Wooley Creek
(Marble Mountain Wilderness)
WHERE: From Portland take I-5 south to Highway 96 (Klamath River Highway) not far across the California border. Follow this highway for roughly 100 miles to the Salmon River road just past Somes bar. Take a left at Salmon River road and follow the road for about two miles to the trailhead on the left.
THE TRAIL: The trail is a little tougher than it looks on paper. I followed the trail in roughly 14 miles where it only rises from 600 feet to 1800 feet but the trail as full of ups and downs as meanders from the river to hundreds of feet above then back down again many times. Like many of the low elevation Siskiyou trails the vegetation consisted of much Poison Oak, Port Orford Cedar, Madrone, Chinquapin, Douglass Fir, Oak and Sugar Pine along with the occasional Whitebark pine that you will notice after looking up from its huge cones.
The hike began with a quick mile uphill around a bend to meet Wooley Creek. As I reached the first viewpoint I noticed a haze in the air as well as a smell that was distinct and but vague. The vegetation is not as dense here as it is in the northern Cascade and coastal mountains of Washington and Oregon . There were many beautiful and somewhat open hillsides filled with Pacific Madrone. The Marble Mountains are, however, about as remote as you could get in the western or central regions outside of the Olympics. The only things that take a bit away from the wilderness are the cabins in the area: These cabins do add character however! There is a ranch about five miles up the trail were the caretakers at the time offered up a hot meal for any hikers that wish to stop by. About 9 miles from the trailhead is Bridge Creek Cabin. This cabin has a registry full of bigfoot sightings as well as biographies about 8 day treks through the wilderness without seeing a soul. I also read a bit that was written a few days prior of a fire in the wilderness (then danger seemed to have been near zero at the time). I planned on making it to Bear skull Camp for the evening about 6 more miles up the river. Soon I heard hovering helicopters and then I crossed paths four firefighters. In an attempt to get information I asked "Is there a forest fire?". This was my way of saying "so how bad is the fire": With the way I worded it they probably thought I was to much of an idiot to be hiking in the woods all alone. Like firefighters enjoy hiking while wearing their fire helmets 13 miles from the nearest trailhead with chainsaws. For that matter I am surprised they wore hardhats in the woods (I don't understand the point however it is probably due to some stupid government regulation that was made because of a stupid lawsuit eons ago). The firefighters were clearing the trail for pack mules that would be needed when the fire burns its course. They advised me that Bear Skull camp was being used as a heliport so I hiked up 1 more mile then crossed the creek to access a decent spot for my tent. It wasn't till after 10 pm that the helicopter(s) left.
As far as wildlife goes I saw many birds, chipmunks and Squirrels along with a Rattlesnake and many tiny lizards (1-3 inches in length that could scurry as fast as anything I have seen. On the drive up I did see Raccoon, a fox, and a Ringtail Cat: The first time I have ever seen a Ringtail.