Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2021-12-28, 2022-01-11, 2022-01-18, 2022-01-25
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.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2021-12-29, 2022-01-05, 2022-01-12
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:45 to 9:00.
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.

Spencer Butte Litter Pick-up
2021-12-30
The litter pick up hike is canceled. We will send an email to all of you.

New Year's Day -BALDY- long
2022-01-01
I changed the departure time since we will not be going to the Summit. I have hiked to Meadow Junction twice and agree with Mike Smith’s explanation in his trip description why we should change to Mt. Baldy. If you want a longer hike, there are some options.
Registered guests are welcome. If you haven’t hiked the Butte from Martin Street, email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net

New Year's Day BALDY- med
2022-01-01
We are leaving from the 52nd St. (dirt) parking lot to Mt. Baldy and then return.
I CHANGED THE HIKE AFTER HAVING BEEN TO THE TOP OF SPENCER BUTTE THURSDAY MORNING. ABOVE 1600 FEET (ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE TIE TRAIL) THE TRAIL IS ICIER AND HAS TWO NARROW PASSAGES THROUGH BRANCHES THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED. THE STEPS ARE NOT SAFE FOR A GROUP, WITH 2-3 INCHES OF ICE AND SNOW PRESENT. COMING DOWN, I WAS EITHER SIDEWAYS ON A STEP, WITH TWO FEET TO EACH STEP, OR I ACTUALLY WENT AROUND THE STEPS ON THE SIDE. COMING DOWN THE LAST SET OF 12 STEPS WAS UNSAFE. MAYBE THE WEATHER WILL CLEAR, BUT I DON’T SEE SIGNIFICANT MELTING FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE TOP WILL STILL BE THERE, JUST NOT FOR THIS HIKE ON NEW YEARS’ DAY.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. YOU MAY (1) CANCEL, (2) DO PART OF THE HIKE, OR (3) DO THE WHOLE HIKE, WHICH IS LONGER WITH LESS VERTICAL GAIN.
There are two blowdowns on the Ridgline just east of the tie trail. They are passable. Expect some snow and ice, but not a great deal, except maybe on the shady spots of Baldy.

New Year's Day BALDY - short
2022-01-01
Meet at the Fox Hollow Trailhead on Fox Hollow Road. The hike has been changed because of unsafe conditions due to snow and ice on Spencer Butte summit. We will hike the Ridgeline Trail from the Fox Hollow trailhead to Mount Baldy. We will have a slowish pace and meet up with the hikers on the two other New Year’s Day hikes and share easy-to-eat snacks at Mount Baldy.
Be sure to read the online COVID guide lines.

Salt Creek Falls
2022-01-02
We leave Eugene and drive up Hwy 58 to Salt Creek Snow park. This is a loop that travels along Salt Creek Canyon with many view points. The trail turns and follows up up Berry Creek Canyon leading to a large waterfall before turning back toward the cars.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2022-01-04
Update as of January 3: Angie and I changed the time to 7:15 and the distance may depend on the severity of rain.
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.

Butte Debris Raking
2022-01-07
There are lot of branches on the main trail so we will brush/rake probably to the steps — depends on trail conditions. If we have enough people, we can opt send a few down the Tie Trail to brush. Let Pat know if you don’t have a rake — we will bring an extra one.
Meet at the main Spencer Butte trailhead parking lot, the paved lot on Willamette.

Nye Beach to Yaquina Head
2022-01-08
Note new meeting place: Jerry’s Home Improvement Center, Hwy 99 and Beltline, area of parking lot to RIGHT of entrance on highway side.
We’ll walk north from the Nye Beach turnaround along the beach to Yaquina Head (3.6 miles). According to my back o’ the envelope calculations, we should reach the tide pools at the Yaquina Head Marine Garden at 11:00, just as the tide is at its lowest. We’ll stop there for some tide pooling, some lunch and some exploration of the lighthouse, before returning back along the beach. The tide will be coming in as we walk back, so we’ll be on the lookout for sneaker waves.
Since we don’t want to miss the low tide, please be ready to leave at 7:30 because we won’t be able to wait!

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2022-01-08
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, get acquainted with members, and visit our lodge. The Lodge is hard to find so I suggest you get directions and map from Obsidian home page
Drive past the Laurelwood Golf Course, turn right on Spring Blvd, a one lane road. Spring Blvd deadheads, turn left and immediately look for the Obsidians Inc. sign and gate(driveway) to 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.

Midnight Lake
2022-01-09
This is a good first-of-the-season trip for intermediate skiers (it’s really not appropriate for beginners). We’ll plan on heading up to Midnight Lake via the PCT, then following the trail through the woods over to the road past Bechtel Shelter, for a nice glide back to Pengra Pass and then the parking lot. Lunch will be at either Midnight Lake or at Bechtel Shelter. Depending on conditions, it could turn into an out-and-back instead of a loop (for instance, if it’s icy under the trees). Trip will be cancelled or re-scheduled if snow conditions are inadequate.

Gold Lake
2022-01-09
This is an early get reacquainted with your ski’s trip. Gold Lake is an easy 2 mile trip into the lake which includes a shelter. The route over a forest service road is wide and rolling. Lunch at the shelter. We will be parking at Gold Lake snow park.

Nye Beach to South Jetty beach
2022-01-09

Lodge Cleanup
2022-01-10
This will be a clean up effort before a AmeriCorps crew of 10 and their leader are housed in the Lodge for about 5 weeks. They will be using the Lodge as their base while they work on some newly acquired city parks land. They will also be supported by the Y who will provide showers.

Hendricks Park photography
2022-01-14
Bring a camera (or phone) and we’ll capture some of the winter beauty of our lovely park. Gnarled old rhodies have such fascinating lines. We can then use some of our pics for the kiosk that I maintain – you might be published!
Or, come and just stroll with us – it’s always beautiful in the park. Meetup/Departure Location: Wilkens Shelter

Deschutes River Canyon New Year
2022-01-14 00:00 - 2022-01-16 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
We’ll leave at noon from the Red Barn Natural Grocer @ 4th & Blair.
Start the backpacking year because you can with this low-elevation dry-side hike of the enchanting lower Deschutes River canyon. Depart Eugene Friday afternoon. 3.5 hour drive to the Deschutes River St Rec Area. Hike approx. 2 miles up canyon to Rattlesnake Rapids, camp. Saturday continue up canyon past striking rock formations and historic ranch and railroad sites along the Deschutes river to Fall Canyon Camp at milepost 10. Sunday pack up & enjoy the gentle hike out.

McKenzie River Trust Stewardship
2022-01-15
Obsidians volunteer day at Green Island with McKenzie River Trust.
We’ll work 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM on blackberry removal on the 2.5-acre plot, recently adopted by Obsidians.
Green Island is located at the confluence of the McKenzie and the Willamette Rivers. McKenzie River Trust with generous support of dozen local organization and hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers researching, restoring, and protecting over 1100 acres of riverbanks, forest, islands, channels, sloughs, and grassland.
➽ Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for information.

Birthday Lake Xski
2022-01-15
We will ski from the Waldo Road Sno-Park, 10 miles round trip to Birthday Lake 1500′ in the Waldo Lake Wilderness. There may be difficult trailbreaking involved if we have had fresh snow, or challenging downhill on return if the snowpack is old and packed. The first 1.5 or 2 miles is on the Waldo Road, where snowmobiles usually pack down a trail.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2022-01-16
Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box. Sunset is 5:01 and full moonrise is 3:44. Full Moon is the next night. This will be the long hike on Trail 4 and then going up Trail 2. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions. If you don’t have a Lane County pass allow time to purchase one with Debit/Credit card (no cash) at the pay station by trailhead. To buy an annual pass and support the trails, if you have time check out the websites for Friends of the Buford Park or Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. Obsidian COVID protocols will be followed.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2022-01-19
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 8:45 am to 9:00 am.
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.

Gold Snow Park to Midnight Lake
2022-01-22
We’ll park at Gold Lake Snow Park and head clock-wise to Midnight Lake for lunch, then continue around past Bechtel Shelter and back to parking area. Will cancel if weather effects driving or hiking conditions. If you need a ride, please arrange prior to the 22nd. The Snow Park gets crowded, carpooling is recommended. If driving, purchase a Sno Park pass prior to save time, suggest REI or Bergs.

Row River Trail Walk
2022-01-22
We will meet at the Mosby Trailhead located at the intersection of Layng Road and Mosby Creek Road to start our walk.This is a paved rail to trail path with a gentle grade. When we reach Dorena dam, we can walk up to the dam for the view of the lake and water flow below the dam.
I live on Mosby Creek, so I won’t see you until you arrive at the trailhead.

North Bank Habit Area
2022-01-22
Surprise: This hike has been led five times in January since 2016. The weather forecast looks good but if needed, I’ll substitute a hike on Pisgah. The North Bank Habitat is near Roseburg, exit 135, Wilbur, then on North Bank Rd to the West Entrance. The drive takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The up and down loop hike has rolling—some steep & challenging hills— up to and along the ridgeline with oak savannas, meadows, and views of the Umpqua River. One can easily avoid the poison oak at this time of year. Expect a few sections of the trail to be muddy. We should start hiking around
10:00 and complete the hike around 3:00 . It will be a steady moderate pace with a snack break and a late lunch.
The elevation gain is like doing Mt. Pisgah twice.The hike is described in Sullivan’s Southern Oregon hiking book.

Nickerson Loop
2022-01-23
This loop located across from Clear Lake has one of the best views of the Three Sisters on a clear day. The trip also includes views of Mt Washington and Three Fingered Jack. The route follows both forest service roads and trail
