We, seven intrepid Friday Mod hikers headed out on the PCT from Grouse Gap towards Siskiyou Peak. It was invigorating with temperatures in the 40s and snow showers predicted at 7,000’.
The meadows were filled with orange and yellow buckwheat and pink fireweed. The trail climbed into drier meadows with sagebrush and more golden buckwheat. This trail has outstanding views towards Mt. Ashland and into California. Sometimes we had sun and sometimes cold rain. At 2.5 miles we took the spur to the left off the PCT up to Siskiyou Peak.
At the 7,000’ level, sleet started, and the skies rumbled, so we turned around 100’ from the summit. It was not a day to scramble up the big, slick boulders at the peak.
We returned down across the colorful meadows and planned to have lunch at the chairs for PCT hikers just before the trail drops to the lower meadows. That’s when we met a trail angel, Dick from Medord, who had filled two large coolers with soda for through hikers. Dick hiked the PCT in 1979 and now pays back some of the kindness he received on the PCT trail. Back down the trail we enjoyed warmer temperatures and more wildflowers. Kate identified goldenweed and mountain bokinia. Distance: 5.5 miles, elevation gain: 800’
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4, Buckwheat
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6. Hawksbeard
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8. Mt. Ashland view
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10. Siskiyou Peak
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11. On Siskiyou Peak
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12. Goldenweed and lupine
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13. Trail Angel Dick
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15. PCT hiker chairs
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16. Mountain boykina
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