The Peak View Newsletter December 1st, 2025

[Rose Young]

The Peak View

Marys Peak Group - Sierra Club

P.O Box 863, Corvallis, OR 97339

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

December 1st, 2025

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Hikes: 

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This Week! Coffin Butte (Landfill) 

Thursday, December 4th, 2025

10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Distance: 1.5 miles 

Registration required! Please register with the outing leader to secure a space and obtain additional information about carpooling. Outing Leader: Robert White, rlw...@gmail.com.

The Coffin Butte Landfill has been a contentious topic for many years. This is especially true with the controversial approval for the expansion of the landfill by the Benton County Board of Commissioners on November 17th. The Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club is on record as opposing this expansion.

We have the opportunity to hike to the ridge top on Coffin Butte, which is on private property. Mark Yeager, an active member of Valley Neighbors for Environmental Quality and Safety (VNEQS), will guide us to a small geodesic dome overlooking the site. Mark will be able to answer questions during the course of the walk.

This location provides one of the only vantage points to view the working face of the dump. The actual hike is about 1.5 miles round trip. We will be on trails and gravel roads to the top. Dress appropriately for winter weather, wear proper footwear, bring water. Additional information will be provided to the participants.

This Week! Cardwell Hill Loop, Benton County

Friday, December 5th, 2025
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Distance: about 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 580 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Pace: about 2 miles per hour
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 hike is almost entirely within the Crestmont Land Trust. We will see pastures, meadows, forests, and Marys River. The trailhead is at the end of Cardwell Hill Drive, off Kings Valley Highway west of Corvallis. The route of the Cardwell Hill Loop consists of a figure eight with a tail. The loop is hilly and intersects with several other trails. From the trailhead, we will take Cardwell Hill Trail about a half mile (the tail) and then complete a figure eight by staying on Cardwell Hill Trail and then connecting to Creek Road, Creek Trail, Mid-Forest Trail, River Trail, Cardwell Hill Trail (again), North Trail, North Road, and finally Cardwell Hill Trail back to the trailhead. Toward the end of the hike, we will stop at the gazebo off North Trail/Road for a water and snack break.

AllTrails rates this hike as moderate. I think that it is on the easy end of moderate. The trail consists of well-maintained gravel roads and wide gravel paths. There are no areas with difficult footing, no large rocks or tree roots in the path, and no creeks to cross, etc. There are, however, a few steep sections. In addition, some areas are covered in leaves and could be slippery. Wear sturdy shoes with good traction or hiking boots. Bring gear for rain.

The trailhead is about 20 minutes from Corvallis. There are only 4 parking spaces. I will send additional details and information about potential carpool options to participants closer to the date of the hike.

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Events: 

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This Week! Indigenous Placekeeping Through the Utilization of Tarweed

Wednesday, December 3rd
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Free Zoom Webinar

Join Dr. Molly Carney and David Harrelson on a zoom webinar to learn the cultural history of tarweed (Madia sativa and Madia elegans) in the Willamette Valley. They will discuss how the planting, tending and utilization of tarweed acts as a cultural placekeeper in the homeland of the Kalapuya people.

Co-sponsors are the Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club, the Spring Creek Project, the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the OSU School of Language, Culture and Society.
Registration is required in advance at this link: https://cbcpl.net/champinefu3

Contact Dave Eckert at dec...@willametewatershed.com with any questions.

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Announcements: 

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Time to vote for the Executive Committee

It's that time again—time to vote for the members of the Marys Peak Group Executive Committee (ExCom) as required by our bylaws. The ExCom sets the programs that our members enjoy including
our outings and our webinars. 

There are two ways to vote, via email ballot or via paper ballot.
Email vote: Members with an email address included in their membership will receive a link to the email ballot website soon.
Paper ballot: A paper ballot will automatically be sent in mid-November to those members who do not have an email address listed with the Sierra Club or have previously requested a paper ballot.
If you have not received either an email inviting you to vote or a paper ballot by November 30th, please contact: MarysPe...@Oregon.Sierraclub.org.
Nominee statements will be included on the ballots.

Votes must be received by December 15th to be counted.

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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.

The South Corvallis Willamette River Parks

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. 

The Marys River Parks

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:

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