Calendar

Past Activity

Wallace Creek to Thurston

  • Start date: 06/13/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 06/13/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Urban hike from Wallace Creek to Thurston on the paved Old Weyerhauser Haul Rd. with a loop up to Willamette Natural Area restored oak savannah area. We will take a rest/snack break at the top. Hopefully, it will be clear and we will have a nice view out to the south and west.

  • Event Leader: Karla Rusow

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-744-7990

  • Event Leader Email: karlaandjeff@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: 1.5

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Usual supplies, water, food, sunscreen.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 6

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 1000

  • Non-Member Fees: 2

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Since there were only three of us and it was looking as if it was going to heat up once again, we agreed to do the hike somewhat differently. We carpooled to the North Trailhead of the Thurston Hills Natural Area and began the hike there amid the cool forest for the uphill portion of the hike. Fields of daisies greeted us as we headed up the trail. After the almost two mile climb, we headed across Upper Mossy Maple for a mile to the restored oak savannah on the east side of the mountain for a beautiful view to the south and west. The last approximately two miles were a combination of gravel road (downhill) and the paved Weyerhauser Haul road/city streets back to our cars. Total mileage was around 6 miles instead of eight. Indeed, it was very warm by the time we finished and we were glad we decided to both shorten the hike and use a different starting point.