By Kathy Cook Hunter
Haven’t you always planned to get out and really explore Silverton? But, like many plans, never did? Well, here’s your chance to cross that one off your bucket list of things you’d like to do before – oh, never mind, just do it!
Pauline Stratton of the Silverton Walk Abouts, a sports-minded walking club, has just the ticket for the well-intentioned folks (we know who we are). Her group has planned a self-guided walk around Silverton called the Silverton 2009 YRE (year-round event). You can go on anytime. They’ve also prepared a self-guided volkswalk at Silver Falls State Park and the cost is practically nothing.
For the Silverton jaunt, drop by Silverton Safeway’s customer service desk.
“Ask for the volkswalk container,” said Stratton, and the clerk will hand you a kit of information, including a written description of the route and a map. Take what you need and give the kit back.
Not familiar with “volkswalk?” It’s German for “people’s walk,” since Germany is where organized walks were first developed. People participate in club-planned volkswalks all over the world. Measuring 10 kilometers (just more than 6 miles), they take place in both the city and the countryside.
THE SILVERTON WALK
This walk is rated 2, or moderately easy; however, wheelchairs and baby strollers are not compatible with it because of the staircase from the Silverton Hospital area to McClaine Street. Plan on it taking a minimum of three hours, which would be at a fairly rapid pace with no stops to eat or shop.
“This will be the last year for this particular walk,” Stratton said. “It will be changed for 2010.”
Start the walk at Safeway, leaving your vehicle there. The walk takes people into and around downtown, walking across the covered bridge near the Town Square Park and taking in some of the murals, Stratton said.
“If you take the volkswalk for credit, you can get credit for passing the cemetery, museum, library, an old railroad station, antiques shops and so on,” she said. (If you are interested in credits, visit www.walkoregon.org or www.ava.org.)
Many avid volkswalkers keep records of their walks and hikes and a stamp in the Safeway kit can be used for this walk. “Some people are really dedicated,” Stratton said. “Some want to walk in all the states, for instance.”
For her, highlights of the Silverton walk are the murals, parks, some of the shops and all the old homes.
“Going through a cemetery might seem odd, but it is very interesting,” she said.
How long one has lived in the area or if he or she is a visitor will affect the number of interesting discoveries along the way. In the American Volksport Association’s book of walks, Silverton is described as “a delightful and quaint small Oregon town.”
THE SILVER FALLS WALK
Pick up directions for the state park walk at Silverton Safeway. This walk is seasonal, beginning in April when and ending in October. Plan on at least three or four hours for the 11- or 12-kilometer hike. It is rated 3+, meaning moderate difficulty. Stratton recommends doing it in July when the trails are usually dry.
“This walk is rated one of the best in the United States,” Stratton said. “It’s the Falls Trail that takes you to nine or 10 of the waterfalls, depending on how far a person wants to walk.”
Benches for resting have been placed along the way and the trail surface varies between bark, dirt and asphalt. Restrooms are located only at South Falls, where the trail begins, and there’s a $3 fee for parking.
The trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or baby strollers; pets are not allowed.
The best parts of the Falls Trail might be the thrill of walking behind South Falls and seeing falls termed “spectacular” by the volksporting association.
On both walks bring water and snacks, especially at the state park.
The Silverton Walk Abouts Volksport Club, which holds a daytime meeting monthly at Santiam Hospital, Stayton, and charges a $6 membership fee, sponsors year-round events at Champoeg State Park, Stayton and Sublimity. (Directions for the latter two are at the Stayton Dairy Queen.) The club may put on a one-day walk during Aurora Days in August 2010.
“We discuss upcoming events put on by other Oregon clubs, what’s happening at other clubs and present reports on our current projects,” Stratton said.
“We’d love to have new members, and if anyone is interested in becoming a member or just wants to participate in a walk, come to a meeting. Call me and I’ll be happy to give them any information they need.”
Pauline Stratton’s phone number is 503-873-8786.
