Our Oregon Outdoors

03/29/2025

Oregon is completely free of drought and abnormal dryness for the first time since November 2019, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Some fun weather stats and what it actually means

Oregon is completely free of drought and abnormal dryness for the first time since November 2019, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

03/29/2025

In the latest Explore Oregon Podcast, we talked with a Salem ice climber Forrest Gill, better known as "Frosty," about the fun, challenge and art of climbing frozen waterfalls and vertical glaciers in Oregon and across the West.

It was a very fun conversation. Frosty's journey shows that this sport really can be for anyone (well, anyone who loves embracing the cold): https://tinyurl.com/4m7z854r

Photo by Caleb Wallace / NW Alpine

In this episode, Salem ice climber Forrest "Frosty" Gill talks about the fun and challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and ice flows.

03/15/2025

Starting today you'll see about 40 miles of Oregon Coast beach roped off to protect snowy plovers. The cute little shorebirds continue to represent one of Oregon's great conservation success stories.

The number of Western snowy plovers in Oregon increased slightly last year, as officials begin roping off patches of beach for nesting season.

03/14/2025

The number of people visiting Oregon State Parks reached an all-time high in 2024, fueled by a boom of people traveling to every part of the coast.

The park system recorded a combined 56.6 million day-visits and camper nights to narrowly edge out the previous record set in 2021.

It’s another indication that demand for camping, hiking and outdoor recreation isn’t slowing even after a decade of skyrocketing numbers of people in the outdoors — bringing a mixed blessing to Oregon's communities and wild places.

“We love that more and more people are visiting their state parks, but it does put an additional strain on the system," Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Stefanie Knowlton said.

Link to full story in the comments.

03/14/2025

A 50-year-old Bend man died Thursday after getting trapped in an avalanche while cat skiing Mount Bailey — one of the state’s famed backcounty experiences provided by Diamond Lake Resort

Officials said the man was part of the fourth group to ski that day but his group "encountered unforeseen challenges despite prior avalanche test digs earlier in the day.”

A 50-year-old Bend man died in an avalanche Thursday while cat skiing Mount Bailey near Diamond Lake.

03/12/2025

An injured skier and their companion were rescued Tuesday by helicopter from South Sister.

The skiers, who were not named but were described as 19 and 20 years old from Salt Lake City, were stranded near the south edge of Lewis Glacier on the Central Cascade volcano after an apparent accident during the afternoon.

https://tinyurl.com/yf2dhp2m

03/07/2025

ICYMI: This is a huge story in Salem.

The city is worried it won't be able to produce enough drinking water for 200,000 people if the drawdown of Detroit Lake moves forward and sends muddy water into the city's water source, the North Santiam River.

The planned drawdown of Detroit Lake could bring major complications for the drinking water systems in Salem and Stayton.

03/06/2025

The cities of Salem and Stayton are alarmed that the extreme drawdown of Detroit Lake — meant to save endangered salmon — could clog the drinking water system for over 200,000 people next fall, or in the future.

“I don’t want to sound alarmist, but our worst case scenario is weeks or even months with no water in Stayton.”

Once again, went deep on Oregon's impossible conundrum. Taking action to save an iconic fish versus the need to have clean water. Wrote another long one about all the details. How we got here, why it’s happening and what comes next: https://tinyurl.com/yc45yeme

02/17/2025

There are few things rural Oregonians seem to hate as much as these wildfire risk maps. It looks increasingly likely that the map — and it's requirements for those in high risk areas — may get axed for a second time after major pushback.

Oregon Republicans have taken up the cause and even Gov. Kotek and some Democrats appear to be on board. Anyway, full story from the capitol today:

Oregon lawmakers want to kill a wildfire risk map meant to identify areas of high risk that has become a lightning rod for anger from rural residents.

02/12/2025

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Willamette Valley for snow and ice that could disrupt work, school and travel on Thursday and Friday: https://tinyurl.com/3hwyymha

02/09/2025

Willamette Valley snow and freezing rain is forecast for Wednesday to Friday next week. We've had some major ice storm disasters in recent years but here's what NWS Portland is saying about how this event could shake out: https://tinyurl.com/2s3rxfyj

"At a minimum we do expect to see travel impacts."

Meteorologists are tracking a weather system that could bring snow and freezing rain to the Willamette Valley on Wednesday and Friday.

02/08/2025

Nick Tolman was enjoying his second day at Bolan Mountain Lookout with his 3-year-old daughter, in September 2020, when he noticed a puff of smoke on the southern horizon.

It was a blaze that would become the Slater Fire, which ripped across 156,700 acres and burned the beloved lookout.

Then a funny thing happened: An unexpected partnership between the Forest Service and Siskyou Mountain Club, fueled by a crew of volunteers, helped rebuild the lookout last summer and infuse it with some new life, including fire resistant materials.

It should reopen for rental next summer.

A story of an evacuation, loss and everything it took to rebuild: https://tinyurl.com/rxpy9re8

Photos by USFS and Trevor Meyer.

After Bolan Mountain Lookout burned down, the U.S. Forest Service formed an alliance with a trails group to rebuild a popular Oregon lookout rental.