On the PCT From Siskiyou Gap to Red Mountain 7-11-25

Photos by Cory and Elisabeth

Ashland Hiking Home

Nine happy hikers headed up the PCT to Red Mountain, starting at Siskiyou Gap on NFR20 after driving into Talent and up Rapp Road, Wagner Butte, NFR22 onto NFR20. A beautiful sunny day with mild temperatures in contrast to the heat in our valley.

A BIG surprise! Within the first ½ mile of our climb, we encountered a huge and new downed tree across the trail, presumably a consequence of the storm in a few days before. Judging from the Monday Group’s report, it emerged between Monday night and our visit Friday. It was among the most challenging to navigate. Tiny women climbed under, some scaled over it using branches as steps up and jumped down, others climbing up a steep hill to get around the break. Same process on the return. Embarrassing photos and videos were captured. Now we’ve that story to tell.

After the steepest climb of the hike, we enjoyed continuing upward and through forested areas and across lovely meadows. The Beargrass turned up relatively early on the trail and continued to become more plentiful across the hillsides and in the meadows. We were mindful of the privilege in seeing this fascinating plant that blooms every 5+ years.

When we came to an outcropping area with a rocky open space at about 2 miles, we stopped for a break and photos. We enjoyed views of so many mountain peaks familiar to us, from Mt. Shasta (from the TH) and from this spot Pilot Rock, Mt. Ashland, Wagner Butte, Mt. McLoughlin, and Roxy Ann. This was an opportunity for some hikers to make the trip a 4-mile RT, but we all felt ready for more. So, onward along more scree and large boulders, through more meadow land and trees, continuing to relish the wildflowers and especially the Beargrass. Along the way, we stopped periodically to take in the vistas. Here, further up, the clarity of the air and our elevation allowed us to see all the way to Mt. Bailey and Mt. Thielsen, both on the other side of Crater Lake and near Diamond Lake. Amazing!!!

We passed the lonely patch of snow still hanging on the hillside and continued to the area just below the Red Mountain Summit. Rather than climbing up the hillside to the top, we continued on the PCT up and then down to the area where the trail dips sharply downhill. Thus, we had climbed from 6,000’ at the TH to 6,900’ where we paused for lunch under some trees and perched on rocks and bent tree trunks. While visiting and enjoying the views, Greg picked up a small, sharp, shiny piece of Obsidian rock, and pointed out that it is not native here and surely had been a remnant of toolmaking by indigenous people passing through the area. It must have been unearthed for us to find after centuries of erosion. It was a special surprise. It touched us to contemplate that we sat today where indigenous people sat long ago.

On the ascent and descent, we visited with 6 through hikers coming down, headed north. Some of our clan scratched their heads all day in disbelief that we were traveling south while Mt. A, Mt. S, and Pilot Rock were getting further behind us. We relished the wildflowers. Among them Indian Paint Brush, Split Hair Paint Brush, Scarlet Gilia, Columbine, Anemone, Wild Onion, Asters, Flax, Owl Clover, Corn Lily, and many more. We loved the pretty patches of fern that thrived in moist areas, as at the base of large boulders and along hillside below the melting snow. It could be Lemmon’s holly fern, Mountain hollyfern, Narrowleaf swordfern, or American rock brake.

We were ‘spent’ but very happy as we returned to our cars, having hiked 5.5 miles RT with 900’ elevation gain and at a high altitude. We were filled up with the pleasures of seeing so many familiar mountain peaks, this area flush with wildflowers, and of course the Beargrass.

Elisabeth