Peak Northwest

Head to the mouth of the Columbia River, where the mightiest river in the American West meets the biggest ocean on the planet, and you’ll find one of the greatest little cities in Oregon. Astoria has always had a lot to offer visitors, and that remains true amid the coronavirus pandemic – though it understandably changed the tourism experience. On this week’s Peak Northwest podcast, we talk about...

Oregon is an evergreen state, known for its iconic Douglas-firs and their coniferous brethren. But come autumn, the state’s deciduous trees can also put on quite the show — bursting with fall color and making some of our beloved outdoor areas even more beautiful. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See...

The Wonderland Trail circles Mount Rainier, rising and falling through jaw-dropping, arduous terrain over the course of roughly 90 miles. For most, the trip is measured in days. But for a select few, it takes only hours. Portland ultrarunner and middle school teacher Tyler Green recently became the fastest person to circle Mount Rainier via the Wonderland Trail — claiming the fastest known time, o...

With wildfires still burning across the Northwest, we're putting some of the episodes we'd already recorded on the shelf. Instead, we talked a little this week about the fires, their effects on people across the region and, of course, how they’ve affected some of the outdoor spaces we treasure. We'll be back with more episodes soon. Meanwhile, please stay safe and healthy. See acast.com/privacy fo...

On a recent week of vacation, Jamie took four day trips to four different ecosystems within three hours of Portland, finding a safe way to visit several stunning landscapes in a short period of time. On this week’s episode, Jamie talks about his various excursions, from the slopes of Mount St. Helens to the Oregon coast, and from lush forests to the arid high desert. You can support this podcast a...

This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, Jim gives us the lowdown on his adventure climbing three of Oregon’s beautiful mountains in three days. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mount Hood towers over Portland, but these other volcanic peaks aren't all that far, and they have a lot to offer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Timberline Trail is one of Oregon’s most iconic footpaths. It circumnavigates Mount Hood over roughly 40 miles, traveling through forests, across rivers and through gorgeous meadows — providing backpackers with spectacular views at every turn. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we connected with Portland hiker Kyla Skerry, who recently solo-hiked the trail. You can support this podcast a...

Hot summer weather has a way of convincing you to ditch your worldly obligations with a single destination in mind: one of Oregon’s stunning lakes. Our previous episode on Oregon hot springs, referenced in this episode: https://play.acast.com/s/peaknorthwest/oregonhotsprings You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Th...

While the rewards of backpacking abound, it can be difficult to get started — and plan your first trips. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we cover some backpacking basics and provide recommendations for hikers seeking a night or two in the backcountry. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See ac...

The Pacific Northwest is home to plenty of awesome scenes of natural beauty, but capturing that moment in an awesome photo requires a little more effort. Here are some tips, tricks and tools of the trade to help you take better pictures outside. You don't need anything more than your phone. Check out Jim’s great photo from a recent climb up Three Fingered Jack. You can support this podcast and our...

This episode of the Peak Northwest podcast is all about planning and packing for your next overnight outdoor excursion. We've got tips for beginners and experienced campers alike. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad cho...

After months of sticking close to home, hikers in the Pacific Northwest are finally getting back out on the trail. But for those of us who have become a little out shape during the pandemic, as well as those who may be getting into hiking shape for the first time, those first couple hikes can be a struggle. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’ve offered up 10 tips for feeling...

It can be hard to escape crowds in a normal year, let alone a time when more people than ever are sticking close to home and in search of an escape into nature. One way to beat the crowds is to skip the popular areas and head to some lesser-known hiking trails and other natural areas. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we offer up a dozen lesser-known spots at three of Oregon’s...

It’s high time to dial in your camp cooking setup. We aren’t exactly experts in this department. So we enlisted the help of Samantha Bakall, a freelance food, diversity and travel writer who’s long honed the art of whipping up a delicious camp meal. Subscribe to Six Feed, a newsletter that Samantha co-authors about local dining during the pandemic, at sixfeed.substack.com. You can support this pod...

Summer is only days away, and many outdoor spaces have reopened amid the coronavirus crisis. But the question remains: Where should I go? This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we offer some recommendations for people looking to get their nature fix. Take a look at Oregon's wilderness areas. Check our regularly updated list of what outdoor spaces have reopened and what areas are still closed. Yo...

Many outdoor areas throughout the region have reopened after being closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. But just because your favorite outdoor area is open doesn’t mean you should expect business as usual when you arrive — or that you should travel there at all. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss how to plan safe, responsible day trips during the ongoing COVID-...

As the coronavirus crisis continues, closures and restrictions remain in place for many outdoor areas across the region. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we continue to dig into the complicated issues around recreating outside during the pandemic. Check our regularly updated list of what outdoor spaces have reopened and what areas are still closed. Read Jamie’s story about whe...

Trails, parks and boat ramps are slowly reopening in Oregon as we inch our way closer to summer. But with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, the threat of transmitting COVID-19 in public places means that closures and restrictions remain in place for many outdoor spaces across the state. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we cut through the confusion and answer some of the big questions outd...

In the finale of our campfire stories, producer Dave Killen shares the tale of a mountain climbing misadventure and cross-country road trip. Then, we share a heartwarming story from a listener. We're getting back to more typical Peak Northwest programming, but we've loved hearing and sharing stories from listeners, and we want to keep that going. If you’d like to submit a story, leave a message on...

We're focusing on tales of spooky adventures on this week’s Peak Northwest podcast episode — the latest in our series of campfire tales. Want to submit an outdoors or adventure story of your own? Leave a message on our podcast hotline, 503-221-4345, or send a voice memo to podcasts@oregonian.com. We’re hoping to feature more submitted stories in future episodes, and we’d love to hear from you. Rel...

We asked for your stories from the outdoors. And you delivered, responding with some darn good ones. So this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast — the fourth in our series of campfire tales — features several great stories submitted over the past few weeks. Want to submit an outdoors or adventure story of your own? Leave a message on our podcast hotline, 503-221-4345, or send a voice memo...

We all like to share the best moments from our outdoor adventures, but sometimes our most difficult experiences are the most rewarding. On this week’s episode, we look past the pretty photos to share experiences that pushed us to the limit — and taught us some valuable lessons in the process. We want to hear your stories, too! To submit your own campfire story, leave a message on our podcast hotli...

Whether it’s a bear sighting, a critter who gets too close or a feisty creature who wants you to scram, we all have stories about memorable contacts with animals while out in nature. So this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast — the latest in our “campfire stories” series — is dedicated to unforgettable animal encounters. Leave a message on our podcast hotline, 503-221-4345, or send a voi...

We’re breaking out some of our favorite campfire stories, and and we want to hear yours! If you’re interested in sharing a story from a past adventure, leave a message on our podcast hotline, 503-221-4345, or send a voice memo to podcasts@oregonian.com. Keep your stories about 3 minutes or less. We hope to include some of our favorites in future episodes. Read Jamie’s story about his trip to the E...