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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 Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Wimer's Highland Games appeal to both the kilted and kiltless Public meetings in Jackson County for May 4-8, 2015 Dozens of drivers nabbed in Medford pedestrian sting Class of 2016 can get a primer on senior year Crime, Courts and Emergency Services 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 Ashland man allegedly dragged woman with vehicle Politics and Elections 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. 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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 2 Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Philip Maddocks: Candidates eager to reconnect with everyday billionaires Matthew T. Mangino: Baltimore boils over again Granlund cartoon: Cities and fire starters Editorials 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 Our View: Yes to faster speeds, no to lane splitting Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 2 Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Letters to the Editor, April 28 Columns Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore George Will: What stands in Lindsey Graham's way Dana Milbank: Billionaire politics Kathleen Parker: Comedy, tragedy and fear of free speech Michael Gerson: Weighing the baggage Hillary brings Guest Opinions 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 Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Lifestyle Latest stories Photographers capture some lovely blooms in latest Mail Tribune contest Go with the (low) flow Find the starry ‘kite’ in the eastern sky Life Lessons & Loves: An ode to the sane and wonderful mothers-in-law Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! 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Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Home and Garden 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 Costa Living: Basking in flower power 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 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Milestones and Achievements ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 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 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? Restaurant inspections: April 19, 2015 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 PERS ruling means tough choices for state and local lawmakers ... Wimer's Highland Games appeal to both the kilted and kiltless ... REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' ... PERS ruling means tough choices for state and local lawmakers ... Wimer's Highland Games appeal to both the kilted and kiltless ... REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' ... HIKE OF THE WEEK Trophy trees on the Frog Pond trail Hike into the Red Buttes Wilderness Area is strenuous, but worth it Comment By Gabe Howe for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Gabe Howe for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Gabe Howe for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Frog Pond is a north-facing cirque cradled in the 20,000-acre Red Buttes Wilderness Area. On the two-mile hike to its shallow shores, you will encounter some of the most majestic forests I've seen in southwest Oregon. Trees that reach five feet in diameter are common. You'll find rare plants, including a very special conifer tree that grows only in the Klamath Mountains. It will come at a price. You'll gain about 1,000 feet in elevation in the first three-quarters of a mile and be tested by a contiguous wall of switchbacks. But it's worth it. The drive is suitable for low-clearance, 2-wheel-drive vehicles, but there is a stream crossing about 1,000 feet from the Frog Pond Trailhead to consider. You can always leave your car and walk the difference. From Seattle Bar on the south end of Applegate Lake, head south on Forest Service Road 1050. After less than a mile, make a hairpin right onto FSR 1040 just after crossing into California. FSR 1040 will follow the Middle Fork Applegate River for about 5.5 miles from Seattle Bar to a junction. Turn left, follow signs for FSR 1040 and Red Buttes Wilderness Trailheads, and begin a steep ascent on the narrow gravel road. Take careful notice of the Shoofly and Cameron Meadows trailheads you'll pass on your way. They're well marked but somehow often missed. About 12 miles from Seattle Bar is the Frog Pond Trailhead. Follow the signs up a steep trail and within a few minutes you'll reach the first switchback. This is the first of many, but there's good news. The first run up Frog Gulch is the steepest section, achieving some 30-percent pitches. There's a lot of reasons to stop, breathe and look around. As the trail reaches a ridge, there are ancient sugar pines that reach awesome proportions. And within one-third of a mile, any conifer connoisseur will notice the Picea breweriana, commonly called Brewer or weeping spruce. The crown is very distinct as you gaze through the forest, because it has vertical, weeping branchlets. The younger trees grow taut with horizontal branchlets and coarse, erect needles. The relict specie competes best on exposed ridges that get heavy snow. It grows slowly, and its signature adaptation equips it to survive heaping snow loads that other conifers can't handle. And along this hike are some of the best Brewer groves in the Siskiyou. They're everywhere. After a mile, the trail does become easier on the knees, but bumpy on the feet. The soils become rocky, the trees small, and the shrubs abundant. Eventually Frog Gulch opens up to its origin, a five-acre pond. You should be able to spot at least eight conifers on this hike, including white fir, Pacific yew, knobcone pine, Ponderosa pine and even some lodgepole, but the spruce is the most special. It grows at a fringe elevation, where snow is not guaranteed, especially in the wake of climate change. Eventually the specie could be pushed out. The Red Buttes Wilderness Area has special rules, including an eight-person group size limit. Keep dogs on leashes, stay on the trail and leave no trace. Frog Pond is at about 5,000 feet elevation, so consider weather and current snow levels. Use the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest map and the 7.5-minute Figurehead Mountain quadrangle issued in 1998. Freelance writer Gabriel Howe is executive director and field coordinator for the Siskiyou Mountain Club. Contact him at [email protected]. By Gabe Howe for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Gabe Howe for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 13, 2015 at 12:01 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. 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