Adventures
Follow our journeys and plan your own
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On the last part of our Eastern Oregon trip we explore Borax Hot Springs, eat tasty burgers while surrounded by dead deer, find ourselves in the middle of nowhere, and end up having more of an adventure than we had bargained for.
On the second day of our Oregon's Outback trip we leave Hart Mountain to explore Steens Mountain and the highest road in the state.
We embark on our biggest adventure yet to Steens Mountain and the Alvord desert. In this post we explore some of Central Oregon's most remote attractions before spending our first night at Hot Mountain Hot Springs.
Lately, the mountains have been calling us, so, for Memorial Day Weekend, we gassed up the new truck, threw all of our camping/survival supplies in the back seat, and set out to see what kind of trouble we could get ourselves into. Our planned destination was Indigo Lake, to scout for a backpacking trip with friends later this summer... but the mountains had a different adventure in store for us.
This easily accessible hike offers two beautiful waterfalls for the price of one. However, the real star of the show is the section of river between the two, featuring pure, blue water rushing through a lush green forest.
In the Cascade Foothills of Southeastern Lane County lies a land that time seems to have forgotten. Oregon's Bohemia Mining District is still the wild west, with rusty ruins, active gold mining claims, and "colorful", long bearded, locals who would be very much at home in 1890. This region's sketchy feel, combined with epic views, and gorgeous scenery, make it an awesome place for experienced adventurers to explore.
With Halloween fast approaching we thought it would be a good idea to come up with a quick list of local activities that capture the spirit of the season.
Proxy Falls is my go to hike when friends or family come to Eugene and ask to go on an adventure outside of town. This easy trail offers two breathtaking waterfalls for the price of one. Just be sure to check weather and road closure conditions since the road is usually closed from November through May.
In a rare guest post, photographer Paul Garrett tells the story of his adventure to Oneonta Gorge. Thi is a fun, adventurous short summer hike that involves climbing over a giant log jam, and trekking a quarter mile through cold water that is waist deep at one point to the base of a beautiful waterfall.
Eugene is an awesome place to live for lovers of the outdoors. You could easily fill a years worth of weekends exploring new trails without ever leaving the county. However, it can be quite a challenge to figure out where to go next. We wrote this post to give you a taste of what this area has to offer.
By far Eugene's most popular hike, Spencer Butte offers 360 degree views of the Willamette Valley, and a "deep in the woods" feeling while only being a few minutes away from town. Changing seasons, and two distinctly different trails to the top, will have you coming back time and time again.
At the end of May, a few weeks had gone by since Tessa and I had our last adventure, so we were itching to hit the trail. Our destination had come about in a rather unorthodox way. I studied a map of the Three Sister’s wilderness area and found the biggest lake I could find that was not accessible by car: Mink Lake.
With fall quickly approaching its time to take a look at a cooler weather hike! For those who are looking for spectacular views and fresh mountain air without having to drive very far, Mount June is the perfect local hike for you. Enjoy our story about Mount June while preparing for your next cold weather hike.
Planning a trip to Southern California soon? There are so many things to do in Orange County that it can sometimes get overwhelming. Thankfully for you we managed to put together a very well rounded day at the beach that combined relaxation, adventure, Mexican food, and fire. Read our story, and share your own tips for a good time on the Southern California coast!
For most people, Treasure Island is just the halfway point on the Bay Bridge, a blip on an annoying commute. In reality, the Island is a calm oasis in the middle of California's second largest urban center. It is also home to a great deal of history, 2,300 residents, and arguably one of the best view of the San Francisco skyline. On top of all of that, entry is free and parking is plentiful!
This is an almost magical journey, capped off with dreamy meadows, dramatic rock formations, and surreal amounts of glass like obsidian (you wont believe how aptly named the trail is). However, reaching this beauty comes with some hurdles: limited access permits are required for day hiking and overnight use, additionally, while the terrain is not too difficult at any one point, 12 miles of distance and 1,800 feet of elevation gain do have a way of waring down less conditioned adventures. That said, if you are up for the effort, and have a permit, you are in for a real treat!
The very first hike that Dylan took me on was for our 3rd date, out to Mount Patterson. My hiking experience in Oregon at this point had been limited to Mount Pisgah and Spencer’s Butte, which are very reminiscent of hikes in Southern California from the standpoint of being very populated and not far out of town. Mount Patterson is not even close to either of these. It is a good hours drive out of town, and we did not see another soul on this hike.
Few places in our part of the state conjure more mystery than the Bohemia Mining District Southeast of Cottage Grove. This area has a colorful history dating back to the discovery of gold in the 1860s, and the handful of long bearded miners who are still working active claims. As a teenage search and rescue volunteer I spent part of a summer in the district digging for a cold case murder victim in a collapsed mine. But that is a story for another time.