Spencer Butte from Martin St.
2020-09-21
Ridgeline Trail opened Friday afternoon. I hope for a sunny day.

John Day Fossil Beds & the Wallowas
2020-09-21 00:00 - 2020-09-26 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
Load bus at (former) Shopko site at 7:30 a.m.; Depart at 8:00 a.m.
Come join us for a six-day, five-night scenic tour of the John Day Country and northeast Oregon.
Expect jam-packed (and some long) days. We will attempt to do all listed activities as time and weather allow, but likely will not be able to accomplish everything. Bring your spirit of adventure.
Highlights of the trip will include:
Day One- Visit the historic Santiam Pass Ski Lodge; tour the fantastic rock creations at Petersen Rock Garden; hike the trails or simply take in the view at Smith Rock State Park.
Lodging: Best Western Prineville Inn, 541-447-8080
Day Two- Tour the Painted Hills and Sheep Rock Units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument; visit the Thomas Condon visitor center and museum; hike a trail at the Mascall Overlook; visit the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site.
Lodging: Best Western John Day Inn, 541-575-1700
Day Three- Walk around the dredge at the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area; tour the beautifully-restored Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City; take in the exhibits at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (bring your National Park pass if you have one); drive the east side of the Wallowa Mountains through Halfway to an overlook of the Snake River Canyon.
Lodging: Ponderosa Inn, Enterprise, 541-426-3186
Day Four- Pedal recumbent bikes/carts on the tracks of the old Joseph Branch railroad; tour the Valley Bronze foundry; rise 3700 feet in 15 minutes to the summit of Mt. Howard on a gondola; see glacial-carved Wallowa Lake and the lodge; walk the streets and see the bronze sculptures in Joseph.
Lodging: Ponderosa Inn, Enterprise, 541-426-3186
Day Five- Tour the Pendleton Underground; see the 50 Rodin sculptures at the Maryhill Museum of Art and explore the outdoor sculpture garden.
Lodging: The Dalles Inn, 541-296-9107
Day Six- Walk to the eerie “She Who Watches” petroglyph; take in the view at White River Falls State Park; visit the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument; dig for fossils in Fossil; bungee jump (or watch) at the Crooked River Bridge, the tallest commercial bungee jump in North America (300 feet above the river, 250-foot swan dive) ($129 for first jump, credit cards accepted, reservations suggested).
Arrival in Eugene: We will likely have a late return to Eugene. It could be 6 p.m. or as late as 8 p.m. depending on time spent on the last day’s activities.
Food: Bring a sack lunch for the first day. Bring a small cooler as we will pick up lunch fixings each day at a local store. Breakfast included with motel stays. Lunches and dinners on your own.
Bring: National Park Pass (Senior/Interagency Pass), rain jacket, layered clothes, good walking shoes, camera, binoculars, sun screen, water bottle, small cooler for lunch supplies, money or credit card for bungee jump.
Cost: $681.00 Members $693.00 Non-members $100.00 Deposit due at registration $190.00 due April 24, $190.00 due June 24, Balance $201.00/$213.00 due August 24, 2020
Please make checks payable to Obsidians Bus Trips
REGISTRATION & MAIL CHECKS TO: Sharon Cutsforth 541-746-4929
1120 South 39th Street, Springfield 97478
Meetup/Departure Location: (former) ShopKo Coburg Rd/Chad Dr,(btwn ShopKo & Taco Bell)

End of Summer evening stroll #1
2020-09-22
Meet at Albertsons, Santa Clara (parking lot closest to Burger King)
Easy sunset hike on the north shore Fern Ridge Reservoir. Mix of beaten gravel path, concrete bike path and sandy-grassy area.
➽ Participants will manage their own transportation. Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for information. Please indicate your transportation preferences. If you want to drive by yourself, please indicate “Have” and 0 for passengers. If you’re willing to take another person or more, please indicate the number of people (not counting yourself) you could take. > It may be canceled or rescheduled. Watch out for updates.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2020-09-22
THIS HIKE WILL NOT HAPPEN IF THE TRAILS ARE CLOSED. STAY TUNED.
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.

End of Summer evening stroll #2
2020-09-22

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2020-09-23
Every Wednesday 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. It is a great way to get and stay in shape. If this is your first time on this Obsidian hike and/or if this is the first time you have hiked up Spencer Butte from the lowest elevation, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. Registered guests are welcome. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. (Please scroll down to read all of this trip description.)
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the Obsidian website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.
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 call the leader if any questions.

52nd Street/Spencer Butte
2020-09-23
For several years we’ve done a conditioning hike on Wednesdays from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. In 2020 we’ve been using this route while work was being done on the trail near Fox Hollow. This route is a mile shorter with 400′ less elevation gain.
If the parking lot is full, park on 52nd street on the other side of Willamette Street.
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.
Please call the leader if any questions.

Zena Forest Hike and Mill Tour
2020-09-24
We will be visiting the Zena Forest (1300 acres) and Mill in the Eola Hills NW of Salem. This is a family owned business and they have managed the forest since 1987 with a focus on maintaining a healthy and diverse forest ecosystem. The owners’s mother, Sarah Deumling, who manages the forest and oversees all restoration, logging and planning, will lead our hike for at least 2 hours around the woods and talk to us about forestry and conservation, etc. (The above mileage and feet gained is approximate.) She says, “Sustainability is the most important part of what we do.” We will lunch at their pond on the way back from the woods to the mill. At the mill, there will be a little tour of what Zena does there, their products, philosophy, etc.
Please read the COVID-19 Protocols on the Obsidian website prior to this activity. Participants will manage their own transportation. At Zena, they are still working, albeit with extra safety precautions. We need to follow their COVID-19 guidelines: https://www.zenaforest.com/covid19. Meetup/Departure Location: ShopKo Coburg Rd/Chad Dr,(btwn ShopKo & Taco Bell)

Mt Pisgah
2020-09-25
Meet at the main trailhead, a few rows down from the fee box. . The plan is to take Trail 7 and Trail 4 to Trail 2 and then UP 800 ft elevation on the east side. It will take two hours and 15 minutes at a moderate space to get to the top. If it is raining and we are miserable, there are several places where we can shorten the trip! Required to have a face covering to meet people on the trail! . Please read the COVID guidelines on our webpage

Central Oregon Volcanic Explore
2020-09-25 00:00 - 2020-09-27 23:59
### UPDATE 9/16 – This is trip is in the process of being cancelled by the trip leader ###
This is an end-of-season volcanic explore. We will be exploring parts of Newberry Crater, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, and Little Belknap Crater. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. If you wish to join the car caravan it will leave from the Albertson’s parking lot on Hilyard and 30th at 9:00am Friday morning. There will be two short stops; arrival time at Newberry is approx. 12pm on Friday.
Day 1 (Friday, Sept. 25): Newberry Crater – Up to 5 miles of hiking today, 200-feet elevation gain/loss.
This trip begins at 12pm at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, at the Big Obsidian Flow Parking Area. We will have a good hour to explore the 1 mile obsidian loop trail before continuing the Cinder Hill Campground (East Lake) to grab our first-some-first-served campsites. Then an afternoon walk of 3-4 miles along Paulina Lake to find some shoreline hot springs is planned. Depending on weather, a sunset drive to Paulina Peak might be attempted.
Day 2 (Saturday, Sept. 26): Oregon Badlands Wilderness – Up to 8 miles of hiking today, with a 400-feet elevation gain/loss.
We will walk to the double Paulina Creek Falls in the morning to avoid possible crowds. We then Drive 45 minutes (north then east of Bend) to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness – this part of the trip is exploratory for the trip leader. We will park at the Flatiron Rock Trailhead and complete a 3.5 mile loop. The elevation change here is only a couple hundred feet, but the ground is a combination of an old lava flow and Mazama ash. The Juniper trees here can be 1,000 years old. We plan to also explore the nearby Dry River Canyon Trail, the trail is 5 miles round trip. Our time/distance in the canyon will be based on time available. This trail is only open for several months during the year. It is home to raptors, juniper, flanked by steep basalt cliffs, and is supposedly the site of the some (faded) petroglyphs. Afterwards, we will drive approximately 1 hour (just past Sisters on 242) to the Cold Springs Campground.
Day 3 (Sunday, Sept. 27): Little Belknap Crater – Up to 6 miles of hiking today with a 1,000 feet elevation gain/loss.
Drive 30 minutes up 242 to McKenzie Pass to spend a few minutes at the Dee Wright Observatory, then park at the PCT trailhead and hike to the Little Belknap Crater. Then return on 242 to McKenzie Bridge and Eugene. The plan is to be home late afternoon.
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CAMPGROUND INFORMATION:
Cinder Hill Camground:
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233192
Cold Springs Campground
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251569
You will need to make a reservation, see notes.
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LOCATION INFORMATION:
Newberry National Volcanic Monument – Deschutes NF
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159
Oregon Badlands:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/oregon-washington/oregon-badlands
Get a pdf map of the badlands to take with you.
Dry River Canyon brochure:
https://www.blm.gov/download/file/fid/11651
Little Belknap Crater/Trail
Multiple resources online
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ADDITIONAL:
– Our first night of camping we will obtain on site. YOU WILL NEED to reserve your second night (26th) at the Cold Spring Campground (url above). The leader is in campsite # 11 (Sept 26), please try to reserve a site close to his location.
– Come prepared for night temperatures close to freezing, cool weather during the day, wind, sun, and/or rain. Bring ten-essentials. You will be requred to have a map and compass with you in the Oregon Badlands.
– Bring cash or check for the first night.
– If we have a “group” campfire, masks and distancing will be strictly observed.
– Bring plently of your own water. Water sources at the campsites can be limited, especially on the second night.
– Bring your national land’s pass.
– All participants are to manage their own transportation. If you are willing to take a person when you sign up indicate that on the signup form. If you do not want to take a passenger, please put 0 in the will take column.
– No sharing of food. All meals and snacks will be provided by each participant. Bring meals where you can add water to a packet.
– The trip leader will have a means to heat water.
– The trip leader will phone participants on Wednesday, 23rd to reconfirm, provide any updates, and give a final go/no-go in the event there are any bad weather or fire concerns.

National Public Lands Day
2020-09-26
For this outing we will return to continue cutting back brush from the trailsides of the Tie Trail.
Meet at the Main Spencer Butte parking lot, the paved lot on Willamette Street.

Suzanne Arlie Park south
2020-09-27
Come and take a look at Eugene’s largest park. It is yet to be fully developed but right now there are roads and trails to investigate. We’ll meet at the Shell Station on Franklin Blvd just north for the 30th Ave interchange. (where you turn to head to Pisgah) Park in the extend parking lot. It’s just a short drive to the south entrance to the park but there is limited parking.
Carla & went out to and there was nobody there. I’m upping the participants to 8. It’s only a 4 mile drive to the trail head.
Some of the “trail” fades away into dry grass but by then you’re out of the poison oak. Long pants, for sure.

Constitution Grove and Shale Ridge Trails
2020-09-27
**UPDATE – ALL RECREATION IN THE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.**
This is an old-growth forest hike. There are no lakes, raging rivers, waterfalls, or mountain vistas. But it is shady, fairly flat, quiet and peaceful, with many huge Douglas-firs (6′-7′ diameter) and Western Red Cedar trees.We’ll begin our hike at Constitution Grove along Aufderheide Highway and take North Fork Trail #3666 (Segment 5) eastward about 2.8 miles where it joins Shale Ridge Trail #3567. This heads south, and in about 2.6 miles we’ll reach a grove of giant cedar trees, which is our turnaround point. Shale Ridge trail has some very shallow stream crossings which are easily navigated by hopping along fallen trees and large rocks. Hiking poles are very helpful for balance.Note to drivers: there’s no driving on gravel roads!
Please read the Covid-19 protocols on the Obsidian website prior to the hike. Participants will manage their own transportation. Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike.

Row River
2020-09-27
Marathon length, casual bike ride, mostly shaded, 100% paved path. No car traffic.
> Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.

Mt Pisgah from East Trailhead
2020-09-27
We’ll start from the Pleasant Hill side. Meet at the East Trailhead at 8:30. We will take trail 6 to 2 to 4 to 1, then to the top and back down to 1 to 3 then back to 6. If you are unfamiliar with this trailhead you can contact the leader. Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for information.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2020-09-29, 2020-10-06
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.

52nd Street/Spencer Butte
2020-09-30
For several years we’ve done a conditioning hike on Wednesdays from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. In 2020 we started using this route while work was being done on the trail near Fox Hollow. This route is a mile shorter with 400′ less elevation gain.
If the parking lot is full, park on 52nd street on the other side of Willamette Street.
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2020-09-30
Every Wednesday 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. It is a great way to get and stay in shape. If this is your first time on this Obsidian hike and/or if this is the first time you have hiked up Spencer Butte from the lowest elevation, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. Registered guests are welcome. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. (Please scroll down to read all of this trip description.)
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.
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 call the leader if any questions.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2020-10-01
This is a long hike to backside of Pisgah.–It takes two hours and 15 minutes at a moderate space to get to the top!. The sunset is 6:51 and moonrise is 7:17. I doubt if we stick around for the harvest full moon to rise unless the weather is balmy. We will take Trail 7 to Trail 4 DOWN to Trail 2 and then up 800 ft elevation on the east side. Look for us by my car, one or two rows down from the fee box. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions. If it is raining, we could opt for a shorter hike.

Wild Iris Ridge Loop
2020-10-01
Wild Iris Ridge Loop from Summit Sky Boulevard. We will be exploring the east side of the Wild Iris Ridge Park, an easy 2 mile stroll with a gradual 300 feet elevation change. We start heading down and come back up but will be walking at a leisurely pace. This east valley is not as steep as the climb up from Bailey Hill Road.
This is not a conditioning hike; this will be an easy going fall walk for people who want to enjoy one anothers company, hear about Oak Savannah, see the Madrone trees and Valley Pines, look at the sights and enjoy the beauty. We will have several nice views of the west side of Spencer’s Butte.
Parking is not on Bailey Hill nor the Bailey Hill View Drive trailhead — it is at the summit just west of the address 3160 Summit Sky Blvd Eugene, OR 97405 There is a kiosk there on the south side of the street with street parking. Across the street from the kiosk is a big fancy gate with a Big Yellow O on it.
Set your smart phone map to 3160 Summit Sky Blvd and you should get right to it. Tiburon Lane is the nearest turnoff to the east.
Call the leader if you have questions about the hike or how to get there.

Brice Creek
2020-10-03
UPDATE 9/30: Brice Creek Trail is open! Hike is on!
We’ll join Brice Creek Trail at Cedar Creek Campground, and follow Brice Creek to Champion Creek, with a .6 mile loop to Lower Trestle Creek Falls on the way. We will pass by lots of tempting swimming holes, and there should be time for a quick dip if it’s not too chilly.
(Because I don’t know how the air quality will be, I am not planning on the Upper Trestle Creek Falls, which would add more elevation gain and make this a difficult hike instead of an easy one! Next year…)
Currently, Brice Creek Trail is open, although the campgrounds are closed. I’ll check on their status as we get closer to departure, and email all hikers with an update, as parking might be an issue if the campground is closed.
We’ll follow Obsidians social distancing guidelines, and participants will arrange their own transportation. The road and parking are fine for non 4WD vehicles.

Rooster Rock
2020-10-03
Departs from: Springfield, Winco Parking lot, I-105/Mohawk. 1920 Olympic Street, Springfield. This gives us easy access to get on I-105, take Mohawk exit to Marcola, Mohawk Valley and to Sweet Home. It is another 21 miles on Highway 20 to the Trout Creek Trailhead and the Menagerie Wilderness (established1984). As of now we will meet Paul east of Sweet Home, at a rest area—also a bathroom stop— across from Point Restaurant, 6305 Highway 20. It will be a moderate steady pace for the uphill hike. It would be like hiking Mt. Pisgah twice with few stops. From the junction with the old climbers’ trail, it climbs 750′ in the last half mile. We’ll follow Obsidians social distancing guidelines, and participants will arrange their own transportation. The leader hiked the trail last Friday and spent time cleaning the blowdown. Please call Paul if questions or email Janet.

Cham-o-tee sunrise
2020-10-04
Spencer Butte was called Cham-o-tee by the native Kalapuya, meaning rattlesnake.
Don’t miss this brisk hike and another beautiful sunrise from the 30 million years old butte.
If the parking lot is full, park on 52nd street on the other side of Willamette Street.
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols. If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.

South Eugene Hills
2020-10-04
Meet at 29th & Willamette Market of Choice parking lot in front of the US Bank front door. This is a fairly fast paced hike, not a saunter. We will be walking primarily on streets with little traffic, but also on some trails. The goal is to explore some city passages and steps which connect neighborhoods, burn some calories, and with some luck, perhaps even see a coati!mundi!

Ribbon Trail for Guests
2020-10-04
Limited to 10 guests/members because of social distancing. Members may sign up the day before if space. Face covering required.
Meet at the Obsidian Lodge to start the hike on the Ribbon Trail to Hendricks Park. This is an opportunity to find out about the Obsidians and see our lodge. The Lodge is hard to find so I suggest you get directions and map from Obsidian home page. It is not necessary to do the hike if you have concerns about meeting people on the trail.

Annual Clare Tucker Memorial 4 in 1 Cone
2020-10-05
Clare Tucker led this hike for 14 years, and this is the 5th Annual Hike in her memory. It is a beautiful trail in the woods followed by a volcanic section, more woods, then volcanic gravel and the 50 m (160 foot) vertical climb to the rim of the cones, where the four vents blasted out dust which was blown back.
It’s fall. Come prepared for anything. I’ve had clear days, rain, and snow on the rim.
Note departure time. Sun sets earlier in October, and days are significantly shorter.
Participants will manage their own transportation. Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike/ride. Refer to main website page for information.
Those who would like to learn a little about navigation and route finding, trail memory, this would be a good trip. I will have a GPS plus the Gaia app. and a map of the area.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2020-10-07
NOTE TIME CHANGE***EXTRA CAUTION DUE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN LANE COUNTY***
Every Wednesday 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. It is a great way to get and stay in shape. If this is your first time on this Obsidian hike and/or if this is the first time you have hiked up Spencer Butte from the lowest elevation, you may want to call the leader to discuss the pace. Registered guests are welcome. If you have questions, email summertrips@obsidians.org. Come a few minutes early because we leave promptly at the listed time. (Please scroll down to read all of this trip description.)
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.
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 call the leader if any questions.

52nd Street/Spencer Butte
2020-10-07
NOTE NEW TIME For several years we’ve done a conditioning hike on Wednesdays from the Martin Street Trailhead to the summit of Spencer Butte. In 2020 we’ve been using this route while work was being done on the trail near Fox Hollow. This route is a mile shorter with 400′ less elevation gain.
If the parking lot is full, park on 52nd street on the other side of Willamette Street.
Social distancing will be maintained. Everyone is required to CARRY A FACE COVERING and know how to use it properly. More information is available on the website. Look for Covid-19 Protocols.
If you meet someone going your way, MASK UP, excuse yourself and pass. If someone is coming the other way, MASK UP and if that person doesn’t get over, step aside and face away. If you are following within 8 feet of another person, you should mask up. You are in their slipstream. People can change their pace and suddenly you’re too close. PLEASE DO THIS.
If you can’t see up the trail far enough to have time to put on your covering, leave it on. Make sure you can quickly put on your face covering. Don’t congregate when you meet someone on the trail or on the summit. Maintain face coverings or stay 6 feet apart.
If you don’t feel well, please don’t come. If you are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.

Mt Pisgah
2020-10-10
MEET at the North Trailhead. (Turn left — not right to the main gate/pavilion) Required to have a face covering to meet people on the trail! . Please read the COVID guidelines on our webpage. We will take Trail 3 to Trail 4, then DOWN to Trail 2 and then UP 800 ft elevation on the east side. It will take two hours and 15 minutes at a moderate space to get to the top.
