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Past Activity

Pine Bench Bkpk

  • Start date: 03/18/2022

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 03/20/2022

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This is an out-n-back hike on the Bradley Trail to Pine Bench in the North Umpqua Boulder Creek Wilderness. Depart Eugene Friday afternoon. 2.5 hour drive to the Bradley Trailhead east of Steamboat off OR138. Hike the Bradley Trail approx. 5 miles along an early homesteader route passing soda springs and climbing to Pine Bench, a remnant area of grass meadows and old growth Ponderosas. Camp near Boulder Creek junction on Pine Bench. Sat day hike to Pine Bench overlook, manzanita springs, and possible exploration into the Boulder Creek canyon. Sunday return hike to Bradley TH.

  • Event Leader: Russ Davies

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-525-3719

  • Event Leader Email: Inboxrd@hotmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: Red Barn Grocery, 4th & Blair

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 260

  • Season: 2022

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials and 2 days of food. A stove is advised if you are cooking. Campfires are possible. This is an early-season west-of-the-crest moderate elevation hike. The high point is approx. 2,600’. Expect rain to freezing temps and possibly poison-oak.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 16

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 1200

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

After a week of weather forecasts with continued falling temperatures, increasing precipitation, and deteriorating road conditions, the committed Pine Bench Backpack crew reluctantly decided to cancel the scheduled trip. Then, in a last-ditch weather-defiant effort to salvage some adventure, Andy and Russ redirected to Mary's Peak to race the coming storm to the summit.

They started up the East Ridge route into rain and wind. Ascending at first through spectacular hallways of towering old growth doug fir & cedar, then into spruce and noble fir as they neared the open summit ridge. The initial attempt was repelled by hard rain and bitter wind which forced a retreat back into the forest. After suiting up in rain pants, gloves, and wool hats, the two pushed forward over snowfields and onto the summit. There was a brief lunch stop in a soggy stand of trees, and then they descended the North Ridge returning to the trailhead via the Tie trail.