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The Monday group closed out January with temps in the 60s hiking on the Sterling Mine ditch trail. It was sunny and felt like Spring for our 7.5 miles. We started on the Demming Gulch trail, then hiked up the Grub Gulch trail, and finished on a new 2-mile stretch of the Jack Ash trail. Walking next to the old mining ditch, we told new hikers about the hydro mining for gold in the late 19th century. The forested trails were green with lichen in the trees, moss, ferns, and early green growth along the way. The Demming trail ends at a locked gate, but a sharp turn to the right starts the ascent up the Grub Gulch trail with lunch near the top and a view of Little Applegate Valley and the snow-covered peaks to the south. We had our group taken around the bench at the lunch spot.
The hike has a gain of about 600 feet, mostly heading towards lunch. After lunch, it's mostly downhill or level with a left turn onto the J-A trail for the last 2 miles. Active mining claims were seen posted on either side of the trail. Coming out onto Griffin Ln we found the shuttle car that took the drivers back up to the Demming TH. Post-hike 7 of us drove into Jacksonville for a pitcher at Boomtown. The warmer weather made it a really pleasant day. Rich Stickle
Hike Date: 2024-01-29
Photos By: Linda, Randy, gpx by Jerry
