Calendar

Past Activity

Canceled: Browder Ridge

  • Start date: 07/10/2023

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 07/10/2023

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This trail is one of my favorites. There are excellent views of the peaks from several spots along the route and usually many fine wildflowers. In the first 1.4 miles, the trail switchbacks up through the forest for over half of the total elevation gain, then arrives at a viewpoint for a well-earned break. The trail then traverses 1.7 miles up through meadows of bracken and wildflowers to a junction with the summit trail. If this section is passable, we will proceed about 1 mile, ascend a forested ridge, traverse the top of a steep meadow, and pick our way up a rocky ridge to a broad, grassy summit for a lunch-with-a-view. The trail is narrow and rocky in places, and there may be some blowdown to maneuver around, so poles may be helpful. Our pace will be steady, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wildflowers and views. I may reschedule in case of poor trail conditions or weather.

  • Event Leader: Yoerger Karen

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 158

  • Season: 2023

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Equipment needed: sturdy shoes, sun protection, clothing layers appropriate for mountain weather, plenty of water, lunch and snacks; hiking poles if you like to use them.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 8.4

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 2200

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The weather was just right for our hike to Browder Ridge, sunny and warm with a nice breeze. We paused as we ascended the initial mile of switchbacks to enjoy the white-petaled flowers: bunchberry (four petals), windflower (five), queens cup (six), and western starflower (mostly seven). We also found several nice clumps of candystick. The first meadow included bracken fern, tall bluebells, wild ginger, and coneflower, At the first the rocky outcrop, we emerged to a view of the snow-covered Three Sisters, and we took a break while we chatted with a small group of Chemeketans. The bear grass along the wooded ridge was mostly done blooming, but we enjoyed seeing a stem of Cascade lilies and more great views. The snow was long gone from the summit trail section, as were the trillium blooms, but there was an impressive patch of bright green corn lily. The steep meadows below the cliffs displayed nice combinations of scarlet gilia and red columbine with purple-blue larkspur and small-flowered penstemon. Our group completed the scramble up the rocky ridge with ease and arrived at the broad, open summit for a pleasant lunch with views from Diamond Peak to Mt. Hood. During the day we met a mountain biker and about a dozen other hikers—more people than I have seen on any previous Browder hike. When we were almost back to the cars, one of us was stung by a wasp from a ground nest near the trail—a good reminder to check the expiration date of the Benadryl, and the ‘juice’ in the Sting-Ease wipes in your first aid kit.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 12
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Yoerger, Karen 541-510-2832 N —
2 Signed-Up Carpenter, Kathie 541-505-2370 N —
3 Signed-Up Meacham, Lynn 541-214-8827 N —
4 Signed-Up van Winkle, Dorothy 541-485-7416 N —
5 Signed-Up Eriksen, Robert 503-964-2398 N —
6 Signed-Up Fern, Jacquie 541-505-1724 N —
7 Signed-Up Chan, Annie 541-223-2018 N —
8 Signed-Up Hoekstra, Arjen 458-245-0762 N 5
9 Signed-Up Grant, Elizabeth 541-514-1176 N —
10 Signed-Up Koch, Elizabeth 281-323-9440 N —
11 Signed-Up McKee, Ane 541-554-1364 N —
12 Signed-Up Heidelberg, Michael 503-970-4783 N —