Spring 2013 - Oregon Chapter Sierra Club

MPG established 1970
THE BENCHMARK
Spring 2013
www.oregon.sierraclub.org/groups/marys_peak
Light Pollution
In This Issue:
by Ron Garnett
M
y friend and I had gotten
out of town early on a
Friday. The Willamette Valley
was in our rear view mirror,
and the high desert was on our
mental horizon. It was
summer, and nighttime was a
long way off. Eventually sunset
Ron Garnett
came, and it was beautiful
across the Oregon high desert as reds, pinks and
yellows passed into dusk.
“We’d better make camp soon,” my friend
suggested as we headed further into the desert. We
drove until dusk gave way to night and we came
upon a rocky outcropping that had a quarry cut into
it. We pulled in and looked around. It was flat, dry,
and gave good shelter from the wind. It would be a
good night for sleeping under the sky. We built our
campfire and boiled water for hot dogs and warmed
up some beans and had a beer. Life was good.
In a little while, the fire had died down. The sky
was clear and stunningly beautiful, black as onyx. It
seemed as if a billion eyes were looking down on us.
The Milky Way ran across the black like smoke from
a lodge fire, and I remembered a saying: once having
seen the soul of the night, you will long to see it
again forever.
Spring 2013
1
Chair Retrospect
pg. 5
Leader Profile
pg. 7
Nominations Sought
pg. 8
MPG Outings
pg. 9
MPG Backpacks
pg. 14
Native Arboretums
pg. 17
Old Growth Trail
pg. 20
Oregon State Crustacean
pg. 23
Glacier Lily
pg. 26
Notices
pg. 27
Upcoming Events
pg. 28
Past Outings
pg. 30
Neat Stuff for Sale
pg. 39
Get Involved!
pg. 40
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I commented to my friend what a great
night it was for stargazing and started
pointing out constellations and talking
about what I knew of astronomy, which
was little but enough to be of interest to
two guys out in the middle of nowhere.
There came a moment when I stopped
talking and we both pondered the sky in
silence. My friend then said, “It would be
nice if it wasn’t so cloudy.” “It’s totally
clear,” I remarked. “What about that band
of clouds going across the sky there?” He
pointed up, and I was stunned. “Buddy,
that’s the Milky Way, the light from the
galaxy you live in.”
It took me a moment, but I realize that he
had never seen the night sky so clear
before. He’d been born and raised in
southern California, moved to Oregon,
graduated from Oregon State University
and got a job in Corvallis. His whole life
had been spent under a night time dome of
artificial light. We spent the next couple of
days collecting rocks during the day and
talking about the night sky at night. I told
him he now had a common link to people
all over the world and all through history,
stargazing, and when you think about the
vastness, you begin to realize that you are
not the most important thing in space. I
believe he’s a better person for the
experience.
When man built the first campfire (a
million years ago), to warm himself and
chase away the darkness of the night, he
started out on a path that would eventually
have consequences that we are just now
beginning to understand.
Light pollution, depending on who and
what you read, is defined in several
different ways. But basically, it’s just too
much artificial light in our environment at
night. The effects of this range from
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blotting out the night sky to astronomers
and stargazers, to incredible wastes of
energy, and potential health risks brought
on by the constant exposure to light and
the disruption of life’s basic rhythms.
There are many references and sources
on this subject. If you search the web
under “Light Pollution”, and/or go to
www.darksky.org and “drill down” through
the sections and subsections of these
articles and web sites, you will find a wide
range of data to ponder.
It is unfortunate that if we choose to live
in cities and towns, that there is a trade off
between that which is natural and that
which is artificial. Lighting a town or city
is the most inefficient use of energy there
is. Consider the mechanism of lighting.
Everywhere you go, you see lights: car
headlights, street lights, storefront lights,
home lights. Incandescent bulbs, still a
major source of light throughout the
world, use less than 5% of their energy
consumption to produce visible light. The
rest of its energy is turned into heat, which
eventually burns the bulb up.
Other types of bulbs are more efficient
but less effective. Fluorescent bulbs use
75% less energy than incandescent bulbs
but still use only 70% of their energy
consumption to produce visible light. Plus
the light diffuses quickly, so more are
needed to light a given work area. And in
some areas, spent fluorescents are
considered a hazardous/toxic waste,
thereby adding an environmental disposal
problem to the lighting situation.
There are many different types of
lighting mechanisms, e.g. mercury vapor,
halide, sodium pressure bulbs, none of
them more than 80% energy efficient
compared to natural light.
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THE BENCHMARK
In just the United States, according to the
U.S. Department of Energy, there are an
estimated 2 million barrels of oil (energy
equivalent) a day wasted from lighting.
The night glow you see when you approach
a town at night is the accumulation of a
million light sources reflecting and
deflecting from lighted surfaces and
diffusing wasted light and energy into the
sky
If you go to www.darksky.org you will
find at least a dozen listings for states with
local light pollution ordinances.
Government, locally, is making constant
efforts toward more efficient and less
intrusive lighting problems. Darksky also
has a host of suggested models for
ordinances and anti-light pollution
activities, as well.
Commercial and industrial usage of
Photo by Ron Garnett
lighting is a different story.
Empty parking lot at midnight
Cities and towns for decades have been
working at mitigating the cost of lighting,
primarily street lighting and how it
impacts the environment and tax dollars.
Chris Westfall, Code Enforcement
Supervisor for the City of Corvallis, whose
job it is to monitor compliance to the city’s
land development code, where section LDC
4.2.80, “Site and Street Lighting” is found,
says that this section dates back to the mid
1970s when a “citizen’s initiative” first
started lighting awareness. The code
specifically states that the City of Corvallis
is interested in well-shielded, energy
efficient street lighting sources that direct
the light sources downward where it is
needed, not upward where it is wasted,
causes glare, light trespass and bright
skies. The overall city budget for Corvallis,
in 2011-2012, was a little over 85 million
dollars. According to Jerry Smith, a public
works supervisor with the city, the utility
cost for streetlights is $485,000 annually.
Chris Westfall did state that the “citizen’s
initiative” process is still open to input.
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Aside from the obvious, i.e. huge malls
lighting acres of empty parking lots at
night; glare from over-lit convenience
stores and gas stations is so extreme, in
some cases, as to be considered hazardous.
According to Mario Motta, president of the
Massachusetts Medical Society, “…glare
from bad lighting is a public health hazard,
especially the older you become. Glare
light causes loss of contrast and leads to
unsafe driving conditions, much like the
glare on a dirty windshield from low angle
sunlight.”
If you drive around Corvallis late at night,
you’ll notice how incredibly bright
convenience stores’ lighting is, and you can
notice how these stores also cast their own
mini sphere of skyglow.
Industrial lighting is another case of
excessive illumination. Because of security
concerns, every dark corner of a plant site
might be lit to cut down on the potential
for industrial crime. Add this to the
lighting at night of vast employee parking
lots, and you have a huge potential for
wasted energy and light pollution. But this
situation is not the worst of the
possibilities when it comes to industrial
light pollution.
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THE BENCHMARK
Another definition that is emerging in
the light pollution conversations is;
…excessive light (generally indoors) that
leads to discomfort and adverse health
effects.
Because we can light the night, we now
require people to work at night. And
according to many reports, tests and
research, being exposed to light over
prolonged periods of time could be the
cause of many ailments, including breast
cancer, prostate cancer and obesity. A
basic layman statement of how this is
possible, but supported by the research, is
this: the human body wants to work on a
schedule, called the circadian rhythm.
This rhythm has developed, over time, to a
day and night pattern. Basic human body
functions are aligned to this schedule. One
of those basic functions is the production
of melatonin, a very powerful antioxidant
that has been shown to prevent damage to
DNA by carcinogens that are the
mechanisms that cause cancer. This
process wants to work on rhythm. If that
rhythm is disrupted, like by working at
night under constant artificial lighting, the
production of melatonin decreases to the
point that some people show a high risk
factor of developing curtain cancers. In
some studies, the risk level was 48% over
normal.
Research in this area is on-going here in
Oregon. At the Oregon Health and Science
University, in Portland, Steven A. Shea,
Ph.D., Director for the Center for Research
on Occupational and Environmental
Toxicology and Fred Berman, DVM, PhD,
Director for CROET Information Center,
shared with me several research reports
and papers on the subject of night/shift
workers and ailments associated with
working at night and prolonged exposure
to artificial lighting. The assertions and
conclusions of these reports, stated earlier,
are stunning. Both Shea and Berman are
quick to point out that more study needs to
be done before any concrete statements,
treatments or advise can be circulated. But
as I read the reports, there are certainly
clear indicators.
According to Shea, CROET is planning
symposiums, the next on June 14th, to
discuss their research with professionals in
the health and safety fields. Their plan is
to further research and collaborate with
industry to eventually develop
instructional classes, community outreach
programs and policies for interventions.
From that first campfire, where we try to chase away
the darkness, it is not just the night we have lost, but a
connection with ourselves. We have a need for the night
that goes beyond stargazing. If we lose contact with life’s
rhythms, do we not also lose the reason why we would
even ponder life under a starry sky, anyway?
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
Chair Retrospect
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” ~John Muir
The Old Growth beckons
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon
men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that
emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a
weary spirit.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson
ummer is once again upon us and I am so looking forward
to getting out and hiking in the old growth forests that we
are so lucky to still have here in the northwest. There is
Bruce Encke
something very special about these incredibly quiet, deep,
Chair, Executive Committee
soft places where trees have been living and growing for
hundreds of years.
“There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our
M PG
hearts must be very quiet to hear it.” ~Minnie Aumonier
E xe c u ti ve C o m m i tte e
When I hike deep into an old growth forest I find it very
humbling to sit on the amazingly thick soft moss at the base of
Bruce Encke, Chair
a massive old growth tree and be still. Listening to the breath
Debra Higbee-Sudyka, Vice
of the tree and feeling the incredible significance of the place I
Chair
am sharing for just a brief moment. Have you been there?
JulieArrington, Treasurer
Marjean Austin
“The trees are whispering to me, reminding me of my roots, and my
Ray Drapek
reach… shhhh… can you hear them? Selflessly sharing their subtle
Barbara Loeb
song.” ~Jeb Dickerson
Marcia Shapiro
Have you hiked in the old growth lately? Want to come
experience it? Whether for the first time or the hundredth, it
Non-Excom:
is always awe-inspiring. There will be many great
Leslie Hogan, Secretary
opportunities this summer to hike with Marys Peak Group to
Irene Schoppy, Outings Chair
some of these special places. Read on here in the Benchmark
Christy Stevens, Membership
for more information about our outings and be sure you are on
Chair
the Peak View email list. Many hikes are added during the
summer that you don’t want to miss. If you are not on our
Bruce.Encke@hp.com
email list drop me a note at Bruce.encke@hp.com and you will
www.oregon.sierraclub.org/groups
be added.
/marys_peak
“If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is
in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a
Barry Wulff & Jane Luther
speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before
Benchmark Co-editors
her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.
wulffb@peak.org
~Henry David Thoreau
janeluth@gmail.com
If you have a beautiful place you love and want to share it
Dave Hackenyos
send me an email and let me know. Remember the more that
Benchmark Publisher
people experience the beauty and magnificence of these
hackenyos@me.com
amazing forests the more we will work together to protect and
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Spring 2013
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S
THE BENCHMARK
preserve them for generations to come. Old growth forests are constantly threatened by
their largest predator – people. We must work together and be vigilant about protecting
these sacrosanct places.
Hope to hike with you soon,
Bruce
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, Trees, 1914
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
Leader Profile: Julie Arrington
by Jen Matteis
By Land or By Sea
A
native of Oklahoma, Julie Arrington
has made Corvallis her home for the
past 30 years. Here, she leads hikes, goes
horseback riding—and occasionally
disappears on a month-long cruise in her
capacity as an oceanographer at OSU.
“I earned a bachelor’s degree in
biochemistry,” she notes. “It wasn’t until I
moved to Oregon that I discovered
oceanography.
Corvallis is also where Julie became an
avid hiker. She'd joined the Sierra Club
back in Oklahoma for its focus on
environmentalism; in Oregon she
developed her love of hiking with the
Marys Peak Group (MPG). She hikes almost
every weekend with a friend and their
golden retrievers, and for the past five
years she's led hikes with the MPG.
“I really like it,” she comments. “I feel
like a host on a hike; I want to make sure
everybody has a good time.”
Typically, Julie's hikes are for families or
people who want to hike at a slower pace
or a shorter distance. Her groups have
varied from one large family at Beazell
Forest in Kings Valley to almost 30 people
on a salmon-spawning hike at Clemens
Park in Alsea. She also enjoys low-key
expeditions nearby at Avery Park, the Old
Growth Trail in McDonald Forest, and
Marys River Park.
“The fun thing about being a trip leader
is finding these spots,” she says.
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Another thing she
enjoys is helping
spread knowledge of
the natural world.
Whether she's
discussing the origins
of the McDonald
Forest or tracking
down a biologist to
identify wildflowers at
Julie Arrington
Peavy Arboretum, she
likes to include an educational aspect on
her hikes.
“I enjoy seeing the light bulb come on,”
she says.
When she's not hiking, there's a good
chance that Julie's at sea. As a senior
faculty researcher at OSU, she's voyaged to
Antarctica nine times, and the Arctic
several times, too. Her very first trip took
her around the world. Most of her trips are
defined by the stretches of water she's
studied, which include the Bering Sea, the
Gulf of Mexico, and the Sargasso Sea.
Recently, she spent two months traveling
from Yokohama to Honolulu to San Diego
by boat. The purpose: to study dissolved
inorganic carbon and ocean acidification, a
consequence of global warming.
“It's all part of getting the information
that's needed to understand climate
change and how that ties into the ocean,”
says Julie, who also studies diatoms and
other phytoplankton.
The nature of her work—often conducted
in the predawn hours in a polar
environment—lead to unique experiences.
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“There's a certain escapism to it and it
can be very beautiful,” she says. “I love
being in the ice.”
The ocean life and the ocean itself are
another draw for Julie.
“When we're in open waters, I am always
impressed by the immensity and power of
the ocean,” she comments. “There are such
amazing creatures present that we can't
begin to comprehend. It is awesome in the
original sense of the word.”
Almost 20 of Julie's trips have been off
the Oregon Coast. On one such trip in 2003,
she met her partner and hike co-leader
Mike Neeley-Brown, who works in the
College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences
at OSU.
Despite her trips around the world, one
of the bigger culture shocks was simply
moving from Oklahoma to Oregon.
“Just going to the grocery store was
amazing because you could buy wine,” she
said. “It's just so much more liberal and
open-minded here.”
She's also a vegetarian. This came
from—not despite—her Oklahoma roots. At
age six, Julie bought a calf off her dad for a
nickel and kept it as her pet.
“Having had pet cows, I know they have
personalities,” she says.
Today, Julie serves as treasurer of the
Marys Peak Group. It's given her an
appreciation not just for the club, but for
its individual members.
“I just appreciate how generous people
are to the Sierra Club and how much effort
they put into making the Sierra Club work,”
she says.
MPG Executive Committee
Nominations Sought
Each year the MPG holds elections for membership on its Executive Committee (ExCom).
The MPG is a wonderful and dynamic group to work with.
Would you like to serve?
There will be three positions contested this fall. Persons are elected for two-year terms.
If you are interested, or if you know of someone you think would be a good ExCom member
and might like to serve, please contact Marjean Austin at marjeanaustin@gmail.com by
August 1st.
This is your opportunity to serve the Marys Peak Group!
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
MPG 2013 Sierra Club Outings,
A
May - August and Beyond
fter winter, we are all eager to get out and enjoy the valley sunshine and warmer
temperatures. There are lots of opportunities to enjoy local wildflowers, as well as
Cascades hikes as the weather really starts
New to MPG Outings?
to warm up. Maybe you enjoy sticking to
We’re a friendly group that goes out of its
the water in the summer, in that case we
way
to welcome newcomers. Come alone, or
have lots of paddle trips for you to enjoy!
with a friend. Contact the leader with
And for those of us that make regular use of
questions. Non-members are always welcome
the local trails, there are volunteer trail
to attend.
work parties on the schedule in June. Not
all our leaders know their summer
For additional outings, see our weekly
schedules far in advance, so be sure to
email or calendar on our website.
watch the weekly email for more offerings.
If you are on facebook be sure to “like” our Please contact maryspeakgroup@peak.org to
be added to this email list for weekly updates.
page, upcoming outings are featured and
In it we announce upcoming outings and
pictures from past outings are often shared.
other events. These include added activities,
Also check out our online calendar, all
changes, and cancellations.
these outings and those that are added
later will be there.
For summer ventures, good foot gear, plenty of water and sun protection are essential.
Often mornings and evening are cool, so dressing in layers is a good idea. Don’t hesitate to
ask your leader any questions you have about which outing is right for you or what you
should wear and bring.
Often, space is limited, so check with the leader in advance of an outing, and then be sure
the leader knows if you must cancel. If contacting the leader over the phone, don’t call
after 9pm please! Always fun, MPG outings also provide opportunities to explore our
natural environment, learning more about the unique flora and fauna of our region and
how they can be preserved.
Important: For General Outing Policies, see page 1 6. Please read them with care.
Wednesday, May 1 – Nettleton/Davis Loop. Hiking from Lewisburg saddle we will do this
loop on well-drained gravel roads, with pleasant forests and occasional vistas over the Coast Range.
Moderate, 7 miles, with 650 feet of elevation gain. Meet at the Bi-Mart parking lot, corner of Circle and
9th in the Northwest corner of the parking lot for a 9:00 a.m. departure. Leaders: Hannah McAllister and
Marilyn Syverson. Email syverson.marilyn@gmail.com if you would like to join us.
Monday, May 6 – Peavy Arboretum Wildflower Walk. This walk will run from 6:00 to 8:00
p.m., along the Forest Discovery Trail - The event will be mentored by enthusiastic and very
knowledgeable botanist and excellent teacher, Ian Silvernail, from the Institute of Applied Ecology. In
early May, we’ll have the opportunity to identify some four dozen flowers, plants, and shrubs along the
3/4-mile trail. Easy. We will meet in the Arboretum’s main graveled parking area (at the Road 500 gate) at
5:45 for the 6:00 p.m. start. Contact leader: Robert Verhoogen, at rverhoogen@mac.com or 541-207-5878.
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Spring 2013
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Thursday, May 9 – Peavy Hall Tree Stroll. Ed Jensen, Professor and Associate Dean in the
College of Forestry, and author of “TREES To Know in Oregon” (2010), will teach us how to identify and
distinguish some two dozen trees commonly seen in our state, in the area immediately to the east of Peavy
Hall. The number of participants is limited to 30. We will meet at 5:45 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. start at the east
entrance to Peavy Hall, located at 30th Street and Jefferson. Parking is on the south side of Peavy and
Richardson Halls (conjoined buildings). Contact leader: Robert Verhoogen, at rverhoogen@mac.com or
541-207-5878.
Saturday, May 11 – Willamette River Paddle. Bring your own canoe or kayak to paddle a
ten- or twelve-mile stretch of the lovely Willamette River; exactly where we go will be determined closer
to the date. PFD and whistle required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic Invasive
Species permit. Please contact leader in advance to register and for additional trip information including
meeting place. Number of participants will be limited. Moderate. 9:00 a.m. departure from Corvallis.
Contact leader to sign up: Andi Stephens, at 843-709-9094 or andi.q.stephens@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 11 – Beazell Forest South Meadow and Plunkett Creek Loop.
This route has variety! On an old road through conifers we'll climb to a lovely meadow. A nicely
constructed trail zigzags down to Plunkett Creek, which we’ll follow while enjoying colorful wildflowers
and moss covered deciduous trees. 2.5 miles, 600’ elevation gain. Moderate. Bring a lunch. Meet at OSU
Wilkinson Hall parking lot (Arnold and 27th) at 9:00 a.m. Contact leader: Janet Throop at
throopj@peak.org or 541-753-1804
Sunday, May 12 – Peavy Arboretum’s Oregon Trees. Sara Lynch, one of two individuals
responsible for the "labeling" of the trees in the large area adjacent to the Arboretum entrance, will
mentor the half-mile tree walk. The focus will be on the trees found in Oregon: in the Valley, Coast Range,
Klamath Mountains, Siskiyous, Cascades, Blue Mountains and in the northeast quadrant. In other words,
the focus would be on trees that Oregonians might encounter when traveling in their home state and not
just locally, although the event will be local in the Arboretum. We will meet shortly before 10:00 a.m. at
the asphalted parking area in front of Peavy Lodge (located near the entrance on Arboretum Rd). Contact
leader: Robert Verhoogen, rverhoogen@mac.com or 541 207-5878.
Sunday, May 19 – Drift Creek South. This is a less frequently hiked trail in the Drift Creek
Wilderness, the Coast Range’s largest wilderness. The Drift Creek South trail meanders down through
densely forested canyons to the Harris Ranch, an old homestead meadow in a creek bend. Difficult, 6
miles, with 1,200 feet of elevation gain on return. Preregister; wilderness limit of 12. Meet for a 9:00 a.m.
departure at the Wilkinson Hall parking lot (Arnold and 27th). Contact leader: Loretta Rivard, at 541-7536884.
Sunday, May 26 – McDonald Forest Traverse. Ever wonder how all the various trails/gravel
roads of the McDonald Forest link together? Looking for a challenging hike to prepare for summer
backpacking season. We will be hiking the entire length of the McDonald forest, as well as hitting all the
high points along the way (including Peavy Peak, Vineyard Mountain, Dimple Hill, and McCulloch Peak).
This is for experienced, fit hikers only! Very difficult, 17+ miles. We will be doing a car shuttle, if weather
on Sunday is terrible this hike will be moved to Monday. Led by Irene Schoppy & Richard Seekatz. Contact
Irene for meeting time and location and to register: iameyers@yahoo.com or 541-758-8591 (no calls after
9pm).
Thursday-Monday, May 30 to June 3 – Wenaha River Trail Backpack. Bob Custer,
see page 14.
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Saturday, June 1 – Trail Work for National Trails Day. We will be trying to improve the
water routing along the trail at Chip Ross Park so that it doesn't get so muddy. Work will include digging
water trenches and installing culverts. Come out and help support this effort to improve our trails on
National Trails Day! Meet for a 9:00 a.m. departure at Wilkinson Hall parking lot (Arnold and 27th).
Contact leader to register: Ray Drapek, at raydrapek@gmail.com or 541-754-7364.
Saturday, June 8 – Rooster Rock. 6.6 miles, difficult. Menagerie wilderness, maximum
of 12 people. Let's get in shape for the summer season by hiking up to Rooster Rock in the South Santiam
drainage. Great rock formations at the top, relentless grade uphill to get there. Contact leader to register
for time and meeting location: Randy Selig, at rselig@peak.org or 541-738-0753.
Friday-Wednesday, June 7-12 – Pueblo Mountains Backpack. JoAnne DeMay, see
page 14.
Saturday, June 15 – Cape Perpetua Old-Growth Forest. Our eight-mile loop through an
old-growth forest starts at the Cape Perpetua visitor center. We’ll hike up the Cook’s Ridge trail to a great
picnic spot where we’ll enjoy a wide-open view of the Cummins Creek Wilderness. We’ll descend to the
coast via the Cummins Creek trail and return to the visitor center via the Oregon Coast trail. Along the
way we’ll see giant Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas fir, and western red cedar. Moderate to
difficult, with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Limited to 12. Meet at the northwest corner of the Bi-Mart
parking lot at Philomath Blvd. and 53rd St. for an 8:00 a.m. departure. Contact leader to register: Steve
Griffiths, at sgoregon@gmail.com or 415-290-1016.
Sunday, June 16 – Willamette River Paddle. Bring your own canoe or kayak to paddle a tenor twelve-mile stretch of the lovely Willamette River; exactly where we go will be determined closer to the
date. PFD and whistle required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic Invasive Species
permit. Please contact leader in advance to register and for additional trip information including meeting
place. Number of participants will be limited. Moderate. 9:00 a.m. departure from Corvallis. Contact
leader to sign up: Andi Stephens, at 843-709-9094 or andi.q.stephens@gmail.com.
Saturday, June 22nd – Fern Lake Kayak or Canoe. We'll get out on the water for a lowkey paddle at a local lake and work on paddling skills. This outing is appropriate for beginning boaters
with good equipment. PFD and whistle required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic
Invasive Species permit. Please contact leader in advance to register and get additional trip information
including meeting place. Number of participants will be limited. Easy. Approximately four hours on the
water. 9:00 a.m. departure from Corvallis. Contact leader: Larry Davis at larrydavis@peak.org, or 503-3908210.
Sunday, June 23 – Summer Solstice Party. See page 29 for more details.
Saturday, June 29 – Trail work party on Mulkey Creek Trail. We will be working on
the lower, small bridge section of Mulkey Creek. Most of the work will involve improving existing trail
tread and doing some ‘armoring’ of headwalls around culverts. Meet for a 9:00 a.m. departure at
Wilkinson Hall parking lot (Arnold and 27th). Contact leader to register: Ray Drapek, at
raydrapek@gmail.com or 541-754-7364.
Sunday, June 30 – North Ridge Trail. This is the longest & steepest trail up Marys Peak,
traveling up the North Ridge. We walk through Douglas fir and Nobel fir forests to the parking lot. Then
we will go up the dirt road through meadows to the peak for a short rest, and take a mixture of trails &
forest roads back to our cars. Large wildflower displays along the service road. Difficult, 9 miles with
approx. 2,600 foot elevation gain. Must preregister with leader for meeting time and place: Randy Selig,
rselig@peak.org or 541-738-0753.
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Tuesday, July 2 – Fall Creek. Welcome July with an easy 5.8 mile hike along a scenic lowelevation creek outside of the Dexter/Lowell area southeast of Eugene off Highway 58. This pleasant trail
has an elevation gain of 200 feet and is suitable for anyone who enjoys a good walk. Bring your lunch,
water, rain gear, and hiking boots. Preregister; limited to a total of 12 participants. Meet at the First
Street parking area behind the Super 8 Motel for an 8:00 a.m. departure. Contact leader: Sam Miller, at
541-484-4586 or miller_sk@comcast.net.
Saturday, July 6 – Willamette River Kayak and Canoe. We'll paddle a local section of the
Willamette River and work on moving water skills. Not for first time boaters, but appropriate for
participants comfortable on the water. Canoes for experienced paddlers are okay. PFD and whistle
required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic Invasive Species permit. Please contact
leader in advance to register and for additional trip information including meeting place. Number of
participants will be limited. Moderate, 9 miles, approximately five hours on the water. 9:00 a.m.
departure from Corvallis. Contact leader: Larry Davis, at larrydavis@peak.org , 503 390-8210.
Sunday, July 7 – Marys Peak Summit Wildflower Walk. The summit of Marys Peak is
blessed with a unique assemblage of alpine flora. We’re near the peak of the season for their flowering
this weekend. We’ll drive to the upper parking lot on the peak and walk the road to the summit. One easy
uphill mile! Bring your camera, plenty of sunscreen and good snack. As usual prepare for the elements.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Wilkinson Hall parking lot on the OSU campus (Arnold and 27th) for carpooling.
Participation limited. Register with leader: Barry Wulff at 541-929-6272 or wulffb@peak.org
Wednesday-Friday, July 17-July 26 – Bob Marshall Wilderness Backpack. JoAnne
DeMay, see page 15.
Friday, July 12 – Iron Mountain and Cone Peak Meadows. We will start this hike at
Tombstone pass and ascend up to the meadows of Cone Peak. Then we will continue on to Iron Mountain.
The loop should feature plenty of flowers and views of the Cascade Peaks. We will be going at a moderate
pace; the loop is 6.6 miles with 1,900 ft elevation gain, rating this hike as difficult. Limited to 12, contact
leader to register and get meeting time/place: Irene Schoppy, at iameyers@yahoo.com or 541-758-8591.
Thursday, July 18 – Hart’s Cove and Cascade Head. From our trailhead on Cascade Head,
we’ll descend almost a thousand feet through an old-growth Sitka spruce forest to a coastal meadow. Our
destination is a narrow bluff where we’ll enjoy terrific ocean views and see Chitwood Creek cascade over
rocky cliffs into Hart’s Cove. If we’re lucky, we’ll hear sea lions roaring above the ocean winds. Our return
takes us back over the same trail with most of the elevation gained in the last mile. Limited to 12. Meet
behind the Super 8 Motel at First and Harrison for a 9:00 a.m. departure. Contact leader to register: Steve
Griffiths at sgoregon@gmail.com or 415-290-1016.
Saturday, July 20 – Evening Float/Potluck Picnic on the Willamette River. An
annual MPG event, now directed by Dawn Jones' successor, Patricia Benner, we’ll actually float 9-plus miles
from North Riverfront Park to Hyak Park on 6 to 8 -person rafts. (No private watercraft are allowed on
this outing.) Patricia, a river ecologist and historian, will enlighten us along the way about the history of
the Willamette River and its ecology. The floating itself will begin at 4:00 p.m.; we’ll picnic, potluck style,
on the riverbank, 60-90 minutes into the float. Herons and ospreys will entertain us in the early going; at
dusk and as the full moon rises, beavers will capture our attention. Since the outing will require shuttling
cars, gearing up equipment-wise, and getting rafting instructions, please be at Michael's Landing (2nd
Street & Tyler Avenue) at 3:00 p.m. We'll be on the water until about 10:00 p.m.; if everyone assists,
unloading and deflating the rafts and storing the equipment will take another 30 minutes. Limited to 25;
pre-registration and payment of $34 per person is required by Monday, July 15th. Contact leader: Christy
Stevens, at 541-753-4353.
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Sunday, July 28 – Willamette River Paddle. Bring your own canoe or kayak to paddle a tenor twelve-mile stretch of the lovely Willamette River; exactly where we go will be determined closer to the
date. PFD and whistle required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic Invasive Species
permit. Please contact leaders in advance to register and for additional trip information including meeting
place. Number of participants will be limited. Moderate. 9:00 a.m. departure from Corvallis. Contact
leader to sign up: Andi Stephens, at 843-709-9094 or andi.q.stephens@gmail.com.
Sunday, August 4 – Willamette River Paddle. Bring your own canoe or kayak to paddle a
ten- or twelve-mile stretch of the lovely Willamette River; exactly where we go will be determined closer
to the date. PFD and whistle required. If your boat is 10' or longer you will need an Aquatic Invasive
Species permit. Please contact leaders in advance to register and for additional trip information including
meeting place. Number of participants will be limited. Moderate. 9:00 a.m. departure from Corvallis.
Contact leader to sign up: Andi Stephens, at 843-709-9094 or andi.q.stephens@gmail.com.
Monday-Tuesday, August 5-6 – Blue Bay Camping/Hiking. Monday we'll drive up close
to Three Fingered Jack and hike the Canyon Creek Meadow Loop. We're skirting the border season where
we hope to get remaining wild flowers in the exquisite meadows and still avoid the mosquitoes. Come
along and see if we're successful. We'll also hope to make it up the "steep, rocky moraine to a notch
overlooking a stunning, green cirque lake at the foot of Three Fingered Jack's glacier." (Sullivan) Moderate
7.5 mile loop. 1,400 feet elevation. From there we'll camp at the quiet end of Suttle Lake at Blue Bay
Campground and possibly work in a swim at nearby Scout Lake, one of the warmer lakes in the area. Day
two will take us to the Patjens Lake Trail, a loop that takes us past four lakes of varying degrees of depth
and significance. Easy. 6 miles. 400 feet elevation gain. Contact leader: Leslie Hogan for carpooling,
camping details and rendezvous point for an 8:30 a.m. take-off time: qwizats@peak.org or 541-924-0130
Saturday, August 10 – Swimmable Santiam Lake. We will visit two lakes amidst the
forests west of Three Fingered Jack in the Jefferson Wilderness Area. The trail to Santiam Lake climbs 750
feet in elevation over 3.3 miles through a forest of Douglas fir and hemlock along the North Santiam River
to Duffy Lake, where we'll stop to snack and view its lovely setting, before continuing on to Santiam Lake.
The trail from Duffy to the latter is a short 1.4 miles and gains only 450 feet in elevation; that part of the
trail itself is surrounded by lush greenery and, in some areas, by small and more open meadows with
wildflowers. We'll lunch on the shore of the very picturesque Santiam Lake with its wildflowers and
reflection of Jack. The weather will likely be warm to hot, making it rather inviting and comfortable to
swim in the very clear, cold water of Santiam before starting our return to the trailhead. Moderate level
9.4-mile hike. Pre-registration limited to twelve in a wilderness area. Contact leader: Robert Verhoogen,
at rverhoogen@mac.com or 541 745-5185.
Saturday, August 17 – Marys Peak East Ridge and Tie Trails. We’ll climb up from
Conner’s Camp, with views over the coast range, lunch at the summit, and loop across the Tie Trail on the
return walk. Great views from the top, from the ocean to the Cascades on a clear day. Difficult, 7 miles,
with 1,600 feet of elevation gain. Contact leader for meeting time/place and to register: Richard Seekatz,
at Seekatz@comcast.net or 541-230-1107.
Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 1 – Diamond Peak Wilderness Backpack.
David Anderson, see page 15.
Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 8 – Pacific Crest Trail 2013. Ray Drapek, see
page 15.
Sunday, September 8 – Duffy Lake. All of the Cascade lakes in the early fall are pleasant to
visit. This moderate level hike, on a well-graded trail along the headwaters of the North Santiam River,
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will take us into Duffy Lake for a good view of Duffy Butte where we can have our picnic lunch. 6.6 miles,
800 feet of elevation gain. Meet for an 8:00 a.m. departure at the First Street parking lot behind the Super8 Motel in Corvallis. Bring lunch. Register with leader: Barry Wulff, at 541-929-6272 or wulffb@peak.org.
Saturday, September 14 – Four-in-one Cone. This hike starts off of Highway 126 near
McKenzie Pass. We’ll take the old Scott Trail to the summit of a broad cinder cone for a stunningly
beautiful view of the Three Sisters. Much of the trail is in the open and we’ll pass through some basalt
lava flows. 9 miles, 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Difficult. Limited to 12, because it is in the Three Sisters
Wilderness. Meet for a 7:00 a.m. departure at the First Street parking lot behind the Super-8 Motel in
Corvallis. It’ll be a long day. Bring appropriate gear and a good lunch and snacks. Register with leader:
Barry Wulff, at wulffb@peak.org.
Friday-Sunday, September 13-15 – Indian Heaven Wilderness Backpack. Lelia
Barlow, see page 15.
Thursday-Sunday, September 19-22 – Three Sisters Wilderness Backpack. Larry
Davis, see page 15.
Tuesday-Monday, September 17-23 – Evolution Basin Kings Canyon Backpack.
JoAnne DeMay, see page 15.
Friday-Sunday, October 18-20 – Gorge Car Camp. We will go back one last time to the
excellent Beacon Rock group camp ground on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge to hike the
Gorge trails we have not done or re-hike favorites. The camp ground is available to us after 2:30 p.m. on
Friday and we plan to hike up Beacon Rock later that afternoon. We will hike on Saturday and, after
packing up, we will hike on Sunday before heading home. The camp ground is equipped with an indoor,
lighted kitchen with running water, an outdoor roofed eating area with picnic tables, two sleeping shelters
and two vault toilets. Contact leaders to register: Bob Custer, at laststand@exchangenet.net, and Irene
Schoppy, at iameyers@yahoo.com.
Marys Peak Group 2013 Backpacks
Most MPG backpacks are joint trips with the Chemeketans, a Salem hiking group. So if you
are interested, please contact the leader right away for further information. These events
fill early, but often there are vacancies later, which are filled from waiting lists.
Thursday-Monday, May 30-June 3 – Wenaha River Trail Backpack. The Wenaha
River Trail is located in northeastern Oregon near Troy, OR, an ~8 hour drive from Corvallis. The trail is
generally downhill (2800’ to 1600’) for ~27 miles along the Wenaha River through a canyon with beautiful
scenery. We will drive to Troy, do the 22 mile car shuttle, and camp at the trailhead. We will hike along
the river for three days and drive home on day 5. The area is known to have some poison ivy and
rattlesnakes. Moderate difficulty. Must pre-register with leader: Bob Custer, at
laststand@exchangenet.net or 541-745-3994.
Friday-Wednesday, June 7-12 – Pueblo Mountains Backpack. Many people know the
Steens, few the Pueblos. This section of the Desert Trail is 22 miles, marked by cairns, no trail. We will go
south to north, from Denio to Fields, and do a side trip up Pueblo Mountain. Three nights, four days,
difficult. Contact leader to pre-register: Joanne DeMay, at joannedemay08@gmail.com or 971-237-9775.
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Wednesday-Friday, July 17-26 – Bob Marshall Wilderness Backpack. We will
probably do a loop trip starting at the Double Falls trailhead, go over Welcome Pass to Scapegoat Mountain
and the Scapegoat Cliffs. Then back to the car by way of Green Fork and Crown Mountain Pass.
Wolverines have been sighted in this area. 5-6 days, difficult. Contact leader to pre-register: Joanne
DeMay, at joannedemay08@gmail.com or 971-237-9775.
Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 1 – Diamond Peak Wilderness Backpack.
This 12 mile loop will start at the west end of Odell Lake, take us along Trapper Creek to Yoran Lake, and
return via the Pacific Crest trail. Along the way, we will pass a dozen crystal clear lakes, a large meadow,
and forests of Engelmann spruce, silver fir, mountain hemlock, and white fir. Spectacular views of
Diamond Peak at many points on the trail. Optional side excursions may include a scramble up one of the
smaller peaks nearby. Rated difficult. Contact leader David Anderson to pre-register, at
toodamp@gmail.com or 541-760-1520.
Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 8 – Pacific Crest Trail 2013. This will be the
first of a series of annual PCT backpacks. We will (hopefully) have eventually traversed Washington State
from south to north. This year we will start at Cascade Locks in the Columbia Gorge and hike north for
nine days. We will hike through Indian Heaven Wilderness and end up on Highway 141 near the base of
Mt. Adams. Distances covered per day will range from 7 to 13 miles, and daily elevation gains will range
from nearly flat to 3,000 feet. This hike is for experienced backpackers only and will be moderately
difficult. Must preregister, contact leader: Ray Drapek, at raydrapek@gmail.com or 541-754-7364.
Friday-Sunday, September 13-15 – Indian Heaven Wilderness Backpack. In this
area of southern Washington near Mt Adams, we will hike past mountain lakes, going through subalpine
forest and meadows. We’ll camp at lakes where swimming is an option, and huckleberries should be
plentiful. Relaxed pace. Backpacking distance is 6.8 miles and 900 feet of elevation gain total. Optional
day hiking of 4+ miles. Group size limited to 8 participants. Well-equipped beginners in good hiking
condition are welcome! Rated easy/moderate. Contact leader: Lelia Barlow, at leliatrips@gmail.com
Thursday-Sunday, September 19-22 – Three Sisters Wilderness Backpack. We’ll
explore the Northwest part of this alpine wilderness area, starting near the Dee Wright Observatory on
the McKenzie Pass and hiking our way through Matthieu Lakes toward Linton Meadows, with close views
of Collier Cone, Little Brother, North and Middle Sister. The final day we will return past Obsidian Falls via
the Obsidian Trail to Frog Camp. Moderately Difficult, 26 miles with 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Contact
leader: Larry Davis, at larrydavis@peak.org or 503 390-8210.
Tuesday-Monday, September 17-23 – Evolution Basin Kings Canyon Backpack.
This is a classic High Sierra backpack with North Lake and South Lake west of Bishop at the ends. Three
passes, 53 miles, spectacular scenery. Possibly a visit to hot springs. Difficult. Contact leader to preregister: Joanne DeMay, at joannedemay08@gmail.com or 971-237-9775.
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Photo by Barry Wulff
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Carl Lake
General Outing Policies
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
If you attend an MPG Outing, you are responsible for your own care, including but not limited to making sure
that you are sufficiently fit and equipped for the event. Talk with your leader if you have any doubts about
whether you can handle the outing, or any questions about what to bring. Tell your leader about medical
conditions which could affect your participation and safety, including but not limited to diabetes, heart
conditions, insect allergies.
ARRIVING FOR AN OUTING: Please contact the leader before an outing. Then arrive at the start point a few minutes early;
we leave on time. Unless otherwise stated, carpool departures are from the parking lot between Wilkinson Hall and the Asian
Cultural Center at Arnold and 27th Streets, on the OSU campus in Corvallis. Contact the leader to meet the group at a point
other than the start point.
CANCELLATIONS: If you are unable to attend an outing you have signed up for, please let your leader know. Often the
number of participants is limited. You could be preventing someone on a waiting list from joining the outing if you don’t notify.
Occasionally MPG has to cancel or change an outing, usually for safety reasons. If you have given the leader an email address
and/or phone number, you will be notified if at all possible.
CARPOOLS: Suggested driver reimbursement is $3.00 for every hour driven; perhaps more when the roads are difficult or the
number of riders is small; possibly a little less if a vehicle has 5 or more people in it.
DOGS: Dogs, other than certified assistance dogs, are allowed only on designated dog walks.
WHAT TO WEAR; WHAT TO BRING: Dress for the weather, with sturdy boots or walking shoes, usually rain gear, no jeans
or heavy cottons for extended outings. Bring water, sunscreen, snacks, lunch if outing starts in the morning, any medications
you might require. For longer outings, especially in wilderness areas, you should consider bringing the Ten Essentials.
LIABILITY WAIVER: All participants must sign a standard Sierra Club liability waiver before each outing. To read the liability
waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, please see www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms , or contact the
National Sierra Club Outings Department at (415) 977-5528 for a printed version. Neither the Sierra Club nor the Marys Peak
Group is responsible for participants during the trips to and from the trailhead.
MINORS ON OUTINGS: People under 18 are welcome on outings for which they have sufficient fitness, but must be
accompanied by a responsible adult. A liability waiver (see above) must be signed by a parent or legal, court-appointed guardian.
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Marys Peak Group Goes Native
By David Eckert
S
ince 2007, the Marys Peak Group has been planting native trees and
shrubs to help revive our local ecosystem and to counter the
negative impacts our society’s destructive land-use practices, pollution
production and wholesale distribution of non-native species. From
2007-2009, the MPG focused on planting native trees along Corvallis
streets to mitigate pollution and summer heat. In 2010, we changed
course and partnered with the Benton County area schools to plant
native arboretums on schoolyards, for both ecological and educational
purposes.
Native Plant Description
DavidEckert
A native plant is a species/variety that has evolved over long periods of time in a specific
region and has become an integral part of a diverse community of plants and animals in a
functioning ecosystem. This native plant provides ecosystem services, such as habitat,
food and assistance in reproductive services to other members of the community. This
native plant also receives help in these services for its own survival from members of the
community. Finally, the plant population has reached some form of balance within the
ecosystem community. Its use and recycling of water, soil nutrients and other natural
elements are balanced to promote long-term survival of its own species and of the general
ecological community. Its population growth is not so great that it suffocates other life
forms it needs to survive.
Threats to Native Plants
Human population growth, land use practices, pollution impacts and introduction of
non-native plants have damaged our local ecosystems. Non-native species often have no
natural predators or diseases to control population. This may result in habitat invasion of
native species and rapid depletion of water and soil nutrient resources. Even if the nonnatives are not invasive, they take up important habitat space that is best reserved for the
ecosystem services of native plants. There are generally two types of non-native species –
natural ones from other regions and human-produced varieties that have never existed in
nature.
Society is Choosing Non-Native Plants
Street trees and schoolyard trees and plants are mostly non-native. And urban property
owners plant mostly non-native trees and shrubs. As a result, urban landscapes look
nearly identical in New York, Alabama, Arizona and Oregon. The local landscape
appearance and ecosystem has been nearly obliterated in urban settings. Ironically, the
introduced non-native species require excessive water and fertilizers, costing landowners
far greater expenses and time than native species would demand.
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THE BENCHMARK
Street Tree Program
From 2007 to 2009, the MPG coordinated the planting
of about 100 large native trees (1”-2” caliper width of
the trunk – generally 6’-12’ tall) in the public rights-of
ways. All trees were purchased from Seven Oaks Native
Nursery, which grew our trees from native seed stock
in the mid-Willamette Valley. Over 50 volunteers
planted trees at some of the gateways into downtown
Corvallis, plus the neighborhoods of College Hill, Job’s
Addition, Avery Addition. These plantings are making
a significant difference in the local urban ecosystem. Following a reevaluation at the end
of the 3rd planting year, we decided our impact on the community and the environment
would be greater if we shifted our focus from the streets to the schoolyards.
All Photos by Barry Wulff
Schoolyard Native Arboretum Program
In late 2009, the MPG made a
proposal to the 509J School System
that we would coordinate and find
funding for the planting of one
schoolyard native arboretum per
year until all of the schools had one.
The school administration accepted
the proposal. Our first arboretum
was planted in 2010 at Crescent Valley High School. The school allocated about a half acre
for the site and three science teachers stepped forward to include the arboretum into its
curriculum. In 2011, we planted our second
arboretum at Cheldelin Middle School with the
same plant species, but in a completely
different design. Our third arboretum was
planted in 2012 at the Corvallis Waldorf School
(formerly
Fairplay
Elementary).
Cheldelin arboretum
In all three
arboretums, the students and teachers did most of the
soil preparation and plantings, but were assisted by
volunteers from the MPG and the community. Over 60
large trees and 80 shrubs, as well as countless herbaceous
plants are now thriving on school grounds, enriching the
environment, beautifying the schoolyards and providing
Crescent Valley arboretum
outdoor educational experiences for the students (and
teachers). Multiple schools are presently vying to be selected as an arboretum site for Fall
2013.
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Our Tree Planting Partners
The costs for this many large trees, shrubs and supplies can be great. To help fund the
street trees and arboretums, the MPG has partnered with many groups. The City of
Corvallis and the 509J School System are the primary partners, as the trees have been
planted on public land governed by two entities. Our principal funding partners have been
the Corvallis Odd Fellows Lodge (which began planting trees in Corvallis over 100 years
ago) and the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District. The Lodge also provided
significant volunteer labor. The OSU College of Forestry has served as our advisor and also
provided skilled labor. Allied Waste and Coast Range Refrigeration provided free supplies
and materials that significantly reduced the total costs. Each arboretum has large
interpretive displays and soon-to-be-installed species identification markers, all produced
by Element Graphics in Corvallis for significantly lower costs. And the Crescent Valley
High School metal shop fabricated the display posts for the first two arboretums.
Partnering with other organizations not only made the financial and labor aspects of the
installation possible, it also strengthened the community ties of the Marys Peak Group. We
are viewed as an organization that “gets things done.”
Photo by Barry Wulff
If you have a group that would like to tour the arboretums or have any questions
concerning the arboretums, contact Dave Eckert at deckert@willamettewatershed.com.
Stately White Oak
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Lewisburg Saddle Old Growth
By Ron Garnett
T
here are those that believe the forest
has a song. And that song is made up of
all the sounds living things make as they go
about life in the woods. There is an
orchestra, some believe, that plays a
symphony on the wind of rich soil, warm
sunlight and sweet water. For those who
can hear it, the forest tells a tail of things
going back hundreds of years. The older
the forest, the grander the stories.
So it is with the McDonald-Dunn Forest,
located five miles north of Corvallis along a
ridge overlooking parts of the city. The
McDonald-Dunn Forest is an 11,250 acre
living laboratory for the study of forestry
and forestry practices for students at
Oregon State University. Part of these
studies include the long term
environmental development, evolution and
preservation of old growth forests. In the
McDonald-Dunn Forest there are several
stands of old growth forest that date back
hundreds of years, to a time before the first
Euro/American settlers. These stands are
populated with Douglas fir trees that are
hundreds of years old, shooting to the sky
like needles, and are so big around at the
base that it takes several people, holding
hands, to completely encircle the tree’s
girth.
There are many miles of roads and trails
in the McDonald-Dunn Forest, most of
which are restricted to non-motorized
traffic. The forest gets 175,000 visitors
annually hiking the woods. But for me,
there is a special old growth stand.
Driving north out of Corvallis for nearly a
mile, on highway 99W, you will come to the
Lewisburg junction (at the light) at 99W
and Lewisburg Ave. Turn west on
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Lewisburg Ave. and
drive to Sulphur Springs
Road. Take it up the hill.
After a mile, at the hill
crest, so you will come
to a medium size
parking lot. This is the
Lewisburg Saddle. Four
forest roads come
Ron Garnett
together here and are
gated off but open to
hiking. Take the northwesterly forest road
580, to the left and down the slope. After
about a quarter of a mile there is a sign on
the left indicating the Old Growth Trail. Be
prepared to be swept back in time.
The trail winds its way through the old
growth for a half a mile and is mostly up
and down. It crosses two creeks. For those
used to hiking, it’s easy. For others, it may
be a little challenging. Going slow is
probably the best way to see the stand
anyway.
This old growth stand is a beautiful
example of the lush green northern rain
forest environment, with fir trees
hundreds of years old, dense clumps of
ferns, soft spongy ground covers and fungi
growing on every stump and fallen tree.
The air is heavy with the smell of the
forest, pungent and musty at some
moments, crisp and clean at others.
I’m always captivated by the trail
experience. It’s like being folded into an
existence that is a part of an ancient
memory. Some of the old firs grow along
the trail and in some cases, when the wind
blows, you can put your hand flat on the
tree truck and feel the vibration of the
woods resonating through the tree into the
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THE BENCHMARK
other natural situations that would cause
the forest to be devastated and have to
regrow over and over. These stands would
grow, over hundreds of years and undergo
change as a slow, normal
evolution of forest growth.
The other type of old
growth is sort of an
There is a wealth of
artificial old growth.
information; scientific,
Before the first
historical and
Euro/Americans came to
developmental, on the
Oregon, the lands here
McDonald-Dunn Forest at
and around this area were
the Oregon State University
mostly grassland savannas
College of Forestry web
and huge oak groves. The
page. Or you could just
Native American
browse a search engine for
population burned huge
“McDonald-Dunn Forest”
areas of grassland to
and be carried away by page
encourage newer, younger
after page of information.
grass growth for more
There are also brochures at
intensive grazing by local
most of the outdoor sports
wildlife like deer and elk.
stores in Corvallis, like Peak
Because of this practice,
Sports, and at the
Trail
in
the
old
growth
stand
as
it
passes
the forest and
informational kiosks at
between two old growth Douglas Fir trees undergrowth became
major trail heads in the
limited in varieties of vegetation. The
forest. Oddly enough, the “McDonaldforest then was nothing like what we see
Dunn Forest Plan” of June 2005, which is on
today. With the advent of the first
the Collage of Forestry web site, is an
explorers and settlers came diseases, for
excellent read for background information
which the native populace had no
about the forest and the work that OSU’s
immunity, and the eventual removal of
College of Forestry is doing. The College of
Native Americans from their ancestral
Forestry has an office at Peavy Arboretum,
lands. With time, the practice of burning
on Peavy Arboretum Road, a couple of
grasslands stopped. Farming took over the
miles north of the Lewisburg junction,
flatlands and logging opened vast areas in
where information can also be found.
the hills. New types of plants took a
foothold. Stands that couldn’t be logged
John W. Mann, Director of the College
or farmed, because of location and
Forest, of the College of Forestry at OSU,
conditions, started to be impacted by the
has an office at the Peavy Arboretum
encroachment of invading species, such as
location, and shared an interesting
evergreens. So over a couple of hundred
perspective on old growth forest and the
years the forest became like we see it today.
old growth trail at the Lewisburg Saddle.
ground. Like I said, it’s probably better to
hike the trail more leisurely than to hike it
as a physical fitness exercise. If you’re not
use to old growth forests, you probably
wouldn’t want to miss any
of the experience.
Mann notes that there are two types of
old growth. One is the natural type, i.e.
due to location, environment and natural
conditions; certain stands were not subject
to regular wildfires, insect infestations or
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The old growth stands in the McDonaldDunn forest are either a few hundred years
old, or many hundreds of years old. And
according to Mann, it’s hard to tell the
difference. The forest is constantly
Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
evolving; nothing is the same just a few years down the time line, let alone hundreds. In
the end, which type of old growth the Lewisburg Saddle stand is, is less the issue than the
idea that it will be there, as a source of inspiration and enjoyment for many more years.
And this, to a great degree, is due to nature and the work done by the Forestry Department
of OSU.
Photos by Ron Garnett
Lower bridge on the Old Growth Trail
Photo by Bruce Encke
Still, it’s less about facts, studies, and preservation as it is about beauty, connectiveness,
and inspiration. When you stand at the lower bridge, on the Old Growth Trail, and the
water in the creek is running fast, if you close your eyes and take a deep breath, you
become a part of the forest in its continuum. You become part of a timeline that runs back
to the beginning and runs forward to infinity, a part of everyone who has ever walked the
forest and for a moment stood in awe of its music and songs.
Clear Lake in the Snow
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Spring 2013
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Oregon’s Official State Crustacean:
Cancer magister By Andi Stephens
D
ungeness crabs were called by the great
Chef, James Beard, "a meal the gods
intended only for the pure in palate."
Named for Dungeness Bay in the Strait of
Juan de Fuca in Washington, they occur
from Santa Barbara, California, to the
Pribilof Islands, Alaska. In Oregon, the
Dungeness fishery is the second largest in
volume (after salmon) but first in value: in
2011 it was worth almost $15 million
dollars.
Dungeness crabs grow by shedding their
hard outer shell in a process called
molting. A molting crab has grown a new
shell under the old one. The new shell is
soft, so when the crab exits its old shell, it
is vulnerable until the new shell hardens.
Adult crabs molt in mid-summer, the
females first and the males a few weeks
later. This can look like a mass die-off of
crabs along the beach. Fear not. Although
there may be a few actual dead crabs, this
is mainly cast-off shells (“exuvia”)! In
summer months, when Dungeness crab
molting activity peaks, ODFW usually
receives calls reporting “many dead crabs
on the beach”.
million eggs. After
hatching, the larvae
are planktonic, adrift
at sea. Within their
first year, the larvae
molt through a
number of larval
stages that bear no
Andi Stephens
resemblance to the
adults. Surveys find
these successive larval stages further and
further offshore as they age. A crab in the
sixth larval stage is a “megalopa”, which
returns from the offshore environment to
settle in shallow intertidal areas and
estuaries. Megalopae molt into juveniles
within about 24 hours of settlement.
Because of the pelagic nature of the
larvae, Dungeness crabs are what is known
as an open population: there are no local
sub-populations because the larvae from a
given area may be redistributed anywhere
along the coast.
Crabs can mate only when the female is
newly molted. In early summer, adult male
crabs seek females and hug them in a “premating embrace” – the male atop the
female to protect her. This courtship can
last as long as two weeks. After the female
molts, mating occurs; and the male often
continues to embrace and protect her until
her shell hardens.
Crab larvae have been found as far as 200
km offshore. How the heck do they get
back? Currents at the surface often flow in
different directions from deeper layers.
One way the larvae may manage their
transport is by vertically migrating from
the surface to deeper water. They are
found as deep as 60 meters. They have also
been seen hitching a ride by clinging to the
small, blue, by-the-wind sailors, a relative
of jellyfish that often washes up on our
coasts.
The female carries the eggs under her
abdomen for several months, until they
hatch. Large females can carry up to 2.5
As juveniles, crabs prefer shallow
estuarine areas with protective structure
such as pilings, woody debris, and eelgrass.
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
Juvenile crabs molt about seven times
during their second year, and then
approximately once per year thereafter. As
they grow, they move into deeper waters.
Adults prefer eelgrass beds and sandy or
muddy bottom areas. Dungeness crabs
mature at 2 to 3 years of age and may live
as long as 13 years. Females are
reproductive from about age two until six
or seven.
Crabs often bury themselves to prevent
the tide from sweeping them away. This is
why crabbing is best during slack tides.
They also bury themselves after a molt to
allow their shells to harden.
Fishermen may not harvest female or
soft-shelled crabs, and fishing seasons are
scheduled to avoid the primary molt
period. Fishing effort
removes virtually all
four-year males, so
size limits are needed
to ensure a healthy
breeding population.
The recreational
fishery operates yearround, with a
minimum size limit of
5 ¾ inches, measured
across the back of the
crab (its carapace).
Female crabs have a
large, rounded central flap on their
abdomen, males a more pointed, triangular
flap.
The commercial fishery has harvested
crabs off the Oregon coast since the late
1800’s. Currently, the season runs from
Dec 1 – Aug 15th, with some annual
adjustment in opening day to allow the
crabs to fatten. The commercial fishery
takes 90-95% of adult male crabs over the
legal size limit each year. This means that
commercial landings data provide a very
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reliable index of four-year-old adult
Dungeness crab populations. The catch is
the major indicator for fishery health;
there are no formal stock assessments done
for Dungeness, although ODFW collects and
studies catch and effort data.
The commercial fishery is currently
limited to 425 vessels. They fish in waters
40 – 380 feet deep. The commercial size
limit is 6 ¼ inches. There is very little
bycatch in this fishery; most of what is
caught unintentionally consists of sublegal males (this is true in the recreational
fishery as well).
The dungeness fishery in Oregon has
been certified as a sustainable fishery by
the Marine Stewardship Council, an
independent non-profit organization that
has developed an
environmental standard
for sustainable and wellmanaged fisheries. It
approves the use of a
product label to reward
environmentally
responsible fishery
management and
practices.
Large bays (Willapa
and Gray’s Harbor, and
Photo by Barry Wulff the Columbia river
estuary) make a major contribution to crab
populations. Although bays may seem an
ideal nursery for juvenile crab, there may
be cannibalism of juveniles by the adults!
The estuaries appear to provide relatively
steady contributions to annual crab
production that can sustain the overall
population as the nearshore production
cycles to low levels. Although crabs grow
faster in estuaries, they prefer saltier water
and sandy bottom. It is said that “any
crabs in the bay are trying to get to the
ocean”.
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THE BENCHMARK
The size of the adult population is
determined by success in the larval stage.
Studies have found that over 90% of the
variation in size of the four-year-old
population (the catch in the fishery) can be
explained by the number of larval crabs
returning four years earlier. This is true
from the Washington border to San
Francisco – in other words, it’s a wholesystem effect.
The annual spring transition is critical
for crab reproduction. Spring transition
occurs when winds over the continental
shelf switch from southerly (coming from
the south) to northerly flow. Coastal
upwelling occurs because these northerly
winds push the surface waters offshore.
The offshore transport is balanced by
onshore movement of cold, nutrient-rich
water from the deep ocean. The result is
high production of food for juvenile crabs
and other species. Timing is important! When the spring
transition occurs early, in March, more
larvae reach the nearshore and survive to
adulthood. However, the spring transition
may occur as late as May, which results in
fewer larvae making it back inshore.
Threats to the Dungeness fishery include
pollution runoff and dredging in the
estuaries, and ocean warming and
acidification coastwide. Dredging in the
harbors may affect crabs both in and
outside the estuary as silt and sand
resettle. Mating, egg hatch and the
survival of new-hatched larvae are all
influenced by seawater temperature, and
larval development may be affected by
acidification.
Dungeness are often served roasted,
steamed or boiled. The meat is picked from
the shell at the table and may be dipped in
melted butter or aioli, or spritzed with
lemon. Intriguing recipes to be found on
the Internet involve Chinese ingredients
such as black beans and ginger, or Emeril
Lagasse’s garlic and chili preparation. One
of the best ways to enjoy crab is drowned
in a creamy bisque. Dungeness was a
favorite of Julia Child, so as she would say,
“Bon appétit!”
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Photo by Barry Wulff
Photo by Bruce Encke
Spring transition is affected by the El
Niño cycle, which modifies both the timing
and strength of upwelling, resulting in
warmer temperatures, less upwelling and
less food production in El Niño years. The
records of these warm weather events
correspond to smaller catches in the crab
fishery four years later.
Winter Stream near Clear Lake
Spring 2013
25
Walk in Peavy Arboretum
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Flowers of Marys Peak: Glacier Lily
T
By Matt Blakeley-Smith
he stereotypical botanist can be an irritating hiking
companion. Couple the slow pace with a preference for
speaking a dead language and you quickly understand why
most people prefer to hike with their dog! Lest you think that
all botanists are slow, you might be interested to know of a
fringe group of naturalists known as “extreme botanists”. This
botanical sub-culture is intent on finding plants that grow in the
most rigorous conditions. You see, once you have mastered the
identification of all of the common plants in the Valley, you
naturally gravitate towards the more challenging species. At
first you start bushwhacking your way through ancient forests
Matt Blakeley-Smith
to find Cypripedium orchids, then you move on to alpine slopes to
find dwarf Penstemon. Before you know it, you find yourself
attached to a climbing rope rappelling down the face of a waterfall, in search of rare
botanical treasure (extreme botany level 5)! For those of you who like a challenge but are
not ready for ropes, I offer you the glacier lily, extreme botany level 1. This plant falls into
my favorite category, the snowmelt species. Its lemon yellow blossoms unfold just as the ice
begins to retreat from montane meadows. In some instances, you can actually see the
leaves pushing their way through the ice crust. These leaves warm-up in the sun, and help
melt a ring around the plant. If you see the lily at this resolute stage, you are a week or two
early, and must return to see the bloom.
Photo by Gerald D. Carr
Glacier Lily
Although glacier lilies are widespread in the Cascades and Rocky
mountains there are only two locations that I know of in the Coast
Range that harbor this species; Marys Peak and Saddle Mountain
(near Astoria). While most wildflowers in the Valley have a rather
predictable bloom date, glacier lily is comparatively erratic. The
flower timing for this species is dependent on the depth of the
snow pack. A light snow year on Marys Peak might reveal glacier
lilies blooming in April, while a deep snow pack might only release
them in June. To make things challenging, the snow on the
exposed summit may have melted by April, but the trail leading
through dense timber on the shady north slope may still be
covered in snow. The combination of difficult access,
unpredictable flower timing, and a magnificent bloom makes the
extreme botanist fervent in the pursuit of glacier lily!
Spoiler alert. To find glacier lily on Marys Peak watch the snow level from town and hike
to the four-way intersection between the gravel summit road, the east ridge trail and
connector with the Meadow edge trail. This is a few hundred feet below the summit on the
east side of the mountain. In all likelihood, most of the snow on Marys Peak will have
melted from the trail, but if you pursue glacier lily in more extreme locations, I suggest a
pair of ski poles. If you find Marys Peak too tame, and want to take the next rung up the
ladder in extreme botany, I suggest you look in the high Cascades for my personal favorite,
steer’s head (Dicentra uniflora).
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Spring 2013
26
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Notices
Getting Out and About:
Two books to encourage us to go exploring
by Barry Wulff
We often tell people about the “must see” places they need to visit in Oregon. Many of us
make lists and pass them on to friends. Author William Sullivan has gone one better with
his 2011 book “Oregon Favorites: Trails and Tales”. This is the book we should give to
Oregon newcomers. He has selected the special areas all over the state and arranged them
on a monthly basis, starting with the month of March. Some of the sites are challenging to
get to, while others are a gentle stroll. The book is beautifully illustrated with color photos
and his specially crafted maps. He gives good reason why we should visit each site listed.
With this book in hand, one can spend the entire year touring Oregon and never get bored.
What a journey that would be! The last forty pages are devoted to some special far afield
areas he recommends, such as a journey on an Alaskan ferry, a hike in the mountains of
Italy, or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.
For those who want to go farther afield, check out the new book by OSU Press –“Walking
Distance: Extraordinary Hikes for Ordinary People” by Robert and Martha Manning. I wish
that I’d had this book before I began my long-distance trekking. The authors describe
thirty multi-day hikes, some of which are in the American west, such as The Lost Coast and
Paria Canyon. Most of the descriptions, however, are for hikes in Europe. The 33-mile
Milford Track in New Zealand, 60-mile Overland Track in Tasmania, and the Cape
Winelands Walk (60 miles) in South Africa are described. Included are beautiful color
photos of the areas described throughout the book, along with maps and suggestions for
further reading about each trail. The authors provide a good explanation why one should
do each trek and the facilities that are available along the way. My only complaint is that
they I would have included some treks that I’ve done but they hadn’t.
It’s never too late to see some of the world’s most beautiful spots, whether they are in
Oregon or on another continent. Trekking is a relatively inexpensive sport that brings
high physical and emotional rewards.
Oregon By Nature
The Benton County Historical Museum, in
Philomath, is featuring an exhibition of
natural history specimens from the
museum’s collections. “Oregon By
Nature” includes state symbols, a 19th Century Klamath canoe
made from a single fir tree, mammals, birds, fossils, rocks to
demonstrate the diversity, beauty, and mystery of Oregon’s natural environment. The
museum is located on Highway 20/34, 1101 Main Street in Philomath. Hours are Tuesday
through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. The exhibit will be on display for
all of 2013. Call (541) 929-6230 for more information or visit:
http://www.bentoncountymuseum.org
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
Upcoming Events
A Walk in the Woods
June 1st 2013, 7:00pm – to coincide with National Trails Day
Skinner, Burris and Leslie Hogan follow the narrative thread
of Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering
America on the Appalachian Trail”. The part of Bill Bryson is
played by Charles Skinner, Katz by Gary Burris, and the
woman hiker they meet by Leslie Hogan.
The presentation is comprised of excerpts read and enacted
from Bill Bryson’s beloved, laugh-out-loud book. Katz, not
completely clued in to life in general and hiking in particular,
and Bryson, the supposed brains behind this long distance
hiking scheme form a slightly desperate team as they try to
conquer the Appalachian Trail and keep from being driven
mad by the characters they encounter en route.
Local actors – Charles Skinner, Gary Burris
and Leslie Hogan
Charles_s_97325@yahoo.com
Venue: Corvallis First Presbyterian Church
garytwin@gmail.com
Admission fee: $10 donation
qwizats@peak.org
Proceeds to go to MPG General Fund
Misty River Reunion Concert
Saturday, June 8, 2013 - 7:30pm
One of the finest, most entertaining bands in the
Pacific Northwest
MISTY RIVER blends folk, bluegrass, country, Celtic
and original music into a seamless and highly
distinctive Americana sound that has entranced
thousands of fans.
Venue: First Presbyterian Church, Corvallis, 114
SW 8th Street; corner of 8th and Monroe Streets,
opposite Central Park
Ticket price: $18 at Grass Roots Books; $20 at
the door
(Benefit performance for MPG)
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
Come join us for the
Marys Peak Group
Summer Solstice Gala XIII
Dancing Oaks Nursery
Sunday, June 23, 2013 5:00pm to 8:00pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest speaker:
Allen Thompson, Asst. Professor, OSU Dept. of Philosophy
Topic: “Climate Ethics Beyond Injustice”
Live music: Cloud Mountain Ramblers
Bring to share:
salad, side dish, dessert or appetizer
Bring your own:
beverage (alcohol permitted)
We’ll provide:
dinnerware, grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, veggieburgers
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For directions to Dancing Oaks, go to: www.dancingoaks.com
Suggested donation -- $5.00/adult
Raffle with lots of prizes!
Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Fitton Green and Allen Throop Trail to Cardwell Hill Road
Saturday, December 15th, 2012
Photo by Lynn Trimpe
Leader: Janet Throop
From the meadow this group of five
headed downhill on the Throop Trail
to its intersection with the Old
Cardwell Hill Road where they
retraced their route to the top of the
hill. Although it was raining in town,
by the time they got to the upper
parking lot at Fitton Green, the rain
had changed to snow, and the entire
3.2 miles was hiked while
surrounded by beautiful white snow.
Left to right: Marc Ranzoni, Janet Throop, Sue Trautwein and Hilary White.
Riverfront Meander Saturday, December 22nd, 2012
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Barry Wulff
This group of ten spent a
lovely misty afternoon
walking along Corvallis’
Riverfront Park to Pioneer
Park on the Marys River,
followed by a welcome
stop for something hot at
the New Morning Bakery.
Photo taken at the confluence of the Marys and Willamette Rivers.
Left to right: Loretta Rivard, Mike Neeley-Brown, Julie Arrington,
Ken Williams, Cherill Boissonou, Joe Raia, Hilary White, Robert White
and Miriam Richards.
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Spring 2013
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THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
New Year’s Day Walk - Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Photos by Barry Wulff
Leader: Doris deLespinasse
Beautiful sunshine drew forty-three
hikers to Walnut Park in West
Corvallis to celebrate the first of the
year with a four-mile ramble. Doris
deLespinasse led the group through
woods
and open
fields and
on steep
roadways
for two
hours
before inviting everyone to her house for hot chocolate and
more conversations. It was a great way to meet old friends and
make some new ones as well. Our January 1st outing has
become a tradition to be enjoyed by everyone. Perhaps you’ll
join us next year.
Vineyard Mountain Loop - Saturday, January 5th, 2013
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Marilyn Syverson
This traditional 6.5-mile loop on gravel roads started at the Lewisburg
Saddle with an uphill start, an uphill finish and a long gradual downhill in
the middle. Rain gear was necessary, but the weather did not deter these
13 hardy folks who participated with enthusiasm.
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Spring 2013
31
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MPG Past Outings
Finley Wildlife Refuge - Sunday, January 6th, 2013
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Barry Wulff
Twenty-two people joined in this leisurely walk on both the
Woodpecker Loop Trail and the Homer Campbell Boardwalk.
Those with their bird books and binoculars were not disappointed
on this cool, rainy and sunny day.
Section 36 and Powder House Loop Trail
Wednesday, January 9th, 2013
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Leslie Hogan
Back to Top
This hike offered a variety of
ecosystems as the
participants went up one side
of the mountain and down
the other with nice views of
an enchanting little valley
from the top. The recent
rains made for a lush green
canopy for most of the
beautiful outing.
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THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Trip to Kauai - Sat.-Sun., January 12-20, 2013
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Barry Wulff
Aloha! What a way to beat the
winter doldrums, by escaping
to this tropical Garden Island
in Hawaii! Celebrating after a
week in paradise, are:
Left to right, Monika Shepherd, Mary Small, Lynn Hall, Dave
Hackenyos, Kathy Hackenyos, Willy Mayer, Brenda Summers, Doreene
Carpenter, Brude Encke, Tasha Wulff Proudfoot holding daughter
Alice, Nick Proudfoot, Denise Nervik, Steve Snyder, John Nervik, Kay
Yates and Mike Brantley.
Leader: David Anderson
A wonderful weekend of skiing,
snowshoeing, and jollity was enjoyed by 17
participants at Clear Lake Resort, near
Santiam Pass.
Days were a
treat with
blue skies and
sunshine, as well as plenty of snow.
Evenings in the cabin were replete with
delicious food and great conversation.
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Spring 2013
33
Photos by Bruce Encke
Clear Lake Ski Weekend
Friday-Sunday, February 1-3, 2013
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
McDowell Creek Falls - Sunday, February 3rd, 2013
Photo by Barry Wulff
Leader: Steve Snyder
A group of seven enjoyed this beautiful
1.5 mile loop, which lies in the foothills
of the Cascades, has two impressive
waterfalls with sturdy bridges for
viewing, and delightful trails along the
picturesque McDowell Creek.
Photo by Bruce Encke
Silver Creek Falls
Saturday, February 9th, 2013
Very full and rapid ten waterfalls greeted
this group on the tree-lined trail at Silver
Falls, one of Oregon’s premier sights. The
hearty 7-mile hike was rewarded by a stop
in the historic lodge afterwards to eat
their lunches by the fire.
Left to right: Chris Williams, Lynn Hall, Cyndia Wells, Patti
McCarthy, Judi Ellison, Bob Custer and Vic Russell
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Leader: Bruce Encke
Spring 2013
34
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Intensive Management Trail - Sunday, February 10th, 2013
Leader: Robert Verhoogen
Photos by Dave Rabinowitz
With forester / forest engineer, Steve Pilkerton as a guide, this group of ten was
treated to a fascinating look into the forestry management practices, stopping at
the numbered trailside markers along the Intensive Management Trail in Peavy
Arboretum.
Brandenburg Shelter
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013
Leader: Sam Miller
Photo by Sam Miller
Starting at Ray
Benson Sno-Park,
this group enjoyed an
easy six-mile crosscountry ski to
Brandenburg Shelter
in the Santiam Pass
area where they had
lunch before
returning.
Left to right: Bob Smythe, Ramona Gerig, Molly Hannah, Joanne DeMay
and Don Kuhns.
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Spring 2013
35
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Coal Rally in Salem - Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
Photos by Barry Wulff
In an effort to make their voices heard and ensure that Oregon does not open up
the floodgates to dirty coal exports, about 300 people including a contingent of
about 40 from Corvallis, took the message to the steps of the Capitol in Salem. It
was a way to “sound the alarm” by the Sierra Club and its partners in the Power
Past Coal coalition.
Mulkey Creek Loop
Thursday, March 14th, 2013
Leader: Barry Wulff
Photo by Joe Raia
This group of nine folks enjoyed a
sunny morning as they passed
through open farmland, and then a
beautiful shaded ravine with giant
alders and oaks, lush with moss. The
upper portion had some statuesque
old native white oak trees. Left to right: Linda St. Pierre, Lucy Oxenhandler, Barry
Wulff, Sally Shaw, Susan Nevin, Hilary White, Joan Hayes,
Greg Hayes
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Spring 2013
36
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Ona Beach to Seal Rock
Saturday, March 16th, 2013
Leader: Bruce Encke
Photo by Bruce Encke
This group enjoyed a cool, brisk hike
along the beautiful beach at one of the
Oregon Coast’s most scenic spots.
Scientists say that 15 million years ago
the lava forming Seal Rock flowed all the
way across Oregon from an area near
Hells Canyon. Thus it is the toe of one of
the greatest lava floods in history.
Left to right: Patti McCarthy, Andi Stephens, Bruce
Encke, Karl McCreary, Lori Sleeman, Larry Sleeman,
Robert White, Hilary White, Don Weller
Outings Leader Training
Friday-Sunday, March 22-24, 2013
A group of new and renewing Oregon Sierra Club outings
leaders gathered at Camp Adams in Molalla, OR for training by
representatives from National.
It was an intense weekend of
outdoor training and
camaraderie. Four new outings
leaders for the Marys Peak
Group were among the group.
Photo by Bruce Encke
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Spring 2013
37
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Forests through Time
Saturday, March 23rd, 2013
Leader: Barbara Loeb
Photo by Barbara Loeb
This hike along the Old Growth and New Growth trails
in MacDonald Forest was made unique with the
guidance of botanist and forest ecologist Howard
Bruner. The hikers walked and listened to his
information on the ways our forests work. Howard's
goal had been to help us see the forest in new ways,
and he succeeded.
SOLVE Beach Cleanup
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Leader: Barry Wulff
Photo by Barry Wulff
Each winter Oregon’s beaches accumulate lots of debris that the storms
bring in. Since we Oregonians love our beaches, MPG sent a group to once
again participate in the annual spring beach clean-up organized by SOLVE.
For the 21 people who showed up, it was a real treat to be greeted by a
beautiful cloudless day in the 70s while walking the two miles of beach. All
enjoyed lunch at a local seafood restaurant afterward.
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Spring 2013
38
THE BENCHMARK
MPG Past Outings
Photo by Joanne DeMay
Spring Basin Wilderness Backpack
Friday-Sunday, March 29-31, 2013 Leader: Joanne DeMay
This special area on the John Day River across from the former Rajneeshpuram allowed us to
start the backpack season early. Over the three days, this group of 12 hiked a total of 15 miles
and ascended 2,500 feet of elevation. The weather cooperated beautifully, making this a very
memorable weekend.
Show your support for MPG by purchasing a special
Marys Peak Group T-shirt!
Photo by Ricardo Small
Pre-shrunk neutral ash gray cotton
Women’s – S, M, L, and XL
Men’s – S, M, L, and XL
Back to Top
Spring 2013
$10 EACH!
To purchase yours, contact
Jane Luther, janeluth@gmail.com, or
541-758-8279
39
THE BENCHMARK
GET INVOLVED!
Y
ou joined the Sierra Club because you like the outdoor life, or because you want to
support the environment. The Marys Peak Group offers opportunities to engage more
actively in both. Here are a few areas you may wish to involve yourself.
Trail maintenance/Building: Leading outings: Enjoy
Conservation/Sustainability:
Political activism: How about Graphics/Illustration: Have
Fundraising: Do you like to
Interest in working on local
and regional trails? There’s a
regular schedule for trail
building
and maintenance here in the
Willamette Valley. Contact:
Ray Drapek at
raydrapek@gmail.com
working with people in group You may be interested in
settings? How about leading an specific environmental issues,
outing, such as a snowshoe or and would be willing to attend
ski trip, hike, rafting adventure, meetings of government
backpack or special field trip of agencies to monitor their
interest? Training is available. activities and testify at hearings.
Contact: Irene Schoppy at
Contact: Debra Higbee-Sudyka
iameyers@yahoo.com
at dwhigbe@juno.com
engaging in lobbying? Would
you be willing to become
involved in political issues
relating to the environment or
supporting a candidate for
election? Contact: Debra
Higbee-Sudyka at
dwhigbe@juno.com
you graphics and illustration
skills? Have access to desktop
publishing software? Like
making displays for events
and booths? Contact: Barry
Wulff at wulffb@peak.org
Membership: Do you like to
communicate with people? Are you able
to organize tabling events? Help assure
the future of the environment by getting
more people interested and involved in
MPG activities. Contact: Christy Stevens
at Christy.stevens@linnbenton.edu or
541-753-4353.
promote activities for
organizations? Like to meet
people? How about producing
concerts or managing a party?
Do you have fundraising
skills? Contact: Barry Wulff at
wulffb@peak.org
Writing/Photography: You like
to write? Would you like to
research an issue and then write
about it? Are you handy with a
digital camera? Want to show off
your camera skills? Contact:
Barry Wulff at wulffb@peak.org
SIGN-UP FOR THE WEEKLY EMAIL
The Marys Peak Group offers many activities other than those listed in the
Benchmark. Our weekly email announces upcoming events and activities with
complete contact information. You may sign-up to receive the weekly email
by sending a note to Jane Luther at janeluth@gmail.com.
Or, if you have a Google account, you can subscribe by going to:
http://groups.google.com/group/marys-peak-group/ subscribe and choose
“E-mail - send each message to me as it arrives” (the message “Approximately
1 e-mail per day” is incorrect; MPG weekly email will be sent once a week.)
Your email will not be shared with other entities.
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