About us
This group is for anyone interested in our main focus--backpacking, along with camping, hiking, and wilderness adventures (snowshoeing, and snow camping). All skill levels are welcome, from the true day-hiker beginner ready to make the very first leap into backpacking on a beginner-friendly overnight trip, to individuals wanting to do nice 1 or 2-night trips with moderate mileages, to the well-seasoned and traveled backpacker wanting to crush 10+ mile days on a multi-day trip.
That said, not every trip will be suited for beginners. Any specific considerations for a given trip will be clearly disclosed in each and every trip write-up. In this group, we will definitely be seeking out the roads less traveled - wilderness over development. That simply means that we will be focusing on getting into areas that aren’t always the most traveled. This is good because we get to see things that others typically will not. This can be frustrating as well because there is not always a way to know trail conditions (blow-downs, snow, overgrowth, etc.) in advance. While it is my belief that there is a certain beauty in not knowing everything ahead of time, I do pride myself in trying to assemble as much information for a given trip ahead of time.
****PLEASE NOTE**** Backpacking and associated outdoor activities are not without risk. While every single attempt will be made to keep the safety of our members a top priority while drawing on a breadth of experience, I cannot guarantee your safety. The fact is, it is ‘safer’ to stay at home on the couch in the comfort of your own home without ever, ever leaving the house--that’s if you discount the health risks of an inactive and sedentary lifestyle. It has been my experience that there are far, far, far more ways to be injured or worse in a city situation (including something as mundane as crossing the street while walking to a store) than there are in the wild; the truth is that people can be injured in the wild. Again, this is not intended to scare anyone. This is simply fact.
BY ATTENDING CO TRAILHEADS GROUP EVENTS, YOU AGREE TO HOLD CO TRAILHEADS AND ITS ORGANIZERS, HARMLESS FROM ANY LIABILITY RESULTING IN INJURY, ILLNESS, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
PROFILE PICTURES: It is mandatory that all members post their real name (last names are optional), a "mug shot" of themselves (not a logo, or picture of a mountain vista or your dog or cat). There are a few reasons: it allows the event hosts to seek you out and recognize you (taking role call), #2 allows fellow attendees to recognize you (as they may wish to resume a conversation). #3 In the event of a mishap on the trail, having your name and a recognizable picture of yourself would aid Search and Rescue in finding you.
Thanks again for joining.
Tom Cappy | Organizer
Upcoming events
11
Day trip/recon to Crater Lake National Park
The Pourhouse Grill, 61276 S Hwy 97, Bend, OR, USFor many of us who've been here before, it's hard to describe to someone who hasn't, just how blue the blue is. Am I right?
And so we're off to Crater Lake--the deepest lake in North America! There's also much to see and do enroute. We'll stop at the Rogue River Gorge Interpretive Site, the Falls as well as the Natural Bridge--a point located along the upper reaches of the Rogue River, is where the magic happens. At this point, the Rogue River disappears underground into a 250-foot lava tube, with a small amount of water escaping from the tube, forming a pool under the bridge!
Come wintertime the national park and the surrounding area is magical. At the lake, the contrast of the blue water against the white of the snow is absolutely breathtaking.
General itinerary:
8:00 am Depart parking area as stated under location.
10:30 Stop at Natural Bridge
11:30 Arrive southern entrance to Crater Lake NP.What's open: Steele Information Center, Rim Drive from southern entrance, Rim Cafe and Gift Shop.
What's closed: Rim Visitor Center, Sinnott Memorial Overlook, North Entrance Road and Rim Drive, Crater Lake Lodge, gas station.
4:00-5 Arrive Union Station, dine at Beckie's (its known for homemade fruit pies).
We should be back up in Bend ~ 6:30-7:00pm.What to bring? Day pack, 10 Essentials, snowshoes, microspikes, trekking poles with snow baskets; gloves, a beanie, sunscreen, sunglasses (fingers crossed!), snacks, and water.
It takes 2 hours to get there from the appointed rendezvous spot. *I have an "America the Beautiful" Pass that will waive the park entry fee for at least four of us in one vehicle. If you have one, or similiar, bring it.
4 attendeesFull Moon / Lunar Eclipse Camping at Crater Lake NP, 1 night
The Pourhouse Grill, 61276 S Hwy 97, Bend, OR, USEdited 1/25/26. A new plan. The southern drive to the rim is open. With that, here's what's before us...
General itinerary:
Tuesday, 3rd
9:00 am Depart Oblivion Pour House Grill
11:30 Arrive southern entrance to Crater Lake NP: park/lake.
We must get a wilderness permit from the Steel Visitor center.
We drive up to the rim, drop off all our gear. Some 'one' or everyone but the driver stays with the gear (a group decision). The driver (daypack) then must hike up Raven Trail to the rim. The reverse upon our return.
01:00pm arrive Discovery Point, make camp.Wednesday, 4th
10:00am depart campground. *The driver hikes back down Raven Trail, brings car back up to rendezvous spot.
11:00am, breakfast at Beckie's (its known for homemade fruit pies).
We should be back up in Bend -or- drive back to Bend.
It takes 2.5 hours via the southern route (RT62 via Chiloquin), and 3 hours via Diamond Peak and south.What to bring? ALL YOUR COLD WEATHER GEAR. DO bring extra guy lines and snow pegs. Microspikes just in case.
Monitor the conditions here. Here too.
I'll need a couple of drivers with "America the Beautiful" or similar passes to volunteer their 4WD, or AWD vehicles. We all pitch in $15 for gas. *I have an "America the Beautiful" Pass that will waive the park entry fee for at least four of us in one vehicle.
PLAN B, should we be thwarted once again, if we'd like to continue the Full Moon theme: April 1st, May 1st, June 29th, and July 28th. So we wait and see. Again, fingers crossed.
The end time is approximate.
4 attendees
Past events
176
