Calendar

Past Activity

Marion Mountain & Falls

  • Start date: 07/30/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 07/30/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This is a great hike in the Jefferson Wilderness area that includes a short detour and scramble to the very pretty Marion Falls. We'll also hike past Lake Ann and then along Marion Lake before heading up to Marion Mt. for some beautiful views of Mt Jefferson.

  • Event Leader: Steven Johnson

  • Event Leader Phone: +15415202470

  • Event Leader Email: stevenj7675@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

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

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 184

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Lunch, water, sturdy shoes, repellent, and essentials.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 11.2

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 2000

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Eleven adventurous hikers left the overcast skies of Eugene for a very sunny trek in the Jefferson Wilderness. Our first stop was along Highway 20 to see Sawyer Ice Cave, a once well known natural roadside attraction that was long ago abandoned to protect a bat colony. As no one thought to bring a flashlight all we could do was stand in the entrance an feel the frigid air pouring out from the cave. We next arrived at the Marion Lake trailhead to start our hike around 10:30. After about 2 ½ miles we left the trail for the unmaintained trail and steep scramble down to a viewpoint for the spectacular Marion and Gatch Falls. After the climb back to our trail we continued another 3 miles past Marion Lake to reach the old Marion Mt lookout site. Here we had our lunch while we enjoyed the great views of Mt Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack. After lunch we hiked back down to Marion Lake where most of our group enjoyed a refreshing swim in the slightly green water. We made it back to our vehicles around 5:30 where Janet Jacobsen got out her cooler of delicious banana bread and ginger beer to share with the group. We finished up our adventure at Takoda's restaurant in Rainbow with dinner, drinks, and some good laughs about our day. This was the ninth trip I've led in July and I'll have to admit I'm a bit surprised at how much I've enjoyed hiking with all the fun people that make up the Obsidian's. I'm fairly busy for the rest of the summer so I won't be leading more trips soon but I hope to have many more adventures with the Obsidian's in the future.