30 APRIL 2025 | BROOKINGS, OR. -- The ridge from Vulcan Lake to Johnson Butte will always hold a special place in my heart. It was one of my first experiences in the backcountry (my second hitch as a Wilderness Corps Intern) in which we hiked from the lake all the way down the Upper Chetco Trail and out the Tincup Trailhead.
Program Manager Nick Hodges briefs my 2022 crew on the hike ahead of us.
It’s where I spent a night with our interns in 2023, sleeping under the stars after an incredible sunset and an arduous hike up from Taggart’s Bar. The lake was then featured in the film “A Long Way to Nowhere” that I edited and produced that year.
The 2023 crew camps on the ridge between Vulcan Lake and Johnson Butte.
A few months later, I attempted to run the entire Leach Memorial Loop, a 50-mile route that bombs down into the Chetco Canyon, climbs back out, and follows the Kalmiopsis Rim for almost 20 miles. On that adventure, it was around Vulcan Lake that I realized I’d bitten off more than I could chew, and ended up hiking in the dark for almost half the distance.
A selfie during my less-than-ideal night hike across the Kalmiopsis.
This particular section of Wilderness has provided a backdrop for some of my life’s most memorable challenges, discoveries, and victories. And it can become part of your story, too.
Join our volunteer program manager Trevor Meyer as he leads a work trip to the lake on Memorial Day weekend.
The trip runs from Saturday, May 24 to Monday, May 26. Experience the rare Kalmiopsis leachiana in full bloom, enjoy unending views across the Wilderness, and bask under the stars.
Views from near Vulcan Peak.
You don't need trail-work experience as the work is not technical, but you do need to prepare for a multi-night backpacking trip that includes hiking and maintaining trails across rugged terrain. Interested? Email trevor@siskiyoumountainclub.org now for more details, carpool opportunities, and signup.
Can't make our Memorial Day trip? Check out our calendar for more options.
-Vincent DiFranesco, Communications Coordinator