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Get Out: Friday, July 7 Friday Jul 7, 2017 at 12:01 AM To have an event listed in Get Out!, email the information to [email protected] Free fly-casting lessons in Medford Mondays: The Rogue FlyFishers Association offers free fly-casting lessons at Hedrick Middle School in Medford. The classes, held at the school’s athletic field, run from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays when it doesn’t rain, through Aug. 7. The club has rods and reels to loan out, but casters are encouraged to bring their own gear if they have it. The lessons are led by John MacDiarmid, a certified casting instructor through the International Federation of Fly Fishers, and include assistance from other seasoned casters in the association. Trails and hidden places of the Oregon Caves Preserve Saturday July 8: Veteran hiker and historian Greg Walter will lead a walk in the backcountry of the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. This will be an easy, three-mile roundtrip walk with a 500-foot elevation gain/loss starting around 5,800 feet. Hikers will assemble in front of the Oregon Caves Chalet at noon. The hike will run from noon to 6 p.m., with a slide presentation at 7 p.m. See kswild.org for information. Rogue Valley Walkers Saturday, July 8: A 10K walk in Gold Hill will meet at 7:45 a.m. in the post office parking lot on Second Street. The walk will explore the town and the Rogue River path. For more information, call 541-582-2607 or see www.roguevalleywalkers.com. Soda Mountain Wilderness Council hike Sunday, July 9: Botanist Kristi Merganthaler will lead a 5-mile flower hike to the top of Grizzly Peak east of Ashland, traversing forests and meadow landscapes as well as some post-fire habitat. To sign up, email Mergenthaler at [email protected]. Meet at 8:30 a.m. Women's lightweight backpacking tips Wednesday, July 12: You have your backpack loaded with all the necessary items for your next backpacking trip. Still think you might be carrying too much? Join REI for this free, small-group session on how to cut weight, carry the essentials and tailor your gear to best suit your needs. In this hands-on class, bring in your personal pack and gear and we will go through the items you take with you when backpacking and do a group "shake-down" on gear. The talk will run from 6:30-8 p.m. at Medford REI, 85 Rossanley Drive, Medford. See www.rei.com/stores/medford.html Preparing for the Unexpected: Outdoor Emergency Basics Thursday, July 13: Can you respond positively to an accident or emergency? Can you safely spend a night or more out? Every time you step into the wilderness, be prepared to help yourself and others. This free REI program has a wealth of valuable information to better prepare you for your adventures — from a day in a state park to an extended backpacking adventure deep into the wilderness and everything in between. The talk will run from 6:30-8 p.m. at Medford REI, 85 Rossanley Drive, Medford. See www.rei.com/stores/medford.html Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument hike and learn Friday-Saturday, July 14-15: Scenic Vistas of the Monument Expansion: Hiking Vulture Rock and Surveyor Mountain with biologist Michael Parker. Hike and Learn events include a Friday evening lecture and a Saturday hike presented by a local expert. For more information about timing, directions and to register, see http://cascadesiskiyou.eventbrite.com/ 2017 Up & Down ride Saturday, July 22: The annual bike ride was created as a way to showcase the Cascade-Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway, a 49-mile loop up Greensprings Highway and down Dead Indian Memorial Highway, with a stretch across a high plateau past Hyatt Lake and Howard Prairie Lake. This year's event features two routes, the original loop plus an 80-mile route, with craft beer and barbecue at the finish. To sign up and for details, see http://upanddownashland.com Native Plant Society outing to Poison Meadows Sunday, July 30: Poison Meadows is a meadow complex on the western boundary of Crater Lake National Park. Join Jennifer Beck, Crater Lake botanist, for a moderate off-trail hike on rolling terrain through forest stands and meadows where we will see a variety of plants, including Mt. Mazama (Collomia mazama), leather grape-fern (Sceptridium multifidum) and mountain owl clover (Orthocarpus imbricatus). Bring lunch, hat and sunscreen. Meet at 10 a.m. at the junction of Deer Creek Road (NF 6260) and Highway 62 (just east of the junction of Highways 62 and 230). Dirt-road drive to hiking spot takes 30 to 45 minutes.For more information and to register, contact Julie Spelletich at 541-951-1744 or [email protected]. Wine and wildflowers hike Wednesday Aug. 2: Botanist Kristi Mergenthaler and naturalist Janine Moy of KS Wild will lead a wildflower hike in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument from 3 to 7 p.m. The group will hike 3 to 5 miles roundtrip and enjoy some sips and snacks at the top. Bring wine or cheese and crackers to share. See kswild.org for information and to sign up for the hike. First Wednesday bird walks Wednesday, Aug. 2: The Rogue Valley Audubon Society holds free bird walks at Agate Lake the first Wednesday of every month. The walks begin at 8:30 a.m. and end before noon. The slow-paced walk covers about 1.5 miles. Meet at the main parking area on the east side of the lake opposite the boat ramp. For details, see www.roguevalleyaudubon.org/First_Wednesday_Count.html Siskiyou Velo Every Saturday: Brisk rides are for strong riders who want to ride in a paceline with occasional sprints and brisk climbs. Speeds are above 20 mph on flats and average of 15 to 18 mph overall. The route and starting point will vary — expect some climbing and, in fact, on most days, a lot. Riders should know how to make repairs. Riders are expected to review online and understand the planned route. The Brisk group is not a no-drop group, slower riders are discouraged. For details, call Dennis Cramer at 541-773-5804. Every Saturday: Velo Melo meets at various places and rides about 20 miles at 11 to 13 mph on flats with few, if any, pacelines. The routes may include some climbing, but these are usually limited to small rolling hills within the Bear Creek Valley. No one will be dropped. Contact Lisa Brill at [email protected]. Every Saturday: Velo Slo-Mos meet at various places to ride about 18 miles at an average of 10 mph over mostly flat terrain. We always stop for a cuppa along the route. Contact Phil Gagnon at 541-488-4289. Every Monday: Moderate to brisk rides along a fairly flat route from Phoenix to Jacksonville. Speeds are 18 to 20 mph on the flats and average around 15 to 19 mph overall. The route includes mostly lower volume roads without shoulders and some with moderate traffic and moderately wide shoulders. The exception is on OR 238 (Hanley Road), where there are no shoulders and the volumes are moderate. Call Ray Forsyth at 541-245-0312. Every Wednesday: This is a ride for experienced cyclists who enjoy riding at a moderate/brisk pace. Pacelines are common but not continuous; speeds are above 20 mph on flats and average of 15 to 18 mph overall. The route may vary but typically it goes through the orchards on the way to Oregon Mountain Roasting Company near East Barnett and North Phoenix Road (approximately 35 miles). The ride will almost always include a stop for coffee/espresso. Call Matt Walker at 541-261-4891. Riders must wear a helmet, carry a spare tube, and nonmembers must sign an insurance waiver to release the club from liability. See siskiyouvelo.org/about/ for more information.