Coyote Wall
2024-03-02
This is an out & back hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, with scenic views every step of the way; we’ll be walking up a steady grade on a grassy knoll near the cliff edge which forms the top of Coyote Wall. We share the slope with mountain bikers, but there is a maize of trails, therefore no congestion. Views include east & west along the Columbia River & Mt. Hood. AllTrails shows a loop hike back down thru the woods, but we’ll be doing out & back.

Mt Baldy, Let It Snow
2024-03-02
Snowy Morning on steep trail. Please be on time.

Crown Z, Perkins and Pacific
2024-03-03
Sandy explora-wander of two hidden dune-lakes and beach hike to the Tahkenitch Creek firth. You need to be in the shape for this one.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2024-03-05, 2024-03-12, 2024-03-19
We will start on time at 7:00 am. 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.
There are 2 ways to get to the trailhead:
1. 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 trail head is on your left in about ½ mile. Do not turn left on Southpointe Dr.
2. 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.

Potato Hill
2024-03-06
…A good work out…This hike is very strenuous….Especially if we break trail….

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2024-03-06, 2024-03-13, 2024-03-20
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.

U of O Ramble
2024-03-07
Meet at the Hendricks Park shelter near Summit and Floral Hill, 8:30. Anyone who prefers can join the group at 9 at the meteorite replica by the Natural History Museum Just let me know.
There are several overlapping self-guided campus tours on the free U of O app, available from apple and google. Trees, Buildings, Indigenous, Women’s and more. We will skip around through them and other sites, trying to follow different routes from the January walk.
We will spend a few hours wandering around and maybe stop for coffee, lunch or whatever. If it is rainy we can spend more time indoors.
It is OK to leave early or stay late and the trip will officially end at the EMU sometime around noon.
Suggestions: Google “Willamette meteorite” or “Gerlinger Lounge” for additional information. Visit the Knight Library site: https://researchguides.uoregon.edu/historic-knight. For information about the Lillis Hall (business college) solar glass and other architectural technology, go to https://business.uoregon.edu/about/lillis-complex. Download the U of O app.

Mt Baldy from Martin St
2024-03-08, 2024-03-11, 2024-03-15
A section of the Ridgeline Trail system that isn’t as heavily used as the parts nearer Spencer Butte. It also offers alternate paths so it is not a straight out and back.

Green Island Education Walk
2024-03-09
Join us for a Living River Exploration Day at Green Island, just few miles north from Coburg, OR
This is easy walk near the confluence of Willamette and the McKenzie Rivers. We may see beaver, river otter, deer, coyote or some of 150 species of birds.
We will also observe 15 years of tree-planting work and other projects done by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers.

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2024-03-09
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. We will be done around noon. Members are welcome to sign up to help answer questions.
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 at a T intersection, turn left and immediately look for the Obsidians sign and driveway on your right. Enter the driveway and follow the gravel road to the parking areas and Lodge. 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

Mt. Baldy, Let It Pour
2024-03-10
Local hike on the rainy morning. Steep trail. Please be on time.

Basic Climb School
2024-03-12 00:00 - 2024-04-06 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Basic Mountaineering helps people learn the skills needed to participate safely on climbs in alpine environments. The emphasis for this course is to provide the basic skills needed to climb safely with a group in a range of environments from sport climbing to alpine mountaineering, where travel may involve glaciers or steep rock and snow slopes. This course is not meant to train people to lead groups on rock or glaciers but rather to be a safe team member. We will not cover in detail the use of map and compass, weather and avalanche assessment, or crevasse rescue.
The course consists of four classroom sessions and two field sessions covering introduction to rock climbing and snow skills. The class is limited to 28 participants who are 16 or older. Those who are under 18 will need a parent or guardian signature. Those between ages 13 and 16 may participate if accompanied by a parent or responsible adult who is also enrolled in the course.

Rosary Lakes Snowshoe
2024-03-13
We will park in the sno-park near Willamette Pass where the west entrance to Odell Lake turns off. 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 Lakes. PLEASE DON’T SIGN UP IF THIS IS TOO STRENUOUS. A couple of trips last year were a bit scary with concerns for the well being of a struggling person. I will plan easier outings soon, thanks.

Pi Day
2024-03-14
Meet at the Masonic Cemetery at 25th and University near the interpretive signs and gate—not at the Abbey- then a short walk to see a few “math related” monuments and spring flowers. Then off to the University Oregon campus to Straub Hall Atrium and the Museum of Culture and History to mull over the impressive math stats for the Missoula Flood and the Willamette Meteorite sculpture in front of the museum. Optional to visit the Museum. ($4.00 seniors and $6.00 general) Meetup/Departure Location: Masonic Cemetery

Gold Lake/Marilyn Lake
2024-03-15
We will park at Gold Lake sno-park near the summit of highway 58, carefully cross the highway and snowshoe through timber to the shores of Marilyn Lakes. Continuing north, we’ll reach the Gold Lake shelter near the shore of Gold Lake and take a lunch break. The route back fallows Gold Lake Road.

North Bank Habit Area
2024-03-16
We’ll hike CLOCKWISE steady moderate pace through oak prairie all to the grassy top where we’ll have lunch with “endless” scenic views.
Please be ready for a serious hike with few muddy places. Pleasant dry windless day is expected, in the mid 60sF.

Mt. Pisgah Long w/options
2024-03-17
Please note: The description below is from pre-ice storm trips. Changes to the route may be necessary, and be prepared to be flexible if we encounter unforeseen trail issues.
Meeting place: Mt. Pisgah, West (main) Trailhead, by the bathrooms. If you don’t have a Lane County pass, be sure to allow time to purchase one with a Debit/Credit card (no cash) at the fee box by the upper trailhead.
We will follow the Incense Cedar Trail and Trails 5, 56 and 6 to the summit, where we will gather for water and a snack. (At this point, those who prefer a shorter hike can return from the summit directly via main Trail 1, a total of about 5 miles and 2-2.5 hours.) To complete the long route, we will descend Trail 2, then follow Trails 4 and 3 around Swing Hill to the North Trailhead, and finally return to the West Trailhead along the river trail. It will probably take about 4 hours to hike the entire 9.4 miles. We can adjust the route if the weather is poor.

Maxwell Shelter Snowshoe
2024-03-17
Snowshoe from Maxwell Snow Park to North Shelter. Roughly a 6 mile route via the Mt. View Loop Trail. You need to be in shape for this – there are many trail junctions and its important we stay together at a medium-moderate pace. The weather is unpredictable, so trip will reschedule or offer a different option if the conditions warrant it. Participants are limited to 12, but will be reduced if there aren’t enough drivers. Drivers need a snow park permit (REI, Bergs, Bi-Mart) vehicles should be AWD and/or carry chains.

Berley Lakes xski
2024-03-17
Let’s go find Berley Lakes! Always a challenge to get to Lower Berley, maybe we’ll find Upper Berley too! Start from Santiam Pass Snopark, head north through the burn in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness following the Santiam Lake trail and hang a left when we get close to Lower Berley Lake. Visit one or both lakes and return the same route. Drivers need a Sno-park Permit.

Mt Pisgah 6 Miler
2024-03-18
Meeting place; Mt Pisgah, west (main) trailhead by the restrooms. If you don’t have a Lane County pass, be sure to allow time to purchase one with debit/credit card (no cash) at the fee box near the main (trail #1) trailhead.
On this out and back trip we will hike north and clockwise around swing hill following trails 17, 7, and 3. We will continue north-east through the forest on trail 4 crossing to trail 1 via the 14 connector to the summit spending time to enjoy the view, snacks and hydrate. The route is roughly 6.3 miles out and back and should take 2-2.5 hours. Elevation gain is about 1600 feet.

GameNight!
2024-03-19 16:30 - 19:30
Come join us for an evening of games at the Lodge from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. By signing up, you’ll help us have an idea of about how many to expect, but you’re very welcome to show up any time throughout the evening, even if you don’t sign up. (No trip credit earned for this event) On some evenings, Obsidians Concessions will set out items for sale, so bring some cash or a check if you want to make a purchase some great Obsidians gear.

Pisgah East Side Loop
2024-03-22
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 trails #2, 4 and 1 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. Remove any valuables from your vehicle. There is a porta potty at the trailhead.
You may choose to eat at Sunrise Cafe with others after the hike.

Mt Baldy from Martin St
2024-03-22
This hike will be a bit longer than the one I had led in the past. We start at the usual Martin St. TH. We will hike to Fox Hollow TH then head east on the upper trail. After .7 miles we take the left fork downhill and connect with the “Dillard East” trail. We will continue to Baldy Summit via the left (steeper) trail with steps then continue to the junction taking a left down to the Spring Blvd TH. The return will be back to the junction with Baldy Summit and down the easier trail to East Dillard TH then back connecting with the lower trail to Fox Hollow and down to Martin street. This should be a 2.5 to 3 hour hike.

Campbell Center to Springfiel
2024-03-23
A longish but relatively easy walk from the Campbell Center to Springfield and back. We’ll mostly be walking on park trails. If it’s really pouring, we’ll shorten the route.
