Hendricks Park Beat The Rush
2022-05-07
Beat the Mother’s Day rush. We’ll stroll the gardens in all of its spring glory. Native plant garden, rhododendron garden, then the forest. The tropical colors and textures will amaze. Meetup/Departure Location: Wilkens Shelter

Diamond Peak- Graduation Climb
2022-05-07, 2022-05-14
NOTE: Priority for this climb will go to 2022 Climb School students.
We will ascend via the Pioneer Gulch route on the south to southwest side of the mountain. The climb is approximately 10 miles round trip with about 4000 ft of total elevation gain. As you prepare for this, think about hiking 4 Mount Pisgahs in a day. The general equipment needs are below. The specific gear list will be sent to those who sign up.

Salmon Creek Mother’s Day
2022-05-08
Nice trail just couple miles west of Oakridge. Moderate pace, not a slug. At one point we will cross railroad bridge over the river. Don’t be late. We’re leaving at 9AM.
Rain or shine.
➽ see latest C19 regulations

Pisgah Native Plant Nursery
2022-05-09
When crossing the bridge into the park at Mt. Pisgah immediately turn left and go a quarter mile to the North Trailhead Parking Area where we will meet at 9:30 am for a short introduction.
We will walk a quarter of a mile through the forest identifying plants along the trail to the Nursery. At the Nursery we will visit the plant beds where dozens of species are grown for cuttings or to harvest seeds. There will be opportunity to talk with the staff members and volunteers. We will visit the greenhouse where seedlings are grown. After this there is a tour of the buildings where records are kept and seeds are packaged and put into cold storage. The original nursery at the Kienzle House garden plot is nearby for a quick visit.
The walking is easy and the tour will be over by noon.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2022-05-10, 2022-05-17
This hike to the top of Spencer Butte takes the less traveled route from Blanton Road. We’ll cross Blanton Ridge before continuing on from the 52nd and Willamette trailhead. This option provides a good in town workout.. If the weather doesn’t co-operate we can forgo the exposed rocky steps near the top.
To get to the trailhead from 29th & Willamette continue south on Willamette. At Willamette/Donald St Intersection bear right on Willamette. Immediately bear right again on to Crest Drive. Follow signs staying on Crest for approximately 1.2 miles to the Junction with Blanton Road. Turn left on Blanton. The trial head is on your left in about ½ mile.
Another way to get to the Blanton trailhead is to go south on Chambers until it ends at Crest Drive. Turn left on to Crest. In about ½ mile turn right on Blanton Road.

Mountaineering Conditioning
2022-05-10, 2022-05-17
Park in the main parking lot and meet at the gate for trail#1. You must pay for a day pass at the parking kiosk (debit/credit cards only) or have an annual Lane County parks pass on display in your vehicle. We’ll hike up to the summit and back on trail #1. I’m planning to do two laps with a weighted pack (recommend 20-40lbs in your pack if you want to use training weight), but you’re welcome to join for just one lap and/or hike without weight. The goal will be to finish in about 2 hours, which should be right around sunset (bring a headlamp).

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2022-05-11
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:15 to 8:30
Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions.

Mountaineering Conditioning
2022-05-12
Are you aspiring for mountain glory this spring and summer? Grab a pack, throw in some ridiculously heavy items in it, and meet at the Martin Street trailhead of the Ridgeline Trail. We will hike at a brisk pace from Martin to Dillard Road and connect to the Mt Baldy trail. If we are feeling strong we can opt for a second lap on Mt Baldy or summit the butte before we return to the our cars on Martin street.

Marys Peak North Trail
2022-05-12
We will drive to Junction City, backroads to Philomath, Highway 20 to Woods Creek Road to the North Ridge Trailhead #1350.. It is 4.4 mile up to the day use Observation Point /parking lot/toilets, and another .6 miles (with wildflowers I hope) to the top of Marys Peak (3750 ft). We should start the hike around 9:30—depending on how long it takes us to navigate Eugene traffic. It is marked as difficult—two Pisgahs. Target opens at 8:00 so bathrooms would be available. There are none at the trailhead. If the weather forecast is dismal, I will reschedule for May 19th.

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2022-05-14
Meet at the Obsidian Lodge to start the hike on the Ribbon Trail to Hendricks Park and back. This is an opportunity to find out about the Obsidians, get acquainted with members, and visit our lodge. This hike through the woods has a few short bursts of steep up and down hill.
Drive past the Laurelwood Golf Course up 27th St then at the top of the hill turn right onto Spring Blvd, a one lane road. When Spring Blvd ends, turn left onto Central then immediately look for the Obsidians Inc. sign and driveway on your right. Enter the driveway and follow the gravel road to the parking areas and Lodge. Members are welcome to sign up to help answer questions. The Lodge is hard to find so if you want to view the map, go to the Obsidian home page. http://obsidians.org/lodgemap.htm

Kentucky Falls/Smith River
2022-05-14
We’ll do this as a shuttle.

Diamond Peak
2022-05-14

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2022-05-15
Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box. Sunset at 8:32 and (full) moonrise is 8:26. UPDATE: Partial moon eclipse begins at 7:27 pm, while the moon is below the horizon. Total eclipse begins at 8:29 pm and ends at 9:53 pm. It takes a while for the Moon to clear the horizon, so by the time it is seen it will likely be fully eclipsed.
Current plan is to take Trails 7,3, and 1 ( a shorter route to make sure we are on top with time to spare). Faster hikers might want to include a section of Trail 4. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions.
I will be there by 7:00 if you need to leave earlier.
.If weather doesn’t cooperate with an actual lviewing of the celestial event, we won’t wait for the moonrise that would rise over the foothills 7 min or so after sunset.

Ankeny Wildlife Refuge ride
2022-05-15
Meet at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center, 130 Ankeny Hill Rd. SE, Jefferson. We will do a loop ride counterclockwise, crossing the Willamette river at Independence, passing through Stapleton, returning via the Buena Vista Ferry and passing through Talbot and Sidney. A moderately paced ride. We will regroup from time to time so no one is left behind. Ferry fee is $1.

Shale Ridge
2022-05-16
Distance: about 8 miles round trip, an out and back trip with the exact distance determined by trail conditions. There is some risk that difficult stream crossings would force us to turn around. If so, we can hike downstream on the middle fork trail toward the Constitution Grove.

Mountaineering Conditioning
2022-05-17

Mt Hood
2022-05-17
Planning a trip up the South Side.
Exact departure time and place will depend on the weather forecast, but the plan is to drive and start hiking rather than sleep in the parking lot. Depending on how warm forecast is, we’ll start hiking sometime between midnight and 4am. I’ll organize carpooling with those who are signed up a couple of days before the climb.

Holiday Farm Fire Aftermath - MRT
2022-05-17
In person ExploraTalks at the Lodge are back!
Christer LaBrecque and Brandi Ferguson with McKenzie River Trust will provide us with an update on the Finn Rock Reach floodplain restoration project as well as tell us about MRT’s role assisting with Holiday Farm Fire efforts.
Please plan to join us! (Your online signup is optional.)
State and local COVID protocols will be followed at this event.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2022-05-18
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:15 to 8:30.
Every Wednesday since 2013 we do this hike from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. Compared to starting at the paved Spencer Butte parking lot, this hike has double the climbing and three times the distance. It is a conditioning hike where everyone is challenging themselves to go at a moderate or fast pace—not like the other hikes on our schedule. If this is your first time on this Obsidian conditioning hike, or hiking to Spencer Butte, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. If you should fall too far behind, the leaders reserve the right to have you not summit but wait and return with the group. The regulars on this hike have attained their fitness by showing up consistently and slowly improving. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. To get to the trailhead: Take West Amazon to Martin Street. Turn left. Drive past Kinney Park and park Martin Street near the Kiosk sign board across from Canyon Drive Street sign with hiker symbol. Please contact the leader if you have any questions.

Pacific Source hike
2022-05-19
Special Outreach project. Through Travel Lane County we’ll accompany members of a Pacific Source group on the trails of Buford Park and the Arboretum. Some of this group might want to go to the top and other just a wander through the Arboretum.
Some of the people will be from the Eugene/Springfield area and we can encourage them to check out more of our activities. We also want to make a connection to Travel Lane County. Since we know that many new members people in transition (like moving to our area) we should become an organization the Travel Lane County suggests to newcomers.

Marys Peak North Trail
2022-05-19
We will drive to Junction City, backroads to Philomath, Highway 20 to Woods Creek Road to the North Ridge Trailhead #1350. That part of the road is gravel. It is 4.4 mile up to the day use Observation Point /parking lot/toilets, and another .6 miles (with wildflowers I hope) to the top of Marys Peak (3750 ft). We should start the hike around 9:30—depending on how long it takes us to navigate Eugene traffic. It is marked as moderate but the elevation is two Pisgahs. Target opens at 8:00 so bathrooms would be available. There are none at the trailhead.

Pisgah Loop Hike
2022-05-20
To get to the east trailhead head drive toward Pleasant Hill on hwy 58. Turn left at the 76 station on to Ridgeway Rd. The parking area is 1.7 miles down this road. We will hike to the summit on trail #2 and then return using trail #6. The parking lot is small but vehicles sometimes park on the road if there isn’t room. You need a Lane County pass to park but not if you park on the road. I plan to lunch at the Sunrise Cafe at the Pleasant Hill strip mall close by afterwards and feel free to join me or not. RI

Pisgah River Loop
2022-05-20
We will walk along the river, through the meadow and explore the Lily Ponds. We will keep a moderate (not slow, not fast) pace.

Marys Peak North Trail
2022-05-20
UPDATE: Trip one day later because of better weather forecast. We will drive to Junction City, backroads to Philomath, Highway 20 to Woods Creek Road to the North Ridge Trailhead #1350. Part of that road is gravel. It is 4.4 mile hike up to the day use Observation Point /parking lot/toilets, and another .6 miles (with wildflowers I hope) to the top of Marys Peak (3750 ft). We should start the hike around 9:30—depending on how long it takes us to navigate Eugene traffic. It is marked as moderate but the elevation is two Pisgahs.
Target opens at 8:00 so bathrooms would be available. There are no convenient ones on the way to trailhead. None at the trailhead.

Rogue River Trail
2022-05-20 00:00 - 2022-05-23 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
Backpack the Wild and Scenic Rogue River Wilderness on this 4-day 40-mile trip which requires a car shuttle ($160 per car, advance payment req’d) via a raft outfitter. We’ll observe complex geology, springtime botany and historic sites like the largely intact Whiskey Creek prospector’s homestead. Depart Friday, 2.5 hours to Grave Creek TH. Hike Rogue Trail 6 miles to Russian Creek. Sat 13 miles to Quail Creek. Sun 12 miles to Solitude Bar. Mon 9 miles to Foster Bar TH and vehicle pickup. This is a one-way hike down the Rogue. The drive home can take some time depending on what roads are open. The long option is out Gold Beach and back up the coast.

Amanda Trail
2022-05-21
With construction completed on the new suspension bridge, the historic and beautiful Amanda Trail will be rededicated on May 21 at 1 PM. We will hike from Yachats past the Amanda statue to the Cape Perpetua Lookout for lunch, and then back down to the Amanda Gathering Area in time for the ceremony, which will include speakers from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw, as well as Oregon Parks and Rec. The dedication will conclude around 2:30.
After the dedication concludes, options include a walk in the Ya’Xaik Trail and Gerdemann Garden, to see if the giant Himalayan rhododendrons are blooming, or a walk to the beach in Smelt Sands Park, with surf spouting through cracks in the crumbling lava.
From 5:30 – 6:45 there will be a reception at the Yachats Commons, followed at 7:00 by a performance of the play “Amanda Transcending” by local author Connie Bennett.
I have ten tickets to the dedication, the reception and the play. (Tickets are required but free.) We’re posting this early because you may want to overnight on the coast after the play, and lodgings are likely to be full for this weekend.
