This photo of Michael Biggs atop Mount McLoughlin is described as "absolutely perfect conditions."Michael Biggs of Talent and Nick the dog made it to the top of Mt. McLoughlin on Feb. 24 along with climbing buddy Chance Fitzpatrick, who took this photo from atop the 9,493-foot-high peak, located about 30 miles northeast of Medford. “Absolutely perfect conditions, lovely day,” Biggs wrote in a social media post to the Southern Oregon Hiking & Mountaineering social media page. “Still a long damn walk in the wintertime!” Biggs discourages anyone from bringing their dog on such a trek in the winter unless the animal has specialized training, as does Nick. Also, winter climbs there are dangerous and should not be undertaken by anyone without mountaineering experience, said Biggs, who has climbed the mountain more that 120 times. Sunny weather is predicted through Friday, before snow returns to higher elevations.

The Middle Rogue Steelheaders are hosting a steelhead fishing derby on Saturday, March 9, with check-in at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Fish must be caught in the Rogue River.

The derby is open to anyone with a current Oregon fishing license. Proceeds will be used to fund ongoing conservation and restoration projects in the Rogue Valley. The entry fee is $100.

Prizes are $1,000 for first place, $600 for second place and $400 for third place.

Winning fish will be determined by photos taken of the fish on a measuring board. To be eligible, participants must check in at the measuring station at the fairgrounds to turn in the measuring board and present the photo of their fish no later than 3 p.m.

A barbecue and raffle/auction starts at 1:30 p.m. Guests not participating in the derby may eat at the barbecue for $5 per person.

To sign up or get more information, visit rogue-steelheaders.org.

Work party to tackle Tunnel Ridge Trail

The Siskiyou Uplands Trails Association is inviting volunteers to join them for a work party 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Tunnel Ridge Trail, off of Little Applegate Road, weather permitting. Workers will be doing maintenance, including light trimming and tread cleanup.

The association will provide snacks, hot lunch and tools. Participants are invited to bring their own tread tool, loppers and pruning saw.

Expect to hike about 3 miles round-trip. Wear comfortable and supportive hiking or work boots, bring work gloves and dress in layers appropriate to the weather. Bring your own water bottle. Water will be available for refills.

RSVP at SUTAoregoncontact@gmail.com. Visit SUTAoregon.org for more information.

Senior Walkabouts set for Mondays in Ashland

Seniors 50 years and older are invited to join Senior Walkabouts for a walk from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, March 11-April 29, at the Ashland dog park, 950 Perozzi St., with leader Rosalie Rybka. Call 541-488-5342 or visit ashland.or.us/register. Cost is $16 for eight weeks.

Irrigation district holds talk on Endangered Species Act

Learn about the 50-year-old Endangered Species Act at a March 11 event in Klamath Falls hosted by the Klamath Irrigation District.

Panel presentations are set for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Klamath Community College’s conference center, 7390 S. Sixth St. Among the topics to be discussed are economic effects and habitat conservation. There’s an option to participate online. For more information, contact Gene Souza at 541-882-6661 or gene.souza@klamathid.org. Register at https://bit.ly/4c3JWGH.

Buy a wild horse via BLM auction

Forty-six Oregon mustangs will be available for adoption via the Bureau of Land Management’s “Online Corral” through Monday, March 11.

The wild horses range from 4 to 18 years old and come from the Stinkingwater, Hog Creek, Palomino Buttes and South Steens herd management areas.

Visit wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/Animals. For more information, call 800-370-3936.

Medford Parks and Rec leads hikes for older adults

Older adults, ages 55-plus, are invited to take a hike with Medford Parks and Recreation on the Layton Ditch Trail high above Williams in the Applegate Valley on Tuesday, March 12, or on the Jacksonville Railway Trail on Tuesday, March 19.

Meet up at 1 p.m. at Rogue X, 701 N. Columbus Ave., in Medford and take a van to the trail. The hikes are about 3 miles and take about 3 hours. The Layton trail is easy, while the Railway trail is moderately difficult. Marc Mason, health coach, will lead the hikes.

Cost is $12 for residents and $18 for non-residents. Space is limited. Register at playmedford.com. For more information, call 541-774-2400.

Monument research symposium set for March 14

The public is invited to attend a free symposium Thursday, March 14, at Southern Oregon University about research conducted at the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

The event takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the SOU Science Hall auditorium. It’s hosted by the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

Presenters include 2023 Friends Research Fund grant recipients, who will present their findings. They include Tayla Moore, Trevor Holt and Hilary Rose Dawson.

Topics include new truffle species found by a truffle-sniffing dog; the endemic Siskiyou short-horned grasshopper and climate change research via grasshopper monitoring.

For more information and to register: cascadesiskiyou.org/monument-research-symposium.

Rogue Valley Walkers set hike for March 16

The next walk scheduled by the Rogue Valley Walkers is set for 8:45 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Palmerton Park in Rogue River. It’s a 6.2-mile walk, but participants don’t have to hike the full distance.

A $2 donation is requested. For more information, visit roguevalleywalkers.com.

Want free publicity about your upcoming outdoors-related outing, hike or event? Send us brief details about what, when and where, along with contact information, a phone number and any other important information so that we can tell others about your event in our weekly column, Outdoor Adventures.

Send to Shaun Hall, outdoors reporter, at shall@rv-times.com or 2 East Main St., Suite 200, Medford, OR 97501. Reach Hall at 458-225-7179.