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Soda Mountain - 1 member in 2 triplogs has rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
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Aug 23 2025
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 Guides 99
 Routes 1,484
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,374

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Mount Ashland and Soda Mountain, OR 
Mount Ashland and Soda Mountain, OR
 
Hiking avatar Aug 23 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,374
Hiking7.46 Miles 1,651 AEG
Hiking7.46 Miles   3 Hrs   11 Mns   2.46 mph
1,651 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
On this day I did 2 different hikes, with each hike going to a peak in the Medford area:
1) Mount Ashland (elevation of 7,534 feet and prominence of 3,225 feet)
2) Soda Mountain (elevation of 6,092 feet and prominence of 1,553 feet)

Mount Ashland
(2.84 miles with 714 feet of AEG)
I took a road up to Mount Ashland, which has a ski area atop it. The road is paved to the ski area, and is unpaved beyond that. I could have driven to the top, but I parked at a junction about 1.5 miles below the summit and hiked the road from there. I started early and it was a pleasant morning, and I enjoyed the hike. There was smoke and haze in the valleys below the peak, which made the views less than stellar. In fact, I could barely see Mount Shasta, which isn't too far to the south.

Soda Mountain
(4.62 miles with 937 feet of AEG)
I started this hike at the Hobart Bluff TH. The last 3.8 miles were on a well graded gravel road suitable for most vehicles. From the trailhead, the trail goes north toward Hobart Bluff and south toward Soda Mountain. I went south.

The trail is part of the PCT and I have linked to the appropriate PCT section.

It was a warm day, but about 75% of the hike is in a shaded forest, which was nice. I followed the trail for about 1.2 miles, and then went on a lesser trail that switchbacked up to a road. I then followed the road to the summit. The summit has an antennae farm on it along with a decommissioned fire lookout. The fire lookout is at the high point. I went a short distance from the high point to get to the Soda Mountain Wilderness. The wilderness high point is at the wilderness boundary, so I tagged it.

There was a good bit of haze and smoke which limited the visibility and the views.

Synopsis
I enjoyed these 2 hikes, but it would have been better without the smoke and haze off in the distance.

Route Scout audio continues to be a bit fickle. Today, sounds for waypoints, breaks, and final stats worked just fine. However, audio for one mile splits and for animal sounds did not work -- so I did not get a Labor Day greeting from a wet beaver!
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Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  2 archives
Jul 14 2019
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 Guides 10
 Triplogs 432

63 male
 Joined Feb 25 2002
 Scottsdale
Soda MountainSouth, OR
South, OR
Hiking avatar Jul 14 2019
TimTriplogs 432
Hiking5.20 Miles 800 AEG
Hiking5.20 Miles   2 Hrs   5 Mns   2.50 mph
800 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was a solos hike out of the Soda Mountain Trailhead up the PCT. After about a mile a side trail takes you up the hill to Soda Mountain. After a couple of initial switchbacks, the trail intersects a Forest Service Road for the next .75 miles to the lookout tower at the top. Some pretty nice views. On the way back down after rejoining the PCT, I took it east for a ways as this trail winds nicely through the forest with periodic openings with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The hike came in at 5.2 miles with 800 feet of AEG in 2 hours and 5 minutes.
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.48 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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