Mailtribune.com - Oregon Outdoor Features

Father, sons (and dogs) tackle Castle Crags

Castle Crags is perhaps the best-kept secret in the State of Jefferson: a state park in Northern California, just below Dunsmuir, about 100 miles south of Ashland and visible from I-5.

View from the Edge

Edginess is not foremost among the character traits embraced by the general aviation community. Once you've ventured to the precipice, however, it's hard to disagree with Kurt Vonnegut's astute observation that, from the edge, "you can see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.

Moonlight snowshoe in the Cascades

In contrast to most of the expeditions I do with my teenage son, Sam, we make absolutely no attempt to get the proverbial early start. Our goal — my goal anyway — is to hike under the pale white light of the full moon.

Cycling in Burgundy

Last September my wife, Barbara, and I took a week-long, self-guided bicycle tour of Burgundy.

Rogue River native chases seven summits

Beginning this May on Alaska's Mount McKinley, otherwise known as Denali, the highest point in North American at 20,320 feet, I will begin a quest to climb the seven summits, the highest peak on each continent.

Beacons of the waterways

From five miles away, the New Dungeness Light Station looks as small as a bar of soap in the shape of a lighthouse. That's the kind of gift — lighthouse refrigerator magnets, lighthouse candles, lighthouse candy bars — my family has been giving me since I developed this thing for lighthouses.

Hiking the Grand Canyon in a blizzard

A blizzard at the Grand Canyon was the last thing we expected. A little blast of winter, perhaps.

Bear scare at Babyfoot Lake

Relief washed over us as we pulled up to the Babyfoot Lake trailhead. My husband, Travais, thought I had printed out directions. I thought he had. Ever hopeful, we turned and looked at our daughter, Megan, in the back seat. No luck there, either.

Build your own bike tour

Ever heard of the Aufderheide National Scenic Byway?

Springtime miracles in Yellowstone

My husband, Kurt, and I had the opportunity to spend May and June in Yellowstone National Park this year. We have been to the park during every season and loved it, but springtime has become our favorite.

August 10, 2008