A crisp breeze blew above me that left a magical ambiance in its wake, as golden feather like leaves floated down from the tree canopy, a thick layer of foliage at my feet in every shade of yellow glistened, and fog blanketed the forest floor in the distance. It felt like a wonderland that couldn't be real. [...]
A relatively short drive from Portland up highway 503 past Cougar, lies a series of lava tubes on the south side of Mt.Saint Helens. Ape Cave Lava Tube is a popular attraction in the Mount St. Helens National Monument and the longest lava tube in the continental United States at over two miles in length. The Hike: The Ape cave is divided [...]
The Sierra Designs Backcountry bed is by far my favorite sleeping bag I have ever owned for a plethora of reasons. I have never been just a back or side sleeper I'm usually all of the above I fall asleep on my side but eventually migrate to my stomach and my back throughout the night [...]
The Sierra Designs Flash 3 tent is perfect for couples who need a little more space especially if you have dogs like we do. The Flash 3 has a unibody design where the rain-fly is attached to the body of the tent which is excellent for setting up in the rain without getting the inside [...]
A hidden gem lies in Mt Hood National Forest, a large lush meadow, at Aprox 5,000 ft elevation. A short but mighty hike sitting at only 2.5 miles one way including a steep climb to arrive in this alpine dream with glistening streams running through and a dense forest lining. Although a difficult hike the [...]
The Pacific Northwest has an abundance of great places to cool off in the summer. Here is a compilation of some of my favorite places to go once the weather has risen above the comfortable 65 degrees and the masses have flooded the city. Lower Lewis Falls This is a great place for cliff jumping into some deep [...]
The Olympic National Forest is home to many great hikes and over night adventures. The one that lands on most folks bucket list? Vance Creek Bridge. They say you're a dare devil if you walk across the bridge let alone sit on the edge, dangle your feet off, & take a long look at the [...]
Driving to the coast is somewhat of a monthly outing. It's a quick hour and a half jaunt to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in Oregon, and some of the most interesting relics. Up in the corner of Oregon along the coastal town of Warrenton, lies the Peter Iredale shipwreck of 1906. The shipwreck [...]
Have you ever driven east on the 84 past Hood River...past the Dalles...and just kept going?It's vast, and open and there's suddenly a peace of mind that comes over you, as you drive down the open road with nothing in view. The dirt reaches up until it fades into the blue skies, and large wind mills speckle the hills as they roll by.
Nestled in the foot of the western cascades lies the waterfall that was almost forgotten, hidden in a basalt rock canyon almost 100 ft tall, unlike the waterfalls up the road at Silver Falls State Park, Abiqua Falls definitely stands above the rest with grandeur, massive volume and exquisite remoteness.
BRE WANDERS 