Welcome to Columbia Group Outings!

Louse Canyon Fullmoon Backpacking trip
July 3rd - July 7th

Strenuous 50 miles, 1000 ft elevation gain.

Very rugged. No trails, 50 miles of incredible scenery. Rated in Lorain's Backpacking Oregon an 8 (or 10) in scenery, 10 in solitude, and 10 in difficulty.

This is an extremely remote and rugged hike down the canyon of the West Little Owyhee River. The canyon features towering cliffs, colonnades and pinnacles, pools of water reflecting canyon walls, and wildlife. The hike is extraordinarily rough and should be contemplated only by very experience and well equipped hikers willing to expend an enormous amount of both physical and mental energy to enjoy this adventure.

50 miles of Canyon exploration. Hike requires a shuttle (drivers available locally) For the serious, experienced backpacker only. Hiking 10-15 miles per day, sun-up to sun-down.

Requested donation $15 made payable to the Columbia group of the Sierra Club.

Sign up at http://www.meetup.com/Portland-Hiking-Group/calendar/10680954/

Wildlife Walk, Balch Creek, Lower Macleay Park, Portland
July 10, Friday

Easy, 3 miles, 500 ft Elevation Gain

Join wildlife biologist Tierra Curry on an easy 3 mile hike to look for salamanders and birds. The partially paved somewhat level trail runs along a creek through old-growth forest uphill to a pond. Children welcome. No dogs.

Pre-registration required by July 10th.

Meet at 6:30 pm at the trailhead at NW 29th Ave & Upshur St.

Leader: Tierra Curry tcurry@biologicaldiversity.org or 503-989-2148.

Sierra City Sunday Strolls - Washington Park Zoo to Goose Hollow
July 12, Sunday

4 miles (500 feet elevation loss.)

On this gentle downhill stroll we'll pass many Washington Park highlights like the Vietnam Memorial, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Holocost Memorial and end at the Goose Hollow Max stop. An optional stop at the Goose Hollow Inn for some of the best pub food in the city. You may Max home from here or catch the Max back to the Zoo to pick up our car.

Meet above ground at the Zoo Max stop elevator at 2:00 p.m. If you prefer to drive please allow enough time to park. Projected end time is 5:00 p.m. Well behaved dogs on leashes welcome.

Reservations required by July 11th; lauren73223@gmail.com or (503) 228-1417.

Tryon Creek State Park
July 16, Thursday

2 miles, 500 feet

Join a salmon biologist and learn about issues facing the Tryon Creek watershed and the salmon that still live in the area. Meet 6:30 P.M. at the nature center.

Leader: Jeff Fryer jeff.fryer@oregon.sierraclub.org

Family Nature Walk - Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion
July 18, Saturday

Easy 3.8 mile 850 ft. elevation gain

This is one of the best-known hikes in Forest Park. This easily accessible in-town hike features charming Balch Creek, lush forests, and a Victorian-era mansion with an expansive view of downtown Portland, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. We’ll meet at the Lower Macleay Park trailhead. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead, but there are bathrooms available at the Pittock Mansion. Pre-registration required by July 17. This outing is open to the public.

Pre-registration required by July 17

9:00 AM until noon.

For more information, contact Jean Rystrom at (503) 282-2905 or rydick@toast.net.

Table Rock Wilderness Hike
July 19, Sunday

Difficult, 6.7 mile round trip, 1600 ft elevation gain.

Join Kim Kelly and Brian Pasko for a hike into this rare Wilderness near Molalla, designated in 1984 and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. We’ll start on the South side of the Wilderness, hike through mature forest, past Rooster Rock and the surrounding wildflowers, and then tackle Table Rock where, on a clear day, we’ll view at least 10 volcanoes (Mt. Saint Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, and the North, Middle, and South Sisters). (See photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/brian.pasko/).

From the top we’ll also see the impacts of the clear cutting outside of the wilderness area, and talk about the Sierra Club’s efforts to designate new Wilderness in Oregon and protect our wild forests. Be warned that this hike is not a cakewalk. We’ll keep a moderate pace, but this hike involves several significant climbs and descents, both to Rooster Rock and Table Rock, and participants should be prepared to work for incredible rewards at the top of these features.

Bring sturdy shoes, plenty of water, snacks, and appropriate clothing. Well behaved dogs are allowed on this hike with permission of the outings leaders. Limit 12 people. Meet at 9 am at the Sierra Club office (1821 SE Ankeny Street, Portland), return around 6 pm. There is a small donation requested from each individual or group to help support the Sierra Club’s outings and conservation programs.

Please pre-register with Kim Kelly at kim.m.kelly@gmail.com or 503-704-0369.

Kayak - Cascadia Marine Trail (CMT) Puget Sound
July 23 to 26, Thursday to Sunday

This is an intermediate 4 day, 3 night paddling adventure for those folks who are already comfortable on the water in a sea kayak, have at least intermediate paddling skills, competence with wet exits and assisted re-entries, and enjoy being part of an enthusiastic paddling group.

The CMT was established in the early 1990’s and offers paddling opportunities from southern Puget Sound to the San Juan Islands. This trip offers island camping, fun kayaking with good friends and fellow paddling enthusiasts,laughter and stories, evenings around the campfire, marine life, the smell of salt water and the sights and sounds of sea birds. If this appeals to you, consider joining us.

The trip will be co-led by Lehman Holder, a 36-year Sierra Club outings leader veteran in the West, Midwest and Southern regions of the United States and Jim Geltz, a national Sierra Club outings leader and national water outings chair. Participation will be limited to six kayakers.

Pre-registration is required and attendance at a June 14 planning meeting is desirable. This outing is open to the public. For more information, contact Lehman Holder, at (360) 944-7957 or tripsguy@aol.com.

Sierra City Sunday Strolls - Washington Park Zoo to the Arboretum
July 26, Sunday

4 miles (200 elevation gain and loss.)

This beautiful loop has us strolling through open meadows, past views of Mount Hood and through stands of giant sequoia and oak trees. The Arboretum is called natures living museum and we'll see why as we enjoy all this area has to offer. This hike ends back at the Zoo.

Meet above ground at the Zoo Max stop elevator at 2:00 p.m. If you prefer to drive please allow enough time to park. Projected end time is 5:00 p.m. Well behaved dogs on leashes welcome.

Reservations required by July 11th; lauren73223@gmail.com or (503) 228-1417.

Ramona Falls Hike
August 8, Sunday

Moderate, 7.1 mile round trip, 1000 ft elevation gain.

Join Kim Kelly and Brian Pasko for one of the most beautiful hikes into designated Wilderness in the Mt. Hood National Forest. You’ll walk past the glacier-fed Sandy River and see lots of rhododendron, mossy alder forests, cascading mountain streams, occasional glimpses of Mt. Hood, and of course gorgeous, stair-stepped, basalt-faced, 120-foot Ramona Falls. (See photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/brian.pasko/).

Sam Barlow discovered this gem in 1845 when he attempted to pioneer a wagon route around Mt. Hood. While on the hike you can also learn about the Sierra Club’s recent efforts to pass 125,000 acres of new Wilderness on Mt. Hood earlier this year, and how you can get involved in helping us protect the next set of Oregon’s special places.

We’ll keep a moderate pace and leave plenty of time for photographs. Bring sturdy shoes, plenty of water, snacks, and appropriate clothing. Well behaved dogs are allowed on this hike with permission of the outings leaders. Limit 12 people.

Meet at 9 am at the Sierra Club office (1821 SE Ankeny Street, Portland), return around 4 pm. A $5-per-car Recreation Fee Pass (Northwest Forest Pass) is required for vehicles left at the trailhead. A small donation is requested from each individual or group to help support the Sierra Club’s outings and conservation programs.

Please pre-register with Kim Kelly at kim.m.kelly@gmail.com or 503-704-0369.