Blog Archives

Exploring the Strawberry Mountains – My First Backpack

I am embarrassed to say that prior to being 44, I had not backpacked.  I’ve done tons of day hiking.  A slew of car camping.  And I have camped out in the woods for multiple days, at Rainbow Gatherings and when packing with llamas.  But in the strict sense of the word backpacking,

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Planting Seeds For Exploring Eastern Oregon

I was recently exploring Eastern Oregon, namely the Strawberry Mountains, on my first backpacking trip. (internal link)  It was glorious in so many ways.  The most obvious ways were being unplugged and far, far away from traffic for a few days.  And I want to encourage you to do the same! 

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

10 Things You Need to Experience on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River

wild and scenic rogue riverBeing an Oregonian for a couple of decades I have heard the phrase “the wild and scenic Rogue River is my favorite river to raft” more than a few times.  But what makes it so special?  The typical answers included comments like: “dependably gorgeous summer weather, lush scenery,

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Oregon Country Fair

Oregon Country FairJul. 7-9: I have been going to the Oregon Country Fair  since 1997, but this is the first year I am writing about it.  Why?  Well, for a couple reasons.  Firstly, I did not start writing for pleasure until a couple years ago when I started my blog. 

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , ,

A Day Hiking Tillamook Bay

Hiking the Columbia GorgeJul. 19: In the 20 years (to the month) that I have lived in Oregon, I have only visited the north coast  one time.  I know that sounds absurd, especially for someone who has been all over the state, but in short, there was always plenty to do an hour north or an hour south of Florence,

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hiking the Columbia Gorge

Hiking the Columbia GorgeJul. 25: Two hikes in less than a week.  Now this I could get used to.  June seemed to come and go and I didn’t get out of town for any sort of exploration.  This actually suited me just fine. I have been thoroughly enjoying exploring Portland,

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , ,

Camping in Mt Hood for the Weekend

Aug 11-13: Standing proud and determined as seen from downtown Portland, is Mt Hood, 11,250 feet tall and Oregon’s tallest mountain.  It is part of the volcanic Cascade Range.  And the Cascades are part of what attracts many outdoorsy folks to live in Oregon.

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Rafting the Deschutes

Rafting the DeschutesAug. 15: For the last few years, I have been part of an annual event with some friends rafting the Deschutes River, in Central Oregon.  What draws people there?  Its proximity to Bend, expansive high desert scenery, and dependably hot summers all make it a very appealing destination.

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , ,

The Great American Eclipse

The Great American EclipseAug. 21: It seems like every few months, there is some astrological thing that is happening, that is some sort of once in a lifetime event.  Of if I live to see it twice, I was in diapers once and demented the other time.

They don’t all interest me,

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , ,

With Wallowa Llamas into Eagle Cap Wilderness

Jul. 23 and 24:  Dan and I are absorbing the clean mountain air up at 8,500 feet in the northeastern corner of Oregon.  Now that’s a long way from home, at least when using a car and not a plane to get here.  Last autumn Dan mentioned that he got an email from Raz that the 2016 Wallowa Llamas schedule was released and it was right then that we picked the dates to go on a trek into Eagle Cap Wilderness. 

Read more ›

Posted in North America, Oregon, United States
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,