Illinois Valley Gold Fields - Josephine County, Oregon 
Further exploration of the Illinois Valley Gold Fields indicate a more expansive gold mining effort than I had envisioned.
Traveling on the historical mining road, which is now blocked to motor vehicle traffic, was more interesting. 
The road ended up climbing up the mountain, and then it made a switchback to the right, whereupon we continued climbing up the rocky slopes.
Meandering to the north brought us high above the Illinois River Valley and the Gold Fields below. 
Down a deep gully, and crossing one of thousands of rushing streams that reach their full raging glory before plunging into the Illinois River. We continue across sheer cliffs to zigzag our way down the slopes, leaving our road far behind in our quest for new sights. 
We weren't worried about getting lost, as the Illinois River rushes along the bottom, and eventually you run into it if you keep going downhill. 
Across the mountain, on the other side of the Illinois River, you can see the winding road that leads to Baby Foot Lake. Baby Foot Lake is one of those clear mountain lakes in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, and can easily be "Googled" for a great adventure in itself! 
The Baby Foot Lake Trail zigzags around the mountains and keeps heading west and deeper into the wilderness. 
Devastated forest remains from the "Biscuit" forest fire of 2002. It will take hundreds of years for the forests to replenish what was lost, as growth is slower in the mountains. All in all, this was a very strenuous hike, but well worth it.
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