Looking to get in some trail time over the long holiday weekend? There are several sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon that make for easy weekend getaways. Each of the following locations are easily accessible, often have few crowds, and can be hiked in  two to three days. Cascade Crest: Tipsoo Pass Spend …
Current PCT conditions in Oregon for the week of Sept. 5, 2016. Weather Last week, Oregon got an early taste of fall weather with cool to cold temps in the Cascades, rain, and even a dusting of snow in the higher elevations. That trend is going to continue through the early part of this week, …
Whether you’re a newer hiker or an old hat, at one time or another you’ve probably forgotten something on a hiking trip. Perhaps it was something inconsequential like your bandanna or trail mix. Perhaps it was something important like your stove fuel or insect repellent. If you were lucky, it was something you were able …
Last week, I spent several days in sweltering Salt Lake City, home of the Outdoor Retailer (OR) Summer Market. The event is a five-day smorgasbord of product demos, media presentations and outdoor personalities, all centered around what’s new and notable in the outdoor gear industry. It’s an expo where gear brands showcase their latest innovations in outdoor equipment and …
This morning (8/7), Crater Lake National Park lifted the closures on the Pacific Crest Trail and Rim Trail in the Bybee Creek Fire area. Now thru-hikers and section hikers can continue through the park on regular routes without having to take the lengthy detour around East Rim Drive. The Lightning Spring Trail and camp area continues to be …
Every year, storms bring damage and destruction to hiking trails across the Pacific Northwest in the form of landslides, washouts, wildfires and blowdown. The PCT, and its connecting trails, are no strangers to annual damage, and it often takes dedicated, hard-working trail maintenance crews to hike in to remote areas—packing in all the tools, supplies and …