A wildfire escape, protecting the Owyhee, a hidden waterfall and a wildfire record

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

#Explore Oregon #Science #Zach Urness / Statesman Journal #Outdoors International

34:01

I think you could probably go back and track the stages of grief, probably that is what I went through. But I think if you do it right, you end up at acceptance. And that's where I ended up. And that's not to say that I've fully accepted the idea that the golden toad is extinct. Personally, I do still hold out hope that it could still be out there in those forests." - Trevor Ritland This conversation is with Trevor Ritland, who—along with his twin brother Kyle—authored The Golden Toad . The book chronicles their remarkable journey into Costa Rica’s cloud forest, once home to hundreds of brilliant golden toads that would emerge for just a few weeks each year—until, one day, they vanished without a trace. What began as a search for a lost species soon became something much more profound: a confrontation with ecological grief, a meditation on hope, and a powerful call to protect the natural world while we still can. Links: SpeciesUnite.com Kyle and Trevor: https://kyleandtrevor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventureterm/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222249677-the-golden-toad Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Toad-Ecological-Mystery-Species/dp/163576996…

il y a un an 22:34

MP3•Maison d'episode

In this edition, Zach talks about a collection of outdoor stories including: -A group of women who went backpacking in the Three Sisters Wilderness and had to evacuate when multiple wildfires ignited all around them. -A record wildfire season for acres burned in the PNW and Oregon. -Contrasting views on how to protect Oregon's Owyhee Canyonlands. -One of Oregon's most beautiful waterfall views and why there's not an official trail leading to it.

198 episodes

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

A wildfire escape, protecting the Owyhee, a hidden waterfall and a wildfire record

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

50 subscribers

published il y a un an

MP3•Maison d'episode

198 episodes

#Explore Oregon #Science #Zach Urness / Statesman Journal #Outdoors International

Tous les épisodes

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

1
Oregon's state parks face closures and cuts. Here's the director's plan to avoid that 36:55

il y a environ 4 jours36:55

36:55

In this episode, host Zach Urness interviews Oregon Parks and Recreation Department director Lisa Sumption about the challenging future for Oregon's state parks system. The parks system includes more than 250 recreation sites and 50 campgrounds and was visited by a record 56.6 million people in 2024. However, OPRD is expecting to face a 14% shortfall by 2027. That could mean layoffs to rangers and even closing some parks. In the podcast, Sumption explains the shortfall and plans to fix it by raising revenue through new and creative streams of income. It's her hope to fund the park system without asking for taxpayer funding or any tax increase.…

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

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Popular railbiking trip finally comes within reach of the Willamette Valley 20:09

il y a environ 8 jours20:09

20:09

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnston talk about the newest railbiking site in Oregon — this one within striking distance of the Willamette Valley. Santiam Excursion Trains is based in Lebanon and recently added a new railbike adventure in Sweet Home. It travels 6 miles on the old Sweet Home Branch line, where abandoned buildings and wildlife are plentiful. Mariah talks about the highlights of the trip, how to book a ride and the history of the rail line and railbiking in general, which has become increasingly popular across the state.…

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

1
Cool off by 'wilderness snorkeling' rivers, creeks and lakes (repost) 23:21

il y a environ 12 jours23:21

23:21

In this episode, host Zach Urness reposts a favorite podcast about snorkeling crystal clear rivers, creeks and backcountry lakes. This episode, first recorded in 2019, covers the equipment needed and locations where you can explore underwater canyons and come nose-to-nose with a confused fish.

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

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News roundup: New fees for fishing and boating, the fight for public lands and dark times for Oregon ski areas 37:16

il y a environ 15 jours37:16

37:16

In this episode, host Zach Urness and intern Mariah Johnston discuss the biggest news in Oregon's outdoors from the past few weeks. Zach starts off by discussing the latest wildfire forecast, the fight against the sale of federal public lands and some of the biggest takeaways from the Oregon legislative session — including new fees for fishing and boating. In the second half, Zach and Mariah discuss a more diverse collection of news stories, including troubling news for Oregon's grey whale population, E-bikes being allowed at Oregon State Parks, new parking rules for Suavie Island's beaches and a handful of other topics.…

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

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This lake with a stunning view of Mount Hood was once known as 'Mud Lake' 22:19

il y a environ 27 jours22:19

22:19

In this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnson detail how to hike, float and explore a lake with one of the most beautiful views of Mount Hood — but that in past was known as "Mud Lake." Johnson visited Trillium Lake, near Government Camp, one of the more popular summer recreation sites, home to a place to rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, in addition to a nice hiking trail and campground. Johnson also details why the lake was once known as "Mud Lake," and the fact that it was once in a movie starring Jimmy Stewart.…

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

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Want to catch 100 fish in a single day? Head to this magic river (update and repost) 42:18

il y a 5 weeks42:18

42:18

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach Urness talks to fish biologist Stephan Charette about one of the best places to catch fish in Oregon: smallmouth bass on the John Day River. In this episode, first published in 2022, Urness and Charette talks about why the fishing is so good, where and how to land them and the upside and downside of so many fish.…

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

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How to float the John Day River — and who was John Day exactly? (Updated repost) 26:34

il y a 5 weeks26:34

26:34

In this episode, host Zach Urness reposts and updates details on one of Oregon's greatest overnight float and fishing trips — the John Day River. In this episode first published in 2020, but updated this year, Urness and former co-host David Davis break down the river's most famous segment, how to get a permit and what makes this trip so special. They also dive into the history of the man the river is named for — John Day — and explain why his name is plastered all over Oregon.…

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

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Rafting through a 10,000-acre wildfire; plus how Cottonwood Canyon was saved from the Ferry Fire 20:34

il y a 5 weeks20:34

20:34

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the experience of floating through an active wildfire on the John Day River, in addition to a story about an evacuation of a state park and how it was saved from the flames of the Ferry Fire. Earlier this month, Zach floated through the 10,000-acre Ferry Fire that was burning on the John Day. In the second half, Urness tells the story of Cottonwood Canyon State Park, also on the John Day, that was evacuated on June 11, had a firefight and was burned over on June 12, but thanks to smart planning by its staff, didn't lose any major buildings and is able to reopen on June 20.…

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

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The art of trout fishing Oregon's hike-in mountain lakes 58:55

il y a 7 weeks58:55

58:55

In this edition, host Zach Urness focuses on how to fish the state's hike-in alpine lakes with expert angler and fish biologist Jeff Ziller with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ziller has worked on stocking and surveying Oregon's mountain lakes since the 1980s. In the first half of the podcast, he talks about where to find fish in Oregon's mountain lakes, what type of fish can be had and how they got there in the first place. In the second half, Ziller breaks down the best methods to catch rainbow and brook trout, how to clean and eat them, and which taste best.…

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

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10 spectacular backpacking trips for each month of summer (repost) 55:51

il y a 9 weeks55:51

55:51

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach and guidebook author Franziska of Hike Oregon pick 10 of their favorite backpacking trips for June, July, August and September as the high outdoor recreation season gets underway. In this podcast, first recorded in 2023, the trips recommended include shorter and longer backpacking routes, from 15 to 55 miles in length, in the Wallowa, Elkhorn, Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou mountains. Franziska, the owner and operator of the website Hike Oregon, also has a new book that recently came out — "52 MORE Hikes for 52 MORE Weeks: In the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon Cascades & Coast."…

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

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Silver Falls upgrades, and the 'almost' Oregon national parks 32:01

il y a 11 weeks32:01

32:01

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about upgrades coming to Silver Falls State Park along with places in Oregon that almost became national parks — but never quite made the cut. In the first half, Urness talks about the new outdoors shop, campground and visitor center planned for Oregon's largest state park as part of expanding development at the park. In the second half, Urness talks about why Silver Falls didn't become a national park — even through it was strongly considered back in the 1920s. Then, he talks about five other locations that almost became national parks but were held back for different reasons.…

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

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Eugene to add mountain bike trails, expand Ridgeline Trail system for riders and hikers 19:54

il y a 11 weeks19:54

19:54

In this episode, host Zach Urness reports on a project in Eugene that will add a mountain biking park and expand the size of the city's Ridgeline Trail system for hiking. The city plans to add 12 miles of new trail at Suzanne Arlie Park and South Eugene Meadows, opening up the city's first trails built specifically for mountain biking while also creating new hikes and expanding hiking routes. It's been a long road for the city to embrace mountain biking. The project also moves the city closer to its ultimate goal of having trails that connect from Fern Ridge Reservoir to Mount Pisgah.…

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

1
The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens 24:11

il y a 12 weeks24:11

24:11

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

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The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens, offering spring and summer adventure 24:11

il y a 13 weeks24:11

24:11

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the reopening of the Whitewater Creek road and trail into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness east of Detroit. The trail has long been one of the most popular and iconic in the Mount Jefferson area but it's been transformed by two major wildfires that have kept it closed six of the last nine years and all the way since 2020. The road and trail is finally open now, and there are some amazing views and adventures to be had right now — in the early season — and later in the summer as well. Zach breaks down easy, medium and challenging trips here for the spring and summer, and also provides the background story on the two wildfires that roasted this area.…

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

1
Oregon's wildest place: The Kalmiopsis Wilderness and why it's stunning in spring (repost) 1:14:08

il y a 13 weeks1:14:08