Peak Northwest

The Silver Falls Half Marathon takes runners through the forests, waterfalls and rugged trails of one of Oregon’s most scenic state parks. But racing on the trails brings challenges that go beyond the usual road race, from steep hills to slippery footing.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re recapping the Silver Falls Half Marathon, which took place Oct. 18 at Silver Falls State Park.

I’m joined by my coworker Michael Russell, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s restaurant critic, to talk about the race, the challenges of trail running and what makes running in the Pacific Northwest special.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What makes the Silver Falls Half Marathon stand out, from its waterfall views to its forest trails.
• How hills, muddy conditions and uneven terrain challenge runners during a trail race.
• What first-time trail runners should know before signing up for a race.

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Mount McLoughlin in southern Oregon is a challenging climb with steep, rocky terrain and sweeping views from the summit. But even experienced hikers can find themselves in an emergency when something goes wrong on the trail.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re talking about a hiking trip on Mount McLoughlin that took an unexpected turn when hiker John Lulich fell about 2 miles from the trailhead and needed to be rescued.

I’m joined by Lulich, who walks us through what happened, how his group responded and what the experience taught him about preparing for the unexpected in the outdoors.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What makes Mount McLoughlin a challenging hike and what to know before heading out.
• How Lulich and his group responded to the fall and coordinated with rescuers.
• What hikers should carry on a day hike and how to respond when someone gets injured on the trail.

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Earlier this summer, The Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Austin De Dios spent time with Oregon Wheelchair Hiking, a Portland-area group that brings wheelchair users and other hikers together for regular outdoor adventures. Franklin Ouchida, leader of Oregon Wheelchair Hiking, joins Peak Northwest to talk about how the group got started, what it takes to make a trail accessible and why having a community to explore with can make such a difference.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How Oregon Wheelchair Hiking got started.
• What makes a trail genuinely accessible for someone using a wheelchair or mobility device.
• What people without mobility disabilities might not notice about accessibility when they’re out hiking.
• How people can find accessible places to get outside and get involved with Oregon Wheelchair Hiking.

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Goat Rocks Wilderness is best known as one of the most stunning stretches of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Pacific Northwest, but there’s much more to this rugged corner of the Washington Cascades than a single iconic ridgeline.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading north into the mountains for a conversation about backpacking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, where alpine meadows, glacial lakes and volcanic peaks come together in one of the region’s most breathtaking backcountry destinations.

Host Chiara Profenna is joined by her coworker Heather Bowers, senior sales coordinator for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently completed a backpacking trip through Goat Rocks. The two talk through everything she experienced — from the planning stages all the way to breaking down camp and heading home.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What it’s like experiencing the Goat Rocks Wilderness as part of a longer backpacking adventure.
• Some of Heather’s favorite trails, campsites and unexpected discoveries deep in the backcountry.
• What to know before you go to Goat Rocks, including how much experience you should have and ways to make the most of your time out there.

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Ashland is best known as home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, but there’s much more to the Southern Oregon town than Shakespeare.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading south for a few days in Ashland, where we explored the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, wandered through downtown, tried some unusual food and found a few unexpected ways to experience the city.

I’m joined by two of my coworkers, retail reporter Veronica Nocera and visual journalist Allison Barr. The three of us recently took a newsroom road trip from Portland to Ashland, making a few stops along the way and spending several days exploring the area.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What it’s like experiencing the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a larger trip, rather than traveling to Ashland just for a show.
• Some of our favorite restaurants, businesses and unexpected finds in downtown Ashland.
• What to do in Ashland between Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows, including some unusual ways to explore the playwright’s connection to the city.

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Fall is one of the best times to head into Oregon’s forests, and for mushroom hunters, it also marks the start of matsutake season. These fragrant, highly prized mushrooms can be found in forests across the state, but finding them takes some knowledge, patience and plenty of walking.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading into the forest to learn more about one of Oregon’s most sought-after wild mushrooms.

Joining me is Jess Liotta, an independent mushroom forager and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. We’ve talked about chanterelles and morels on the podcast before, but this time we’re diving into matsutakes, from where they grow to how to identify them and what to do with them once you get home.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What exactly a matsutake mushroom is and what makes it different from other Oregon mushrooms.
• Where matsutakes typically grow, including the types of forests and regions where you’re most likely to find them.
• What to look for when searching for matsutakes and how to distinguish them from other species.
• Jess’ favorite ways to cook and eat matsutakes, plus the flavors and foods that pair well with them.

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You don’t need to wait for the leaves to change to start getting excited about fall in Oregon. But with cooler weather, cozy weekends and some of the best events of the year just around the corner, we’re more than ready for the season.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re talking all things fall, from the best reasons to love the season to some of our favorite ways to enjoy it around Oregon.

We’re getting into the cozy side of fall, including soup season, warm baked goods and hot tea, as well as some of the state’s best fall traditions and destinations.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Why fall might just be Oregon’s best season.
• Our favorite fall events, from Oktoberfest to Halloweentown.
• Where to go hiking for changing leaves and where to find some of the best fall scenery.
• What’s on our personal fall bucket lists, from the Hood River Fruit Loop to mushroom foraging.

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You don’t need to hike the Oregon Film Trail to know that there are a lot of great movies made in Oregon. But how do some of the classics hold up?

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we take a fresh look at three filmed-in-Oregon classics that are celebrating milestones this year.

From a famous 100-year-old silent film to a 15-year-old western, this trio of movies represents a century of filmmaking in Oregon. They highlight some of the state’s most beautiful places, including roaring rivers and arid high desert plains.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Why Cottage Grove still celebrates “The General.”
• A whole generation of Oregonians loved “Stand By Me.” Does it hold up today?
• Why “Meek’s Cutoff” is one of the best Oregon Trail movies ever made.
• “Twilight” and “The Hunted” are still worth your time.

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The temperatures are falling and clouds are on the horizon — summer is nearly at a close.

If you’re still itching for a last-minute summer excursion, you would do well to get yourself out to a body of water, ideally for a picnic. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we have a few ideas of places you can go.

From riverside beaches to lakeside parks, there is undoubtedly a great late-summer picnic spot near your home. At this time of year — with summer vacations in the rearview mirror and school back in session — these should be no-hassle adventures.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Rivers, lakes, oceans or ponds?
• Why a day spent by the water is special.
• Some ideas from the Portland area and beyond.
• What are you bringing in your picnic basket?

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Summer camp can be a special experience for anyone, but there’s something extra special about Camp Cleawox.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Lizzy Acker, features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently wrote about her deep relationship with the Oregon coast Girl Scout camp.

Acker, who started going to the camp when she was 8 years old, followed in her mother’s footsteps, learning all about the magic of the camp. Now Acker’s 6-year-old daughter is finding that magic and continuing the tradition for another generation.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What is Camp Cleawox and where exactly is it?
• Acker’s first impressions of the camp during a very rainy summer.
• How the camp became a second home on the Oregon coast.
• Why the experience of taking her daughter to the camp was so special.

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Anyone who has struggled with a camp-cooked meal knows the stress of making meals in the great outdoors. Rashad Frazier is here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be so hard.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we get some practical advice — and some great food ideas — from Frazier, author of the camp cookbook “Cook Out” and cofounder of Portland-based outdoor hospitality brand Camp Yoshi.

Frazier’s secret? Make things simple. While fresh-caught crab boil with foraged ingredients can be nice, that level of effort isn’t necessary. There are many easier, perfectly delicious meals you can make that won’t bring unneeded stress to the campsite.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Frazier’s journey from restaurant kitchens to campfire cookouts.
• How to make every camp-cooked meal a little easier.
• The importance of a backup plan.
• More than a few ideas for your next camping trip.

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When the Pacific Northwest heats up, there’s no better way to cool off than drifting down a river on an inner tube, kayak or raft.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna dive into the region’s best river floats, from the wildly popular Clackamas River to scenic stretches of the Sandy, Willamette and Deschutes rivers.

Along the way, they share what makes for a great float, offer essential safety tips and talk about some of Oregon’s favorite summertime waterways.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What makes a river ideal for floating.
• The best places to float on the Sandy, Clackamas, Willamette and Deschutes rivers.
• A few lesser-known floating destinations worth adding to your summer adventure list.

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Many locals already know one of the open secrets in the Pacific Northwest: some of the best beach spots are found not on the coast, but along the rivers.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we look at one of the most scenic river corridors in the region, the Columbia River Gorge, an 80-mile stretch of river that is home to some of the best beaches in Oregon and Washington.

The sandy or rocky beaches that line either side of the Columbia River are perfect places for day trips, with room to spread out, gorgeous scenery and convenient amenities. Some of the biggest and most beautiful spots are also the ones best equipped to handle crowds; the smaller, hidden beaches might feel a little rougher around the edges.

They’re all worth a visit.

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When a group of childhood friends looked for a destination to take a trip of a lifetime, they landed on one of the most awesome regions of the Pacific Northwest.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Anusha Fathepure, a politics and education reporting intern for The Oregonian/OregonLive, recounts her trip to the northern Cascade and Rocky mountains, all centered on a visit to Canada’s Banff National Park.

Between canoeing in the blue waters of Banff’s mountain lakes, hiking in the snow fields atop Mount Rainier and spending time in Vancouver and Seattle, their 10-day adventure was one they’ll never forget.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How did Fathepure’s friends land on the Pacific Northwest as their big trip destination?
• Picking a 10-day itinerary was a lot of work.
• A hike on Mount Rainier was more than they bargained for.
• The best sights they saw along the way.

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People often assume that outdoors and travel reporter Jamie Hale has been everywhere in Oregon, but even he has a bucket list of places he hasn’t seen.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Hale opens up his deep-cuts bucket list: destinations around the state that, for one reason or another, he has yet to visit.

These places, often remote or rugged in nature, represent a side of Oregon that relatively few people make the trek to see. Still, they contain some truly spectacular sights: towering trees and eroded columns of rock, sweeping sagebrush landscapes and arid, windswept mountains.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• What are the Pillars of Rome, and are they worth the drive to see?
• Three of Oregon’s most remote mountain ranges are rugged adventures.
• Valley of the Giants has incredible trees that are difficult to reach.
• The one place Hale regrets not getting to sooner.

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If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath your feet as you hike around our local volcanoes, this is the place for you.

This week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast explores the dark, mysterious lava tubes of Ape Cave in southwest Washington. Found on the south side of Mount St. Helens, the cave system is a fascinating adventure for Northwest explorers.

Between the more challenging upper cave system and the easy lower section, Ape Cave offers an adventure for hikers of all levels. We have everything you need to know about how and when to go check it out.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How was Ape Cave formed and what exactly is it?
• Why you need to make sure to bring two sources of light into the cave.
• There are a few very specific rules to keep the cave safe.
• What’s the difference between the upper and lower cave trails?

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What do you want to know about traveling through Oregon?

Reddit users had the chance to ask their burning questions of Jamie Hale, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s outdoors and travel reporter who recently did an AMA (that’s Ask Me Anything) on the r/Oregon subreddit.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Hale shared some of the best questions from Redditors and dove into his answers. The discussion ranged from federal lands passes to Oregon’s best hot springs and some of Hale’s favorite places around the state.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Some recreation areas aren’t accepting federal lands passes — what’s the deal?
• What are some of the best places to take toddlers and babies on a summer day?
• Where is the best place to float near Portland and when is the best time to do it?
• What are Hale’s favorite places in Oregon? He has more than a few.

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One of central Oregon’s best tourist destinations has it all: good food, great views and easy access to outdoor recreation.

And no, we’re not talking about Bend.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into Sisters, a small town that has drawn tourists for decades. While some people make sure to stop at the Sno Cap Drive In and others are drawn in by the Old West facades that line downtown, there is more to Sisters than initially meets the eye.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• Why you need to visit the Best Western alpacas.
• Food carts are redefining dining in Sisters. Here are the best places to try.
• A tiny hike with huge views, just a few minutes outside town.
• How to fully explore the natural beauty around Sisters.

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Author Jeff VanderMeer, best known for the creepy alien nature at the heart of his Southern Reach series, is suddenly engrossed in a different landscape completely: the neighborhoods of Portland.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, VanderMeer, who recently moved to Oregon, talks about his long walks across the city, and all the things he’s discovered along the way.

While far from the world of “Annihilation,” Portland has managed to captivate him like few other places have, he said, and the things he’s seeing on his long, sprawling walks across the city are inspiring his upcoming novels. It’s not just the beautiful parks, but the small discoveries on sidewalks and back alleys along the way.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How VanderMeer first fell in love with Portland.
• His walks often go park to park, running through neighborhoods and reaching up to 10 miles at a time.
• VanderMeer highlights three of his favorite walks through Portland.
• How the author works on his books while walking through the city.

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If you’re looking for a perfect, low-key summer getaway, look no further than Florence — Oregon, that is.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we explore the central Oregon coast town, home to sweeping dunes, good food and all manner of outdoor activities.

Ever wanted to try sandboarding? Maybe you want to kayak a freshwater lake just off the ocean? Interested in exploring a particular species of carnivorous plants? You can find it all in Florence.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• The Florence Rhododendron Festival is the Oregon coast’s answer to Portland’s Rose Festival.
• Why snowboarders might be at a disadvantage when it comes to sandboarding.
• The best places to eat in Florence.
• Sea Lion Caves, Heceta Head and other sights around the area.

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