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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Emergency services, May 3 Former San Quentin guard publishes book Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Soaring rents, stagnant wages create housing crisis Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 3 Dozens of drivers nabbed in Medford pedestrian sting Emergency services, May 2 Gold Hill man torched his foreclosed property No leads on who smashed about 20 windows in Ashland before dawn Thursday Politics and Elections Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Education More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Neal Simon: This is a test Environment Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior State News PERS ruling means tough choices for state and local lawmakers US, Canada unveil rules to boost oil train safety Cylvia Hayes public records case goes before Salem judge Fixit tag for Portland's noted Portland Building: $175 million Fee targets rail cars that haul oil, other flammables Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Tim Lawrence Yockey Penelope Catherine (Turner) Martens William "Bill" Geisslinger Alice Irenia (McFall) Calkins Dennis Dean Ekwall Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Earnhardt Jr. secures emotional Talladega win Driven Vonn says relationship with Woods over Ragan, Tornado hit way past Indians Mayweather wins decision in richest fight Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders' Abbott breaks 22-year-old record Dodge signs as free agent with Falcons Lockie stands out in Ducks' spring game Raiders go 1-1, advance to today Singler shines in Raider spring game Pro Sports Vonn says relationship with Woods over Mayweather wins decision in richest fight Timbers, Whitecaps play to 0-0 draw Clippers oust defending champ Spurs McIlroy, Casey fight until darkness Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Blog: Do You Want Cheese with Your Wine? Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Comcast deal dropped along with Pac-12 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option Real Estate News Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 3 Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Charles Krauthammer: Men wielding power in hellish times Editorials Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Our View: Medical marijuana market not at risk Our View: Don't wait on public records reform Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 3 Letters to the Editor, May 2 Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Columns Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Charles Krauthammer: Men wielding power in hellish times Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Lifestyle Latest stories Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Bright spots in the dark Wedding: Melody Ann Madi and Lyman Martin Stiles Engagement: Anders-Stanley Columnist for a Day: 'When Harry met Shirley,' the story continues Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! Page H. Onorato: Enjoying good food just for the fun of it Page H. Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Home and Garden Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Dear Monty: 10 tips to avoid tenant complaints Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Wedding: Melody Ann Madi and Lyman Martin Stiles Engagement: Anders-Stanley ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Theater REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Thanks for the Memories stages 'Company' one night only Music Thunder's Edge, Steel Cranes tonight at Club 66 The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Live Music in Local Clubs Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Movies Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Quick Flicks: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Insurgent’ and more Dining Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Have you wandered down the Bear Creek Wine Trail yet? Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford ... Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board ... Bright spots in the dark ... Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford ... Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board ... Bright spots in the dark ... MY ADVENTURE Soda Mountain hike is tougher in winter Snowshoe trek provides a different window on the wilderness Comment By Carlyle Stout for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Carlyle Stout for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 2:44 PM Updated Jan 14, 2015 at 2:45 PM By Carlyle Stout for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 2:44 PM Updated Jan 14, 2015 at 2:45 PM --> SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE The Mail Tribune wants to share your adventure. We’re looking for accounts of hikes, climbs, river runs, fishing trips, bike rides, ocean outings, camping trips, w... » Read more X SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE The Mail Tribune wants to share your adventure. We’re looking for accounts of hikes, climbs, river runs, fishing trips, bike rides, ocean outings, camping trips, wildlife encounters and anything else you’ve done outdoors. Email your 500-word story (and pictures if you have them) to Mail Tribune features editor David Smigelski at [email protected] . » Social News Soda Mountain overlooks its namesake wilderness area, straddling the border between Oregon and California in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. It is easily accessible and from spring through autumn, a day hike to its summit is an easy 4.6-mile round-trip. In winter, however, the hike is transformed into an exhilarating adventure through a winter wonderland. Some of my kids were home for the Christmas holidays and there had been a recent snowstorm in the mountains. So the day after Christmas my wife, Barb, my daughter, Trina, and my son, Michael, his dog Estrella, and I decided to snowshoe up to Soda Mountain. It was a glorious sunny day and the conditions were perfect: clear weather, no wind and dry fluffy snow. We went to the Ashland Outdoor Store to rent snowshoes for Trina and Michael. Barb and I used our MSR EVO snowshoes (available at REI). The EVO model has “tails” that can be attached for extra flotation in deep snow, a highly desirable feature. We drove up the Greensprings Highway to the well marked turn off to Hobart Bluff and chained up because we expected to drive to the trailhead. Alas! It turned out there was a snow berm just past the residential area and we had to park and start hiking 1.5 miles below the trailhead. Some guy in a huge 4-wheel drive had gone over the snow berm, packing the snow down, so we didn’t have to break trail; we obligingly followed the tire tracks. There was no one else on the trail, and 50 yards from the car we crossed a threshold into a different world. The air was cool, crisp and pure as a mountain stream in the wilderness. The snow was so dry, it squeaked underneath our steps. The surrounding landscape was covered in a carpet of white, and the boughs of the conifers were decorated with perfect little mantles of snow that glistened in the morning sun. Along the trail were lots of animal tracks. We saw the signs of black-tail deer, a snow hare, a squirrel and a marten or Pacific fisher. Farther along, we paused to soak in a stunning view of a gleaming, snow-topped Pilot Rock rising like an alien monolith from the Siskiyous. Estrella had a field day bounding through the snow and veering off the trail to pursue new scents, often following some fresh animal tracks. She was like a child on an Easter egg hunt. We reached the trailhead at the Pacific Crest Trail, but continued down the road until we reached the spur road to the summit, as it was easier to follow the spur road than navigate the PCT. However, once leaving the road, we had to break trail; actually it was Michael who broke trail. Even with snowshoes, this was hard work, as the snow was at least two feet deep. Trina and I gratefully treaded in Michael’s footsteps. The spur road rises quite steeply and twists in and out of the forest. When we stopped to rest, it was so quiet we could hear our hearts beating and it seemed we were the only people on Earth. The temperature dropped quickly in the shade of the tree-covered canopy, so we kept moving until we emerged into a splash of sunlight, then stopped to bask in the warmth and sunlight. Finally, we rounded a bend in the trail and the summit loomed just ahead. At the top we congratulated each other and ate a well deserved snack while gazing at the staggering vista. To the east we could see Mount Ashland and the Colestine Valley, to the south the Klamath River and Irongate Reservoir lay in the foreground and Mount Shasta, the Queen of the Cascades, dominated the horizon, sparkling like a white diamond. The clouds swirled around us, playing tricks like a magician, obscuring our views, then suddenly departing and revealing a window of stunning beauty. The afternoon sun was starting to wane and standing still we soon became cold, as it was single digits at the top, so we took a celebratory photo and then headed down the trail. We reached the car at dusk and were all very tired puppies because the extra distance from the car to the trailhead made the snowshoe hike a 7.8-mile round trip. Snowshoeing is one winter’s most exhilarating recreational activities. The State of Jefferson offers a cornucopia of trails to explore where cross-country skiers and snowmobiles cannot tread. A person on snowshoes can experience the full majesty of winter in forests, meadows, rivers and lakes and revel in a transformed landscape of a wild, white wonderland that is barely recognizable. You will be astounded at the experience and remember it long after your hike, time and time again. Carlyle Stout lives in Ashland. By Carlyle Stout for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Carlyle Stout for the Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 14, 2015 at 2:44 PM Updated Jan 14, 2015 at 2:45 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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