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Hikes:
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This Week! Saturday, October 4th, 2025
10:00am – 3:00pm (9:00am – 3:45pm from Corvallis)
Mary’s Peak East Ridge Trail
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,570 feet
Difficulty: Moderate-to-Difficult
Registration required! The group is limited to 12 participants. To sign up for this hike and obtain further details, contact outing leader, Sheryl Thorburn, at thorbu...@comcast.net.
This
lollipop hike is a great way to experience Mary’s Peak: forest with big
trees and bright green foliage, meadows, and views of the valley
filtered through the trees and from the top of Mary’s Peak. We will
start the hike at the Connor's Camp Trailhead parking area. We will
follow East Ridge Trail to Tie Trail, to North Ridge Trail, to the
picnic tables along the side of the parking lot. This first portion of
the hike is a generally steady uphill. If available, we will stop at the
picnic tables for lunch and to enjoy the views. We will then continue
uphill on USFS 3010 Rd. (gravel), going around the large meadow adjacent
to the parking area. Next, we will turn right onto Summit Loop Trail
and take it to US 3010 Rd., circling the peak. We will then continue on
the road in the direction of the parking area until we turn right on
Summit Loop Trail, which we will follow until it meets East Ridge Trail.
We will turn right on East Ridge Trail and follow it back to the
Connor's Camp parking area.
We
will keep an average pace of 30-35 minutes per mile. AllTrails rates
this trail as moderate. I rated the hike as moderate-to-difficult
because of the distance and because some sections of the trail are
steep, in some places the footing is tricky, and a few sections of the
trail are rocky. Trekking poles are recommended. Wear hiking shoes or
boots. As expected, the weather can be variable, so be sure to bring
appropriate clothing layers and sun protection. Some sections of the
trail are narrow and have overgrown vegetation, so I recommend wearing
long pants. Bring water and lunch. The Connor's Camp parking area has a
restroom and space for about 20 cars. It is 35-40 minutes from
Corvallis. I will send additional details, directions to the trailhead,
and information about potential carpool options to participants before
the hike.
Events:
The Future of Indigenous Foods in the Kalapuya Ilihi
October 8th, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Live at the PRAx (Patricia Valian Reser Performance Art Center, OSU campus)
470 SW 15th Street, Corvallis
Free. No pre-registration. First come - first seated.
Join
David Harrelson, Cultural Resources Department Manager for the
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, for an overview of recent
indigenous foods efforts within the Kalapuya Ilihi – a.k.a. Willamette
Valley. His talk will be followed by a conversation with a panel of
local Indigenous food activists who are contributing to the native food
sovereignty movement. This live presentation will kick off the 2025
Champinefu Lecture Series which will focus on local indigenous food. The
talk marks the 9th season of the lectures.
Co-sponsors:
• Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Cultural Resources Department
• Marys Peak Group Sierra Club
• Spring Creek Project
• Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
• Corvallis Sustainability Coalition
• OSU School of Language, Culture and Society
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New! Indigenous Placekeeping through Tea
Wednesday, November 12
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Free Zoom Webinar
Join David Harrelson, Ampinefu Kalapuya and Cultural Resources Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, on a Zoom webinar about Kalapuya ancestral teas. He will share promising new uses that will assist the Kalapuya in maintaining their culture and their place in their homeland, the Willamette Valley. David is one of the few Indigenous tea growers and processors in the United States. This is a rare presentation and one you should not miss!
Co-sponsors are the Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club, the Spring Creek Project, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the OSU School of Language, Culture and Society.
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Announcements:
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Executive Committee Elections Coming This Fall
It's
almost fall, and that means it's time for MPG to think about the annual
election of members to our Executive Committee (ExCom). The ExCom
determines and manages group policies, finances, and activities. It
also provides communication and working relationships between the state
chapter, national headquarters, and MPG members. Meetings are currently
held on Zoom once a quarter. Some discussions and decisions are made via
email. Members serve for two years. Any member in good standing in
Marys Peak Group Sierra Club is eligible to submit their name to the
Nominations Committee. You don't have to be a hiker to be on the ExCom.
The deadline to apply is Sept 29th. Contact the Nominations Committee at: MarysPe...@Oregon.Sierraclub.org
If you love the activities that MPG provides, consider joining the ExCom.
Details on how to vote will be posted in a future issue of The Peak View. The annual elections are required by MPG bylaws.
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Recordings of Spring 2025 Webinars Are Now Available
String of Pearls: The Magical River Parks of Corvallis was
the theme of the 2025 Liz and Bob Frenkel Hiking and Environment Spring
Webinar Series. Closed captioned recordings of two of the talks are now
available on the Corvallis-Benton County Library YouTube channel. The
talks provided the historical background, park ecology, and current user
opportunities for the City parks along the Willamette River and the
Marys River near Corvallis.
Webinar #1: The South Corvallis Willamette River Parks with Gwendolyn Ellen includes Willamette Park and Kendall Natural Area.
Webinar #2: The
Marys River Parks with Dave Eckert includes Herbert Natural Area,
Caldwell Natural Area, Marys River Natural Area, Avery Park and Natural
Area, Pioneer Park, BMX Park and Shawala Point.
Sponsors
of the webinars are the Marys Peak Group Sierra Club, Corvallis-Benton
County Public Library & the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition Water
Action Team.
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Fall 2024 Champinefu Webinars Available 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.
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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 June Minutes for the minutes of the last meeting on June 18th, 2025.
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OSU Forestry Recreation Updates: