I finally got to it last week and it was a lot of fun. The total loop was 27.9 miles, with 4,400 feet of elevation gain. More work needs to be done on some of the trails in this loop (in addition to ongoing maintenance) so, at the moment, there's some navigating and bushwhacking, but, overall, I was impressed by how good the trails were. I was prepared to hate the burned areas but found them both compelling and cautionary. This worked as an overnight backpack but might be even better as a two-nighter. The only trick is that reliable water sources are scarce between Solace Meadow and the Seven Lakes Basin (unless you add two miles by diverting to Ranger Spring). This might not be the trip for the beginning backpacker, but it could be one for those with a few trail miles on their boots who want to see parts of the Sky Lakes Wilderness few have seen in the last 10 years. For details and yet more photos, see my Trip Report. I placed a detailed description of this trip in the Field Guide, under Southern Oregon.
The map posted last winter at our local REI store
Middle Fork of the Rogue River
New trees sprouting in the damage caused by the 2008 Lonesome Complex Fire
Solace Meadow
Aftermath of the 2017 Blanket Creek Fire around Solace Meadow
Devils Peak and Cliff Lake in late afternoon
Alta Lake in the early morning
Venus (with snow) from the north end of Alta Lake
View of Tom Mountain from the upper Middle Fork Trail
Some sections of the Middle Fork Trail are very nice...
and some (arrow) still need a little more work.
A special thanks to the Siskiyou Mountain Club and their partners - the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Fremont-Winema National Forest, the High Desert Trail Riders - Back Country Horseman, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and REI - for once again making these trails accessible!