Peak Northwest

By The Oregonian/OregonLiveSociety & Culture Sports Places & Travel Wilderness

Peak Northwest episodes

May 05, 2022Introducing our new co-host, Vickie Connor
Peak Northwest is undergoing some change this spring, with a brand new co-host just in time for the busy travel season.
Replacing our original co-host, Jim Ryan – who recently left for Seattle – is Vickie Connor, a videographer for The Oregonian/OregonLive who also works on the Peak Northwest video series.
On this week’s episode, we get to know all about Vickie’s background, her interests and what kinds of adventures she’s excited to tackle this year. As a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, there’s a lot for her to see.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Vickie didn’t learn to love the outdoors until a little bit later in life.
What kinds of travel and outdoor excursions does she enjoy?
Dog-friendly adventures are a huge part of her Northwest travel plans.
Vickie takes us through her Pacific Northwest bucket list.

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24 min
April 28, 2022A goodbye to co-host Jim Ryan
Before it was a podcast — or had a name at all — Peak Northwest was Jim Ryan’s offbeat brainchild.

Jim, at the time a breaking news reporter, pitched Oregonian/OregonLive editors a video series about how to set out on signature Oregon adventures. The concept stuck — kind of.

The news organization launched the Peak Northwest video series, then the podcast, in fall 2019.

Video shoots have since taken Jim to the top of Oregon’s tallest mountain, into the waters of the Pacific Ocean and along all 30.2 miles of Portland’s Wildwood Trail. The podcast has given him a chance to talk with an array of passionate guests and share some of our region’s many wonders.

But this is Jim’s last episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, as he started a new job Monday as an editor for The Seattle Times. Fear not, Peak Northwest is continuing on with a new co-host and more adventures.

In his final episode, Jim shares some of his favorite Oregon places, along with memories from his time in Portland and sentiments about Peak Northwest.

Some highlights:
Jim tells a story about the formative experience of climbing Mount St. Helens for the first time.
He discusses some of his favorite places in Oregon: Mount Hood and Smith Rock State Park among them.
Jim details the magic of northwest Oregon’s forested trails, shouting out two of his favorites: the Eagle Creek and Wildwood trails.
He describes his appreciation for Portland as a “generalist’s paradise” and shares details about his new job.
Jamie Hale provides a primer about the future of Peak Northwest as videographer Vickie Connor joins the podcast as co-host.
Jamie and Andrew Theen, podcasts editor, surprise Jim with a montage of funny soundbites.

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28 min
April 21, 2022Scheming the perfect 3-day spring weekend
Long weekends are cause for celebration — and a prime time for road trips.

While we hardly shy away from covering some serious ground during standard two-day weekends, an extra day off gives us an opportunity to set our sights a bit farther afield.

And with Memorial Day weekend on the not-too-distant horizon, we decided to dedicate this episode of the Peak Northwest podcast to a collection of top-notch destinations that require a bit more driving than many would like to cram into a two-day weekend.

Some highlights:
Jamie and Jim wax poetic about the possibilities three-day weekends provide.
They rattle off a variety of recommendations for long spring weekends. (Spoiler: Destinations range from Oregon’s Alvord Desert to Washington’s Olympic National Park.)
Jim sneaks in a spring skiing suggestion.

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25 min
April 14, 2022Where to find the best beaches on the southern Oregon coast
There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches on the Oregon coast – especially on the southern coast, home to some of the best sands in the state.

Running roughly from Reedsport to the Oregon-California border, the southern Oregon coast features sweeping sand dunes, towering cliffs, tide pools and incredible ocean views. Picking favorites on this stretch of coastline is a tall order.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we do our best to play favorites, pulling out three beaches that stand out above the rest, and picking some of the southern coast’s best non-beach attractions for good measure.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Floras Lake is one of the most fascinating beaches on the southern coast.
Tap into your inner child at Sisters Rock.
Secret Beach is not much of a secret.
There’s a lot more to do on the southern Oregon coast than just visit beaches.

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33 min
April 07, 2022Fishing 101 with Bill Monroe
The Northwest is an angler’s paradise.

The region’s rivers, lakes and coastline boast ample opportunities for fishing and other outdoor pursuits.

But we’re far from angling experts here on the Peak Northwest podcast. So we recruited Bill Monroe — who covers fishing, hunting and wildlife for The Oregonian/OregonLive — to give us a primer on one of his favorite pastimes.

Some highlights:
Bill provides an overview of fishing in the Northwest.
He lets us in on the magic of angling and why it’s special to him.
Bill rattles off some of the fishing he’s looking forward to in the coming months.
He provides tips for people looking to try fishing and recommends some spots for newcomers.

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33 min
March 31, 2022What to do at Valley of the Rogue, Oregon’s busiest state park
If you had to guess which Oregon state park sees the biggest crowds, you might try busy destinations like Silver Falls or Smith Rock, or maybe big coastal parks like Fort Stevens or Beverly Beach.

You probably wouldn’t think of Valley of the Rogue, which was far and away the busiest state park in 2021, as it has been for years.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Nathan Seable, the man in charge at Oregon’s busiest state park site, to find out why so many people visit – and why most of them are missing out on the southern Oregon park’s best attractions.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Where and what is Valley of the Rogue State Park?
Home to a busy rest stop, much of the park is overlooked.
Valley of the Rogue is also one of the busiest state park campgrounds in the region.
The Rogue River offers great recreational opportunities in the park.

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29 min
March 24, 2022 How to go stargazing in Oregon
On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we talk to Bob Grossfeld, manager of the Sunriver Observatory, where visitors can peer through telescopes to see the wonders of the cosmos. Those who can’t make it out to the observatory can still go stargazing on their own, he explains, with nothing more than a pair of binoculars.
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22 min
March 17, 2022Do go chasing waterfalls...along Oregon's southern Coast Range
When most Oregonians want waterfalls, we head to the Columbia River Gorge, home to dozens of iconic plunges.

But travel toward the Oregon coast instead and you can find many more waterfalls hidden in the forests of the Coast Range mountains.

We dedicated a Peak Northwest podcast episode back in 2020 to the waterfalls in the northern part of the range. And on this week’s episode, we talk about some of the most impressive waterfalls in the southern Coast Range.

Some highlights:
Jamie and Jim describe the splendor of a stroll through the forest, seeking waterfalls that are especially beautiful this time of year.
Jamie details the difficulty of finding some of the waterfalls in the southern Coast Range.
We discuss a selection of Jamie’s favorite southern Coast Range plunges.

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23 min
March 10, 2022 Take a spring break road trip down Oregon 47
You can always head out to the Oregon coast for spring break, but if you’re hoping to avoid the crush of crowds, consider sticking around the Willamette Valley instead.

There’s plenty of fun to be found closer to the Portland metropolitan area, and one corridor in particular where you’ll find a wide variety of attractions that are perfect for a spring break trip: Oregon Route 47.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about the Willamette Valley highway that runs from Clatskanie to McMinnville, cutting through the coast range forests and wine country on its way. From bike paths to hiking trails, food carts to roadside attractions, there’s a lot to find along Oregon 47.

Whether you’re taking spring break along with Oregon’s public schools this month, or in need of some trip ideas for later this season, the scenic highway is a perfect place to explore.

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29 min
March 03, 2022Take a trip to Oregon’s most overlooked state parks
Oregon’s state parks saw more visitors than ever in 2021, but not all parks were packed with people.

Among the least-visited state park sites – generally tiny waysides or out-of-the-way parks – there are plenty of overlooked attractions. From waterfalls to ocean beaches and high desert wonders, these stunning parks deserve a little more attention.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dig into five overlooked state parks in Oregon, discussing how, when and why you should pay them a visit.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Two high desert destinations in central Oregon offer fascinating geologic attractions and beautiful trails.
An overlooked park in the Columbia Gorge is a good jumping-off point for nearby adventures.
Humbug Mountain is easy to miss, but definitely worth a stop on the southern Oregon coast.
Golden and Silver Falls is a waterfall wonderland, buried deep in the coastal mountains of southwest Oregon.

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25 min