Intro to Wilderness Ambassadors

Hike Leaders: Nat F.

Hike Distance: ~ 7 miles

Elevation Gain: ~ 1,000 feet

Hike Intensity: Moderate

Hike Overview:

We will be hiking on Ramona Falls Trail #797. This is a popular trail in the Mount Hood National Forest that enters the Mount Hood Wilderness. To reach Ramona Falls, hikers need to cross the Sandy River about 1 mile into the trail.

Hiking information:

The round-trip distance from the Ramona Falls Trailhead to Ramona Falls is 7 miles. This is considered a moderately challenging hike, in large part due to the Sandy River crossing about 1 mile in. The Sandy River is a designated Wild & Scenic River and does not have a bridge or other structure for crossing.

What to expect:

We will gather as a group at the Ramona Falls Trailhead and talk briefly about the Wilderness Ambassador program before heading onto the trail to answer questions and practice visitor engagement techniques. All participants for the day will discuss beforehand if everyone feels comfortable crossing the Sandy River – if not, the hike will end at the crossing, where the group can pause to talk and engage with visitors.

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.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Lunch + snacks
• Any medication you need
• 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.
• Layered clothing that can be removed or put on to meet rapidly changing weather conditions.
• Rain gear as appropriate for the weather

Directions:

Click here for Google Maps directions to the Ramona Falls 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.