Pilot Rock (Jackson County, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Pilot Rock is a volcanic plug
in the eastern Siskiyou Mountains
and western Cascade Range
, near the Siskiyou Summit
in Ashland
, Oregon
. It is located within the Soda Mountain Wilderness
and the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument. The Pacific Crest Trail
and several other trails have been built near it.
magma
flowed through a weak spot in the Earth's crust
and solidified, forming a plug. The rock around the plug was slowly eroded
away, leaving Pilot Rock as seen today. Argon–argon dating shows that the rock is approximately 25.6 million years old, one of the oldest volcanic
formations in the Cascades.
The rock has many columnar joints, created when the magma cooled. Talus
can be found around the base. The rock also has an unusually high amount of black hornblende
crystals, meaning that there was water in the area when the plug formed. It rises approximately 75 feet (22.9 m) above the surrounding area, and its summit
includes about 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of flat ground.
called the peak either Tan-ts'atseniphtha or Tan-xtirukhan-tha,
but to settler
s Pilot Rock was originally known as Boundary Mountain.
In 1841, it was renamed Emmons Peak after Lieutenant George F. Emmons
, a U.S. naval officer
who participated in the United States Exploring Expedition
, which traveled through the area.
Emmons described it as "a singular rock, which stands like a tower on the top of the ridge, rising above the surrounding forest with a bare and apparently unbroken surface." The rock has since become known as Pilot Rock because it served as a landmark
for pioneers coming north from California
.
s such as wild strawberries, larkspur
, columbine
, lupin
e, and paintbrush
grow in the spring
and summer
. A rare species of the lily family
named Gentner's fritillary
has been found growing on and near the rock.
s on Pilot Rock. The summit
trail begins
at a forest road
. It is about 1 miles (1.6 km) long, gaining approximately 808 feet (246.3 m) in elevation. At the summit, there are views of landmark
s such as Mount Shasta
, the Trinity Alps
, and Mount McLoughlin
.
The Pacific Crest Trail
branches off the summit trail approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) in. It leads to a viewpoint of Pilot Rock.
Volcanic plug
A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. When forming, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of pressure if volatile-charged magma is trapped beneath it, and this can sometimes lead to an...
in the eastern Siskiyou Mountains
Siskiyou Mountains
The Siskiyou Mountains are a coastal mountain range in the northern Klamath Mountains in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon in the United States. They extend in an arc for approximately from east of Crescent City, California northeast along the north side of the Klamath River into...
and western Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, near the Siskiyou Summit
Siskiyou Summit
Siskiyou Summit is a mountain pass that carries Interstate 5 through the Siskiyou Mountains near the border between the U.S. states of California and Oregon. The summit is located on the Oregon side, approximately north of the state line, and, at , is the highest point on Interstate 5...
in Ashland
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is located within the Soda Mountain Wilderness
Soda Mountain Wilderness
The Soda Mountain Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument located in the U.S. state of Oregon adjacent to the California state border...
and the Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument. The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
and several other trails have been built near it.
Geology
Pilot Rock was created when andesiticAndesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
flowed through a weak spot in the Earth's crust
Crust (geology)
In geology, the crust is the outermost solid shell of a rocky planet or natural satellite, which is chemically distinct from the underlying mantle...
and solidified, forming a plug. The rock around the plug was slowly eroded
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
away, leaving Pilot Rock as seen today. Argon–argon dating shows that the rock is approximately 25.6 million years old, one of the oldest volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
formations in the Cascades.
The rock has many columnar joints, created when the magma cooled. Talus
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
can be found around the base. The rock also has an unusually high amount of black hornblende
Hornblende
Hornblende is a complex inosilicate series of minerals .It is not a recognized mineral in its own right, but the name is used as a general or field term, to refer to a dark amphibole....
crystals, meaning that there was water in the area when the plug formed. It rises approximately 75 feet (22.9 m) above the surrounding area, and its summit
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
includes about 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of flat ground.
History
The TakelmaTakelma
The Takelma were a Native American people that lived in the Rogue Valley of interior southwest Oregon, with most of their villages sited along the Rogue River. The name Takelma means Along the River.-History:...
called the peak either Tan-ts'atseniphtha or Tan-xtirukhan-tha,
but to settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s Pilot Rock was originally known as Boundary Mountain.
In 1841, it was renamed Emmons Peak after Lieutenant George F. Emmons
George F. Emmons
George Foster Emmons was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who served in the early to mid 19th century.-Biography:Born in Clarendon, Vermont, Emmons began his distinguished career as a midshipman on 1 April 1828...
, a U.S. naval officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
who participated in the United States Exploring Expedition
United States Exploring Expedition
The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones. The voyage was authorized by Congress in...
, which traveled through the area.
Emmons described it as "a singular rock, which stands like a tower on the top of the ridge, rising above the surrounding forest with a bare and apparently unbroken surface." The rock has since become known as Pilot Rock because it served as a landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
for pioneers coming north from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Flora
Pilot Rock is surrounded by a dense mixed coniferous forest. WildflowerWildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s such as wild strawberries, larkspur
Delphinium
Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of perennial flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa. The common name, larkspur, is shared with the closely related genus Consolida...
, columbine
Aquilegia
Aquilegia is a genus of about 60-70 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers.-Etymology:The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle , because...
, lupin
Lupin
Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins or lupines , is a genus in the legume family . The genus comprises about 280 species , with major centers of diversity in South and western North America , and the Andes and secondary centers in the Mediterranean region and Africa Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins...
e, and paintbrush
Castilleja
Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or Prairie-fire, is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes, northern Asia, and one species as far west as the Kola Peninsula in Siberia...
grow in the spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
and summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
. A rare species of the lily family
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
named Gentner's fritillary
Fritillaria gentneri
Fritillaria gentneri, or Gentner's fritillary, is a rare member of Lily family , that is endemic to southwest Oregon and adjacent Siskiyou County, California. Its habitat is dry, open woodlands and chaparral from 1000-5000 feet, where it blooms from March through July. However, most populations...
has been found growing on and near the rock.
Trails
There are several trailTrail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s on Pilot Rock. The summit
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
trail begins
Trailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
at a forest road
Forest Highway
Forest Highways or Forest Routes are a category of roads within United States National Forests. They are built to connect the national forests to the existing state highway systems, and to provide improved access to recreational and logging areas....
. It is about 1 miles (1.6 km) long, gaining approximately 808 feet (246.3 m) in elevation. At the summit, there are views of landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
s such as Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta is located at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California and at is the second highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth highest in California...
, the Trinity Alps
Trinity Alps
The Trinity Alps are mountains in Northern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located to the northwest of Redding. Elevations there range from to at Thompson Peak. The Trinity Alps Wilderness covers , making it the second largest wilderness area in California...
, and Mount McLoughlin
Mount McLoughlin
Mount McLoughlin is a steep-sided lava cone built on top of a shield volcano in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon and within the Sky Lakes Wilderness area. It is one of the volcanic peaks in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. The mountain is north of Mount Shasta, south of Crater Lake, and west of Upper...
.
The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
branches off the summit trail approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) in. It leads to a viewpoint of Pilot Rock.