Hikes and stewardship days offer a chance to get involved with conservation group
By Haleigh Martin
KS Wild has experienced a great deal of change since its 1997 formation as the Siskiyou Project from the inside of a Williams yurt. But one thing that has persisted is our community. Covering nearly 11 million acres, the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion stretches from the edge of Oregon’s Umpqua River valley in the north to the border of California’s wine country in the south and rises from the depths of the Pacific Ocean in the west to an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet among the glaciers of the volcanic Cascade Mountains crest. Almost 8 million of the diverse 11 million acres of the KS are publicly owned lands, leaving something for everyone to love and advocate for.
Some of our supporters stay engaged because of our wildlife conservation efforts. Some donate to defend remaining native old-growth forests. Others want to see more of the region’s rivers gain Wild and Scenic status, and some just like to get outside with other nature nerds.
Whatever the driving motivation is, we are grateful for each of our supporters, and we are excited to offer more opportunities to grow and engage our community in the coming weeks.
If you’ve been curious about what KS Wild or Rogue Riverkeeper has to offer, we encourage you to find an upcoming hike or event to learn more about us and our work and become a part of our awesome community. Here’s a sample of our upcoming calendar:
Bear Creek Stewardship Day on Earth Day, April 22
Join Rogue Riverkeeper, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLVE), Jackson County Parks and Recreation, Rogue Valley Council of Governments, and other groups and volunteers in this community cleanup day focused on Bear Creek. Several sites are available in Talent, Phoenix, Medford, and Central Point to help restore Bear Creek to a cleaner state.
Slideshow at Public Lands store: Adventuring on the Rogue River Trail, May 4
KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper staff will be presenting an informational talk and slideshow about traveling the lower Rogue River by foot and raft. Come learn the natural history and why the Rogue was one of the first rivers in the U.S. to be designated Wild and Scenic.
Sunset Hike to Hobart Bluff, May 19
Bring your headlamp and a picnic dinner to enjoy at sunset atop Hobart Bluff in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. This hike is a moderately difficult 2.5-mile out-and-back walk. It features wildflowers, wildlife, mushrooms, and big views of Mount McLoughlin, Mount Shasta, Mount Ashland and the Rogue Valley.
Eight Dollar Mountain and Days Gulch Stewardship Day
Join KS Wild for a stewardship event. We will be working together with the U.S. Forest Service in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Wild Rivers District to help repair damage and protect the botanical diversity in this rare serpentine landscape.
These are just a few of the upcoming events we are offering with more being added to our calendar frequently. Check out our calendar of events to see where you can get engaged with us in the near future. We hope to see you soon!
KS Wild Side appears every month and features a staff member from KS Wild, a regional conservation organization based in Ashland. Haleigh Martin works as the Communications Manager for KS Wild and Rogue Riverkeeper. For more information go to kswild.org.
