The challenging part of the Pilot Rock hike was the drive to the trailhead. We drove into thick fog on Mt. Ashland and slowly searched for the Pilot Rock Road turnoff and the trailhead parking lot.
There was light rain, and we donned all our raingear and headed up the trail. We appreciated that the trail had been cleared of brush and saplings encroaching on the trail. That work was done the previous Saturday, Sept. 27, by Siskiyou Mountain Club and other volunteers who worked on the Pilot Rock Trail for Public Lands Days.
This trail is stunning in October when fall rains spring lichens and moss to life. Classes in lichens and moss are taught on this Pilot Rock trail. We saw Old Man’s Beard, wolf lichen and many other lichens and moss hanging from tree branches and on tree trunks. White snowberries and a few bright red baneberry berries were by the trail along with tiny fir-cone mushrooms.
We arrived at the Babbit gap viewpoint, but thick clouds obscured any view of Pilot Rock. Kay shared South African chocolate from her recent Naturalist Journeys birding trip. Some hikers were getting cold, so we turned back down the trail after a morning spent with our heads in the clouds. Total distance (4 miles) and elevation gain (500’).
Kay
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1 Group Photo
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5.Fir-Cone Mushrooms
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6. Lichens
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7. Lichens
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8.Lichens on log across trail
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9.Lichens
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10. Snowberry
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