Calendar

Past Activity

Obsidian Loop counterclockwise

  • Start date: 07/14/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 07/14/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

NEED ONE MORE DRIVER IF EVERYBODY IS TO GO ON THE HIKE. ***This is a good time of year to do the loop, when there is still some water in the streams and there isn’t too much dust. The wildflowers should be good in the meadows, the falls should have a lot of water, and there may be snow in the highest elevations. Be prepared for sunny conditions with sunscreen. Gaiters may be useful for some of the stream crossings. Please wear hiking boots at all times unless at lunch you wish to dip your feet in the water. The obsidian lying around is extremely sharp, and it could cause nasty cuts where significant medical care other than first aid would be difficult. Bring plentiful water and food. Poles are useful to have but not required. The week before, check the site for the weather forecast regarding thunderstorms. This is not a place we want to be if there are any, so cancellation of the hike is possible. Side trips to Sunshine can be done.

  • 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: Behind McDonalds, 57th and Main in Springfield

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 128

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Sunscreen, gaiters (optional), bug dope, good boots, poles (recommended)

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 11.5

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 2000

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

We had clear skies and for once a warm but not a very hot day on the trail. There was little dust, snow above 6200' and the Falls was beautiful. There was a remarkable amount of beargrass, and its unusual odor could be smelled some distance from the plant groups. Western Pasqueflowers were a new one for me there, but I missed the blue carpet of lupines that are usually at Glacier Creek. There was a permit check in the volcanic area, which is good to see. Even with the permit system, there were still a lot of people on the trail, especially up in the obsidian pond area north of the falls. There were a lot of first timers for this trail today, and they all liked the country and the falls. They now understand why the hike is usually done counterclockwise!