The Applegater

Applegater Spring 2017 23 BY DIANA COOGLE WAHOO! The East ART is scheduled to begin! Open 7days a week! Deli & Picnic Supplies Breakfast • Lunch •To-Go Orders Gas • ATM • Espresso Beer & Wine Applegate Store & Cafe 15095 Hwy 238, Applegate, OR 541-846-6659 13291 Hwy 238, Applegate, OR Stay at a real country farm on the Applegate River! Horsefeather Farms Ranchette Guesthouse Stayovers B&B www.horsefeather-farms-ranchette.com Bring the kids! Pet friendly! Call for information and reservations: 541-941-0000 T h e Bureau of Land Ma n a g e m e n t ( B L M ) h a s g i v e n t h e Applegate Trails A s s o c i a t i o n ( A T A ) t h e g o - a h e a d f o r b u i l d i n g t h e E a s t A R T, the eastern-most leg of the proposed Applegate Ridge Trail between Cathedral Hills in Grants Pass and the Jacksonville Woodlands. After years of doing the preliminary work of meeting BLM criteria, jumping through their hoops, writing grants, and raising money, we are so excited! We plan to start trail construction by the end of March. We're planning some work-party days for all enthusiastic trail builders who want to help with this project, tentatively set for April 1, April 30, and May 21. Watch our website (applegatetrails.org) or our Facebook page for more details. Although our energy is now going towards the actual trail building, we are still planning to hold some hikes this summer. On May 13, Mike Kohn will lead a hike up Mule Mountain. On June 11, Alex Weinbrecht will lead an equestrian "hike" on a trail of her choosing, and o n J u l y 9 , Diana Coogle will lead a hike u p M o u n t El i j a h , w h e n the wildflowers should be in f u l l b l o o m on one of the best wildflower hikes in this part of the Siskiyous. ATA has also booked some showings of our film, Walking the Wild Applegate, directed by Tim Lewis, about the thru-hike ATA board members Josh Weber and Luke Ruediger made along the route of the proposed Applegate Ridge Trail. The film was shown at the Siskiyou Film Festival in February. Upcoming showings are Friday, March 3, at ree Rivers Outdoor store in Grants Pass and Wednesday, April 12, at the Jackson County Horseman's Association meeting. Contact Alex Weinbrecht at alex@applegatetrails.org for more information if you are interested in attending one of these showings. In addition to Applegate Trails Association t-shirts, ATA will have some handsome caps for sale at any of our events. Look for them when you're there! Diana Coogle • dicoog@gmail.com Hiking the East ART with ATA. T h e J a c k - Ash Trail, which w i l l c o n n e c t Jacksonville and Ashland along the ridgelines between A n d e r s o n Bu t t e and Wagner Butte, h a s b e g u n w i t h c o n s t r u c t i o n o f Phase 1. is trail i s d e s i g n e d f o r people who want to enjoy the outdoors by leg-powered (nonmotorized) means—hikers, runners, bicyclists, equestrians, bird-watchers, and people who just want to mosey along. e views are awesome, and the diverse ecosystems include mature woodlands, open grasslands, and summer shade. After years of planning by the Siskiyou Upland Trails Association (SUTA) and the Medford Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the community actually began constructing the Jack-Ash in late 2016 with help from the BLM staff, the Northwest Youth Corps crew, and several dozen SUTA volunteers. People were jazzed at just how much solid, passable trail they had constructed in one morning. Within a month, some gentle slopes with red flagging had been transformed into a flat dirt trail weaving along hillsides. Local crews will be hired to construct more of the trail in early 2017 with financial support from Title II grants and other fundraising. Portions will be open for foot traffic in mid-2017, with use by bicyclists and equestrians to follow after the trail has solidified a bit. We are constructing more than four miles out of a total of 15 miles of new trails for Phase 1 of the Jack-Ash. e trail will allow users to make many loops with the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail and the existing networks of BLM roads and trails. SUTA organizes work parties on the Jack-Ash Trail and the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail, designated by Oregon Parks We got dirty with construction of the Jack-Ash Trail! BY NEAL ANDERSON and Recreation as southern Oregon's first Scenic Trail. e first trail-work party was held on February 18; future work parties will take place on Saturday, March 18, and Saturday, April 22, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. SUTA serves mid- morning snacks and lunch. For details, see sutaoregon.org. Come enjoy the trails, and join us at the light-hearted yet constructive work parties. If you would like to donate, please log onto sutaoregon.org. Especially consider joining us for the work party on April 22, when you will be able to see a large chunk of the newly constructed Jack-Ash Trail. Neal Anderson ngeoanders83@wildblue.net SUTA's first trail work party in November 2016. Creating a pathway on the Jack-Ash Trail. Trail horse trials at Pacifica If you are looking to spice up your trail rides or show your partnership between you and your horse, you will enjoy the Grayback Brushriders Trail Horse Trials on May 7, 2017, at Pacifica, 14615 Water Gap Road, Williams. e trials involve a three-hour ride, about seven miles long, with judged obstacles and situations one might encounter along a trail anywhere. e first rider will go out at 9 am. Riders are judged on how well the horse and rider negotiate the obstacles, with emphasis on safety and calmness. e entry fee is $20 preregistration and $25 the day of the ride. For rules and entry forms, email trottingalongmelody@ gmail.com or call Kay Johnson at 541-846-6077. Over the past years, Pacifica has played host to many horse events, such as Saddle-up for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Poker Rides, fundraisers, Trail Horse Trials, seminars and clinics. Pacifica is a scenic 400-acre facility with beautiful views and a very diverse environment, perfect for horses and riders.

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