Salem-News.com Hiking articles

Weather Damage Leaves Oregon`s Back Country Travelers Plenty to Think About

Oregon Trails off the Beaten path have taken a beating in recent winters. Repairs are underway in many locations,

(SALEM, Ore.) - As spring re-claims our mountains, and begins to reveal our trails, it also reveals new damage from the heavy winter snows. After my recent article on climbing Beachie Saddle, I hope that some of you have considered trekking up into the Opal Creek area. When you do, be aware that there is a bridge closure there.

A footbridge on the Kopetski Trail is showing signs of rot, and has been closed for safety reasons.

DeFazio, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Protect Several Oregon Landmarks

The House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy Committee are expected to hold a hearing on these bills in the near future.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Ron Wyden today introduced three pieces of legislation to protect some of Oregon’s most wild places; Devil’s Staircase, Oregon Caves and the Lower Rogue River. DeFazio and Wyden have worked extensively on these important pieces of legislation with input from the public and private stakeholders.

The Devil’s Staircase legislation designates approximately 29,650 acres of the Siuslaw National Forest as a wilderness area. The Oregon Caves bill adds approximately 4,070 acres to the Oregon Caves National Monument and the Lower Rogue Wild and Scenic bill designates 142.9 miles of 40 waterways as “wild,” “scenic,” or “recreational”.

A Battle Ax of a Trail in Oregon`s Mountain Wilderness

We’ll be back to this trail again, probably later in the year when the snows are much higher. Battle Ax Mountain has not defeated us yet!

(SALEM, Ore.) - Usually when I plan an outdoor adventure, the weather gods are not smiling. Well, I must have paid my dues, because I chose this past weekend to hike some new territory.

With spectacularly blue skies and ridiculously warm forecasted temperatures, my two buddies and I took off from Salem early Friday morning. Our destination was Beachie Saddle (4,314‘), and then hopefully Battle Ax Mountain (5,558’) by way of Jawbone Flats.

A Different Kind of Rat Patrol

Outdoor reporter Gerrit Roelof shows us how hunters sharpen their skills while reducing rat populations; stimulating the eco system in the process.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As many of you outdoors enthusiasts can relate to, I get excited when the seasons start to change. I know this means that a whole slew of new activities are coming up. Springtime is especially busy, for many reasons.

The snows start to recede, and I can start planning my fishing and hiking trips up in the mountains. The springers will soon return, and floats down the Santiam are on the horizon.

Clearing the Air About the Minto Fish Trap on the North Santiam River

Due to the age, the facility is closed to the public, but it will reopen by 2012 and will also feature a trail system.

(SALEM, Ore.) - When a public place suddenly closes it’s doors (or gates), people often want to know why. In the absence of easily accessed information, rumors can fill the gap.

This has been the case with the Minto Fish Trap on the North Santiam River. In my case, I had always heard that the trap was closed because they were having problems with theft (people getting into the tanks at night and stealing fish).

A Day at Stahlman Point in Oregon`s Wilderness

If you are quite lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of another resident here. A solitary bobcat print was still preserved in the snow here last week.

(DETROIT LAKE, Ore.) - Spring is trying to poke through. We made the daylight savings time change, and “sprung forward”. Even though 3” of fresh snow blanketed my cabin in Detroit this weekend, the snows are generally receding up the mountain.

The birds are returning, and their frantic songs as they search for nesting sites and partners can be heard every morning. This means opportunity, not only for the birds but for the outdoorsman.