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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2002)
Summer Getaways Special httpyAvww.dailyemerald.com Eugene Oregon Volume 104, Issue 11 r,ratings from Baldy Baldy offers relaxation with views of Eugene Those who have been to Spencer Butte know that the view of Eu gene appears ant-like and distant from such elevation, and that the hike to the top can be strenuous on a hot summer day. The Skinner Observatory, near Alton Baker Park, has a pleasant view of downtown but little else to offer. If you are disap pointed, like my self, by the lack of decent vistas around Eugene, then the small knoll known as Baldy is a place to consider. It has an excellent po sition on the east ridge of the South Hills, from which you can view the expanse of the southern Willamette Valley. To get there, take Pearl Street to 30th Avenue, turn right on Hilyard, then drive to the next light. T\im left on Amazon Drive East and fol low it for approximately one-and-a-half miles. From this intersection, turn left on Dillard Road for another mile and a half. There will be a brown hiker symbol on the left side of the road and very little parking, but further down the street is enough room for a few mid-sized cars. There are two routes to the top, the first being the South Hills Ridgeline trail that runs through a meadow and off to the left. The second trail is less maintained, runs up a small hill and follows the ridgeline to the left. Either way is nearly half a mile up a modest Turn to Jones,page 6 Adam Jones Photo editor ^ftingsfrom Sk inner Butte Greetings from Crater Lake Let your worries float down river Getaways are about state of mind. On occasion, it be comes a necessity to leave things behind. But under time constraints, pressures and responsibilities, summer travel plans aren’t always vi able options. When it’s impossible to re move yourself from whatever troubles are weighing you down, do the next best thing: Free your thoughts. Eugene has a handful of out door activities that can relax, challenge and inspire the best of us. Both are within minutes of campus and take up only a few hours of the day. Brad Schmidt Sports editor I Butte-iful H When things are dragging and W, people are nagging, escape to En» V gene’s highest point and take in the breathtaking scenery. At 2,062 feet, Spencer Butte rests among Eugene’s South Hills but towers over its neighbors. To get to the Butte, go south on Willamette Street. It’s pretty simple. PaSs all the stores, all die restaurants and most of the hills. On the left side of the street is a small lot to park and begin the trek to the top. Climbing Spencer Butte is a bit of a challenge, even on the desig nated route. The path winds around the hillside for about two miles. Toward the top is where the fun be gins. Rocks line the peak, allowing the opportunity to do some safe, semi-demanding climbing. I’ve seen parents carry kids on their shoulders, so it isn’t that hard. The in cline is noticeable, however, so expect to work up a sweat. The view atop the Butte is amazing but a bit distant. Head to the north end of the Butte to see familiar loca tions, or stay at the south for a tran quil glance at the valley and sur rounding hills. A pair of binoculars would be a worthwhile addition, but even without an optical aide it’s easy to recognize landmarks. Down town, Autzen Stadium and the bright green athletic field at the University Recreation Center all stand out like sore thumbs. As calming and magnificent as the view is, peace of mind lies in closing your eyes and letting the wind blow through your hair. The climb takes about 45 minutes and the trip down goes by even faster. Bring a couple bottles of wa ter along to savor the time at the top. Toss me a cold one Water and sun go together like Turn to Schmidt, page 6 Oregonians celebrate 100 years of Crater Lake National Park The centennial ceremony of the park is scheduled to run from Aug. 23 to 25, and may feature an appearance from President George W. Bush on Aug. 24 By Jillian Daley Oregon Daily Emerald Glorious cerulean water, 100 years of national park history and President George W. Bush may have something in common this summer for savvy tourists to enjoy. Crater Lake National Park is holding a public centennial celebration from Aug. 23 to 25, and ru mor has it President Bush may be coming to speak on Aug. 24, park spokesman Brad Nehring said. For those interested in attending the celebra tion or just visiting Crater Lake, it’s less than a day trip away, about three to three-and-a-half hours, depending on the route taken. Visitors may attend for the lovely sightsee ing or just for the chance of catching a presi dential address. However, there is another president involved in Crater Lake’s history. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill imbuing Crater Lake with national park status on May 22,1902. In the late 1800s, William Gladstone Steele was the driving force behind making Crater Lake a national park. Steele fought for the lake’s environmental preservation after reading an ar ticle about it in a newspaper in 1870. The National Park’s history is complex, and so is its birthday. Aug. 25 is the anniversary of the day that Con gress passed the legislation creating the U.S. Park Service in 1916, park historian Steve Mark said. This date, rather than the May 22 bill signing, is combined with the year the park was established, making the official centennial celebration Aug. 2 5. On Aug. 23, the park will celebrate its birth day with a public reception at 1 p.m. at Rim Vil lage. Entertainment includes a one-act, one-man play, and there will be a cake, park spokesman Kevin Bacher said. “There’ll be walks and talks and kids pro grams, lots of different things focusing on the history of the park,” Bacher said. On Aug. 24, a ranger-lead walk will show in terested visitors the new exhibits in the park museum, as well as the glorious hiking sites that feed the visual senses, which is one of the Park’s main draws, he said. “The lake is unlike anything else in the world; the beauty is just extraordinary,” Bacher said. “It contains some of the clearest, purist and most pristine water. “Crater lake is blue, blue, blue,” he said. Turn to Crater Lake, page 5
