Calendar

Past Activity

Marys Peak – Northside

  • Start date: 11/27/2016

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 11/27/2016

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

****Weather Outlook (Sat 7 AM)*** Expectations are for maybe a few inches of snow at the top tomorrow with highs Sunday in the mid 30s with minimal precipitation, moderate winds out of the SW, W, or NW. That will make windchills in the low 20s. We will do the hike either from the north side or from Conner's Camp. The major concern I have is the condition of Woods Creek Road, and I probably won't be able to make a decision until Sunday morning. The FS had no information on the road condition.

This hike starts on the north side and climbs steadily to the parking lot near the summit of Marys Peak. We will then go to the summit, where if the weather is clear, we will have a view of both the ocean and the Cascades. Marys Peak can be cold and windy, too. Be prepared for wet conditions. If the weather is too unsuitable to do this, the hike will be cancelled and we may instead do Mt. Dimple near Corvallis. Please check the site periodically.

  • Event Leader: Mike Smith

  • Event Leader Phone: 520-488-9569

  • Event Leader Email: mssq@comcast.net

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: Eugene Target, W11th, parking lot closest to W11th

  • Rating: Moderate

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 120

  • Season: 2017

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: 10 essentials, good rain gear, good windbreaker, and poles. Gloves, pack covers, and a warm hat and even a neck warmer are strongly recommended. A second pair of gloves is not a bad idea. Remember plastic bags for wet clothing.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 7

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 1550

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Given the weather (very wet north of Lane County), the questionable condition of Woods Creek Road (mud, hilly, potholes, and maybe blowdowns), the leader's condition (2 out of 4 limbs questionable), I elected to do this hike from Conner's Camp. We got there in an hour, using the Greenberry-Decker cutoff. We hiked up in 38 degree fog, getting bombarded by ice and ice-water mix melting from trees. The meadow was cold and windy, but we persevered and got to the top of Marys Peak, with about 1-2 inches of snow everywhere, took some pictures, and came back down the way we came, having lunch at a convenient switchback about 1/2 mile from the meadow. It really was very pretty on top, but it was a cold wind, and all of us got fairly cold fingers, too. I have no regrets about doing a shorter hike. The 12 mile loop is a good hike, but the road can be dicey if wet, and the climb to the top and the rest of the loop can make for a difficult day in the conditions we had. One of the leader's jobs is to assess himself, the group, the group's wishes, his wishes, and reality, and decide what will be done. This was the right hike for the right day. Note to others on the East Ridge trail: about 100 yards shy of the meadow are a trio of blowdowns, right where the one was last year. These require a climb up between them which is not easy in wet conditions (endemic to the area). Use care in doing this. Thanks to those on the trip: everybody did a great job, didn't complain about anything, and made it a great hike.