The Peak View Newsletter February 24th, 2025

[Rose Young]

The Peak View

Marys Peak Group - Sierra Club

P.O Box 863, Corvallis, OR 97339

http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak

February 24th, 2025

Hikes:

******

This Week! Amanda’s Trail

Yachats, OR 

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time: 10:30am – 3:30pm (approx. 8:45am – 5:15pm from Corvallis)

Difficulty: Moderate-to-Difficult

Distance: 6 to 6.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,480 feet

Registration required! The group is limited to 10 participants. To sign up for this hike and obtain further details, contact outing leader, Sheryl Thorburn, at thorbu...@comcast.net.

 

This is an out-and-back hike on Amanda’s Trail, a 3.25-mile section of the Oregon Coast Trail just south of Yachats. (AllTrails lists this hike as 5.7 miles, but other sources list it as longer.) In addition to offering beautiful scenery, the trail is a memorial to the forced relocation of native peoples (information about the history of this trail is easily available online). We will start the hike at the Cape Perpetua Overlook. After visiting the stone shelter and nearby viewpoints, we will continue on the trail towards Yachats. Along the way, we will walk through mossy forest, cross North Cape Creek, cross a 145-foot-long suspension bridge over Amanda Creek, and visit the Amanda statue. As we approach Yachats the trail is closer to Hwy 101; we will turn back before the trail crosses Hwy 101 and enters Yachats. The first half of the hike (from the overlook towards Yachats) is mostly downhill, and the second half is mostly uphill with steep sections. The trail is well-maintained but can be muddy after rainfall. Because of the steepness and the potential for mud, be sure to wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots with good traction; trekking poles are recommended. Bring a lunch and plenty of water.

 

Most sources rate this hike as moderate and note that it is steep but not technically difficult. Due to the length of the hike and elevation gain, I’ve rated this as moderate-to-difficult. Hikers must also be comfortable crossing the suspension bridge, which can be a little bouncy. Plans for where to meet and additional information will be sent to participants before the hike.

Rescheduled! Berry Creek Loop-South Fork

Dunn Research Forest, Corvallis, OR 

Date: Thursday, March 6th

Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: 6.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 1200 ft

Reservations required! Contact the outing leader to reserve a spot and obtain further details. Leader: Robert White at rlw...@gmail.com

The Dunn Forest north of Corvallis has an extensive network of forest roads that provide excellent opportunities for hiking. This outing will be the second in a series of Dunn Forest Hikes.The loop is in the drainage area of the Berry Creek South Fork. Starting at Gate 100 we will climb about 1200 feet in 3.6 miles to the turnoff for Forest Peak. We will save the two mile round trip addition with 400 feet of elevation gain to reach the peak for later this year. The return/descent is about 2.7 miles. The forest roads are lightly traveled and pass through stretches of dense woodlands. The views can be quite nice. The hike is rated difficult due to the 6.3 miles and over 1200 feet of elevation gain. The surface is good, but poles may be helpful due to the climbing and descent. Bring food and plenty of water for our lunch break at the “top.” Due to limited parking at the trailhead we will meet in town to coordinate carpooling. 

 

******

Announcements:

******

New! 2025 Liz & Bob Frenkel Spring Webinar Series

String of Pearls: The Magical River Parks of Corvallis
The South Corvallis Willamette River Parks
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
7:00-8:30 pm

This first in a series of 3 webinars provides historical background, park ecology, and current user opportunities for river parks in South Corvallis. The program will feature Willamette Park, Kendall Natural Area,
Crystal Lake Sports Park, and the Willamette Boat Landing. Presented by Gwendolyn Ellen, agricultural biodiversity consultant and daily hiker in these parks for over 20 years. 

To register for this free and open to the public webinar, click on: https://bit.ly/2025frenkelseries1
For general information, contact Dave Eckert: dec...@willamettewatershed.com

Sponsors: Marys Peak Group Sierra Club, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library & Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Water Action Team

******

New! Fall 2024 Champinefu Webinars Now on YouTube 

Recordings from the 2024 Champinefu Webinars are now available on YouTube with closed captioning. These talks celebrate indigenous customs, culture and stories from the perspective of local tribes and tribal members. Champinefu programs and presenters are chosen by the Cultural Resources Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.  

Cultivating Camas and Communities: YouTube Recording

Lower Columbia River Art and Placekeeping: YouTube Recording

This series is co-sponsored by the Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club, the Spring Creek Project, the Corvallis-Benton County Library, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, and the OSU School of Language, Culture & Society. Closed captioning is provided by the Corvallis-Benton County Library. 

The 9th annual Champinefu lecture series will return this fall.

******

2023 Champinefu Lectures Available on YouTube

Willamette River: Ancestral Highway

This recording begins with a film by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde on the topic of canoe culture. It is followed by a panel discussion about the importance of canoe culture to the Grand Ronde and their relationship to the Willamette River. YouTube Recording

Fire is Life: Living in Relation with Indigenous Fire Practice of Western Oregon

Joe Scott (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), winner of the 2023 Indigenous Place Keeping Artist (IKPA) Fellowship, was the presenter. He discussed how he is connecting local indigenous people to the sacred fire resources and practices that have sustained people of this place through the seasonal round since Time Immemorial. YouTube Recording

******

Spring 2023 Frenkel Lecture Series Available on Wetlands on YouTube

Reviving the Wetlands at Finley National Wildlife Refuge

A high level of wetland restoration work has already established the Finley Wildlife National Refuge as a significant wildlife refuge that also attracts thousands of visitors each year. This webinar will show you a mature restoration site and how you can best enjoy it. YouTube Recording

Reviving the Wetlands at Herbert Farm Natural Area 

Herbert Natural Area is a little visited, beautiful natural area in the middle of a restoration process. Owned by the City of Corvallis and purchased to be restored as a natural area, the Institute for Applied Ecology has been managing the restoration process, assisted by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. YouTube Recording

Owens Farm/Jackson-Frazier Wetland Complex 

This webinar presents a bold plan to restore the entire wetland and make it publicly accessible through a network of extensive trails. This will not only open up a new wildlife refuge area, but it will open up a whole new hiking experience in the region. YouTube Recording

******

General Notes: 

1) Newcomers to MPG outing events, please view the GENERAL OUTING POLICY on our MPG website http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak  before pre-registering for or attending an outing.

2) Contacting Marys Peak Group:  Marys Peak Group contact information is obtainable at  http://oregon2.sierraclub.org/marys-peak  Listed are the Executive Committee members and the Administrative and Program Coordinators.

3) Facebook: Marys Peak Group – Sierra Club is on Facebook.  Check out MPG’s Facebook page to view pictures of past hikes and events, and learn about upcoming opportunities.  Post pictures from hikes and outings you participate in! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marys-Peak-Group-Sierra-Club/159377960779

4) Minutes of the MPG Executive Committee can be viewed at the aforementioned website by clicking on the About Us/Ex Comm Meeting Minutes tab or by clicking on Jan 8 25 Minutes PDF for the minutes of the last meeting on January 8th, 2025.

******
OSU Forestry Recreation Updates:

https://cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/recreation/forest-updates