The Obsidians

Cloverpatch Trail
2021-05-16
Steep trail east of lookout Point Reservoir. Wildflowers galore and some great views. It could be chilly at 3400 ft so dress appropriate. This is exploratory trip since leaded never been there.
➯ Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for full information. Participants will manage their own transportation.

Sweet Creek Falls
2021-05-16
I leave an option open for a short add on hike or possible lunch in Florence. Sweet Creek has flowers and water and it’s is beautiful.

Three Mile Lake
2021-05-16
Lovely hike through low coastal sand dunes ecosystem, then along the beach and to a fresh water lake. Hike back through high dunes and forest ecosystems.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2021-05-18
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.
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.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2021-05-19
NOTE: Per CDC guidelines, face masks are no longer required, nor is social distancing if one is vaccinated and outdoors.
If new, please come at 0815.
Remember, despite the lack of social distancing guidelines, respect people’s space. This change will take getting used to.
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.) 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 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
2021-05-20
NOW on THURSDAY 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 used 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.
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 are not willing to follow the guidelines, please do not join the group.

Marys Peak
2021-05-21
We will drive to Junction City headed for Philomath and the Woods Creek Road to the North Ridge Trailhead #1350 (elevation 1300ft. ) It is 4.4 mile up to the day use Observation Point /parking lot/toilets if open, and another .6 miles to the top of Marys Peak (3750 ft). The shortest route is up and back (not the loop to Connor’s Camp connecting with RD 2005). We should start the hike around 9:30/9:45—depending on how long it takes us to navigate Eugene traffic. It is marked as difficult but think of it as two moderate Pisgahs. Hopefully the bathroom at Target opens and is available at 8:00. I have heard that there is one tree to climb over. There might be some snow near the top.

E2C Alpine Trail Mid-section
2021-05-22
Nice trail through the woods north of Westfir, OR. This is another segment of the Eugene to Crest Trail. Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for full information. Participants will manage their own transportation.
>>> NOTE: I am sorry to announce that May 22 Alpine Mid-section hike will be postponed to June 13. Per information received from Middle Fork Ranger District, it is still a lot of snow on that elevation.
I hope that you can join the group in June. Darko

Obsidian Grounds
2021-05-22
We will focus on mowing – hopefully we can get both lawn mowers and the wheeled string trimmer going on that. I’ll bring my DR to start mowing the area behind the storage building, but the area needs downed limbs and stuff cleared out first – lot of poison oak back there, so beware. There are a number of other things to do if the turnout warrants it.

Brice Creek
2021-05-23
This hike east of Cottage Grove that travels along length of Brice Ck. This can include side trails to upper and lower falls along the way down Brice Ck. This will be a shuttle.

E2C Day Island-Jasper
2021-05-24
Did you know that once upon a time, there was a plan to create a connecting route from Eugene to the Pacific Crest Trail (E2C)? Dave Cooper is spear heading hiking and biking the entire route this summer (see article in the May Bulletin). The first segment was from Alton Baker Park to Day Island Park. The next segment will be biking from Day Island to Jasper Park. May is Bike Month, a perfect time to pedal this section! The route is almost totally on low traffic or no traffic roads with a couple of short “rollers”. Check out the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35815977
We’ll meet in the main parking lot of Day Island Park. If coming from Eugene on Franklin Blvd, immediately after crossing the Willamette bridge, turn right and go underneath the bridge and park.

Pisgah Native Plant Nursery
2021-05-24
Long time volunteer of Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah’s Native Plant Nursery, Dave Predeek will give a tour of the three acres nursery, see70 plus plants many of which will be in bloom and work in progress. There will be a short walk to see the original nursery and other and other plantings before we go to the nursery. Expect 2 – 2 1/2 hours. Meet at the North Trailhead: Turn left onto Frank Parrish Road after crossing the Coast Fork Willamette River. Drive 0.3 miles, and turn left into the large parking area. Back in 1997 botanist and Obsidian Dave Predeek joined the board of Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah and started looking around for a specific way of contributing. He didn’t have to look far before noticing that invasive plants, especially blackberries and Scotch broom, were taking over large areas of the park’s hillsides. The oak savanna habitat of the park, once common in the Willamette Valley, is now a rare and precious resource and Dave resolved to begin an effort to protect and restore it. He started the Monday Morning Regulars to remove blackberries and more. Read more in the May 2005 Bulletin.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise (long)
2021-05-25
Look for us by my car, two or three rows down from the fee box at the gate. One day before full moon. Moonrise is at 8:10pm and the sunset is at 8:42. A long hike, it takes at least two hours at a moderate space to get to the top!. We will take Trail 7 to Trail 4 DOWN to Trail 2 and then up 800 ft elevation on the east side. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions. If it is raining, we could opt for a shorter hike.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2021-05-25, 2021-06-01
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.

Summit Steps & Brushing
2021-05-26
For this month’s outing we will clean the summit steps, do trailside brushing, and clean the trailhead steps and kiosk.
Meet at the main Willamette Trailhead parking lot, the paved lot on Willamette Street.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2021-05-26
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.) 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 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.

Lodge & Grounds Cleanup
2021-05-27
Going ahead as scheduled. Nothing more than possible sprinkles. Refreshments will be provided.
With a large and growing number of us being fully vaccinated it’s time to start thinking about using the Lodge again. Some spring cleaning is in order. You’ll want to see the new fence and imagine what it might look like when we do some planting in the fall. Until then there’s plenty to do outside and in. Mopping and mulching. Something for everyone

E2C Tire Mountain
2021-05-28
Departure location Pisgah Public Market in Pleasant Hill – 35851 Hwy 58. Take the Oakridge exit off of I-5. After 4 miles watch for the Mall on your left after the 76 gas station. Park in the middle of the parking lot by the light pole.
The Tire Mountain Trail is part of the Eugene to Pacific Crest Trail series. We will encounter beautiful spring wildflowers, amazing vistas and old growth forest.

Obsidian Lodge Fence Tour #1
2021-05-29
UPDATE. We are in the process of canceling this hike and have arranged for our two guests tgo on the 10:30 hike. If questions, Email Janet at jbjacobsen@comcast.net

Obsidian Lodge Fence Tour #2
2021-05-29
Members and Guests welcome on this grand tour and also to visit the Lodge. Check out the new fence at the Obsidian Lodge. Walk the Ribbon Trail circuit around the Lodge up to 30th and Spring to see the Laurel Estates Development and another Obsidian fence. See the May Bulletin for fence details: www.obsidians.org/bulletin/Issues/2021_Bulletins/2021_05_Bulletin.pdf
Directions to the Lodge on the website: : http://www.obsidians.org/lodgemap.htm If questions, Email Janet at jbjacobsen@comcast.net

Finley Wildlife Refuge
2021-05-30
It’s a little late in the season but we will e looking for birds. We will stop at 2 binds and do a 5 mile from the headquarters We will stop at headquarters to use bathrooms and check out feeders. Depending on timing we may have lunch there.

Sutton Cr / Darko’s Hidden Cove
2021-05-30
Please arrive few minutes earlier. We will leave promptly at 8AM and drive Hwy 126 (Linslaw Park bathroom stop) and Hwy 101 to the trail-head (GPS location 44.047567, -124.130835)
From there we will hike north on the low tide beach crossing two creeks. Sutton Creek can be 2-3 ft. deep, Berry Creek can be up to 16 inches deep. Our destination is a beautiful hidden cove. After the lunch we will hike same way back.
➯ Obsidian COVID protocols will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for full information. Participants will manage their own transportation.

Masonic Cemetery to Obsidian Lodge
2021-05-31
Update: We will divide into two groups with Jorry leading one. Departure Place 25th and University, Main gate with signage—not the dead end road to the Abbey.
We will stroll through the cemetery up to the Obsidian Lodge to see the New Fence and on the Ribbon Trail to Hendricks Park. We can also stop at the Bog. The “relaxed” hike will take around 2 ½ hours so that we are back at the cemetery by noon for Taps at the Public Square.
The Hope Abbey Mausoleum will be open from 11:30-5:00 with a brass concert at 4:00 at Public Square following COVID guidelines

E2C Day Island-Jasper
2021-05-31
Did you know that once upon a time, there was a plan to create a connecting route from Eugene to the Pacific Crest Trail (E2C)? Dave Cooper is spear heading hiking and biking the entire route this summer (see article in the May Bulletin). The first segment was from Alton Baker Park to Day Island Park. The next segment will be biking from Day Island to Jasper Park. May is Bike Month, a perfect time to pedal this section! The route is almost totally on low traffic or no traffic roads with a couple of short “rollers”. We will be done before noon. Check out the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35815977
We’ll meet in the main parking lot of Day Island Park. If coming from Eugene on Franklin Blvd, immediately after crossing the Willamette bridge, turn right and go underneath the bridge and park.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2021-06-02
Update 3:
Update 2: We may need to alter our route a bit as the Tie Trail between the Ridgeline and Spencer Butte trails may be closed. If you are signed up for the 6/2 trip, watch for an email on Tuesday when there may be more information.
Update: Leader will be at the trailhead at 8:00AM for the early birds.
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:15-8:30.
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.) 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 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 Baldy / Fox Hollow
2021-06-02
Mt Baldy to Fox Hollow and back. This is an easy after – work or end of day option for those who can’t make the morning weekly hikes. This trail has the benefit of a nice view which we can do either at the start or at the end. Trail is very quiet/not busy, so wearing masks are less necessary if we keep our distance.
3.5 mile out and back with 630 elevation gain.
Meet: Mt Baldy parking lot on Dillard Road.

Mt Baldy / Fox Hollow
2021-06-03
Mt Baldy to Fox Hollow and back. This is an easy after – work or end of day option for those who can’t make the morning weekly hikes. This trail has the benefit of a nice view which we can do either at the start or at the end. Trail is very quiet/not busy, so wearing masks are less necessary if we keep our distance.
3.5 mile out and back with 630 elevation gain.
Meet: Mt Baldy parking lot / Dillard East Trailhead, at corner of Dillard Road and Hidden Meadows Drive.

Yachats beach house weekend
2021-06-04 00:00 - 2021-06-06 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
We will spend 2 nights in our ocean front beach house in Yachats, just south of the Adobe…. There are 3 bedrooms, 2 have a double bed & the 3rd has 2 bunk beds….
——- Friday: Short Hikes… Pot Luck dinner…
——- Saturday: Breakfast is on your own & you’ll need to pack a lunch for the hike……. Long beach hike: Take bus to Waldport (need $1) walk 8 miles back to Yachats on beach… Dinner Saturday night will be at a restaurant in town…
——- Sunday: I will cook an egg based breakfast…
Meetup/Departure Location: Leaders House (address will be emailed to participants)

National Trails Day
2021-06-05
For National Trails Day we will do trailside brushing on the Tie Trail.
Meet at the main Willamette Trailhead parking lot, the paved lot on Willamette Street.
