Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues

In this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks about why it's so important to enjoy Oregon's robust snowpack and long ski season before rounding up a few good spring break travel ideas and highlighting some recent outdoors news. Zach details how Oregon's ski areas are staying open through April and even May this year due to a good snowpack and mentions some spring deals that make getting on the lifts a bit cheaper. He then highlights a snowshoe and ski route to a snow shelter at the base of the Three Sisters. Because of a potential El Nino pattern next year, this spring might be the best snow conditions for a while, according to Oregon State Climatologist Larry O'Neill, who makes a brief appearance on the podcast. Finally, Zach highlights two outdoor-themed museums worth visiting during spring break, whale watching advance and then a handful of news reported recently including: The revival of the western snowy plover on the Oregon Coast Two fatal accidents in the backcountry, and another death at Oregon’s deadliest spot More struggles for Oregon’s iconic trees — this time of the Douglas firs of the Klamath-Siskiyou

In this edition, Zach heads to the ancient forest of the Salmon River hiking trails between Portland and Mount Hood. Zach talks about the easy, medium and difficult way to explore one of Oregon's most spectacular old-growth temperate rainforests. The podcast highlights Wildwood Recreation Site and Salmon River hiking trails heading into the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness, breaking down how to backpack, day-hike and explore the area. He also highlights some extreme whitewater kayaking to visit the area's hidden waterfalls and a trip to an abandon fire lookout at the top of a nearby mountain.

In this episode, Zach talks to Eric Davis about how to go snowboarding on the Oregon Coast after a rare coastal snowstorm. Snowboarding is very rare on the Oregon Coast, but Davis has made it happen twice now, including last week, when he went snowboarding at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area with his 5-year-old daughter and captured some unique photos and video in the process. In the podcast, Davis explains how he tries to find snowboarding opportunities in the Coast Range and the magic of snowboarding above the ocean last week on a the "Great Dune" at Cape Kiwanda.

Host Zach Urness wraps up the latest outdoors news before heading out on the state's best snowy waterfall trips. In the first half of the episode, Urness hits on the end of timed entry permits for the Columbia Gorge's waterfall corridor, Oregon's snowpack jumping to 108% of normal with more on the way and the future of outdoor recreation business in light of lawsuits, an Oregon Supreme Court decision and new legislation. In the second half, Urness talks about his favorite trips to snow-covered waterfalls.

In the latest edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach wraps up the latest outdoors news and includes a handful of fun places to travel in February during this newsletter-style podcast. Zach talks about the series of dead whales that washed up on the Oregon Coast last month and looks at whether it's a big deal or not, along with dispelling the notion that Oregon will once again use dynamite to explode the whale carcasses, as the state attempted in the 1970s. He also touches on a string of historically hot years in the Beaver State, the number of boating deaths in Oregon and a handful of other newsy topics. Finally, Zach highlights two great places to travel in February including skiing or snowshoeing at Gold Lake Sno-Park and traveling to the Oregon Redwoods.

In this episode, Zach talks about the growing momentum to reintroduce sea otters on the Oregon Coast with Chanel Hason, director of outreach and community relations for the Elakha Alliance. They talk about how returning sea otters to the Coast could help save kelp forests — and why that's important — along with why the fuzzy marine mammals were wiped out in the first place and how reintroduction could work.

In this episode, Zach talks about all the big new changes at Silver Falls State Park. Park officials are planning a new trailhead and waterfall trail, a new campground and visitor's center, all while expanding the park by upgrading a backcountry area now known as the Smith Creek Village. Zach talked to Silver Falls manager Chris Gilliand and operator of the new Smith Creek Villages Brooke Gerken. Zach also details other updates at the park, including the return of guided tree climbing, adventure races and the network of backcountry trails. Finally, he touches on the history of how the park came together and was saved by a landscape photographer from Silverton named June Drake.

In this episode, Zach takes a winter road trip to Crater Lake National Park and talks about how to get the most out of your journey. Oregon’s only national park becomes a winter wonderland during the year’s coldest months, becoming an amazing place to snowshoe, ski, snow camp or just get views of the lake while sitting indoors. But the journey to Crater Lake also offers opportunity. The mountain highways leading to the park feature waterfalls, hot springs and snow adventures. Zach offers a roadmap to some of his favorite spots along the way and returning from Crater Lake.

A series of research studies and surveys published over the past few months have revealed a troubling trend — some of Oregon's most iconic trees are dying or struggling in record numbers. In this edition, Zach talks to Oregon Department of Forestry Christine Buhl about recently documented die-offs of western redcedar, Oregon's true fir species, Douglas fir and the insect invasion of Oregon white oak. Taken together, says Buhl, the studies reflect how Oregon's hotter and drier climate is damaging the state's most beloved trees at record rates. Buhl talks about what's going on, what Oregon's forest of the future might look like and what can be done to mitigate some of the problems.

In this episode, outdoors intern Makenzie Elliott talks to Daniel Hasselschwert, the owner of Ossies Surf Shop in Newport about all things surfing on the Oregon Coast. The two discuss what makes Oregon such an interesting place to surf and why people can surf the waves year round. They also talk about what it takes to start surfing with things like taking lessons and finding the right gear. Hasselschwert also shares why he loves the sport of surfing and why he believes it is so popular and loved by many. Elliott also reflects on her first surf lesson she took with Hasselschwert at Ossies Surf Shop. She discusses what it was like surfing for the first time and what she learned while in the water.