The Peak View Newsletter October 27th, 2025

[Rose Young]

The Peak View

Marys Peak Group - Sierra Club

P.O Box 863, Corvallis, OR 97339

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

October 27th, 2025

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Hikes: 

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Crestmont Land Trust

Wednesday, November 5th

10 am - 2:30 pm

Hike will be limited to 12 people. Register with trip leader, Robert White at  rlw...@gmail.com

The Crestmont Land Trust is one of my favorite places to hike in the Corvallis area. This is especially true during the winter months because the trails are so well maintained and they offer an extensive network to choose from. A part of the network connects to Fitton Green via Amy's Trail. However, we will approach from the west. The hike is a moderately easy 4+ miles with about 550 feet of elevation gain. Bring a snack and adequate water. There is a lovely viewpoint with a gazebo where we will take a break. Detailed information will be provided to the registered participants closer to the hike date. 

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This Week! Calloway Creek Hike

Wednesday, October 29th

10 am  – 2 pm

Distance: 3.7 milesElevation gain: 400 ft

Difficulty: Easy

Pace: Leisurely 

Please register for this hike with leader Mary Beth Downes at mbcd...@gmail.com. 

Enjoy an Autumn hike at Peavy Arboretum. We will start at the Intensive Management trail and then pick up the Calloway Creek trail. We will stay on that trail until we reach the turnoff for Cronemiller Lake. At Cronemiller Lake we will take a lunch/snack break. From there we will take the 500 road down to the Sequoia trail and finish with the Firefighters Memorial trail.

Because the pace is leisurely, you can bring a camera and take photos. If it is raining, poles will be useful but not required. Bring water and a snack or lunch.  

When you register I will tell you where to meet if you want to carpool. If you want to meet at the trailhead, take 99 north and turn left onto Peavy Arboretum Rd. Take another left to enter Peavy Arboretum. Stay right, go past the lodge and then park in the first parking lot to your left. There are 2 port-o-potties. Please be there by 10:20 am.  

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Events: 

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New! Indigenous Placekeeping through Tea
Wednesday, November 12th
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 Kalapuya to maintain 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, the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and the OSU School of Language, Culture and Society.
Registration required in advance at this link: https://cbcpl.net/champinefu2

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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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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.

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