Southwestern Oregon Community College invites walking enthusiasts to explore the Kalmiopsis Wilderness with botanist Fred Bowen and local historian Walt Schroeder on June 7 in the Brookings area.
Participants will have the opportunity to see the rare Kalmiopsis plant bloom, the almost as rare Brewer or Weeping Spruce and many other unique plants as well as historical mining activities. The hike requires more than an hour of driving on unpaved roads to reach the trailhead and, once there, the group will walk along easy to moderate trails in the Siskiyou range identifying trees, flowers and shrubs, including the rare Kalmiopsis leachiana.
Those who might find the walk challenging are encouraged to bring a friend to help them get back to their cars, if necessary, and each participant should war good hiking shoes, pack a lunch and water and bring a camera or binoculars.
Pre-registration is encouraged, and participants should meet at 8:15 a.m. on June 7 at the Southwestern Brookings Center parking lot, 420 Alder St., in Brookings for orientation and carpooling. Those who hike the entire loop can expect to return at about 5 p.m. For more information, or to pre-register, those interested can call the Brookings Center at (541) 469-5017.