PCT from Mt. Ashland Ski Road to Grouse Gap

Threatening skies did not disturb 11 Monday hikers. With grey clouds overhead we drove south on I-5 to the Mt Ashland exit. Soon we were driving through low clouds with our wipers on. But as luck would have it we broke through the clouds about 5 miles up the ski road and had a good day for hiking.

With the sun breaking through the clouds we put away rain gear as we hiked towards the gap.

It’s more like mid-April than mid-June up above 6,000′, so many wildflowers pictured are Spring blooms. There will be more flowers blooming along the PCT later in the Summer.

We reached the Grouse Gap Shelter at 11:15 and had a leisurely lunch which ended with Trader Joe’s chocolate passed all around.

The temp on the trail reached 59o with some wind from the North and a slight mist heading back to the cars.

Our RT was 7.5 miles with a gain of 870′.

The I-5 road project required a detour down to the Hilt Road exit before we could turn North back to Ashland.

Next week we’ll do the hike to Azalea Lake.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Jerry, Linda, Randy