Peak Northwest

Happy birthday, Oregon! In case you weren’t aware, the state of Oregon is turning 165 years old this Feb. 14. To mark the occasion, this week’s episode of Peak Northwest is dedicated to celebrating the state we call home. But how do you celebrate our state? Maybe it’s by visiting a local history or cultural museum. It could mean spending time in Salem, the state capital. Or maybe all you want to d...

Solo travel can be one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences you can have, but it can also require a good dose of caution. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into the world of traveling alone, speaking from our own experiences to offer some tips on not only staying safe but getting the most out of your trip. Here are some highlights: How can you stay safe while tr...

Trying something new can always be a bit scary, especially when that something new involves strapping boards to your feet and propelling yourself across the ice and snow. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dive right into the trepidation, as Vickie tries cross-country skiing for the first time, traveling with outdoor recreation group Trail Mixed to the Teacup Nordic Snow Park on Mount Ho...

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast of an excellent episode from December, 2021. If you enjoy camping but don’t love sleeping on the ground, there’s a nifty solution at some of Oregon’s most popular state parks. In addition to the tent and RV sites that populate campgrounds, some parks come equipped with additional accommodations: cabins and yurts that offer a more comfortable way to spend the...

The snow is finally falling in the Cascade Mountains, meaning it’s high time to get going on those winter adventures. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we’re joined by former co-host Jim Ryan, who discusses a pair of exciting ski trips on his horizon this winter: a trek to the Tilly Jane A-Frame on Mount Hood and a vacation to the slopes of Banff National Park in Canada. Ryan, a lifelong s...

When you think about lush, Pacific Northwest forests, the image you conjure might as well be of the Salmon River Trail. The 14-mile hiking trail in the Mt. Hood National Forest is famous for its dense evergreen forest, easy river access and many backpacking sites, drawing small crowds of outdoor enthusiasts on just about every sunny day of the year. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we cov...

Happy 2024! With New Year’s only days away, we’re already looking ahead to a busy year of Pacific Northwest travel. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie and Vickie do some scheming and dreaming about another year of travel, planning trips big and small, from the high desert to the Pacific coast. Whether you love visiting a small town, are looking for a wild outdoor adventure or an inter...

A common complaint on social media is that photo sharing apps like Instagram directly lead to the ruination of outdoor destinations by encouraging crowds of people to visit. It’s a popular sentiment, but is it really true? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we interview a pair of researchers behind an Oregon State University study that suggests the reality is much more complex. While Instag...

Every wanted to find hidden treasure on the beach? Finders Keepers is making that dream a reality. The year-round event hides decorative glass floats on the beaches of Lincoln City, encouraging people to walk the sand and look for the small treasures. But what are the odds you’ll find one? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talked to Stephanie Hull, event and outreach coordinator for Exp...

Christmas tree shopping in Oregon is often a bring-your-own-hand-saw occasion. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we eschew the store-bought experience to discuss two ways to cut down your own Christmas tree locally. There are pros and cons to both U-cut farms and harvesting from the forest, but each provides a similar experience – an outside, muddy boots, sawdust experience – that (for the...

Is island hopping better by bike? On this week’s Peak Northwest podcast, we take a bike tour across the San Juan Islands, one of the most scenic destinations in the Pacific Northwest, courtesy of Kristine de Leon, business reporter at The Oregonian/OregonLive. Plenty of people visit the Washington islands, found in the Salish Sea off the coast of Vancouver Island, and while most opt to take their...

Bend is one of Oregon’s best jumping off points for natural adventures, whether you’re skiing Mount Bachelor, climbing South Sister or biking around the high desert. But where should you stay while you’re there? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we dive into our favorite places to sleep in Bend, including boutique motels, a local hostel and a McMenamins with an ornate soaking pool. There ar...

Making a first aid kit doesn’t have to mean buying tubes of pre-made ointments and salves, it can be as easy as harvesting plants from your own garden or from nature. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to herbalists Madrone McCarthy and Tessa McKee, who teach people about the practices of healing wounds with plants. Whether you have a cut, a burn or have wandered into a patch of poi...

Most people stick to the west side off the Cascades to find good waterfalls, but just across the mountains is another incredible waterfall hike at Tumalo Falls. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about the Tumalo Falls Loop Hike, a Bend-area adventure that features nearly a dozen beautiful waterfalls along a relatively short and accessible trail. The waterfalls are found along T...

With the rainy season upon us, we’re headed inside. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk all about our favorite ways to stay active and spend time inside during the darkest and rainiest months of the year. From yoga and indoor climbing to soaking pools and trip planning, there are a lot of different ways to spend the season. None of that is to say you can’t continue to get...

It’s not every day you come across ruins in an Oregon forest. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we explore the old military batteries – concrete bunkers built after the Civil War – that still stand at state parks at the mouth of the Columbia River. From the massive complex at Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon to the many batteries at Cape Disappointment and Fort Columbia state parks in Was...

Do ghosts haunt Oregon? There’s only one way to find out. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Samantha Swindler, videographer and features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who has made it her business to tour the spookiest places around the state. Swindler talks about sleeping alone in purportedly haunted hotels, touring Old West ghost towns and researching ghost stories aro...

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast with updates of an episode from February, 2023. An annular solar eclipse is crossing Oregon this fall, and whether you’re an eclipse-head or a casual stargazer, you’ll probably want to go check it out. The eclipse is Oct. 14. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about how to prepare for the big cosmic event. Because while the annual solar ec...

Our green Pacific Northwest forests are about to turn shades of red, yellow and orange. Oregon’s remarkable fall color is best paired with striking scenery like towering volcanoes and raging rivers. From the highest elevations down to the coast, there are plenty of places to find that perfect combination, ushering in the season with incredible views. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we lo...

Ever wanted to explore a cave? Lava Beds is the place to be. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, our colleague Janet Eastman tells us about her experience exploring the caves at Lava Beds National Monument, found just across the border in northern California. Featuring more than a dozen caves of various complexity, Lava Beds is a great place to either dip your toes into cave expl...

Why aren’t there more huckleberries on Huckleberry Mountain? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, a recent trip to the Mt. Hood National Forest leads to an investigation of the fickle huckleberry plants, which are especially susceptible to the whims of the natural world around them. With a warming climate, in a place that is regularly ravaged by wildfire, what becomes of our beloved huckleber...

You’ve never toured the Columbia River Gorge quite like this. With dozens of waterfalls, small towns, hiking trails and viewpoints spread out across both Oregon and Washington, there are a lot of ways to explore the scenic river corridor east of Portland. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we explore one of the crazier ways to do it: a zigzag road trip. Come along as we take a whirlwind trip...

Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest have probably fielded the same question from friends and family who fly into town to visit: I’ll be exploring the area for a week – where should I go? With so many natural wonders, incredible restaurants, beautiful attractions and charming towns across the region, that can feel like an impossible question to answer. How do you pick between the Columbia...

With snow melting and trails opening up, late summer is officially mountain climbing season in the Pacific Northwest. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we’re taking advantage of the season to climb to the top of one of central Oregon’s most scenic peaks: South Sister. The sweeping volcano west of Bend is known as one of Oregon’s more baggable peaks, and is beloved for its alpine lakes and s...

It’s always nice to bond with your parents, but how many people choose to bond over a 100-mile bike ride? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Lizzy Acker, trending news reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who spent a warm day this summer on a century ride with her dad. Taking a route from Portland to Troutdale and back, the father-daughter duo enjoyed a great adventure that inc...