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Past Activity

McKenzie River Trail

  • Start date: 06/21/2024

  • Start time: 6:00 AM

  • End date: 06/21/2024

  • End time: 6:30 PM

Description:

New start time as of Monday, 6/17: Start at 6 AM.  We will go as far as Belknap ("just" 20 miles) leaving time for a swim and an optional stop at Takoda's.

This will be a beautiful but very long day - the last group of Obsidians who did this hike took about 10 hours, so bring plenty of snacks and be sure to wear comfortable layers and shoes that will support your feet over rocks and roots. We'll be able to refill our water bottles in the several campgrounds we pass, so you don't need to tank up on that.  We'll do this as a shuttle, with cars parked at the trailhead just north of Clear Lake and at our stopping point between the McKenzie River Ranger Station and the town of McKenzie Bridge.If we have enough cars we'll park one midway in case anyone needs to bail. The number of participants will depend on arranging the car shuttle, so please consider driving. Roads and parking are easily accessible to all vehible types.

  • Event Leader: Carpenter Kathie

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 150

  • Season: 2024

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Lunch, snacks, water, comfortable layered clothing and sturdy comfortable shoes. And bring bandaids!

  • participant prerequisites: Be sure you are ready for a marathon hike.

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 20

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 823

  • Non-Member Fees: $5.00

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

What better way to celebrate the longest day of the year than with the longest hike of the year? It took us 9 hours to hike 22 breathtakingly beautiful miles, with temperatures in the low fifties when we hit the trail and reaching 90 degrees by late afternoon. Lunch at Trailbridge Campground was a welcome break, and provided a chance to dangle tired feet in the river and refill water bottles. We had the trail nearly all to ourselves, except for a few bikers and one very crowded stretch around Blue Pool. Some of us were zombie-walking by the end, but cold lemonade (Thanks Whitney!) and Belknap\'s hot springs revived us and dissolved the sweat and dust of the trail. It was an amazing day, showcasing all the best that Oregon has to offer - stunning natural beauty and the camaraderie of wonderful people.

Members & Guests signed-up & waitlisted

  • Number of spots on trip: 8
  • Number of spots available: 0
No. Status Full name Phone Transportation Needed? Trip Fee # Can Take?
1 Signed-Up Carpenter, Kathie 541-505-2370 N — 3
2 Signed-Up Johnson, Steven 1-541-520-2470 N — 3
3 Signed-Up Sojak, Darko 541-799-9199 N — 5
4 Signed-Up Ruzicka, Angie 541-521-6840 N — 0
5 Signed-Up Winiarski, Larry 503-380-2235 N $5.00 1
6 Signed-Up Gould, Whitney 510-368-8941 N — 2
7 Signed-Up Holbert, Mary 541-867-7560 Y $5.00 0
8 Signed-Up Gerdes, Marti 541-337-3659 N — 0