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Past Activity

Obsidian Loop

  • Start date: 11/02/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 11/02/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Last Call High Cascades: NOTE TIME. *** We will go counterclockwise if there are views, because the upper parts of the trail with views are northbound. If it is foggy, we will go clockwise, since it won’t matter. There is a significant likelihood the hike may be canceled due to snow, road closure, or significant rain on hike day. Please bring warm weather gear, including warm hat, gloves, gaiters, and decent rain gear and boots. Walking poles are not a bad idea given the possibility of snow on the trail. Most see this trail in sunshine with wildflowers; seeing it in snow and fog is also nice. I’d like to finish no later than 3 given the early sunset. NOTE: Daylight savings time ends that night, so there is NO time change for this. It is not a home football weekend, either.

  • Event Leader: Mike Smith

  • Event Leader Phone: 520-488-9569

  • Event Leader Email: mssq@comcast.net

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: Behind McDonalds, 57th and Main in Springfield

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 148

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Food and water, headlamp (just a good idea this time of year), good rain gear, boots, gloves, maybe a neck warmer, and a warm hat. I'm not bringing micro spikes, but they may be useful. I don't expect a lot of snow on the trail, but 12-18 inches at the higher elevations (for about a mile) is possible. W

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 11.5

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 2000

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

I've lead this hike a few times in autumn, and this was one of the clearest days imaginable. The dry air made for a cold start, 27 F at the trailhead. We encountered some snow at about 5500' and more as we ascended. There were about 10 fallen trees on the trail which will need attention next year. We regrouped at the volcanic sector, at the beginning of the loop, and twice more on the way to the falls, the water flow over which was about 1/3 of what it was when I was here in July. The snow hid some of the Obsidian, but the rocks were exposed. The ponds were frozen, but the ice is very thin at the moment. We finished the loop, but not before having clear views of the northern Oregon Cascades from Belknap to Mt. Hood. All in all, it was a good day to be in the woods. Now they can close 242 for the season!!