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

Guidebook author Matt Reeder joins Zach on this episode to discuss the best backpacking routes in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness and the impact of seven major wildfires. They cover topics such as the challenging PCT Loop backpacking route, the unique features of Marion Lake, and the history and implementation of the permit system. They also share their favorite places in the wilderness and discuss their experience hiking to Maxwell viewpoint.

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks about the glory of rafting the Lower Deschutes River with expert boater Jared Linkhart. They talk about how the high desert scenery, big rapids and riverside campsites make it the state's most popular rafting trips and how to make it happen — either with an outfitter or by running your own boat. Jared breaks down the different segments of the river, talks about how to run the biggest rapids, find the best campsites and get permits. The podcast is also joined by Jared's two kids — Emma and Jacob — who talk about how they learned to run the rapids of the Deschutes and their favorite parts of experiencing it. Jared, of Dundee, is a longtime rafter and river sage to boaters learning to get their family on the water. He runs multiple Facebook groups, including Whitewater Families of the PNW.

A billion-dollar plan proposes using 'fish taxis' and 'fish Disney Worlds' to save endangered salmon in the Willamette Basin. The plan aims to move salmon around dams, allowing them to spawn in upper rivers blocked by dams. The podcast discusses the challenges faced by salmon in the Willamette River system, the trap and haul method, and the process of using fish taxis to transport and release salmon above dams. The speaker emphasizes the importance of protecting fish species despite obstacles such as climate change and pollution.

In this episode, Zach and outdoors intern Abby cover a wide variety of outdoor news including: -The reopening of Waldo Lake and the Breitenbush Highway, and what it allows access to, including Hawk Mountain -The sad news of Salem Summit Company planning to close -Same-day camping reservations at Oregon’s state parks -Perhaps the oldest site of human occupation in North America -The verdict of the 2020 Labor Day Fires class action trial -How not to get stuck on Proposal Rock -Grey whale numbers are down, Oregon wolf acts oddly and the discovery of sunflower sea stars on the Coast

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks with City Cast Portland about the upcoming wildfire season and why fire danger has suddenly skyrocketed to high levels after a wet and snowy winter. Zach also breaks down some of his favorite places to hike in wildfire scars, tells the tale of how Don Myron escaped the Labor Day Fires by sheltering in the middle of a river and offers some tips on not igniting wildfires of you own. Finally, Zach talks about the Boulder Fire burning near Mount Hood and why there's a good chance it could hang around for much of this summer.

In this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and intern Abigail Landwehr talk about one of the most beautiful but troubled spots on the Oregon Coast — God's Thumb, also known as The Thumb. The basalt peak that juts above the ocean north of Lincoln City has become an extremely popular destination but the hike to its top is unofficial, crossing over private land and bringing a host of problems for locals. Urness and Landwehr talk about the problems and look at why a plan to improve the area hasn’t happened. They talk to the Lincoln City mayor and hikers who recently visited the area.

In this edition, Zach talks with southern Oregon expert Ryan Ghelfi about backpacking in the wild and beautiful Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon and extreme northwest California. It’s an ideal year to backpack in the area due to wildfire danger that’s lower than it has been in many years, following California’s historic snowpack that has tamped down fire concerns — at least for the moment. Zach and Ryan talk about wild and remote places right on the Oregon-California border such as the Red Buttes, Siskiyou and Kalmiopsis Wilderness areas, then drop into the even more spectacular Trinity Alps and Marble Mountain wilderness areas — and more.

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach and guidebook author Franziska Weinheimer pick 10 of their favorite backpacking trips for late June, July, August and September as the high outdoor recreation season gets underway. The trips recommend include shorter and longer backpacking routes, from 15 to 55 miles in length, in the Wallowa, Elkhorn, Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou mountains. They also talk about snow levels in the mountains, wildfire danger for the summer and the third year of the Central Cascades wilderness permit system, among other topics. Weinheimer, the owner and operator of the website Hike Oregon, also talks about new hiking booklets that break down the best hikes near different towns across the state.

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks with Leo Rosen-Fischer, expert of recreational tree climbing in the Pacific Northwest and owner of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls. They talk about exactly what recreational tree climbing is — using ropes, a harness and other equipment to ascend high up old-growth trees — before detailing the types of giant trees you can climb in the backcountry of Silver Falls State Park. They talk about how tree climbing works for younger kids and older adults, how you can actually camp at the top of a nearly 300-foot tree and how Rosen-Fischer and state parks officials ensure the activity is not harming the trees or displacing animals.

In this episode, Zach and Charlie talk about the curious case of Saddle Mountain State Natural Area — one of the state's most beautiful peaks and hikes that has been closed frequently the past three years. The episode includes an interview with park ranger Eric Crum, who explains the difficulty in reopening the park's trail and the reasons for the ongoing closure. They look at when the park and trail will reopen and what will be different about it. Charlie and Zach also talk about the rare and endangered plants on Saddle Mountain, how the peak was once a prehistoric island and the pros and cons of closing public lands in the name of safety.