{"id":3261,"date":"2020-07-15T08:38:50","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T08:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=3261"},"modified":"2020-11-18T21:00:36","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T21:00:36","slug":"polar-bear-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/15\/polar-bear-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"Polar Bear Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, July 4, 2020<\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/firelookouts\/2020\/07\/10\/bolan-mountain\/\">staying at the Bolan Mountain Lookout<\/a> over the holiday weekend, we did a hike in California&#8217;s Siskiyou Wilderness. <!--more-->The trailhead can only be accessed from Oregon. After driving south on Road 4906 we parked at the empty trailhead and started hiking south on the Black Butte Trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092634742_6da9ffaf42_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s Black Butte looming above us:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092400786_7074b54aa7_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had views to the west:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091817633_8cc6908bb3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We were getting hot hiking in the sun so it was nice to enter a stretch of cool shady forest:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092399571_1522ecf9b7_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Back out into the open we got a view of Bear Mountain and Rocky Knob:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092398806_e083b4f628_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We couldn&#8217;t see it above us, but this sign indicated we were at the base of Black Butte:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091851218_3a25078a36_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I think this is Sanger Peak:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091850643_6e4109ef2e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>More views opening up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092666187_bbc464d4f3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once we were past it we looked back to see Black Butte behind us:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092649277_5cc44e9f16_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 1.6 miles we reached the junction with Black Butte Tie Trail #1273:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092414951_ce258c3f1d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We passed a lovely cool spring:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091831648_e2350faa6b_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Polar Bear Mountain rising above us:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092413691_8a66d8b7c5_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And here is Polar Bear Gap:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092409516_b533b5097d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We found shelter from the wind and sun under this crazy-looking tree:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092429876_4c04904ef0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We were pleasantly surprised by all the wildflowers here:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092412906_e1c410d062_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091828008_9991aaa5dc_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091827448_c9abb12bd0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092428896_c1c453ac82_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091836023_46a83efd1f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092650902_dfa3b38fd0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091834438_4b459a3ecf_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091833923_848eb739f9_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091841968_0074258485_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091953628_47bf838c7e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Tufted saxifrage\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092767362_bd76acabea_b.jpg\" alt=\"Narrowleaf blue-eyed mary\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The views weren&#8217;t too shabby either. Looking north:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091952178_bd0e48fc55_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking south (the burned trees are from the 2018 Natchez Fire):<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091848578_3e2dbecff5_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091843583_6194645b38_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092658987_b608734888_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lookout Mountain:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092660402_973bd6b54d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091835533_0a7b44ab05_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another old metal sign:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50091840593_9265f522f6_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Polar Bear Mountain:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092653582_509882cded_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092655157_1ceb800792_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Greg scrambled part of the way up:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092532246_a25730b43a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We could see a meadow below on the south side:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50092532921_d8cfc029d8_b.jpg\" alt=\"Polar Bear Gap Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Although the trail continues on, this was our turnaround point. After enjoying the flowers and views for awhile we headed back to the car. This was a great little hike and we saw no one else! The one downside is that there was uphill in both directions, but it wasn&#8217;t too bad.<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 4.8 miles, 1,125&#8242; elevation gain.<\/p>\n<p>A nice little bonus on the drive back was stopping to admire a darlingtonia fen along Road 4906. It was literally right beside the road. Such cool plants.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50095804607_28fb6e39ca_b.jpg\" alt=\"Darlingtonia fen\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50095806332_bd5f7e81d9_b.jpg\" alt=\"Darlingtonia fen\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We also some California ladyslipper here:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/50095803197_004b2072b8_b.jpg\" alt=\"California ladyslipper\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FNcJlWjLgEo\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, July 4, 2020 While staying at the Bolan Mountain Lookout over the holiday weekend, we did a hike in<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2020\/07\/15\/polar-bear-gap\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Polar Bear Gap<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3364,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[225,226],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3261"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3581,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions\/3581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}