The Obsidians

Mount Hubris- Castle Crags
2023-10-06 00:00 - 2023-10-07 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
The climb up Mt Hubris is a multi-pitch rock climb (rated 5.6) on beautiful granite. We will be rising early for the steep approach then reaching the summit in the early afternoon. To get off the mountain we will do two rappels, then hike back out and drive home.

Skinner Butte Work Party
2023-10-07
Meeting place:
Skinner Butte parking lot just northwest of the Cambell Community Center
Come help steward hundreds of newly planted native trees, shrubs and ferns along the river at Skinner Butte Park. Volunteers will help weed around and re-flag native plants that were planted last winter to help improve habitat along this stretch of the Willamette River.

Clear Lake
2023-10-07
If you hate those frantic mornings where you don’t have time to make yourself a decent breakfast or even a cup of coffee, this is the hike for you! Just roll out of bed and meet us in Springfield at 7:30.
We’ll start with breakfast together at Craig’s Lucky Logger in Walterville before continuing on to Koosah Falls, where we will park and hike down the west side of the McKenzie to the reservoir, where we will cross over to the east side and follow the river past the waterfalls to the trail to Clear Lake. We’ll circle the lake counter clockwise and have lunch around the resort before continuing back to Koosah Falls along the west side of the McKenize River. Optional stop at Takoda’s on the way back., so be sure to talk to your driver about that.
Fall foliage should be in full swing and the skies should be clear and sunny.

North Bank Habit Area
2023-10-07
The North Bank Habitat is a ten-square mile preserve (ranch) overlooking the North Umpqua River near Roseburg. The scenic up and down loop on old ranch roads has rolling—some steep & challenging hills— up to and along the ridgeline with oak savannas, meadows, and views of the North Fork of the Umpqua River. We should start hiking around 9:30 and complete the hike around 2:30. It will be a steady almost moderate pace, gathering on the hill tops to enjoy the views. Easy to avoid poison oak. Plan for a snack break at a picnic table and then a late lunch. Directions: From I-5, take exit 135 Wilbur, then on North Bank Rd to the West Entrance. The drive takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Four-In-One Cone
2023-10-08, 2023-10-09
Annual hike up the cone. Nice 3 mile hike to the volcanic area gradually ascending with 2 sections of walking in the volcanic debris. Climb the cone and have lunch on top. Return to vehicles by 230 or 3. Nice views of Black and Yapoah Craters, Collier Glacier and Cone, North and Middle Sisters, and the Husband, as well as the northern Oregon high Cascades. Plan on any weather. It can be warm, but we’ve had snow on the cone (once) and had lunch in the woods because of rain (twice). If the weather is unsuitable, we won’t climb the cone because of exposure (not yet).
Plan on layers including gloves. It can be chilly up there this time of year. Wear good sturdy boots. Walking sticks and gaiters are useful but not essential. No water sources on the hike.

ProxyFalls/Tenas Lake/Dee Wright
2023-10-08
In search of fall colors, we’ll hike 3 different trailheads along highway 242. Proxy Falls first, then Scott Lake to Tenas and maybe Dee Wright Observatory. Total mileage: 6.5 + miles.
Carpool: Drivers need NW Forest Pass.

Blanton Ridge to Spencer Butte
2023-10-10, 2023-10-17, 2023-10-24
We will start on time at 6:45am. 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.

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2023-10-11, 2023-10-18
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 7:45 to 8:00.
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.

GameNight!
2023-10-12
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)

Get Acquainted/Ribbon Trail
2023-10-14
NOTE TIME CHANGE: 2:00 pm instead of 10:00 am.
Because of the eclipse, meet at the Obsidian Lodge at 2:00 pm 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. Allow about two hours. 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

Annular solar eclipse
2023-10-14
Please meet 7:30AM at Burger King Parking lot, Division Ave. Santa Clara.
From there we’ll carpool to the park near Fern Ridge Reservoir. This will be easy morning hike to see annular solar eclipse from the open field near Fern Ridge Reservoir. Partial Eclipse Begins 8:06AM PDT, Maximum 9:18AM PDT.
We’ll start hiking through forest around 8AM so we’ll not be able to see partial eclipse. We’ll arrive to open field around 8:45AM and watch eclipse. We’ll stay there until about 9:30AM, and then hike back to parking lot.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Forecast doesn’t look good. Hike is cancelled.

Annular Solar Eclipse - Pisgah
2023-10-14
The Obsidians are offering hikes to 2 different sites to observe the annular eclipse. This hike is much more difficult than the other one due to the elevation gain. We’ll take trails 3 & 4 to 1 and then to the summit.
To view the eclipse, you MUST wear special glasses to protect your eyes.
Directions to the north parking lot – after you cross the bridge and enter the park, immediately turn LEFT and drive about 1/4 mile to the parking lot. A Lane County parking pass is required and can be purchased at the main trailhead.

Four-In-One Cone
2023-10-16
***UPDATE***
Due to not just the rain tomorrow but wind gusts up to 30mph, I am going to CANCEL the hike. I can’t imagine climbing the cone in rain and wind.
Please email me mssq@comcast.net OR cancel on the site OR call me at 520-488-9569 (voice mail is fine). I may try yet to get this one in.
Weather forecast is for rain beginning after 11. Snow is on the trail at the 2 mile mark but it is passable. I haven’t seen anything about wind in the forecast, but I wanted to give everybody an update. Going up on the cone itself may not be a great idea if the forecast pans out. Stay tuned.
***
Annual hike up the cone. Nice 3 mile hike to the volcanic area gradually ascending with 2 sections of walking in the volcanic debris. Climb the cone and have lunch on top. Return to vehicles by 230 or 3. Nice views of Black and Yapoah Craters, Collier Glacier and Cone, North and Middle Sisters, and the Husband, as well as the northern Oregon high Cascades. Plan on any weather. It can be warm, but we’ve had snow on the cone (once) and had lunch in the woods because of rain (twice). If the weather is unsuitable, we won’t climb the cone because of exposure (not yet).
Plan on layers including gloves. It can be chilly up there this time of year. Wear good sturdy boots. Walking sticks and gaiters are useful but not essential. No water sources on the hike.
We logged out the trail on 28 September.

Clear Lake Loop
2023-10-17
Beautiful, easy hike around one of the most beautiful lakes in the McKenzie watershed. It is also the headwaters for the McKenzie River itself. We will hike through old growth forest and plentiful vine maples surrounding the lake should make for a great fall color show. For a more complete description of the hike, consult Bill Sullivan’s “Central Oregon Cascades” book.
Leader: Karla Rusow – 541 912-0169
Co-Leader: Judith Terry – 541 206-8435

Shotgun Park/Drury Ridge
2023-10-21
We will meet at Albertsons market 2000 Marcola Road at 8:30 am for a 20 mile drive to Shotgun Park. We will hike approximately 4.2 miles probably 1000 feet elevation. And return to Shotgun park. After the hike those interested will travel approximately 10 miles to Magowen Rd for a drive to the east side of the Coburg Hills. With an overlook view of the valley from the top of the butte. The leader will provide soup, bread, and hot tea or chocolate.

Upper Alpine Trail
2023-10-21
Last segment of Alpine Trail, north of Oakridge, finishing near Alpine ridge.
This will be moderate-fast paced hike.

Diamond Creek Falls
2023-10-23
The meeting place is the LCC parking lot nearest the freeway. This lovely loop has had extensive trail improvements this summer, thanks to countless volunteers. Starting near Salt Creek Falls, the first improvement is a newly built approach to the bridge over Salt Creek. The trail soon loops to the right with incredible views of the falls from a high point. Too Much Bear Lake is on the left, then the trail continues along Diamond Creek. A short side trail descends to the bottom of Diamond Creek Falls, then returns to a lovely viewpoint from the top of the falls. At the loop junction, a right turn leads uphill to Fall Creek Falls. A return downhill to rejoin the loop flows through the forest and past the other side of Too Much Bear Lake.

Fall Color Bus Trip to Odell Lake Lodge
2023-10-24
We will begin the day by driving the back roads through Springfield, Jasper, Fall Creek, and Lowell to the Lowell Covered Bridge for a quick tour of this historic site. Then it is on to Oakridge for a coffee break at Dairy Queen (on your own). Our next stop will be a tour of the Willamette Fish Hatchery that will take us through the life cycle of a salmon. The hatchery grounds also have a quaint museum, a nature trail, and nine holes of miniature golf. Then we head to Odell Lake Lodge and Resort for lunch on your own (salads and sandwiches run from $13 to $17). You can eat indoors in the rustic lodge or out on the terrace, both with views of the lake. If you prefer, you may also bring your own sack lunch. After lunch and a walk along the shore of Odell Lake, we will drive to Salt Creek Falls to view this magnificent cascade. If time allows, we may also visit the Office Covered Bridge in Westfir and/or Elijah Bristow State Park near Dexter. We’ll arrive back in Eugene around 5:00 pm.
Please make checks payable to “Obsidians Bus Trips” and mail to Judy Garwood, 4145 East Amazon Drive, Eugene, OR 97405. Payment is due by October 16. For further information about registration, contact Judy at 683-5539. For general information, contact trip leader Jim Northrop at 343-3426. We load the bus at 7:45 am at the Valley River Park and Ride (west of Regal Cinemas along the bike path and river). The bus departs at 8:00 am. We hope you can join us. Meetup/Departure Location: Valley River Park & Ride (west of Regal Cinemas by the bike path & river).

Zeni Tree Farm tour
2023-10-24
Obsidian member Sue Zeni is the 2023 Lane County Tree Farmer and this fall is offering a fun tour and hike of the Zeni Tree Farm off Dearborn Road. She purchased this property more than 20 years ago. This tour is sponsored by the Conservation/Science/Education Committee.
We will enjoy the shade of towering redwoods, the vibrant color of legacy hardwoods, and the lush cool of riparian areas, and will learn about her farm, the diversity of species it harbors, and the years of hard work that produced it. Highlights include the extensive thinning of 25-year-old plantations and redwood groves. We will talk about the balancing act of managing forestry over the long term.
We will carpool 10 miles to the farm from Albertsons as there is limited parking at the farm.
We will be walking on well-maintained roads and forest trails; parts of the roads are steeper.
Bring a lunch to enjoy at the pond, and the tour will end at 2 p.m. Meetup/Departure Location: Thurston Albertsons/5755 Main, Springfield

Amazon Hdwtrs/Spencer Butte
2023-10-25
NOTE: Flexible departure time from 7:45 to 8:00. NEW START TIME NEXT WEEK 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.

Patagonia Potluck - Valerie Metcalfe
2023-10-27
Obsidians member, Valerie Metcalfe, always wanted to travel to Patagonia and, last November, her dream came true after she signed up for a two-week tour to the Patagonia Wilderness. Beginning in Buenos Aires and finishing in Ushuaia, we will relive her journey with her as she shows her stunning photos and shares her experiences of hiking up to Laguna de Los Tres to a glacial lake surrounded by jagged peaks, of listening to thundering ice cracking from Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier, and of camping and trekking in the famous Torres del Paine National Park. In addition to seeing such spectacular views, she saw a variety of animals, including guanacos and nesting penguins. As an added plus, she will share hints of how to experience such travel independently, outside of paying a tour group.

Pisgah East Side Loop
2023-10-27
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 decide to have a meal with the group afterwards.

Main Trail Naturalization
2023-10-28
For this outing we will be working to re-establish and naturalize the Main Trail’s trail corridor. After scraping away and returning gravel to the tread surface we will transfer about a foot deep of duff, leaf litter, sticks, and logs along the edges of the trail to help mitigate tread creep and disguise the migration of gravel that has occurred. We will also have the opportunity to pick up litter and clean the trailhead kiosk and steps.
Meet at the main Spencer Butte Trailhead parking lot, the paved lot on Willamette. Work party goes from 9-12 am.

Tree Walk & Museum Visit
2023-10-28
Meet at the corner of East 21st Avenue and Potter St. to do the 2-hour So. Univ. neighborhood fall foliage tree walk with Whitey Lueck. Please be there before 10 am! The “hill soil” here supports some of the most massive trees in Eugene—including two contenders (a pin oak and an Atlas cedar) for “largest individual of the species” in the state. Donation accepted. More at https://sites.google.com/site/whiteylueck/upcoming-walks-and-talks
Next we will walk to and lunch at the Unthank Hall dining hall, 1451 Agate. Credit cards & cash accepted. The PNW Public Market is on the ground floor of the hall offering delicious, local, & chef-driven food venues! More at https://housing.uoregon.edu/pnw
After lunch, we will walk to the Museum of Natural and Cultural Museum, 1680 E. 15th to view the new exhibit on the kelp forest ecosystem. This is opening day so guided tours and refreshments are planned. $4-$6 per person admission price. More at https://natural-history.uoregon.edu/events
*This activity is sponsored by the Obsidian Sci Ed Committee.
**The Museum is located on Kalapuya ilihi, the traditional homeland of the Kalapuya people, many of whom are now citizens of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians. Meetup/Departure Location: Corner of East 21st Avenue and Potter
Street. The relatively shallow “hill soil” here
supports nonetheless some of the most massive
trees in Eugene—including two contenders (a pin
oak and an Atlas cedar) for “largest individual of
the species” in the state of Oregon. And fall
foliage might also be pretty nice about this time.

Mt Pisgah Sunset/Moonrise
2023-10-28
Look for us by my car a row or two down from the fee box. Full Moonrise is 6:04 and sunset is 6:08. We will take Trails 7,3 and 1 (main trail). Faster hikers usually include a section of Trail 4. Email me at jbjacobsen@comcast.net if you have questions or if you have never hiked Mt. Pisgah. 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.
