Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues

In this episode, Zach talks to Hipcamp founder and CEO Alyssa Ravasio about the rise of private campgrounds in Oregon and across the West. Private sites are becoming an increasingly popular option as Oregon's public campgrounds have fewer spaces available and are often sold out during summer. Ravasio talks about how her company recruits farmers and ranchers to open their land to camping in areas n...

In this episode, Zach and outdoors intern Skyla Patton prepare for the peak season for finding Oregon's delicious and beautiful state mushroom: the Pacific Golden Chanterelle. Skyla breaks down where and when to find chanterelles, how to eat it, how to get permits to harvest them and trickier questions including whether you can over-harvest the beloved mushroom. The two discuss everything from the...

In this episode, Zach talks to wildfire meteorologist Eric Wise about a weather pattern known simply as "east winds," which fueled the 2020 Labor Day Fires and last weekend's widespread power shutdowns and wildfires that brought evacuations to Salem, Estacada and Oakridge. Wise explains where the east winds come from, why they make Oregon wildfires so explosive and whether climate change is making...

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach welcomes a trio of fun guests to talk about about going backpacking with kids and the best places to visit. Zach is joined by Bonnie Henderson, his co-author of the guidebook "Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon," along with 11-year-old backpackers Nate and Mary Evans, who share their thoughts from a kids' prospective. The group picks 12 great backpacki...

In this episode, outdoor intern and fungus enthusiast Skyla Patton talks all things mushroom hunting with pro forager and mycoeducator Rachel Zoller, better known as Yellow Elanor.

In this episode, Zach talks to fish biologist Stephan Charette about one of the best places to catch fish in Oregon — smallmouth bass on the John Day River. He talks about why the fishing is so good, where and how to land them and the upside and downside of so many fish.

In this shorter episode, Zach talks about the reopening of Jefferson Park, perhaps the most beautiful alpine destination in Oregon, and how to get there in the wildfire-burned landscape. Then he gets into the "extra-effort permit loophole" that should help you reach beautiful places in Jefferson, Sisters and Washington wilderness areas. Finally, they travel to Waldo Lake to talk about whether it m...

In this episode, Zach and Skyla head down Highway 199 to visit southwest Oregon's rugged and beautiful Illinois Valley. It's a place where you can sleep in a treehouse resort, go off trail at the Oregon Caves National Monument, visit art galleries featuring crystal artwork and reach mountain swimming holes, alpine lakes and big summits with a short drive. Zach and Skyla also talk about the controv...

In this episode Zach hits on the biggest stories of Oregon's summer. He touches on: 3:20: Wildfires and closures in place in Oregon at Waldo Lake, Diamond Peak. 7:20: The McKinny Fire on the Oregon-California border and what's at risk in that magic part of the world. 19:40: The reopening of 180,000 acres of pubic land including Opal Creek, Breitenbush, Jeff Wilderness. 24:50: New permits to climb...

This episode is all about Oregon's heat wave. To start, Zach is interviewed on Oregon Public Broadcasting about ways to stay safe and get outdoors amid 100 degree temps. Then, Zach talks about the latest on plans to reopen iconic forest burned in the Labor Day Fires around Mount Jefferson, Detroit and Opal Creek. Finally, Zach and Statesman Journal outdoors intern Skyla Patton pick 10 of Oregon's...

In this episode, dive into the Clackamas River, notorious for giving Portland its whitewater bug. Zach interviews Pete Giordano, owner of Blue Sky Rafting, as they look at how the river has changed after the Riverside Fire, which kept the stream closed last summer, and how it hasn't. Pete details the best sections of the river for big rapids, the best places for a lazy float and good areas to camp...

In this episode, Zach and three river experts pick the 20 best river trips in Oregon for whitewater thrills and overnight camping adventures. They talk about what makes streams such as the Rogue, Deschutes and Clackamas rivers so incredible and detail how to make the trips happen while also covering lesser-known streams. Guests on the episode include: Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Compa...

In this episode, Zach brings back a second volume of his favorite stories from the past 70 episodes of the podcast. This edition features: Why Hood River was once called "Dog River" A major drug bust that led to beautiful collection of trails A ghost wagon rising from the Detroit Lake The history of Hoodoo Ski Area Why it's dangerous to visit Proposal Rock with a significant other

In this episode, Zach brings back a collection of his favorite stories from the first almost 70 episodes of the podcast. It's the first of two podcasts that include fun stories about Oregon's most famous places, and this edition features naked mountain men, a princess turned to stone and a coastal town feuding with a fifth grade class from Montana.

There's no place quite like Steens Mountain, a 50-mile fault block mountain that rises almost to almost 10,000 feet above the Alvord Desert in southeastern Oregon. It's a place where you can backpack into deep gorges, explore a stunning alpine lake in a basin a vertical mile above the desert and camp at numerous sites along Oregon's highest roadway. In this episode, Zach talks with Anne White with...

In this episode, Zach takes a trip to the high desert mountain and wildlife mecca of Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. Joined by expert Michael O'Casey, of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, they talk about the area's hot springs, majestic animals and best hikes in this little-traveled corner of the state.

In this episode, Zach is joined by Oregon outdoors author Franziska Weinheimer, the owner of the website HikeOregon.net, to talk about 16 summer road trips that include hiking, camping, floating, fishing and exploring all corners of the state.

Oregon's state parks showcase many of the state's most beautiful places as well as the largest and most iconic campgrounds. But how did this system of over 350 parks, recreation areas and the Oregon Coast come together? It's a story of ambition and conservation, of colorful characters, near-calamity and rebirth. Zach talks to an associate director and historian for the deep dive on the last 100 ye...

In this episode, Zach interviews Willamette National Forest supervisor Dave Warnack about the agency's new plan to reopen 170,000 acres of forest that burned in the Labor Day Fires in 2020. The plan includes providing access this summer to iconic places such as Opal Creek, the northern Mount Jefferson Wilderness, and other places that are currently closed due to safety concerns.

In this episode, Zach talks about the wildlife-packed wonders of the Willamette Valley wildlife refuges. Home to over 10,000 acres of forest, ponds, hills and one of the richest collections of birds on earth, the refuges make for great close-to-home hiking, according to guest Sam Bartling with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In this episode, Zach is joined by Gabe Howe, director of the Siskiyou Mountain Club to talk about what might be Oregon's wildest place, the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. They break down the 10 best hikes and backpacking routes, while discussing the megafires, unique geology and wild rivers that make this area so enchanting. Howe details how his club restored the wilderness' trails after major wildfires.

In this episode, Zach talks with Mount Hood Meadows lead ski instructor Tyler Barnes about the best ways to get kids started with downhill skiing and snowboarding while keeping costs within reason.

Zach takes a deep dive into the Columbia River Gorge, breaking down the best hikes and best places to eat, the history and geology, and the latest news on permits, crowding, post-fire recovery and what comes next for Multnomah Falls, Dog Mountain and Oneonta Gorge. Special guests include author Matt Wastradowski ("Moon Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood") and Stan Hinatsu (U.S. Forest Service).

The number of people rescued from Oregon's outdoors has risen sharply in the past few years. But why? Zach talks with Scott Lucas, state search and rescue coordinator about why Oregon has seen so many rescues, how people get into trouble and how to avoid getting lost.

Zach and SJ outdoors intern Eddy Binford Ross debate their 15 favorite winter adventures in Oregon. They talk about how to ski and snowshoe at Crater Lake in winter — and why it's better than summer — while breaking down a visit to a snowy fire lookout, waterfalls covered in ice and why the Oregon Coast Trail makes for great off-season trips.