1859 Magazine: Grinding to a Halt in Hells Canyon

10 10 2016

My first piece for 1859 Magazine is a personal essay about how nature cures what ails you. In this case, my teeth grinding. Pick it up on newsstands now or click here to read the online version.

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Tillamook Coast: Sand Lake Recreation Area

5 10 2016

My latest for Tillamookcoast.com details the outdoor recreation opportunities at one of the Oregon Coast’s best sand dune areas. Click here to read the article.

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Portland Today: Fall Family Hikes

25 09 2016

Earlier this week I was a guest on a local morning show, Portland Today, to discuss Fall Family Hikes. Click here to watch the segment.

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Tillamook Coast: The Kings Mountain Trail

19 09 2016

If you’re looking for some exercise in the Oregon Coast Range, look no further than Kings Mountain. From the article:

“The trail that leads up to the summit of Kings Mountain is a 2.5-mile long hurt locker disguised as a hiking path. I’m sure there are some of you out there that would go merrily traipsing up the mountain, breaking nary a sweat while pausing only to take in nature’s glory. Well, that’s not most of us. The hike gains 2,500 feet over the course of that 2.5 miles. For those of you scoring at home, 1,000 feet of elevation gain per mile is quite the steady clip. And for the lion’s share of hikers out there, that’s a thigh-burning mettle-tester. And if you’ve got bad knees, bad balance, or bad luck, the hike down the mountain won’t be much of a picnic either. But as with most hikes of its ilk, there are rewards beyond caloric expenditure.”

Click here to read the whole thing.

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Best Outdoor Adventures Near Portland

14 08 2016

My latest literary spawn has left the nest! The “Best Outdoor Adventures Near Portland” is now available in select bookstores and via any of your favorite online outlets, including Amazon.

From the Intro:

Portland, Oregon is a special place. One of the primary reasons many of us choose to hang our hats here is the seemingly limitless outdoor recreation options. If there’s something you like to do outside, chances are good that you can find it within two hours of Portland. What do you like doing? What would you like to try? It’s here. Or near here.  A quick rundown of things to do includes: hiking, trail running, kayaking, whitewater rafting, stand up paddleboarding, surfing, kite boarding, cycling, mountain biking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, horseback riding, paragliding, skydiving, ziplining…..the list is extensive.

Any real estate agent will give you an earful about “location.” Portland benefits greatly from its location in many ways, but with regards to outdoor endeavors, we’re sitting in the catbird seat. From downtown Portland, you can get to the Columbia River Gorge in 30 minutes, have Mt Hood in your face in an hour, dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean in an hour and a half, and take in a sunset from the high desert in two hours. And within that radius are more creeks, rivers, trails, lakes, peaks, valleys, and protected wilderness areas than any of us could ever see in a lifetime or more.

Over the last year and a half, I got to go traipsing around the greater Portland area with my friends, experiencing the best outdoor activities the region has to offer. And now it all culminates in a guidebook that for me, also serves as a journal of these incredible experiences. Some of the best adventures I’ve had in my life were had while “working” on this book. It is my sincere hope that it can provide you with comparable experiences. I also encourage you to keep going. This book, while chock full of some of the best stuff around, is more or less an amuse bouche for what’s out there. Within two hours of Portland, an immeasurable amount of adventure awaits.”

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Cascade Journal: Take Me to the River

1 08 2016

My latest feature for Cascade Journal Magazine focuses on the Wild and Scenic rivers of Central Oregon; both the well-known (like the McKenzie in the photo below) and under the radar. Click here to read it.

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Northwest Travel & Life Magazine: The Misty Fjords

1 07 2016

In the latest issue of Northwest Travel & Life Magazine I write about Alaska’s Misty Fjords. From the article – “Thanks in large part to the glacier-carved landscape, legendary naturalist John Muir compared the Misty Fjords to his favorite inspirational wilderness, Yosemite. An understandable comparison, if only Yosemite were surrounded by ocean and studded with lakes and canals spread out over two million acres.” Click here to continue reading.

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Portland Monthly: 10 Oregon Rivers You Must Explore

24 05 2016

My first feature for Portland Monthly Magazine details the best Wild and Scenic rivers the state has to offer. Read it here.

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Central Oregon Magazine: A Fondness for Falls

14 10 2014

In my first piece for Central Oregon Magazine I list my favorite cascades in the region. From the article:

“One could argue that the almost embarrassing abundance of natural beauty in Central Oregon is punctuated by waterfalls. Some of the best cascades and cascade hikes in the state reside in this region. Sometimes the thrill is in the quality of the hike, other times it’s the grandeur or uniqueness of the falls, or some combination thereof. On occasion the main draw is the increasingly rare chance for solitude on a trail. For all those reasons and more, this part of the state is paradise for those of us that like a good waterfall. Here are some favorites.”

Check out the full article here.

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Portland Mercury: The Falls of History and God

26 06 2014

In my first article for the Portland Mercury I encourage people to visit some of the area’s waterfalls for more than just their inherent beauty. From the article:

“Some waterfalls are more than just pretty places to visit. While the opportunity to prance around in a forested scene straight out of a Kinkade-ian masterpiece is typically inspiration enough to seek one out, sometimes you want more from your experience. Luckily, there are a number of waterfall hikes in the Portland area that dangle alluring carrots of added interest, like “fascinating regional history” or “a chance to commune with a faith-based deity.” So for those of you who need a little extra motivation to get your butt outside and next to a beautiful waterfall, here you go.”

Click here to read the entire article.

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