Transportation Information

If you are flying to Oregon make sure you know your full Oregon travel plans prior to arriving. Any information below is subject to change and prices are approximate. Make and verify your plans early, both getting to us and getting back. Since Silverton, our base camp is in a small city, the public transportation options are few. Renting a car is the easiest and most hassle free option if you are flying into the area.

If you are relying on public transportation, VERIFY EVERYTHING before you get here, and BEFORE you make plane reservations. What follows is our understanding of the trip. Do not depend on this description of the trip! While it is very specific, it is only provided to shorten the time you have to invest in researching, for yourself, the best way to get to and from the GingerRoot.

Portland International Airport (PDX) to Salem to Our Base Camp in Silverton
Total costs for public transportation to the GingerRoot and back to the airport should amount to roughly $70 round trip.
1) The Hut Shuttle service provides transportation every 2 hours from the Portland airport to the Red Lion Hotel in Salem ( 3301 Market St NE, Salem, OR 97301 ). A round trip is about $60 and takes over an hour one way. You must make a reservation using their web site: http://www.hutshuttle.com/
2) Take the Cherriots Bus System ( 503-588-2877, http://cherriots.org/en/ ) to Chemeketa Community College. Busses run every 15 minutes. Using bus #17, go east on Market St about 1/2 miles to Landcaster Dr. NE. Transfer to bus #11 going north on Landcaster about 2.5 miles to the Chemeketa Community College stop in front of Building #2.
3) From Chemeketa, take the "Carts" transit system ( 503-315-5544 ) to Roth's Fresh Market in Silverton. The Carts bus departs from the College four times per day: 7:50am, 10:00am, 4:25pm, 6:20pm. Try to be on the 4pm bus if you can for the GingerRoot.
4) From Roth's Fresh Market to the GingerRoot is a 2.4 mile walk. You could take a taxi or call us at the GingerRoot and possibly, if we can arrange it, someone might be able to come get you.

Salem Municipal Airport (SLE) to Our Base Camp in Silverton
There is a bus service that takes you from Salem to Silverton. The whole trip may cost you as little as $5 each way and take a minimum of 1 1/4 hours, or longer depending on when you intersect with the Carts bus system. Plan your trip here: http://cherriots.org/en/
1) Walk to Norpac Foods on Madrona Ave (about 4 minutes)
2) Using bus #7, take the Cherriots Bus System ( 503-588-2877, $3.00 ) to the Salem Transit Mall: 555 Court St Ne, Salem, OR 97301. Busses run every 15 minutes. The trip takes about 26 minutes.
3) From the Transit Mall, take the "Carts" transit system ( 503-315-5544, $2 ) to Roth's Fresh Market in Silverton. The Carts bus ( Route 20 ) departs from the transit mall four times per day: 7:30am, 9:40am, 4:05pm, 6pm. Try to be on the 4pm bus if you can for the GingerRoot. The trip takes about 36 minutes.
3) From Roth's Fresh Market to the GingerRoot is a 2.4 mile walk. You could take a taxi or call us at the GingerRoot and possibly, if we can arrange it, someone might be able to come get you.


Emergency Ambulance/Fire/Police: 911

General Transportation Numbers that Might be Helpful
(800) 231-2222 Portland Airport
(877) 739-4636 Portland International Airport
(503) 238-7433 Max local transportation in Portland: www.tri-met.org or
(503) 364-4444 Hut Airport Shuttle Service
(214) 849-8966 National Greyhound Customer Service www.greyhound.com
(503) 243-2361 Portland Greyhound Customer Service / Ticket Office

Oregon
(800) 551-6949 Oregon State Parks
(800) 452-8573 Oregon State Police
(800) 452-5687 Camping Reservations
(800) 547-7842 "Where to Stay in Oregon" Guide
(800) 944-6196 Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guide
(800) 841-5448 Border to Border Bed & Breakfast Directory

Portland, Oregon
(503) 228-9411 Chamber of Commerce, www.pdxchamber.org
(800) 692-3700 Visitors Association (503) 275-9750, www.travelportland.org
(503) 275-8355 Portland Information Center. 701 SW 6th Ave #1, Portland, 97204. www.travelportland.com
(503) 872-2750 Northwest Outdoor Maps, Books, Guides, Resources, Directories www.naturenw.org/
(503) 228-4651 Powells Book Store
(503) 226-2811 Museum
(503) 988-5234 Library
Plan a trip to various parts of Portland using the Max: www.tri-met.org or 503-238-7433
Note that by using their web site or by calling Max, you can find transportation to most places in the greater Portland area within 20 to 50 minutes for around $2.50.

Salem, Oregon
(503) 588-6314 Salem Municiple Airport, http://www.flysalem.com/
(503) 581-1466 Salem Chamber of Commerze, http://www.salemchamber.org/

Silverton, Oregon
(503) 873-5615 Silverton Chamber of Commerse, http://www.silvertonchamber.org/
(503) 873-1500 Silverton Hospital, 342 Fairview St, Silverton, OR 97381
(503) 873-5173 Silverton Public Library, http://www.silverfalls.plinkit.org/
(503) 873-7070 Silverton Museum, http://www.silvertonmuseum.com/
(503) 873-8735 Silver Falls State Park, http://www.friendsofsilverfalls.net/
(503) 874-8100 Oregon Gardens, http://www.oregongarden.org/

What to Bring

A PDF of this list for printing

Encampment
- Tent (Our encampment is in one place for 4 days)
- Sleeping bag
- Mattress Pad
- Flashlight or lamp
- Toiletries: Soap, tooth brush, floss, razor, etc
- Roll of toilet paper
- Portable Alarm Clock
- 2 Towels
- Your favorite eating utensils, bowls, plates, mugs if you want to eat at your tent

Food
GingerRoot provides breakfasts and dinners beginning Saturday breakfast, ending Monday breakfast. Beyond that, bring...
- Your own Friday Dinner (or eat in Silverton) before the program starts at 7pm.
- Sack Lunches for Saturday & Sunday
- Snack foods for 4 days you can carry with you or eat at your tent.
- Foods you feel you need if you have a special diet to adhere to. Not only for your personal meals, but wild meals we make in common. Part of some of the dishes we make will include conventional flour, sugar, eggs, milk, etc. If you cannot eat these items for health or philosophical reasons, bring alternatives for yourself. You can choose to incorporate the wild foods we gather into your own dishes, in parallel with us, that satisfy a raw lifestyle, veganism, etc.

Field Trips
- $8-$10/person for car pooling contribution (depending on the current price for gas)
- Day Pack
- Hiking Gear
- Field worthy note pads & pencils
- Knife (preferably in a knife sheath)
- Scissors (preferably in a knife sheath)
- Water bottle
- Swamp shoes (old wetable tennis shoes - you might get wet up to your calves)
- Comfortable hiking or walking shoes

Optional
- A vehicle that can carry 5-8 people for group travel to various habitats.
- 2 or 3 of your favorite wild food books
- Sunscreen
- Wild foods that you've previously prepared, are proud of making, and would like to share with the rest of us. Wild flours, jams, syrups, canned foods, pickles, nuts, beans, fruit leathers, wild jerkys, etc.

Clothing - Bring 3 changes of cloths
- Prepare for temperatures usually ranging from 45 F at night to 55-85 F during the day.
- Encampment Clothing: Bring clothing for comfort.
- For Forests: Bring rugged but layered cloths and hiking boots.
- Prepare for strong sun with a wide brimmed shade hat
- Rain is unlikely. Watch the weather reports. The best rain hats are waterproof, wide brimmed, and tie to the head.
- There may be ticks in this area. Wearing white helps to see them.