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WILDERNESS RESTRICTIONS: Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.Caching of equipment is prohibited.Maximum overnight group size: 12 members.
Path Type
There and Back
Trail #1161 is in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. It is a wilderness area in the Klamath Mountains of southwestern Oregon, within the Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest. It was designated wilderness by the United States Congress in 1964.Memorial Day weekend 2016, we were on the trail from Sat-Mon on a challenging and fun backpack. First day was 12+ miles to Bald Mtn camp. One section (about mile 9) was all exposed, rocky, HOT, and slow going. Once we got on the back side of the ridge it seemed cooler and the trail was dotted with springs.Day two was challenging with almost all downhill travel. There is a switchback section, and it was killer in that the trees dropped lots of dry, slick leaves and rolly twigs on the trail, which made for a couple of unexpected sit-downs. The cross section view of the trail is very sloped. It makes for an more exhausting route as your body and muscles are constantly micro-adjusting to keep from sliding off the side of the trail.Day three had a good up then down (200 ft to 800 ft to 250 ft within a mile) then up again (1080 ft at mile 3) before a gradual downhill to the Oak Flat campground. Some of this was pretty exposed but an early start meant it was on the cooler side.The trail just past the Indigo Creek bridge is difficult and perilous. A wide rock/gravel slide on a steep hillside makes for a treacherous path. Take your time. Plant your trekking poles if you brought them. Shuffle out a ledge to step onto.All of this trail was effected by the Biscuit Fire in 2002. Not all of the fire was so hot, and as a result not all of the trees are greyed snags. There are many lovely sections of green trees and shade. The vistas are amazing! The wildflowers were incredible.Memorial Day weekend there was much more water than I expected from springs and creeks. Still, there were some stretches (especially that first day about 2/3 the way to Bald Mtn camp) with no water.
A little history about the Fantz Ranch and Hugo Mayer, a famous hermit can be found here:http://offbeatoregon.com/o1105b-crazy-hugo-hermit-of-craggies.html
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