Moderate Hike—Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte—Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Leader: Jorry Rolfe

We will start on time at 6:45am. This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We'll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn't co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top. There are two ways to get to the trailhead: 1. To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trail head is on your left in about ½ mile. Do not turn left on Southpointe Dr. 2. Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road.

Moderate Hike—Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte—Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Leader: Denise Rubenstein

NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:15 to 8:30. NOTE: TIME CHANGE NEXT WEEK. 8AM Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions.

Moderate Hike—Silver Falls Trail of 10 Falls—Thursday, March 30, 2023
Leader: Elizabeth Grant

Meeting location: Best Buy Springfield parking lot to the far left (SE) corner as you enter. Silver Falls Trail of 10 Falls The water flow on this wonderful hike should be powerful this time of the year. The canyon is lush with greenery year round. We might see the earliest of spring flowers emerging. The hike will start at the North Falls parking lot. There will be a lunch break at the South Falls Lodge (about 5 miles in) where there is usually a fire going if we need warmth, and food/beverages can be purchased. After lunch we will hike one mile on the Rim Trail, then drop back into the canyon on the Winter Falls trail and enjoy a number of the waterfalls a 2nd time viewing them from the opposite direction as we return upstream to our start point. Option: When we arrive at the South Falls Lodge, folks have the option of relaxing there and waiting to be picked-up after the rest of the group completes the loop.