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3 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 Emergency services: March 12 Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Hawthorne will get a children's park, thanks to Medford business leaders Jackson County commissioner says pot tax levels playing field Council reconsiders vote to install cameras at City Hall Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services: March 12 Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Rogue River man convicted of kidnapping, assault In the national spotlight Emergency services, May 11 Politics and Elections Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Education Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Work your body to save your braaaaains Inert grenade spurred White Mountain Middle School evacuation Willow Wind students raise money for water Environment Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift DEQ issues fines over illegal White City dumping site Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides State News Strippers make case to Oregon legislators for work improvements Brown ends contract with Kitzhaber adviser-business owner Warm February takes toll on West's snowpack Oregon lawmaker drops bill to ban most vaccine exemptions Oregon lawmakers grapple over daylight saving time Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Norma Catherine Morgan Marlene Milliron (Smock) Monica Louise Revel William F. Christofferson Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Late lull costs North in quarterfinals Comets advance to 5A state semifinals Trail Blazers hold off Rockets Beavers fall to Buffaloes at Pac-12 tourney North Medford boys fall in state quarterfinals Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers fall to Buffaloes at Pac-12 tourney Two Beavers seeded for NCAA Championships Raiders romp to victory in NAIA start Gonzaga trips BYU for 14th WCC title Beaver QB race down to three players Pro Sports Trail Blazers hold off Rockets Kelly says Eagles aren't after Mariota Mayweather, Pacquiao begin countdown James fuels Cavs in rout of Mavs Blair plays four tours to earn PGA card Community Sports Business Latest Stories Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February Jackson County jobless rate falls to 7.7 percent Blog: Manufacturing leads Oregon's export expansion Disruptive forces: Coming to a business near you Four Rogue Valley companies make business magazine's top-100 list Real Estate News Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Letters to the Editor, March 12 George Will: The Export-Import Bank's tenacious grip Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Editorials Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Our View: Atkins a safe choice for secretary of state Our View: Driving voter turnout is no sure thing for Oregon Our View: Cheers and Jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 10 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 8 Columns George Will: The Export-Import Bank's tenacious grip Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation Kathleen Parker: Adolescent senators dunking the president Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Michael Gerson: Viewing Ferguson from Selma — and fixing it Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Lifestyle Latest stories Religion News: Austria defends new law on mosque funding Suzette Martinez Standring: Reiki - healing energy Marketta Gregory: Love in action Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets The Pacific Crest Trail in 30 Years Food Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets Season Stepp: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish recipes Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Page H. Onorato: Try out this hot stuff in your kitchen on a cold night Serra storms Seattle Home and Garden Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Garden Cameos: Time to give your garden a new look Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Home Help: 4 ways to redefine your outdoor space Health Community blog: The Future is Now Dr. Murray Feingold: Cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to help hoarders Dr. Jeff Hersh: Gallstones affect 25 percent of American women Health Watch: Get prepped for spring break HealthStyle: Marriage care and maintenance Hiking Biking Faith More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Zepdrix! 'Shook, Rattled and Rolled' Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Theater Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Music Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Zepdrix! 'Shook, Rattled and Rolled' ZEPDRIX! at the Historic Ashland Armory The Bee Eaters play Headwaters Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays the Craterian Theater Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service ... North Medford boys fall in state quarterfinals ... North Medford, Central Catholic boys even at halftime ... Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service ... North Medford boys fall in state quarterfinals ... North Medford, Central Catholic boys even at halftime ... Pilot Rock trail gets overhaul New route will make the popular hiking site easier to conquer ASHLAND — Alex Relph eyes a pile of basalt chunks that have sloughed off Pilot Rock over the centuries, creating a cache she'll use in the first planned route to this iconic feature of the Siskiyou Mountains. Comment By MARK FREEMAN MailTribune.com By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jul. 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jul. 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM History of the rock --> Pilot Rock rises 5,910 feet above sea level in the Siskiyou Mountains southeast of Ashland, one of the signature land features of southern Jackson County. It has been known by that name since pi... » Read more X History of the rock Pilot Rock rises 5,910 feet above sea level in the Siskiyou Mountains southeast of Ashland, one of the signature land features of southern Jackson County. It has been known by that name since pioneer days, when travelers crossing the Siskiyou Pass between Oregon and California used it as a guide. U.S. Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes named it Emmons Peak after Lt. George E. Emmons, who was part of Wilkes' U.S. Exploring Expedition that passed through the area as part of a circumnavigation of the globe from 1838-42. The discovery was part of the expedition's overland trek from Puget Sound to San Francisco. According to "Oregon Geographical Names," Emmons first spied the rock on Sept. 28, 1841. » Social News ASHLAND — Alex Relph eyes a pile of basalt chunks that have sloughed off Pilot Rock over the centuries, creating a cache she'll use in the first planned route to this iconic feature of the Siskiyou Mountains. Relph wields a pickax into the soft hillside to make room for a flat piece of basalt that she plops into the hole, providing a firm foothold that she hopes will ease hikers' treks to this landmark southeast of Ashland for decades to come. "This is the first time I've ever made steps on a trail," says Relph, a member of the Siskiyou Mountain Club trail crew. "I gotta say, it's pretty exciting." After more than a century of catering to visitors who scrambled up this steep hillside every which way in search of everything from panoramas of the Rogue Valley to an ornery grizzly bear, the Pilot Rock Trail is finally going legit. Thanks to a federal Bureau of Land Management grant, the club is in the midst of carving the first planned and authorized trail here that will replace the steep and haphazard pathways used by hikers, rock climbers, hunters and others dating back into the early years of Southern Oregon settlements. The new route will include a series of switchbacks — and Relph's steps — to make the ascent through more stable soils and in a more gradual fashion, thereby reducing erosion and easing the approach to one of the region's more popular hiking destinations. "We try to pick out the most scenic route and one that can be the most sustainable, something we think will work for the long haul," says Zach Million, the BLM's recreation planner who helped design the new trail. "It will be a little longer because of the switchbacks, but it will be a lot easier," Million says. The new trail was conceived as part of a management plan for the Soda Mountain Wilderness Area, designated in 2009, where Eastern Oregon meets Western Oregon. Discovered as part of a U.S. exploratory expedition in 1841, Pilot Rock has been a fixture in Rogue Valley history, a sentinel of sorts for wild animals and eventually humans seeking to cross the Siskiyous between Oregon and California. Since it could be seen for miles, it was a good early landmark for travelers. The first intrastate road through the Siskiyous passed just to the side of the rock. Animals including grizzly bears used the same route in their migration. They included the famous Reel Foot, which suffered a crippled foot in a botched trapping attempt in 1856 near the rock, according to accounts published in early Mail Tribune editions. Reelfoot terrorized cattle herds and men who hunted it until it was shot 34 years later along the slopes to Pilot Rock. Over the decades, everyone from mushroom hunters to off-road enthusiasts found their way to the base of Pilot Rock. But change came with the wilderness designation, and scratching out the first planned trail to it was outlined in an environmental assessment for the wilderness area's activities. The initial part of the 1.2-mile route goes up a closed logging road, then veers down the Pacific Crest Trail to the so-called "user-made" Pilot Rock Trail. The BLM secured a nearly $50,000 grant to hire the Siskiyou Mountain Club. Armed with pickaxes, shovels and crosscut saws — mechanized tools such as chainsaws are banned in wilderness areas — the crew set out last week to carve in the new trail shortly above its offshoot from the PCT. The plans call for staying with 200 feet of the user-generated trail, with the switchbacks crossing the old trail in several sections. Crafting stairs from available rocks slows progress. It took Relph and Million about 900 minutes to build and fortify five stairs on one steep slope. "It's hard work with a lot of heavy lifting," says Gabe Howe, the Siskiyou Mountain Club's executive director. A Job Council crew paid through the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps has been scattering rocks and downed limbs and logs over the old route to discourage its use. In some of the steeper and rocky portions of the new trail, natural stairs will guide hikers. In all, 764 feet of new trail will be usable when completed, and 650 feet of the worst parts of the trail will be decommissioned, Million says. The old logging road will be recontoured to make it more like a path, and water bars will be added to funnel rain runoff from the trail, thereby curbing erosion. The trail gets 35 to 50 hikers on an average weekend day, Howe says, and they will be diverted away from trail crews until their work is completed sometime next month. Relph, a San Diego transplant now living outside of Rogue River, plans to be one of the early visitors to benefit from her stairs. "I can't wait to take friends on this trail," Relph says. "I'm definitely going to be coming back here." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470, or email at [email protected]. By MARK FREEMAN MailTribune.com By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jul. 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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