The treks factor

The 60-mile C2C Trail has undeniable star quality

Marybetts Sinclair

Story & photo by Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

A few years ago, a friend and I “fast packed” a section of the 60-mile C2C Trail, which begins in Corvallis and ends at the “sea,” or more accurately, the Pacific Ocean.

Fast packing is a not-particularly-pretty action that is faster than hiking, but because you are carrying all the food and gear you need to camp, falls well below what would actually be called running.

Luckily, we had each other and our two dogs for company because for most of the two full days and one night we were on the trail, we passed a single, albeit quite friendly, group.

And that is something that author Marybetts Sinclair wants to help rectify with her recently released trail guide, “Life & Times Along the Corvallis to the Sea Trail.”

“I got the idea for the guide because I like to hike and this thing goes on for miles,” she said. “Plus, I really want more people to know about it.”

Thin enough to fit into a pack but chock full of mile-by-mile descriptions and area lore, the guide makes for a great read before or after tackling sections of the trail on a through-hike.

“I wanted to find out about the history of the area to make it more interesting for people that walk the trail,” Sinclair said. “I used at least 37 books as references like ‘Pioneer Trails of the Oregon Coast.’ The Newport library was very helpful.”

Along with mentions of pioneer effects on the land through which the trail travels, Sinclair made sure to include a good deal of information and photos of the Native people who preceded the pioneers and lived on the land for more than 10,000 years.

“If you peel away the layers of the history it just makes it more interesting,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons there are so many pictures in the guide.”

Following the example of the people who helped get the trail completed and still manage it today, Sinclair and editor and designer Joshua Soderlund did not enter the guide book venture as a for-profit idea.

“This is all volunteer,” Sinclair said. “I’m not making any money from writing this but it was fun to do and I learned a lot of interesting things along the way.”

One of the volunteers who is particularly to be credited with shepherding the trail to its official opening is Gary Chapman. Over a number of years, Chapman tried many different routes before the plans began to settle on the current one, which took a lot of negotiations with land owners and managers.

“It just takes someone who is charismatic and energetic to get something like this to happen,” Sinclair said. “That’s Gary.”

Fairly rugged and passing through several areas affected by commercial logging, the trail still has much to make it worth attempting the journey.

“When I was in college we backpacked the Sierras, and this is not that,” Sinclair said. “There are no wilderness areas, there are no sweeping views; most of it is old logging roads and forested areas. But when I walked it the first time, I was absolutely amazed how much public and private green space there is between Corvallis and the coast and there are plenty of pretty sections. I’d been living here all these years and had no idea all this was out here.”

Thanks to the number of gravel roads and relative lack of steep terrain, the trail is a great choice for cycling, and the guide maps available on the C2C website include sections that are best for cycling on the eastern half of the trail that split from then rejoin the main trail. The website also has information about upcoming meetings, occasional events and a way to join the mailing list — all ways to meet other hikers and arrange treks.

Volunteers are also always welcome to help with upkeep, and sections are available for adoption for people that want to take on a particular section.

“We are always in need of new people and new energy,” Sinclair said. “We also have regular work parties that people can join that are actually quite a bit of fun!”

The C2C guide can be ordered online and can also be found on the coast at libraries in Lincoln City, Newport, Siletz, Waldport and Yachats and at the Waldport Interpretive Center and the Toledo Pioneer Museum.

For more information, go to C2Ctrail.org.