Trail Talk – June 2019

Our Trail Talk in recent issues has focused on appropriate use of trails in our local forests. Jacksonville is not alone in dealing with folks damaging public property through thoughtless or illegal actions. Postings on Facebook and an article in the Mail Tribune have pointed out the damage caused by visitors who have ignored signs or traveled trails too wet to sustain traffic. It’s simple really: if you see that your activity is breaking down a particular trail, please refrain from said activity. Once a trail’s integrity has been destroyed, it’s of no use to anyone. ‘Nuff said.

On a happier note, I’d like to announce the completion of the upper section of Rattlesnake Gulch Tr in Forest Park. This hiker-only trail climbs steadily to Siskiyou View Loop and features multiple switchbacks as it traverses a steep gully of metamorphic “basement” rock so common in the Klamath-Siskiyou region. Intrusive bands of white quartz punctuate the greenstone schists and slates as the trail climbs through the green meadows of spring.

As with other trails on the eastern slopes of the park, the floral display evolves as the seasons progress. The fritillaries of early spring give way to the popcorn flowers and sea blush of later spring and the yellows of balsam root and arnica of summer. As the soils dry and the days become warmer, the grasses dry out, but in the seeps one may find shy monkey flowers, their comical faces turned sunward. Poison oak’s glossy red leaves turn green and the delicate blooms, tiny enough to recommend a hand lens, peek from beneath the “leaves of three.”

Rustling in the dry leaves and grasses are two of our more common reptile friends. Hunting ants and other insects, Western fence lizard, aka blue belly, scurries about, trying not to get underfoot. Thermo-regulated by color, these guys are often quite dark in the early spring, becoming a light tan as the season progresses. Their cousin, the alligator lizard, appears to slither as it glides through the madrone and manzanita leaf litter. This action often causes a person to startle, certain that a sneaky snake has just darted across the path. With strong jaws, this critter can enact a painful bite if mishandled.

At the apex of this trail are two wonderful viewpoints. The first occurs as the trail enters a ponderosa pine grove, where a short spur climbs to a madrone-covered ridge of fractured slate. Looking south toward the Siskiyou Crest, a bench gives welcome respite from the steady climb. One can also see the Wildlife Viewing Shelter down on the old dam from here. Farther along the trail, another short spur takes us to a bench which also boasts excellent views of the Siskiyous.

Leaving the ridge line through brush piles from fire-prevention activity, we re-enter a madrone-mixed forest and wind down Siskiyou View Loop to rejoin Siskiyou Tr. From here we can head left to rejoin our track up the hill, or right to find our way to other park trails.