Hike and Learn 

Hike and Learns are designed to connect you more fully to the wonder and value of the biodiversity within the Monument. They are co-created with local scientists, historians, artists, writers, and more. They consist of a Friday evening lecture followed by a Saturday hike in the Monument. You are welcome to attend just Friday or just Saturday or both days. All events are free of charge.

See below for a list of our upcoming Hike and Learns. We hope you can join us!

Volcanism in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

Friday Night Talk - Sept. 19th, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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Saturday Field Day - Sept. 20th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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In this fascinating Friday Night Talk, we will be exploring the different types of volcanism in the Monument, ranging from quiescent lava flows to violently erupted ash flow deposits typical of the Western Cascade Series. We will get to see the contrast between stratovolcanoes –like Mt. Shasta– and the dominant shield volcanoes of the Monument as well as faulting episodes throughout Monument geohistory.

The Saturday field trip will include stops that characterize the important and varied volcanic episodes of the older Western Cascades Volcanic Series, where we will see different volcanic eruptive events and exposed deposits of violently erupted ash flows including locations at Howard Prairie Reservoir. We will also investigate sites that exemplify volcanism in the younger High Cascades Volcanic Series such as a rift eruption, vertical dike conduits and lava ramparts. Finally, we will explore the impressive Surveyor Mountain Fault Zone and observe a “beheaded” lava flow.

Jad D’Allura received his Ph.D. in geology from UC Davis. He worked for Texaco as an exploration geologist for two years then taught geology at SOU for 33 years prior to retirement. He continues to do basic geologic research with University of Oregon undergraduate seniors in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

History & Ecology of Fire in the Monument

Friday Night Talk - October 10th, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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Saturday Hike - October 11th, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

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Join dynamic and knowledgeable Rich Fairbanks as he shares the history and ecology of fire in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. He will discuss both modern and indigenous management practices informed by his own personal experience and consultation from indigenous people who gave him permission to share. He also will take us on a journey from indigenous fire through early European settlement, the fire suppression years and more recently the Klamathon and Oregon Gulch fires. The presentation emphasis will be on the response of plants to fire and how to recognize fire scars and fire refugia. Through his lecture, we will learn enough about fire behavior to understand how fire has shaped the Monument in big ways and the need for resources to be directed toward the proper protection and stewardship of its resources.

Rich Fairbanks has a wealth of knowledge and interesting stories through his work with the U.S. Forest Service for 32 years in fire management, planning, and silviculture. He held various positions in the organization including Interagency Hotshot Crew Foreman, Division Supervisor and ID Team leader for the Biscuit Fire Recovery Project. For five years, he also worked for The California Fire Program of the Wilderness Society. Rich has a degree in forestry and holds a Master’s degree in planning. He currently owns a small forest management company. He and his wife live in the mixed conifer forest of the Applegate where they do a considerable amount of under burning.

Unless otherwise noted, talks are held at the Ashland Food Co-op Community Classroom located at 300 N. Pioneer Street in Ashland, OR. The community classroom in NOT in the grocery store. It is in a separate building a block behind the grocery store on 300 N. Pioneer Street. The talk is an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and meet your fellow hikers. It is optional and not compulsory before taking the hike.

If you can’t hike the trail you are welcome to attend only the talk! Enjoy the images and participate in the discussion. We believe in making the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument accessible for all people to learn about and appreciate our public lands.

Hikes are held in various locations within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. We kick off the hikes at the Rite Aid parking lot located at 2341 Ashland Street in Ashland at 9AM (unless otherwise noted) and carpool/caravan to the designated spot in the Monument together.

On the day of the hike:

• Bring plenty of water

• Bring lunch and snacks

• Consider bringing additional items such as: hat, sunscreen, walking sticks, camera, binoculars, hand lens, notebook and pen

• Wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing

Be considerate of the group and meet on time at the designated location.

Practice hike ethics and leave no trace. Learn more.

Limited facilities. The only public toilet facilities are located at the Hyatt Lake campground, Hobart Bluff trailhead, Pilot Rock trailhead, Grizzly Peak trailhead, and the Tub Springs Wayside. There are no washroom facilities or pit toilets at most other locations.

Previous Hike & Learns

Grasshoppers of the CSNM

August 8th & 9th

Join the Friends by appreciating the diversity of grasshoppers in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument! Led by Joe Baures and Dr. Jacob Youngblood, we will discuss grasshopper identification, how environmental differences affect grasshoppers, and will highlight some of the endemic species that can be found in the region. We will discuss how these insects fit into the unique environments that the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument has to offer. Learn to appreciate and understand the wide variety of grasshopper species that can be found in our local area!

Astrophotography

July 25th & 26th

Prepare to embark on a celestial journey with Kyle Sullivan as he unravels the secrets of capturing the night sky in all its splendor. In this engaging presentation, you'll discover how to locate pristine dark sky sites away from urban light pollution, explore the essential gear—from smartphones to DSLR cameras—that transforms your nightly snapshots into stellar masterpieces, and learn about apps that elevate your shooting skills. Kyle will also touch on the art of post-processing, empowering you to polish your images to perfection. Whether you're a novice armed with a trusty cell phone or a DSLR enthusiast, these practical, easy-to-follow tips will help you create night sky photos that truly are out of this world.

Native Bees of Southern Oregon

July 18th & 19th

Come and learn about the huge diversity of bee species in Oregon and some of what we will be able to see while in the CSNM. We will discuss the differences between a bee, fly and wasp, and some basic bee family ID skills for when you get a bee in your jar. Learn about basic bee biology, seasonality, and the many habitats and structures that bees will use for nesting, including how you can support them in your own yard. 

Bats of Oregon

July 11th & 12th

Explore fundamental topics about bat biology and the life history of Oregon bat species. This will include their role in ecosystem services in the Pacific Northwest, addressing common misconceptions, and offering conservation actions for those interested in supporting local bat populations. We will also learn about ultrasonic detections (which we will utilize on Saturday) and discuss the various ways to collect data on bats.

Tiny and Endangered - So What?

May 23rd & 24th

What the Klamath Mardon Skipper butterfly has to teach us, with Jeanine Moy from Vesper Meadow Education Program.

As small as your thumbnail, and as subtle as the orange-brown clays of the Cascade-Siskiyou itself, the Klamath Mardon Skipper is the most unassuming butterfly - yet is also the bellwether of watershed health, surviving in the upper most reaches of the Rogue and Klamath River Basins. Found nowhere else in the world besides the subalpine meadows of the Cascade-Siskiyou, this species has been rapidly declining in the last decade.Join Jeanine Moy as she brings you along through the native bunchgrasses and seablush flowers for a butterly-eye view of the Monument. Hear the story of a rare and imperiled species, and learn about our chance to come together and protect the land that both the Mardon and our communities rely on. Participants will gain opportunities to become involved and take action for meadow habitat conservation and restoration.

LICHENS IN THE MONUMENT

Februrary 21st & 22nd

Lichens are very common in southern Oregon. They are found on natural and man-made features including across rock surfaces, festooning from tree branches, speckling the sidewalks in town, and on (and within) many other substrates. However, they are often overlooked. We will discuss what lichens are, how they interact with their surroundings, and basic identification of different types, including some we will see on the snowshoe hike the following day. We hope you leave you with a better understanding and appreciation of these fascinating organisms.

Wildlife Tracking

January 31st & February 1st

Join us for a fun, relaxed, and interactive workshop designed to connect you more deeply to the wild animals who live in the Monument and beyond. Our evening talk will introduce animal tracking (with a focus on Track & Sign ID). We will offer tools that will increase your observational skills and help you to spot track & sign during our hike the following day.

This hike and learn is appropriate for both beginners to tracking and those looking to continue to brush up their skills! You never know what kind of animal signs we will stumble across!

For those who attended Jad D’Allura’s Friday Night Talk on Volcanoes, you can find a copy of his presentation below:

PARTICIPANT REVIEWS

"I loved the lecture before the hike."

"To see drawings and pictures [helped] to understand what I saw during the hike."

"It was nice having everyone contribute some knowledge on the hike."

"Beautiful area!"

Gallery of previous Hike and Learns. Check out our blog for write-ups and photos of the previous Hike and Learns!

LEAVE NO TRACE
Principles of Outdoor Ethics

Plan Ahead and Prepare
 Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
 Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Respect Wildlife
 Be Considerate of Other Visitors