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

Zach interviews Bonnie Henderson, an expert on backpacking and thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail. 

Henderson talks about the differences in each segment of the trail — which are most scenic or challenging — while detailing critical factors such as the best season to backpack, why reading tide tables is important and where you'll need arrange for ferry rides to cross large bays.

In this episode Zach and David discuss the summer of 2021 and its extreme heatwaves, new permit systems and of course wildfires.

Then, new outdoors intern Eddy Binford-Ross travels to Sisters to share one group's quest to restore a forgotten trail in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.

Zach interviews Eric Davis, owner and operator of @OregonCoastAgates, about the best places to find agates on the Oregon Coast and some pro tips to have a successful hunt.

In this edition, Zach interviews guidebook author Matt Reeder about the best places to explore in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, an 111,000 acre backcountry paradise that has been shaped by wildfire.

There's a new trail linking Corvallis to the Oregon Coast. Zach talks with Gary Chapman, president of the C2C Trail Partnership, to learn more about more this long-anticipated route that takes hikers and bikers from the Willamette Valley to Ona Beach.

In this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach and David talk about how to hike and camp on the "quiet" side of Mount Hood before interviewing Dave Tragethon about chairlift hiking at Mount Hood Meadows.

In this episode we’re talking with a mountain guide about some of the best Oregon climbs that do not require ropes. These are spectacular peaks where all you need are strong legs, strong lungs and strong planning to reach some of the state’s most dramatic views.

In this episode we explore Oswald West State Park and look at how Oswald West the former governor saved Oregon beaches from private interests, creating the unique public ownership that Oregonians enjoy to this day.

Zach and David talk about hiking among ancient volcanoes east of Salem to the state's best collection of summer wildflowers in an area known as the Old Cascades.

Zach talks with Dwayne Canfield, interim executive director of the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, about the wildfire damage to one of Oregon's outdoor gems.