Episodes
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What’s in a name? Or, in this case, what’s in an Oregon place name?
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we’re looking into the history behind the names of some of Oregon’s most beloved landmarks, pulling out some truly weird and wild stories from the Southern Oregon to the Columbia River Gorge.
Forget everything you think you know about where our natural landmarks got their names.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How Mount Hood and the Columbia River both trace their names back to boats.
A pair of Columbia Gorge landmarks with surprising histories.
Vickie regrets asking about Dog Mountain.
Rooster Rock once had a more, uh, colorful name.
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What makes a hike spooky? Is it the dark, misty environment of a Northwest fall day? Or the old, abandoned buildings sometimes found on the trail?
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we investigate five of the spookiest hiking areas around Oregon, just in time for the dark season.
Our picks range from the Oregon coast to the high desert, with plenty of deep, dark forests in between. For those who want to get a little creeped out while exploring outside (or those who don’t), these are the places to know.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Is there anything scarier than the dark, concrete tunnels of an old military battery?
One Portland attraction has been haunting hikers for generations.
Caving is literally a descent into darkness.
Why wildfire burn areas are totally eerie.
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Just about every town in America has a tree lighting event, walk-through light display or downtown shopping night for the holidays, but a few spots like to do something a little extra.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we look at the Pacific Northwest holiday events that might be worth traveling to, from busy winter festivals to visits from Krampus.
There’s something delightful about small towns going all out for the holidays, one-upping each other for the biggest, best and busiest events –and offering Northwest travelers a window into local holiday traditions.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why you should check out Leavenworth’s Christmastown, even though it will be a scene.
The best light display in Oregon? It might be at a state park on the coast.
Get a taste of Victorian Christmas pageantry in this southern Oregon destination.
A small town in Washington has a delightfully creepy Krampus tradition.
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With apologies to summer, fall is a perfect season for hiking.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we cover some of the very best fall hiking destinations close to Portland, which areconvenient outings for the ever-shortening days.
Covering Mount Hood, the Coast Range, the Columbia River Gorge and Portland proper, these hikes are great places to take in the crisp air, the changing leaves, and all the other sights and smells of autumn.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why Silver Falls State Park is a no-brainer.
Two spots in Portland that are perfect for the season.
A walk to the tip of Sauvie Island has a fun surprise at the end.
The Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood come with an added seasonal benefit: fewer crowds.
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For some adventurers, a two to four day backpacking trip can be the perfect amount of time to disconnect with the business of day to day life and reconnect with the nature around us. But, for others, a longer trip is needed, or in this case, wanted.
This week on Peak Northwest podcast, breaking news and enterprise reporter Fedor Zarkhin recounts his most recent trip to the Wallowas, where he backpacked solo for 14 days.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
The must-see natural attractions of the Wallowas.
What goes into food planning when backpacking for longer stints.
Navigating with a good old fashioned physical map.
The joys of disconnecting from technology.
Multiple majestic mountain goat sightings.
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A triathlon can be a daunting experience. Combine swimming, cycling and running into one event and you have a race that countless endurance athletes look forward to each year.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, host Vickie Connor recounts her latest race: IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Where to start as a first-time triathlete.
Biking through Richland, Washington’s scenic wine country.
What goes into training and nailing down nutrition.
The joys of local events in the region to prepare for this race.
Finding community through swimming, biking and running groups in Portland.
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If you find yourself traveling from Portland to Crater Lake National Park, consider taking a slightly longer, scenic route to enjoy the trip.
This week on Peak Northwest podcast, we talk about a few of the many highlights of Highway 138, lovingly known at Oregon’s highway of waterfalls. The stretch of roadway between Roseburg and Diamond Lake offers numerous stops, including not only waterfalls, but hot springs, riverside campgrounds and hikes with fascinating lava rock formations.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Toketee Falls is just as majestic in person as it is through photographs.
Oregon’s third tallest waterfall includes a short hike to get up close and personal.
Beautiful camping options.
Drive a bit further to eat pizza at Diamond Lake.
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If you’re up for the challenge, biking around Crater Lake’s scenic Rim Drive is arguably one of the best cycling routes in the state. Even sweeter, the road is almost entirely closed to vehicle traffic for two days every summer.
This week on Peak Northwest podcast, co-host Vickie Connor chats about participating in Ride the Rim 2024 and why the trip is a perfect end cap to your bike summer.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why participating in the annual free event is a more fun and supported way of doing this ride.
How far and difficult the full ride is.
Opting for a mid-ride cliff jump into the lake is almost always a good idea.
Lodging options in the area.
You may even have a bear cub sighting.
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Each year, hundreds of brave swimmers board a sternwheeler boat in the Columbia River Gorge to swim from the Washington side of the river to a finish line in Oregon. It’s an 80-year-tradition, now hosted in Cascade Locks.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, host Vickie Connor recounts her recent open water swim at the Columbia River Cross Channel Swim event.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What it feels like to swim 1.1 miles across the Columbia River.
How to prepare for an open water swim.
How paddle boarders and kayakers guide you to a safe finish line.
Opportunities to learn technique as a beginner in the pool and open water in Portland.
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It’s no secret that the Willamette Valley has several epic wine spots and vineyards. But some places are going above and beyond to offer unique experiences in addition to their tasting selections.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we are joined by engagement editor, Julie Evensen and video editor Teresa Mahoney, to chat about some of the coolest spots to drink wine in and around the Portland area.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Portland offers wine experiences where you can get tarot card readings along with your tasting.
Ride horseback through several wineries — no car needed.
Enjoy your glass with epic views in the Gorge.
Create your own adventure by choosing your camp site near a winery.
An unassuming wine spot at a garden center.
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If you’re dreaming of a final challenging backpacking trip this summer or wanting a stunning adventure for early fall, Broken Top Loop trail might just be your answer. With emerald green lakes, peaceful stream crossings, plus views of multiple mountain peaks, this trail will leave you in awe of the state’s beauty.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, co-host Vickie Connor recounts her most recent trip to Central Oregon, where she spent three days on Broken Top Loop trail.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why this trail is best for experienced backpackers.
An ideal three day, two night itinerary in the backcountry.
Choosing between hiking clockwise or counterclockwise on the trail.
Why you might want to leave your dog at home for this trip.
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If you’ve spent the summer working yourself into peak hiking shape, there are some great trails to test your endurance, not in the mountains but by the beach.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we get into five long-distance hikes on the Oregon coast, climbing the steep cliffs and headlands, past rocky tide pools and down onto the sand.
Utilizing the long, snaking trail systems at some of the best parks on the coast, hikers can find places to hike for 12 miles, 15 miles, 20 miles or even longer. What the coast lacks in sheer elevation, it makes up for in distance, with so much of the Pacific coastline taken up by public lands.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Cape Lookout’s three trails can be connected for one long hike.
The Fort to Sea Trail is a classic adventure on the north coast.
Why Yachats is home to some of the best long-distance hiking on the coast.
Ecola and Oswald West state parks have some seriously long trail networks.
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Kah-Nee-Ta is back, just in time for the second half of summer vacation.
The beloved Warm Springs resort is not completely back to its former glory, but a piece of it has been renovated and reopened as Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, setting it up as the hottest new vacation destination in Oregon.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dive into the hot spring soaking pools, take a spin on the lazy river, and cool off in the poolside cabanas, giving you everything you need to know about the new Kah-Nee-Ta resort.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What’s the history with Kah-Nee-Ta?
Everything you need to know about the big renovation
Overnight lodging options, including lodge rooms and teepees
What’s happening with the other parts of the old resort?
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Summer means big crowds at Oregon’s busiest state parks, places like Silver Falls and Fort Stevens, which draw millions of visitors each year.
But what about those other parks?
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we take a road trip to some of the least visited state parks in Oregon, all clustered together in a rural, remote part of northeast Oregon. Here, you won’t find crowds – or, at some spots, much of anything.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Where exactly are these little state parks?
Finding pockets of beauty at Red Bridge.
Which parks might not be worth your time.
A delightful afternoon at Catherine Creek State Park.
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Crater Lake is one of those places where you can, and probably should, spend a few days exploring. Between Rim Drive, the historic lodge and loads of nearby hikes, there’s enough there for days of adventure.
But sometimes you don’t have that time.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we go through a recent one-night visit to Oregon’s famous national park, discussing how to make the most of a short trip to the caldera.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Where to stay in and around the park.
Going early in the season might mean fewer crowds, but also less to do.
Stopping for gas and stumbling onto a pair of gorgeous waterfalls.
Where to find great hiking off the rim of the lake.
-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor
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Mountain climbers may consider Mount Shasta one of the easier Pacific Northwest mountains to ascend, but it’s no easy feat.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, our colleague Fedor Zarkhin, breaking news and enterprise reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, recounts his wild expedition to the top of the towering Cascade Mountain peak, sharing his stumbles and successes along the way.
Making it to the top of the volcano requires more than 7,000 vertical feet of climbing, with an ice axe and crampons required toward the top. Those who can handle the physical feat may get stymied by weather.
The reward is in the climb itself – and the stunning natural beauty found on one of the tallest mountains in the region.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How Fedor ended up climbing Mount Shasta with a stranger.
Tackling the difficult climb, five steps at a time.
Why a recent shopping trip at the outdoors store ended up paying off.
Why are physical challenges like this so appealing?
-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor
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Plenty of people talk about Bigfoot, but what is it like to go out searching for the famous cryptid?
On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Samantha Swindler, videographer and features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently went out into the wilderness with a pair of Bigfoot hunters.
Her experience took her deep into the woods of Sasquatch mythology – and deep into the literal woods as well. She came back with a few ideas about the Pacific Northwest’s most famous monster, and some information about the people who dedicate their lives to finding it.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What is the allure of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest?
Sam recounts her camping trip in the Washington wilderness.
These Bigfoot hunters are also looking for something else: missing people.
One theory about all those Bigfoot sightings in the Northwest.
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With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, you might find yourself wanting to explore outside. But, you might face the conundrum of knowing your typical go-to spot will have an influx of other people there, too.
If that’s you, have no fear, there are plenty of places to explore, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie and Vickie peel back the curtain on hikes less traveled in Oregon.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
A family-friendly hike near a body of water to cool down.
An overlooked beach for a coastal destination.
Where to backpack and put your legs to the test.
Crossing into Washington for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge.
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Just when you think you’ve seen and done everything in Northeast Oregon, you discover something new.
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie recounts his latest trip to Joseph, where he found even more to see and do in the remote corner of the state, from light-up kayaks to a railroad hike and a tour of one fascinating general store.
Between the mountains, small towns, glacial lakes and wild rivers, there really is no shortage of things to do in this part of Oregon. It’s going to take a few more trips – or a dozen – before we consider Northeast Oregon to be thoroughly explored.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why the Kokanee Inn is a great place to stay in Joseph.
Taking a nighttime light-up kayak tour of Wallowa Lake.
What is M. Crow and why is it become such a big deal in Northeast Oregon?
A railroad hike along the Wallowa River.
What’s left to do in Joseph?
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