hikes Willamette Valley

The first fall 2022 Ridgeline Trail hike planned as a ‘fast hike’ end to end started at 36 degrees, clear skies, and a dry trail. Willamette Valley Fall starts once a multi-day rain storm clears the dust and smoke after the fall equinox. Two side-trips up / down Spencer Butte added both photo vistas and elevation gain. The Route Spring Blvd trailhead to Spencer Butte top; down to Blanton St trailhead; repeat opposite direction (EastKeep Reading …

With a short time window for a day hike (7:00 – 11:00) and a delivery on the way to make, I made for Spring Blvd trailhead on the Ridgeline Trail – objective was to touch the top of Spencer Butte 3x and cover at least 10 miles. Fast hiking (thru-hike style) with a camera on Ridgeline Trail! The Spring Blvd trailhead is 15 minute drive with a stop, and remains the safest Ridgeline TH inKeep Reading …

For an early October hike with smoke from Cedar Creek Fire filling the valley, the Ridgeline trail offered a fast hike treat. The hike started at Spring Blvd then to Spencer Butte, then to Willamette Blvd, back to Spencer and then back to the car – with 3x touching the top of Spencer Butte. Starting off and even at Fox Hollow there were no other hikers and the smoke / fog was thick. At theKeep Reading …

Great friends joined us Saturday, Sept 17, for a quick early afternoon hike up Spencer Butte from the N. Willamette Trailhead (All Trails). We timed the hike while the Oregon Ducks played football removing a majority of other people from the trail – it worked out as there were few people for mid-Saturday without rain. What struck me after looking at the few pics was the difference when looking west vs looking east – theKeep Reading …

Sometimes, one just has to bite the bullet and do the hard work … maintaining elevation gain capability while on a week of ‘rest’ from backpacking. Sitting around or walking around level city walkways does not cut it. So, off to Spencer Butte for a short elevation gain exercise time-boxed to leave around 7 and return around 11. The weather was cooler than recently with fog and mist so heavy that it dripped to theKeep Reading …

For a second year, Summer Solstice sunrise around Spence Butte was the start of summer. Last year’s pics were more remarkable given the unstable skies. This year, after several days of rain, the forest was booming big and green, the trail just the right moisture (though probably the last soft dirt Spencer hike of the season). This year, it was up early and heading toward the Spring Blvd TH before 4:30. The skies were justKeep Reading …

A Strawberry Supermoon in 2022 pulled me out for an early jaunt on Ridgeline Trail and up / down Spencer Butte a few times. Sunrise (so moonset inverse) was pegged around 5:30 and the weather had clear skies not past 6:00 – so a small window to catch the moon. I chose to NOT go before 5:00 given the recent trailhead vandalism, so I left home for the Spring Blvd trailhead around 5:00. On theKeep Reading …

A thru-hike simulation is about finding a groove (pace) that is sustainable all day over changing terrain, and then again the next day. While Hardesty Mountain trail to Mt. June was first choice, the carbon karma was too high; for 30 minutes of total carbon cost, the Ridgeline Trail & Spencer Butte was the better choice. I left the Spring Blvd (the safest!) trailhead before 06:15 with the intent to cover at least 20 miles.Keep Reading …

After 2 longer river hikes, some elevation work was needed to keep old legs, heart and lungs conditioned. Carbon karma was a big issue as well given the drives to Rogue and Enchanted Valley. Spencer Butte carries a 30 min (round trip) carbon tax and elevation work is possible if you cover your tracks … this hike was to go from Fox Hollow to N. Willamette TH (on Ridgeline Trail) Start = Fox Hollow THKeep Reading …

To keep up the endurance gained last week on Rogue River (post), a ‘fast-hike’ the full length of Ridgeline Tr (Spring Bvld to Blanton) and topping Spencer Butte twice. Hit the trail around 6:30 carrying lightly packed NorthFace 20L pack and for first time this season, wearing Topo trail runners, intending to do the out / up / up / back without stopping as fast as feasible. To the top first time Getting going itKeep Reading …