Collings Mountain Loop (Southern Oregon) 09-Dec-2019

The storms of winter have finally arrived. The snow depth is growing in the high country. Mount Ashland, our local ski area, opened a week early. Down lower, we’re having rain and fog interspersed with a day or two of clarity. I sought to take advantage of one of these clearings in the mists to do a little stiffer hike. A loop formed by the lower altitude Collings Mountain and Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trails came to mind. Easy access, a decent climb (1,800 feet), and a fair length (10 miles) seemed just about right.

We’ve usually done the loop clockwise – a long walk along the lake, then a gradual ascent followed by a plunging decent. Going counter-clockwise seemed like an easy way to change it up a bit. Unfortunately, The LovedOne doesn’t much care for this loop regardless of direction – something about a lot of work for hardly any views (which is true). So she opted to stay home and trim the tree (which cost more this year, pound for pound, than the other {now legal} crop we grow here). So I’d be hiking alone, secure in the knowledge that our cat (aka “The Princess”) would have something new to play with when I got back. 🐱

After successfully dodging a deer who seemed intent on impaling itself on my bumper, I parked at the Collings’ northern trailhead and started up along Grouse Creek through wisps of mist. The biggest attraction on this entire loop is the world famous bigfoot trap located about three-quarters of a mile in from the road. The Forest Service website also mentions an abandoned miners cabin but it’s been a pile of kindling for as long as we’ve hiked here.

I by-passed the trap this time (it was creepy enough in the mists without imagineering giant hairy creatures lunging from the woods), passed some old mine adits,

and continued on up the steep, but well-graded, trail as madrones gave way to oaks and then pines.

About 1,000 feet up, the mists abated and I was able to look out over the sea of fog settled on Applegate Lake – not unlike what I’d experienced last week at Mountain of the Rogue.

The trail’s grade slackens considerably when it reaches the top of the ridge and I began a gentle ascent around the west side of Collings Mountain. There are a few spots along here where there’s a decent view to the west.

The trail crosses the ridge just south of the viewless summit of Collings and then starts a long decent to its southern trailhead across from Watkins Campground. By now the fog over the lake had begun to dissipate and I got one of the few views available along this section of the trail.

By the time I got down to Watkins and the start of the Da-Ku-Be-Te-De Trail, the fog was history and the rest of my hike proceeded under wintry, but welcome, sunshine. 😎 The boat ramp is named for the old mining hamlet of Copper that was removed to make way for the reservoir that is Applegate Lake.

The lake is now drawn down in anticipation of winter rains and Spring runoff – the water level presently sits some 121 feet below full pool. I’m probably not supposed to, but I find that the juxtaposition of the green and orange, the striations created by changing water levels, the various shadows, and the overarching blue combine to lend the lake a compelling beauty at this time of year.

Despite the limited views, this was still a good hike – especially because the fog went away and the sun came out for the return leg. And it was just long enough and high enough to move me closer to “normal” hiking condition. When I got home – after dodging enroute a dog intent on ramming my truck – I found the tree lit and The Princess asleep. Ornamentation is still a work in progress. Whether The Princess will bestir herself long enough (just getting to her food bowl is sooooo hard…) to pester the bright, shiny things that will eventually dangle from the tree remains to be seen. 🙄

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