LGBTQ+ Eagle Creek Trail Ambassador Training Hike

Hike Leader: Loren P.

Hike Distance: 4.7 miles total

Elevation Gain: 1,046 ft

Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Hike Overview:

Near Bonneville, Oregon, in the Columbia River Scenic Corridor, the Eagle Creek Trailhead is a popular area for hiking and trail running. There are many routes to take from this trailhead, and we will be doing the 4.7 mile out-and-back Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls hike.

This hike will be led by LGBTQ+ TKO staff and is for LGBTQ+ Trail Ambassadors and interested members of the public. We will be holding space to discuss our thoughts and feelings around being LGBTQ+ in the outdoors and in environmental activist spaces, and how intersectionality comes into play.

We are lucky enough to have along biologist and interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Lisa Weasel! Dr. Weasel is department chair and professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, where they teach numerous courses including Queer Ecologies, which applies intersectional queer theories to concepts of nature and the environment to investigate how gender and sexualities have been central in defining what counts as “natural” for people, places, and practices. Author of two books (and two more in the works!), Dr. Weasel will offer their knowledge and experience from working to connect science and social justice to facilitate a safe and productive discussion about what it means to be LGBTQ+ outdoors and in environmental spaces.

You can learn more about Dr. Weasel’s work at their website, www.lisaweasel.com.

Hiking information:

This trail is a very popular destination in the Columbia River Gorge as the trailhead accesses numerous trails, including multi-day backpacking trips in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness as well as an alternative route for the Pacific Crest Trail. This hike will give us a chance to assess the trailhead as well as gather first hand experience of the hike and surrounding lands to pass along to trail users. This trailhead is available for Trail Ambassador shifts from mid-June to Labor Day.

What to expect:

This is generally considered a moderately difficult hike. The land is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. We ask that you respect all posted signage and stay on the trail. Please dress for the weather and bring plenty of food and water.

We will go over ambassador station set-up and visitor engagement. We will also do a hike so that everybody is familiar with the trail system in this park.

You will be asked to electronically sign the e-waiver for this event and perform a self-assessment health screening within the 24 hours proceeding the event. The hike leader for this event will verify that you have done both of these requirements at the trailhead before the party begins. Your pre-event emails will contain further details and links for both of these requirements.

You should expect to participate in this hike for its entirety. For safety reasons, please do not arrive late or expect to be able to leave early.

COVID-19 Information:

**You will be asked to electronically sign the e-waiver for this event, provide proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test result, and perform a self-assessment health screening within the 24 hours preceding the event.**

The registration confirmation and pre-event emails will contain further details and links.

For a complete list of COVID specific safety measures, see our safety manual, available here.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Lunch + snacks
• A pack to carry your water, snacks, lunch and other items in.

What to wear:

• Comfortable shoes – Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp rocks and give good traction on steep trails such as a hiking boot or trail runners. No open toed shoes!
• Layered clothing that can be removed or put on to meet rapidly changing weather conditions.
• Rain gear as appropriate for the weather

Optional readings/resources for before the hike to get you thinking:

• “Being Gay Outside” by Kyle Groetzinger of the National Parks Conservation Association
• “To Be Queer and To Be Outside” by Yvonne Martquez of Spectrum South
• Intersectional Environmentalist
• Wild Diversity Blog Posts

Directions:

Click here for Google Maps directions to the Eagle Creek Trailhead.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times throughout history. We are privileged to be here today & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete the post-event survey.