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

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2022-01-25, 2022-02-01, 2022-02-08, 2022-02-15
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
2022-01-26, 2022-02-02, 2022-02-09
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.

PIsgah Ganderflanking
2022-01-28
Ganderflanking is an old word from the county of Wiltshire in southwest England. It means “aimlessly messing about” or “walking about aimlessly.” It is also associated with “larking about” which is defined as “to behave in a silly way because you think it is funny.” The hike leader won’t do much leading. We’ll just start walking and make decisions impulsively at trail junctions. By now you can guess that the listed distance and elevation gain don’t hold much meaning. We’ll want to stay together but there might be assistant leaders that go off with groups on sort of a sub-wander. But we will have to rendezvous at some point. After all, we do have to get back to the parking lot. On the last ganderflanking we did everyone got a number. When your number came up you made the decision which way to go at a trail junction.
Pisgah has enough miles of trails to keep us wandering aimlessly for hours. But fear not, we’ll avoid walking all day. When we approach five miles total we’ll head to the start.

Tie Trail Ditch Digging
2022-01-29
For this month’s outing we will be adding ditches to the Tie Trail. Other tasks will include light brushing and kiosk cleaning.
Meet at the Fox Hollow Trailhead parking lot, the gravel lot across Fox Hollow from the Cascade Raptor Center.

Heceta Lighthouse/China Creek
2022-01-29
We’ll get to sample several different terrains on this 8-mile coastal loop. We’ll start at Washburne State Park and walk along the beach to the Hobbit trail, then up through the forest on the Oregon Coast Trail to the Heceta Head Lighthouse for lunch, then back down the hill and across 101 to the Valley Trail which will take us back to our cars on a lovely loop along China Creek.
Be prepared for slippery slopes and winter weather, as I won’t cancel unless it’s truly dangerous (my call!)
Drive is suitable for all vehicle types, but we’re parking at a state park, so county and fed passes won’t cover you. Be sure and check with your driver about Omicron precautions so that all in your car are in agreement.

Redtop Mountain
2022-01-30
From the Crescent Lake Sno-Park we will take the Pretty Lake trail and then ascend the east side of Redtop. Lunch on top if conditions allow. We will plan to descend the east side. Be ready for turns on the way back down! (I will plan to drive and can take up to four others. Anyone riding with me must be vaccinated.) *****PLEASE NOTE! I AM GOING TO RESCHEDULE THIS TRIP TO A FUTURE DATE DUE TO POOR (VERY ICY) SNOW CONDITIONS!!*********

East Side Pisgah
2022-01-30
hike begins at East Trail head, Highway 58 to Pleasant Hill, turn LEFT at top of hill (76 gas station on corner) Ridgeway Road. Approximate 1 mile drive to parking lot on left (Lane County Park pass required) This is an easy walk, with lovely meadows We will reach the Pavilion and bathrooms at midpoint. There is one short, shallow stream crossing where you might be comfortable with poles. And be prepared for muddy areas.

Rosary Lakes
2022-02-04
We will park in the Willamette Pass parking lot and go east past the lifts to the trailhead. This lovely section of the PCT gradually climbs through fir and pine forests with glimpses of Odell Lake and Diamond Peak. Lower Rosary Lake with Pulpit Rock will be our destination. If the group chooses, we can go another half mile to Middle and Upper Rosary, which makes it a 9 mile outing. No pressure to do this.
I can drive and will request masks be worn in the car. We will follow Covid protocols for car pooling, travel and on the trail.

Sand Mtn Loop and/or Lookout
2022-02-05
This trip offers varied terrain with good views in clear weather. From Little Nash Sno-Park we will ascend a moderate slope to the base of Sand Mountain. If the weather and snow conditions are favorable, we will continue climbing until we reach Sand Mountain Lookout. If not, we will complete a lower elevation loop following a lightly traveled snowmobile trail. Skiers who own climbing skins should bring them.
Note. I will plan to drive and take up to three other passengers. All passengers must be fully vaccinated.

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2022-02-05
Meet at the Masonic Cemetery at 25th and University near the interpretive signs and gate—not at the Abbey. From there we will hike trails in the Cemetery to see the snow flowers in bloom, then on city streets to the Ribbon Trail, past the Obsidian Lodge andHendricks Park. We possibly will loop back by 19th & Agate before we take a direct route back to our cars. There is a hill that is used to hearing a few groans as we approach the golf course. Bathrooms at the Laurelwood Golf Course and Hendricks Park.

Fishing Rock/Salishan Beach
2022-02-05
Beach hike from Fishing Rock, Lincoln Beach to the Salishan Spit and Salishan Beach where Siletz River finishing journey to the ocean. After the lunch break at the Siletz Bay, we will hike back.
➽ COVID is raging. Stay distanced, stay safe! Refer to main website page for information.
➽➽Some of us plan to stay one night in Lincoln City after the hike. Join us.

Nickerson Loop
2022-02-06
The 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. Drivers, need sno park permit.

Potato Hill
2022-02-08
This SS starts at the Potato Hill Sno Park just west of Santiam Pass. We will ss 1 mile to Jack Pine Rd. After a short distance on Jack Pine, we will bushwhack east to a ridge. From the ridge there will be incredible views of Mt. Jefferson and Three Fingers Jack. We will follow the ridge south until we can see Potato Hill in front of us. From here there are good view of the Three Sisters. We will ss up Potato Hill to it’s summit, where we will have lunch with a view.
Please note: This route is not marked. We will need a day with some visibility to do this SS. Also note we will be ssing up hill over 1,000 ft.

Little Nash Xski &/or SShoe
2022-02-09
.This is a road trip. The road I checked out was packed and groomed for snowmobiles. Went on a week day, no snowmobiles. The road travels around the base of Little Nash Crater. About 2 miles into trip there is a good lunch spot with a great view of 3 Fingered Jack and Maxwell Butte. There are xc-ski trails that branch off the road. I was on snow shoes and took one of these trail back to parking lot. This is a group trip we all will be on the road. When we turn back we may take a different course.

Flatland Wander at Pisgah
2022-02-11
This quiet wander through the flatland past the quonset hut will eventually take us to the river. We will listen for bird song and look for spring shoots. If people want, we can explore the trails through the woods above and around the arboretum, which would include some elevation and additional mileage. Meetup/Departure Location: Meet by bathrooms, main parking lot

North Bank Restoration Project
2022-02-12
This is our third restoration and stewardship project at the North Bank.
This time we will plant dozens of Oregon grape, nine-bark, Douglas spire, and thimble-berry “bare root” plants. Some of volunteers would take on picking up some of the “micro” garbage that was left after the major cleanups. All the tools and supplies will be provided on the site on the day of the event. We’ll work 9 – Noon.
Please park at North Bank parking lot, the far north end of the Summit building side (near McMenamins North Bank)
➽ Obsidian protocols for social distancing will be observed on the hike. Refer to main website page for information.

Oregon's Birthday Hike
2022-02-13
Departure place is Dorris Ranch by the bathrooms. We are celebrating a day early since Oregon’s birthday is February 14. The 7.8 mile loop hike to discover Oregon State symbols starts at Dorirs Ranch with stops at Willamette Heights Park, the Simpson Mural and the Oregon Trail Mural. We will continue our loop on the Mill Race and Middle Fork Path. Bring an Oregon trivia fact or question which we can share at various sunny stops along the way. The fifth annual birthday hike should take around 3 hours. Bathrooms at the LTD bus stop and the Booth Kelly Trailhead.

Gold Lake via Marilyn Lake
2022-02-13
We will drive to Gold Lake sno park. This trip add an extra mile or so to the traditional Gold Lake trip. We take the usual road and then drop off road into the woods and follow a trail that will pass between upper and lower Marilyn Lakes. We get to Gold Lake shelter and return to sno park via the road.

Redtop Mountain
2022-02-13
From the Crescent Lake Sno-Park we will take the Pretty Lake trail and then ascend the east side of Redtop. Lunch on top if conditions allow. We will plan to descend the east side. Be ready for turns on the way back down! (I will plan to drive and can take up to four others. Anyone riding with me must be vaccinated.)

Black Oak Basin ExploraHike
2022-02-14
This hike will take us from the Lodge to and through the new Black Oak Basin Park, a conservation easement and project. (see more below)
This is an exploratory hike (not sure about trail miles & elevation gain). We might have time to also hike to adjacent properties. Please bring your plant, bird and tree expertise as we walk through this area!
A draft plan to manage this new park has been developed. There is an online public meeting on Feb. 17 at 6:30 pm to discuss the project and plan; registration is requested and you may submit your questions before the meeting.
This hike is co-sponsored by two Obsidian committees: Stewardship and Conservation/Science/Education.
More:
The City of Eugene, in partnership with the Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program (WWMP), completed purchase of a128-acre site in east Eugene know as Black Oak Basin. The site is situated adjacent to existing City-owned parkland including Coryell Ridge , Moon Mountain, and Bloomberg Park. Combined, this block of contiguous open space now totals approximately 300 acres. The site contains significant areas of oak and prairie habitat, offers vistas, and makes key recreational connections to several nearby parks and neighborhoods. The City plans to begin habitat maintenance and restoration efforts in the coming years and eventually construct recreational trails including a key extension of the Ridgeline Trail system.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2022-02-16
Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box. Sunset is 5:45 and full moonrise is 5:50. Current plan is take Trails 7,3, and 1 to the top. Some faster hikers might include Trail 4. 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.
