Name: Thurston Hills
Start: 2022-12-07T00:00:00-08:00
End: 2022-12-07T23:59:59-08:00

Past Activity

Thurston Hills

Start date: 12/07/2022
Start time: 12:00 AM
End date: 12/07/2022
End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

This hike starts on the west side of the Thurston Hills complex. We will start from Quartz park and hike up a new gravel trail (Lower Camas Crest) to the Basalt Rim Trail. We will hike the Cascadian Thumb trail, then come back to the Basalt Rim Trail, and descend using the Upper Camas Crest Trail. Trail surfaces will be packed rock, and then mud/rock!

Here is a map of the trail system:
https://cms2.revize.com/revize/willamalanepror/Documents/Parks%20&%20Trails/THNA%20Winter%20Closures.pdf

Event Leader: Sue Zeni
Event Leader Phone: 541-729-0532
Event Leader Email: sue.obsidians@gmail.com
Assistant Leader:
Event category: Trips
Area Type: Urban
Departure Location: Behind McDonalds, 57th and Main in Springfield
Rating: Moderate
Roundtrip total drive miles:
Season: 2023
Permits Required:
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: Sturdy hiking shoes and a pole if you like them on muddy trails!
participant prerequisites:
Conditions:
Total Distance: 6.5
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 1000
Non-Member Fees: 2
Committee: Trips
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

We started out on a cold foggy morning to explore the new trails on the west side of the Thurston Hills Natural area in Springfield. Our destination was covered with cold fog. We enjoyed a view of the white foggy landscape from the top of a rock outcrop. We continued on the new trails until, at last, the sun popped out. The sudden sun caused ice fragments to fall from the oak trees to the trail at our feet. We were in no danger, but we were suprised to see the sparkling ice. The sun continued, and we were treated to the view of the basalt columns that held up the rock outcrop we had climbed (via trail) earlier. Many people on the hike had not hiked in this particular area. We added it to our list of good places to go. It is close ito town, and the trail will be good in multiple types of weather.