Pilot Rock, located southeast of Ashland in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, is pictured in this photograph taken in 2016 by Bob Wick, who retired from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2021. 

The Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have teamed up to offer three upcoming snowshoe hikes led by a BLM ranger.

Hikes are offered Dec. 16, Jan. 20 and Feb. 10. Registration is required. The hikes are suitable for people 12 years of age and older.

The Dec. 16 hike, led by interpretive ranger John Duwe, is through an old-growth forest in the Hyatt Lake Recreation Area. Snowshoes and poles are provided. Boots should be worn.

Rangers will explain how plants and animals adapt to winter, with other topics including animal tracks, animal signs, snow science basics and the environment under the snow.

Sign up at cascadesiskiyou.org and click on “INTERPRETIVE HIKES.” Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at the Rite Aid in Ashland and then make their way to the monument. Carpooling is optional.

For more information, contact Duwe via email at jduwe@blm.gov or. Or contact the national monument office at 541-618-2320. Reach the Friends group at 541-378-3039.

Learn about conifers and shrubs on Saturday

There’s still time to sign up for a Saturday hike offered by the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and led by naturalist and biology teacher Nolan Richard to learn about conifers and shrubs.

Hikers will trek to the Sky King Cole section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Participants can learn how to identify native species, where to find them and how they adapt.

The outing is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will meet at the Rite Aid in Ashland, 2341 Ashland St., and leave from there. Register at cascadesiskiyou.org.

Learn about Lithia Park’s fountain and its restoration

Learn about little-known stories related to the Butler-Perozzi fountain in Ashland’s Lithia Park during a talk set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Ashland library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd.

Peter Finkle of Walk Ashland History Tours will tell tales that touch on European royalty, 500-year-old vineyards and an early 1900s Ashland creamery.

As part of the event, members of a committee working on the restoration of the fountain will provide an update on fundraising.

First Frost community skating celebration set for Dec. 16

The annual First Frost ice skating event is set for 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink in Lithia Park, 95 Winburn Way.

The event kicks off with figure skating performances from local skaters, including members of the Southern Oregon Figure Skating Association. Public recreational skating will be offered in the evening with a live DJ. Other activities will be offered, although details have not yet been announced.

More information is available from Lonny Flora, 541-552-2250, or online at ashland.or.us/icerink.

Peak whale-watching season on Oregon Coast is almost here

One of the best times of the year to view migrating gray whales off the Oregon Coast is mid-December through mid-January, when nearly 18,000 gray whales will be migrating south to Mexico’s Baja California area, according to Oregon State Parks.

The agency supports whale watching week, with more than 300 volunteers stationed at 15 sites, including Harris State Park near Brookings, from Dec. 27-31 to assist the public. About 30 whales per hour pass by during peak periods.

A second week, March 23-27, sees about six whales per hour during a northerly migration that is spread out over about four months.

Besides Harris Beach, another good spot to watch whales in Brookings is Chetco Point Park, 905 Wharf St. The site provides views from a bluff overlooking the ocean and the Port of Brookings-Harbor. The park has beach access, a dog park and trails.

Tips for whale watching include spotting a spout with the naked eye and then using binoculars to get a better view. Morning, with the sun to your back, is the best time for watching. Learn more online at orwhalewatch.org.