Shoofly Trip Report

SOU students Kolby McNeal and Mike Jones logout an old-growth ponderosa

7 April 2013 | Ashland, OR -- Yesterday Siskiyou Mountain Club volunteers set out to get a head start on the winter's windfall on the Red Buttes Wilderness' Shoofly Trail. Winter left us lots of work.

We met at Medford REI at 9am, and reached the Shoofly Trailhead at 10:15am. Southern Oregon University intern Kolby McNeal gave the safety talk, and we started descending through groves of giant sugar pines, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pine.

From left to right: Mike, Brandon, Angie, Kolby, Jack

It didn't take long to reach an old-growth ponderosa that winter winds had blown down over the trail. It was about 3' in diameter.

We reached the Butte Fork Trail No 957 and headed upstream, running into more old-growth that had fallen on the trail. The largest tree we encountered was left for next time, and we suspect there are a lot more downed trees further up Butte Fork Trail toward Azalea Lake.

The Butte Fork Applegate River provided us a great lunch site. It was running high and clear.

We left this one for next time

Fresh windfall is still green, hasn't settled much, and has a lot of energy pent up in it. It's really important to figure out where the bind is, read your kerf, find out your safest quadrant to figure the cut, and have good escape routes.

Volunteers joining were Angie, Brandon, Jack, Kolby and Mike. The trip was led by SMC Field Coordinator Gabe Howe.

Crew leader Gabe Howe

Want to hike this trail? Click here for a field-guide.