Join the Cascadia Wildlands family on a hike and campout in the historic Warner Creek forest east of Oakridge to celebrate our 20th year as an organization fighting for wild landscapes and threatened species throughout Cascadia. We’ll spend the afternoon hiking across Bunchgrass Ridge through the fire area, learning about fire ecology from resident experts, hearing stories from Cascadia’s forest defense history and taking our celebration into the night with a group dinner and campout in this beloved forest. This is a kiddo-friendly event!
Details:
-Hike leaves August 25th at noon from the Willamette National Forest Bunchgrass Ridge trailhead (past the blockade on FS Road 2408)
-Optional carpools leaves at 10:00 am, from the parking lot on the east side of the Cascadia office, 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd (Mahonia Building).
-6pm Optional dinner & campout. Cascadia will provide a group dinner on Saturday night. Bring your own lunch for Saturday, breakfast for Sunday, lots of water, sunblock and any personal gear you need for spending the night at 4,000 feet in the Oregon Cascades. (Come self sufficient!)
In 1995-1996, Warner Creek was the site of a protest blockade where forest defenders banded together to protect the beloved forest from a reckless post-fire clearcutting proposal. For 11 months, through hard weather, winter snows, and limited supplies, activists maintained the blockade and built a community of resistance. After significant public pressure and opposition, the Clinton administration cancelled the clearcutting plans. Today, the Warner Creek forest is a living example of a healthy post-fire ecosystem and a reminder of the power of environmental action.
Born out of this forest defense movement, Cascadia Wildlands has continued to defend and restore Cascadia’s wild places for 20 years through education, grassroots organizing, policy creation and strategic litigation. From winning protections for threatened species, to resisting fossil fuel development and keeping beloved public lands out of the hands of Big Timber, we’re celebrating lasting victories and gearing up for the work that’s to come.