Snowy Spencer Butte, Eugene, Oregon

I had no idea trying to get a picture of Eugene was going to include traversing ice, snow and mud. This is the Willamette Valley after all, we are known for mild weather and rain.

My current main website photo is of the beautiful Cape Creek Bridge in Florence. https://exploreeugeneenjoyoregon.com/cape-creek-bridge-florence-oregon/ I love the stark white of the bridges’ concrete against the lush green of the trees around it. But I want one of Eugene. Of the Eugene I love: green trees, wild flowers and blue skies. 

The typical Eugene photo is from the top of Skinners Butte looking over our busy downtown. Knowing this I drove over to Skinners Butte, but the drive to the top wasn’t opened. After all it was the first nice weekend since the snow had slowed the city to a grinding halt. This wasn’t a record breaking snow but it was close. When we got to Skinners Butte it was evident that everyone else had the same idea, to go to the top. People were parking on the side of the road and walking up the drive. The street is wide enough for two cars to pass but when people park on either side it becomes really tight. Too close for my comfort so I thought maybe Spencer Butte. 

Now its maybe been two decades since I have climbed Spencer Butte. And I honestly thought we could drive to the top like Skinners Butte. But you can’t. I wasn’t prepared for a climb. But we didn’t know that until we got there.

Hiking Spencer Butte

On the drive out to Spencer Butte we saw just how much damage the snow had made, the roads were clear but the edge of the road and bike paths were filled with tree branches and snow. Once we passed the parking area for Ridgeline Trail we found the entrance for Spencer Butte but it was closed. The snow was so dense and packed that it would be atleast another week or more before it would be opened. So we went back to the Ridgeline Trail and parked in the overflow parking on 52nd and Willamette and decided we would walk. All I could think was “Look! There’s tons of people, we can hike too!”. There were so many people out hiking. We also saw dog of all sizes enjoying the trail, dogs are welcome on the Ridgeline Trail as long as they are on a leash.

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There was still snow on the ground in places that the sun didn’t hit. It was alittle muddy but that was to be expected in Oregon. Once we got into the trees there was snow, lots of snow. Enough to have a snow ball fight (which we did). We were able to walk through the snow just fine but the higher we got the more snow there was and the icier it became. A lot of people slipped and fell but we didn’t see any injures. About a half a mile in we did talk to another group who said to expect to be climbing over or under trees in the trail to reach the top.

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Once we got to the first switch back, about a mile in, that was enough for me. I wasn’t willing to go any further. Heading back down that one switch back was touchy. My husband went in front of me and I slipped. Thankfully their was a group waiting and another hiker put out her hand for me and I caught it. Had I not, it would have been a bumpy slid down. I had fashion boots on, but give me a break I thought I was getting out of the car taking a picture and getting back in the car. I wasn’t planning on hiking.

My husband on the other hand was prepared. He had his combat boots on which gave him great grip and ankle support.  We all made it down the mountain just fine but I didn’t get my picture. I didn’t do my research and I didn’t account for the crazy snowy weather we had just had. If I had done my research I would have known to wear proper boots, bring water and to think about how the weather could have effected the butte.

And that what I want this blog to be about, to give you first hand experiences, even if its not perfect, to help you prepare for your Oregon adventure. We will be heading back this summer when I know there will be no snow and I will have proper boots! Cute proper boots with good grip and ankle support. I’ll let you know how that hike goes!