Description:

LOCATION: Alder Springs / Whychus Creek

IMPORTANT, READ THIS:
A. The departure time and location will be from south Eugene (details will be finalized about 6 weeks before the trip), but expect to leave around noon. We will drive to the Sisters area where we will meet with ONDA about 4pm on Friday and finish the drive to the campsite.

B. Here is the ONDA page for this event:
https://onda.org/get-involved/volunteer-1/2017-volunteer-trips-folder/copy7_of_2017%20Trip%20write-up%20template

C. You will need to register on the Obsidian page AND with ONDA (link above)

D. Registering with ONDA will take 10 minutes, however; they require a $25 deposit to hold your spot. The deposit is REFUNDABLE at the end of the trip and will be via ONDA. The deposit is new for this season. There is some fine print about the $25 not being refundable if you cancel within 30 days, just read it carefully. If you need to cancel within this timeframe, the cancellation will need to be made on the Obsidian site AND on ONDA’s site. You will also need to email trip leader Mark, hougardy@gmail .com and Gena at ONDA, gena@onda.org.

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DESCRIPTION:
Sleep under the stars and experience one of the hidden gems of Central Oregon's high desert on this 2-night car camping trip involving restoration work at Alder Springs and Whychus Creek. Each day there will be plenty of time to hike and see these incredibly scenic views.

Located thirty miles northeast of Sisters, Alder Springs gushes out of the base of a cliff into a lush canyon, dumping over 60 cubic feet per second of water (more than flows from the head of the Metolius) into lower Whychus Creek. The creek provides prime spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead as they return to the watershed, and crucial winter range for mule deer and other wildlife. This oasis in the high desert has become a popular recreation destination for hundreds of people, putting pressure on the local ecosystem.

The Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) has offered to help the Obsidians better understand the story of this place in exchange for some restoration work. Gena Goodman-Campbell, ONDA's Central Oregon program coordinator will be joining us and directing our efforts. Our weekend will include: light trail maintenance, clearing fast-growing brush that is encroaching on the trail, campsite clean-up, removing fire rings, and other necessary maintenance activities. We will be using shovels, handsaws, and loppers.

We will depart Eugene on Friday, May 19th and drive to Whychus Creek and set up camp. On Saturday, we’ll hike up to 3 miles one way for the restoration work then return to camp that afternoon. On Sunday, we can finish up any projects and have some extra time to play. We will be back on the road by 4pm to return to Eugene by 6 or 7pm.

There is a mandatory creek crossing through cold and rapidly moving water that is typically about knee deep for an adult. Water shoes and/or trekking poles are recommended for the crossing. This is a great opportunity for a rinse off after a dusty day!

ONDA will provide the gear for the work, excellent guidance in the field, and a few group camping items to make things more comfortable (chairs, tables, dishwashing bins, campfire materials, some water, shade/rain tarp, "groover" camp toilet etc.)

You will need to provide your own tent, camping equipment, stove, food, water, flashlight, daypack, water purification, etc., …bring your own gloves!