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.

A really special place

5 April 2013 | Ashland, OR --

The Shoofly Trail in the Red Buttes Wilderness is a really special place.

The trailhead, just south of Applegate Lake, is at less than 3,500 ft. elevation; that's low hanging fruit. From there, the trail winds itself down a slope into the Butte Fork Applegate River and Trail 957, which leads to a historic tool shed, as well as Azalea Lake.

Sugar pine

Along Shoofly are gargantuan sugar pine trees. My guess is they are some of the world's largest.

But along this easy-moderate spring hike, I like to look down. Each year an unusual form of plants comes up from underneath the protection of these giant trees. Saphrolytes are plants that grow without using chlorophyll. Instead they depend on the root systems of old-growth trees.

Snow-plant (Sarcodes sanguinea)

Every year this trail fills in with some windblown trees, and because it's in a federally designated Wilderness Area, no chainsaws are allowed. So tomorrow, a group of SMC volunteers are packing in a couple of crosscuts to see what winter left us.

We'll let you know how far we get!

We need gear

4 April 2013 | Ashland, OR -- The Siskiyou Mountain Club needs gear.

We have a growing number of volunteers eager to put their sweat and time into the trail, but who simply cannot afford high-ticket items, such as quality boots, needed to do trail work. Unfortunately, I'm having to turn down willing participants -- namely youth -- who just can't participate because of the cost.

A pair of good boots is at least $100, which is a lot of money for college students paying unprecedented tuition rates, and youth living in areas with historic poverty and unemployment rates.

We're interested in working with area retailers, such as REI, who may be interested in helping our most committed volunteers with the cost of gear. Please email howegabe(a)gmail.com if you are a retailer interested in sponsoring our youth today. 

Wanna get out this spring?

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1 April 2013 | Ashland, OR -- Get out this spring, into the Siskiyous, do something different, and see somewhere new. Make a difference, and meet people who show real passion for backcountry adventure.

Red Buttes Wilderness Area

Sat, April 6, Red Buttes Recon -- Get ahead of the winter windfall and check out some of the largest sugar pine trees in the world, Red Buttes Wilderness Area. We'll crosscut any new downed logs and clip brush on the Shoofly Trail. Carpools leave Ashland at 830am, Medford at 9am. Back to Medford by 6pm.

This trip is moderate - difficult.

Email howegabe(a)gmail.com for details and to sign-up.

Sat, April 13, Bigfoot search continued -- Join the crew from Starbucks Coffee for a day brushing out the Collings Mountain Trail. Checkout the infamous Bigfoot Trap near Applegate Lake, and join us for a barbecue to follow. Email howegabe(a)gmail.com for details and to sign-up.

This trip is moderate-difficult.

Sat, April 27, Illinois Valley Forests and Rivers Festival -- Join the Club and others for a fun day of children's activities in Cave Junction, OR. Details at www.ivstream.org

This event is easy.

Sat, May 4, Volunteer Appreciation Night -- Every year SMC crews work thousands of hours to rehabilitate and maintain backcountry trails threatened by natural disasters and historic maintenance deferments. Join us May 4 to show them your support.

Southern Oregon University's Schneider Art Museum. Doors open at 530pm. Silent auction, appetizers and beverages. Presentation at 630pm. Inquiries? Email howegabe(a)gmail.com.

This event is easy.

Soda Mountain Wilderness Area

May 25 - 27, Kalmiopsis logout -- Backpack 5-miles into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area from Babyfoot Lake and help clean up our trail to the Chetco. Come see what is so wild about the Kalmiopsis. Click here for more details and to sign-up.

This trip is difficult to strenuous.

June 7 - 8, Soda Mtn Logout -- Join forces with the Pacific Crest Trail Association to maintain 20-miles of the PCT in the Soda Mountain Wilderness, less than an hour from Ashland. Huge views, lots of flowers, and more fun. Email howegabe@gmail.com for details and to sign up.

This trip is moderate to difficult.