low-severity fire effects along the Whisky Creek Trail.

Hiking through low-severity fire effects along the Whisky Creek Trail.