A young man points at a sign as his eyes trace the distance he and his friend have just traversed. The map displays elevation and mileage in bright, user-friendly graphics.
“Look how far we hiked,” he says to his companion.
Jared Delaney, a Lane Community College student, and Jeff Robb, a University student, have just hiked Spencer’s Butte, part of the Ridgeline Trail system. The map they are studying is a brand new addition to the system’s trailheads, finished just in time for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.
“It was actually conceived prior to the Trials really coming on our radar,” said Jesse Cary-Hobbs, Park Specialist for the City of Eugene.
He said the trail updates were the result of a grant process through the State of Oregon Recreational Trails Program. The program received the grant for $60,000 and then the city contributed the rest of the funding needed for a total of $150,000.
The updates include 3-D trailhead maps that show height, gain and loss of the entire trail system, in addition to aerial photos. New mileage and direction sign installations and improvements to parking lots are also among recent updates.
Cary-Hobbs said the new signs replaced old wooden signs that were difficult to read. He said he believes the upgraded information will be very useful to runners and hikers alike.
“Their ability to understand what they’re getting themselves into as they come up to a trailhead in terms of how difficult it’s going to be, how long it’s going to be and their relationship to the trails is going to be greatly increased,” he said.
Kelly Darnell, marketing and outreach manager for the City of Eugene, said the change occurred practically overnight.
“It happened so fast; first there were no signs and then there were kiosks,” she said.
Cary-Hobbs said the ultimate goal for the Ridgeline Trail system is to stretch the trails from Mount Pisgah to Fern Ridge Reservoir. He said that it is possible with the addition of a few new land acquisitions that the city is already working on.
The parks system achieved its more immediate goal: The 3-D signs were installed in time for the Trials, which are expected to generate a lot of traffic to Eugene’s trail systems.
“Trail running is actually the biggest segment increase in the running community right now,” Cary-Hobbs said. He also said he expects a much higher usage level than normal on the Ridgeline Trail system this summer.
“It’s one of the gems of our city,” he said.
At Spencer Butte, the trails are already bustling with activity. Hikers and joggers look over the new informational signs and then proceed up the steep incline.
Robb said he thinks the new map would be helpful for people visiting from out of town and those new to the trail.
His friend Delaney agreed.
“If you don’t know the area that well, I think it could be helpful, especially if information’s posted on the trails too,” he said.
Maps of the Ridgeline Trail system can be found on the city’s Web site at www.eugene-or.gov.
[email protected]