Ember collective
A free community built around movement, connection, and steady growth.
The Ember Collective is the heart of Ember Ascent — our open community space where people come together to move, explore, and connect. We gather on trails, over coffee, during community runs, and sometimes online. It’s a place where encouragement lives easily, conversations happen naturally, and showing up feels good.
There’s room here for effort and laughter, challenge and celebration, quiet reflection and shared momentum. Some days it looks like a run with new friends. Some days it’s a walk and a conversation. All of it counts.
You don’t have to be the fastest.
You don’t have to “keep up.”
You simply show up as you are — and we take the next step together.
Participation in the Ember Collective is always free and open to anyone who wants to move, explore, and connect. Training programs, coaching, and structured series are offered separately through Ember Ascent, but the community itself remains an open space for everyone.
Ways we gather
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Slow Ascent: Pilot Butte at Sunset
Tuesday, April 14
6:30 PM meet at Victory Baptist Church lot (for parking)
We’ll gather for a conversational walk up Pilot Butte as the sun goes down. This isn’t a workout — just steady movement, pauses when needed, and time to take in the view together. We’ll aim to reach the top before sunset, giving time for a second ascent or relaxing at the top - before heading back down.
You’re welcome to do one lap up and down, or stay for a second if the evening feels right.
Headlamp or flashlight recommended, especially if you plan to stay for a second lap or more.
Come for the movement, the view, or the company.
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Mug to Mountain
Sunday, April 19
📍 Fox & Fern Coffee8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
From the mug to the [mountain] summit.
We’ll gather at Fox & Fern Coffee to start the morning together before heading out for a relaxed group hike through the trails at Overturf Park.
This is a low-pressure community event designed for connection, fresh air, and steady movement. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, ease into your Sunday outdoors, or simply enjoy a morning walk in good company, you’re welcome here.
Participants can join for the coffee, the hike, or both.
All paces welcome.
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Pages and Peaks Book Club
Saturday, May 16
📍Lone Pine Coffee Roasters
(East Side Location)8:00 AM · Easy community run
9:05 AM · Coffee + book discussionWe’ll gather for an easy, conversational run exploring Pilot Butte followed by coffee and an informal book discussion. You’re welcome to join us for the movement, the conversation, or both — there’s no wrong way to show up. Come even if you didn’t read the book.
This month we’re reading The Way of Excellence by Brad Stulberg — a walkthrough that excellence isn’t found in one big effort - it’s built through consistent, intentional practice. A genuine overlap to what we believe at Ember Ascent. This book is a reminder that excellence isn’t an outcome. It’s a way of showing up.
We focus on sustainable progress: effort over pace, consistency over intensity, and community over comparison. -
Ember Long Ascent
Sunday, May 10
📍 Skull Hollow Trailhead8:00 AM Start
This will be a longer, guided effort through the open terrain of Smith Rock—starting at Skull Hollow and moving out toward (and up!) Gray Butte before returning.
We’ll blend steady running with strong hiking on the climbs, with regroup points along the way.
This isn’t about pace or performance. It’s about moving well, with others.
You’ll have space to settle into your rhythm, adjust as needed, and experience what sustained movement on trail can feel like when you’re not rushing it.
For those with a race later this month, parts of this route overlap with the Smith Rock Classic, making it a great way to preview the terrain and get familiar with how it feels over a longer effort.
For everyone else, it’s simply a chance to go a little longer—together.
What to Expect
Roughly 8–10 miles, depending on route and pacing
A mix of running and hiking
Regrouping throughout
If you are interested in carpooling from Bend please email Jessicaamberhouser@gmail.com
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Slow Ascent: Pilot Butte at Sunset
Tuesday, May 19
6:30 PM meet at Victory Baptist Church lot (for parking)
We’ll gather for a conversational walk up Pilot Butte as the sun goes down. This isn’t a workout — just steady movement, pauses when needed, and time to take in the view together. We’ll aim to reach the top before sunset, giving time for a second ascent or relaxing at the top - before heading back down.
You’re welcome to do one lap up and down, or stay for a second if the evening feels right.
Headlamp or flashlight recommended, especially if you plan to stay for a second lap or more.
Come for the movement, the view, or the company.
-
Pages and Peaks Book Club
Sunday June 14
📍Lone Pine Coffee Roasters
(East Side Location)8:00 AM · Easy community run
9:05 AM · Coffee + book discussionWe’ll gather for an easy, conversational run exploring Pilot Butte followed by coffee and an informal book discussion. You’re welcome to join us for the movement, the conversation, or both — there’s no wrong way to show up. Come even if you didn’t read the book.
Book of the month will be announced soon.
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Ember Long Ascent : Summer Solstice
Sunday, June 21
📍 Lava Butte5:00 AM Start - 7:30 AM (ish)
There’s something different about moving early—before the day starts, before the noise, before you’ve decided how it’s going to feel.
This solstice, we’ll meet at first light and move through a series of climbs on Lava Butte as the sun comes up.
This isn’t about pace or performance.
We’ll climb, descend, and repeat.
Some will take one or two laps.
Others may stay for more.There’s no expectation to do more than what’s right for you that morning.
As the light shifts, we’ll take a moment at the top—to pause, take it in, and recognize the work already done.
From there, we continue.
Steady. Controlled. Present.What to Expect
Repeated climbs and descents on Lava Butte
A mix of running and hiking
Regrouping and shared moments
Flexible duration based on your effort
What to Bring
Headlamp or small light (for the start)
Hydration
Fuel
LayersCome for one climb or stay for several—this is about how you show up to the effort, not how much you do.
Movement and shared miles
Gatherings built around movement, presence, and good company.
We explore trails, walk, jog, hike, and take in the landscape together — with room for conversation, quiet moments, breaks, and curiosity.
Ember run club
Morning Embers
We meet at 5:00 AM to move and welcome the day — steady, simple, together.
Get updates and details through text.
Pages and peaks book club
A monthly book gathering connecting story, place, resilience, and the inner work that happens when we move through the world intentionally.
We choose fiction and nonfiction that inspire reflection — not homework.
Expect:
thoughtful conversation
guided prompts
room to listen quietly if you prefer
connections between the page, the trail, and everyday life
Read as much as you can — show up as you are.
Monthly ascent newsletter
Your once-a-month touchstone, sent on the 23rd.
Inside you’ll find:
grounding reflections
sustainable movement concepts
training mindset ideas
upcoming gatherings & retreats
book club news
gentle challenges to try — only if they serve you
Think encouragement and clarity, not inbox noise.
Movement, together
The Ember Collective is built on:
belonging over performance
progress over perfection
curiosity over comparison
movement that supports your whole life
We’re not here to prove how tough we are.
We’re here to build strength that carries — emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Ready to Be Part of It?
You’re welcome here — whether you’re returning to movement, building toward big goals, or simply looking for people who move through the world with intention.