Geology of Babyfoot Lake, Oregon

Dr. Tom Atzet describes the geology of Babyfoot Lake, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Siskiyou NF, Josephine County, Oregon. Videography by Dr. Bob Zybach, June 27, 2006 near boundary of 2002 Biscuit Fire.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Tom
• Atzet
• Babyfoot
• Lake
• Kalmiopsis
• Wilderness
• Biscuit
• Fire
• Siskiyou
• NF
• Josephine
• County
• Oregon
• Zybach

[astridguri]

Wow. I'm so sad. I visited in 1976 1978 and 1983. SO beautiful then. Hiked the Illinois solo on those steep hillsides, and was actually happy when I emerged onto one meadow that must have been created from a historical fire. I just linked Babyfoot to a friend, not knowing. And I love the "terrible dirt road" to get in - that's part of the adventure!! How are the salamaders in the lake?

[ORWWmedia]

Sadly, I think the salamander population may have been decimated or even caused to go extinct by the Fish & Game department's introduction of bass for fishing, and then salmon to take care of the bass "problem." This beautiful lake, once surrounded by rare old-growth Brewer's Spruce and Indian meadows of beargrass and acorns, has been severely damaged by federal "protection" -- and which has burned over twice with record-size wildfires since its inclusion as "Wilderness" only a few decades ago.

[iwantcheesypuffs]

wow - that looks a lot different than when i use to hike there. One the net it says a easy hike 2mi. in and out. It doesn't mention the 10 mi. of terrible dirt mountain road you have to drive to get to the trailhead. It use to be so beautiful. So sad.

[ORWWmedia]

You are right about the current condition, which was both predicted and preventable. What a waste. I've posted another ORWWmedia video taken a short distance (and about a year) from Tom's video.  Comments welcomed!

[molgrin7]

the biscuit fire was bad. the new growth from the illinois out west is amazing though.

[eribalsch]

I know nature did this damage but it's painful to watch. I visited Babyfoot Lake in 2001, about a year before the Biscuit Fire. There used to be the largest continuous tract of rare Brewer spruce on one of the hikes into Babyfoot Lake. It's mostly gone undoubtly and the beautiful scenery has been greatly compromised.