Description:

### UPDATE 9/16 - This is trip is in the process of being cancelled by the trip leader ###
This is an end-of-season volcanic explore. We will be exploring parts of Newberry Crater, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, and Little Belknap Crater. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. If you wish to join the car caravan it will leave from the Albertson's parking lot on Hilyard and 30th at 9:00am Friday morning. There will be two short stops; arrival time at Newberry is approx. 12pm on Friday.
Day 1 (Friday, Sept. 25): Newberry Crater - Up to 5 miles of hiking today, 200-feet elevation gain/loss.
This trip begins at 12pm at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, at the Big Obsidian Flow Parking Area. We will have a good hour to explore the 1 mile obsidian loop trail before continuing the Cinder Hill Campground (East Lake) to grab our first-some-first-served campsites. Then an afternoon walk of 3-4 miles along Paulina Lake to find some shoreline hot springs is planned. Depending on weather, a sunset drive to Paulina Peak might be attempted.

Day 2 (Saturday, Sept. 26): Oregon Badlands Wilderness - Up to 8 miles of hiking today, with a 400-feet elevation gain/loss.
We will walk to the double Paulina Creek Falls in the morning to avoid possible crowds. We then Drive 45 minutes (north then east of Bend) to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness - this part of the trip is exploratory for the trip leader. We will park at the Flatiron Rock Trailhead and complete a 3.5 mile loop. The elevation change here is only a couple hundred feet, but the ground is a combination of an old lava flow and Mazama ash. The Juniper trees here can be 1,000 years old. We plan to also explore the nearby Dry River Canyon Trail, the trail is 5 miles round trip. Our time/distance in the canyon will be based on time available. This trail is only open for several months during the year. It is home to raptors, juniper, flanked by steep basalt cliffs, and is supposedly the site of the some (faded) petroglyphs. Afterwards, we will drive approximately 1 hour (just past Sisters on 242) to the Cold Springs Campground.

Day 3 (Sunday, Sept. 27): Little Belknap Crater - Up to 6 miles of hiking today with a 1,000 feet elevation gain/loss.
Drive 30 minutes up 242 to McKenzie Pass to spend a few minutes at the Dee Wright Observatory, then park at the PCT trailhead and hike to the Little Belknap Crater. Then return on 242 to McKenzie Bridge and Eugene. The plan is to be home late afternoon.

=====
CAMPGROUND INFORMATION:
Cinder Hill Camground:
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233192

Cold Springs Campground
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251569
You will need to make a reservation, see notes.

=====
LOCATION INFORMATION:
Newberry National Volcanic Monument - Deschutes NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159

Oregon Badlands:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/oregon-badlands
Get a pdf map of the badlands to take with you.

Dry River Canyon brochure:
https://www.blm.gov/download/file/fid/11651

Little Belknap Crater/Trail
Multiple resources online

=====
ADDITIONAL:
- Our first night of camping we will obtain on site. YOU WILL NEED to reserve your second night (26th) at the Cold Spring Campground (url above). The leader is in campsite # 11 (Sept 26), please try to reserve a site close to his location.
- Come prepared for night temperatures close to freezing, cool weather during the day, wind, sun, and/or rain. Bring ten-essentials. You will be requred to have a map and compass with you in the Oregon Badlands.
- Bring cash or check for the first night.
- If we have a "group" campfire, masks and distancing will be strictly observed.
- Bring plently of your own water. Water sources at the campsites can be limited, especially on the second night.
- Bring your national land's pass.
- All participants are to manage their own transportation. If you are willing to take a person when you sign up indicate that on the signup form. If you do not want to take a passenger, please put 0 in the will take column.
- No sharing of food. All meals and snacks will be provided by each participant. Bring meals where you can add water to a packet.
- The trip leader will have a means to heat water.
- The trip leader will phone participants on Wednesday, 23rd to reconfirm, provide any updates, and give a final go/no-go in the event there are any bad weather or fire concerns.