Hike Oregon

21/06/2024

😎Summer is here and that means that there are countless epic hiking options available! Longer days and warm weather means going to alpine lakes and taking a swim, it means backpacking trips and wildflowers galore! Here is a list of some of Hike Oregon's favorite summer hikes: https://www.hikeoregon.net/top-10-oregon-summer-hikes.html
Whether you're wanting to take a weekend trip with the family, see some epic views from mountain summits, take pictures of the wildflowers, or swim in one of Oregon's pristine lakes, this list has something for everyone! Which of these hikes did you put on your summer hiking bucket list?

20/06/2024

It's the first day of summer!!! Now you can get the Hike Oregon summer edition stickers as well as a summer membership to the Hike Oregon website where you will get access to 50+ members only hike write-ups and a new one every season. https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

19/06/2024

It's backpacking season and time to go hit the trail! Do you have any backpacking questions for me?

18/06/2024

If you are new to backpacking, I know it can be intimidating. From getting all the right gear, picking your first trip, setting up camp, to making sure you have the right food, etc. it can be a lot. A few years ago I put together a 3-part Backpacking For Beginners series on YouTube that is very helpful for those of you who are getting ready to go on your first backpacking trip this summer.
Part 1 - training, testing your gear, and picking a hiking trip that is suited to your needs and abilities. https://youtu.be/uFfG2ZsgWZY
Part 2 - packing all of the necessary gear and the right food. https://youtu.be/Ix4j_IlY6-4
Part 3 - how to pack your backpack, and tips and tricks for when you're on the trail. https://youtu.be/tvCzNip4XN4

Backpacking for Beginners | Part 1In the fist video of this 3 part series, I am talking about some vital things you have to do before you can even start back...

17/06/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have a beautiful hiking video from the first hike I went on one month after my spine surgery. The wildflowers were awesome! Check it out:

On May 16, 2024 my friend Randi and I took a little hike on the Deception Butte Trail. We only did the easy 3 mile out and back section along the creek since...

14/06/2024

⚠️Reminder: The Central Cascades Wilderness Permits start tomorrow 6/15 (through October 15). This means that you will need a permit to day hike starting at 19 trailheads in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters Wildernesses and you will need a permit to overnight backpack ALL trails in these wildernesses. You can read more details here on why these permits are in place and how to obtain a permit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opVca07NLWUxgKwbeub6N3eoNFRiw1xT/view?usp=share_link

13/06/2024

Get Ready For Backpacking Series part 5:
We are continuing with the "getting you ready for the backpacking season" series so here are the tips for today all about packing food and water for your trip...
What you eat during a backpacking trip and how much food and water to pack is crucial to having enough energy for your hike. It can be difficult to know how much to take and many folks over or under pack food and water. Here are some helpful articles and YouTube videos so you can feel confident and prepared with how much food and water you are taking on your backpacking trip.
🥯Nutrition On The Trail article: https://www.hikeoregon.net/nutrition-on-the-trail.html
🍕Some backpacking food ideas: https://youtu.be/P0RTuR-_Qjw
💦How much water to take backpacking: https://youtu.be/5QL52sT1aN4

12/06/2024

The mosquitoes are hatching and coming out in full force, so I wanted to give you guys some facts about these little buggers that we all hate.
🦟Some mosquitoes live only in the summer and die when cold weather comes, but their eggs survive the winter and hatch in spring. Others hibernate during the winter as adults, so their lifespan as full-grown mosquitoes lasts for months, continuing into the following year.
🦟Mosquitoes that spend the winter as eggs develop into adults within two weeks after hatching in the spring.
🦟The adult males survive on nectar and similar foods, since they don’t need the nutrition that comes from blood, like females do. The males live only about a week, long enough to swarm and mate with the females.
🦟The females’ lifespan is longer, up to a month or two, though many die sooner, eaten by preditors, blown around by storms or slapped as they’re trying to get a drink of blood to help them develop their eggs. In nature, birds, dragonflies and spiders eat them, and of course humans do their best to get rid of them in various ways besides killing them directly.
🦟Females require the nutrients in human or animal blood to nourish their eggs, so they bite a person or animal, rest for a few days while their eggs are growing inside them, lay the eggs, and repeat the process as long as they live.

11/06/2024

These Hike Oregon glitter stickers are SO cute for summer! Put them on your water bottle, your Stanley cup or your car.
https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/p208/3%22_Hike_Oregon_GLITTER_Stickers_%28LIMITED_SUPPLY%29.html

10/06/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have a quick video about 10 must visit hiking trails in this beautiful state of Oregon. Don't miss these gems! Check it out➡️

In this video I show you the 10 must-visit hiking trails in Oregon, some of which are definitely underrated and lesser known gems!THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS VI...

07/06/2024

Get Ready For Backpacking Series part 4:
We are continuing with the "getting you ready for the backpacking season" series so here are the tips for today all about planning your first outing...
⛺️Don’t make your first trip too hard! Don’t be too ambitious. Yes you have all day but you don’t want to end up hating your first trip and then never go again. If you usually don’t hike more than 5-7 miles on day hikes, don’t do more than that on your first backpacking trip. Choose a fun location with a lake or a fun side excursion you can go do the next day etc. (Resources for finding backpacking trips: Hike Oregon, Gaia GPS, various maps like Adventure maps Inc, National Geographic maps and Greentrails maps).
⛺️Another important tip is to always let someone know where you are going, exactly what trails you are taking and where you plan to camp and also what time you are going to be back in town. This way, if anything happens to you while you are out there and you don’t have a personal locator beacon, search and rescue know where to look for you.
⛺️And the last thing I would like to mention which is really important for both day hiking and backpacking is to always remember to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles because this makes it so that these special outdoor places are still here for future generations. (Plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impact, respect wildlife, be considerate of other visitors).

06/06/2024

Hiking Oregon's History Part 9️⃣:
Sahalie Falls (https://www.hikeoregon.net/sahaliekoosah-falls.html) was at one time called Upper Falls (boring!!!) but the present name came into general use about 1950 with the development of the popular Clear Lake Resort nearby. Sahalie is a variant spelling of the Chinook jargon word for "high".

05/06/2024

I was recently on the KLCC show 'Oregon On The Record' where I talked about beginner backpacking. Check it out!

On this edition of Oregon On The Record, you'll hear a conversation with Franziska Weinheimer, an expert in backpacking who runs the website Hike Oregon. She’ll provide practical advice on how to start, how to stay safe, how to begin backpacking economically, and most importantly, how to have fun.

04/06/2024

SUMMER SALE!
☀️Summer weather is here so now is your chance to get the Lakes of the Cascades hiking guidebook https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/p198/lakes-of-the-cascades.html on sale and enjoy some epic Oregon lakes this season! (Use the code SUMMERLAKES) This book has so much to offer from short family friendly hikes and backpacking trips to longer day hikes and loop all centered around the many Cascade lakes in Oregon. I also include fishing information as well as if there are backcountry campsites, you'll have color topographical maps as well as directions to the trailhead from all major towns in Oregon like Portland, Salem, Bend, Eugene, and Medford. This book is on sale through 6/9.

03/06/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel today I have a video with all the tips on training for hiking and backpacking. Check it out:

In this video I go over 6 training tips for hiking and backpacking. MUSIC:Intro music- 'Memories' by Sappheiroshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxLKyBhC6igFh...

01/06/2024

These are the hikes that Hike Oregon went on in May. I'd love to hear about and see pics of some of the hikes you guys went on this past month. (I had spinal fusion surgery on April 16, so my first time back out on the trail was May 15 and I am having to start out with very short hikes because I am still healing).
🌲Deception Creek - 3.1 miles
🌲Vine Maple Trail & Shellburg Falls - 2.5 miles
🌲Buck Mountain Loop (short version) - 5 miles

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

30/05/2024

Get ready for backpacking series part 3
We are continuing with the "getting you ready for the backpacking season" series so here are today's tips...
Treating your clothes and gear with permethrin is a great way to prevent getting eaten by mosquitoes and it also keeps the ticks off of you and your gear (https://amzn.to/3KjG1c7). I do this every year right at the beginning of backpacking season (usually in May) and again in mid-July since permethrin washes out of your clothes in about 6 washes and our mosquito and tick season is long here in Oregon. I generally spray permethrin outside where it can air dry quickly and easily. (Permethrin in its wet form can be harmful to cats, so keep them away while you're applying.)

Prepping for the upcoming backpacking season can be a bit overwhelming. In this video you will see me prep my gear with Permethrin so that mosquitoes and tic...

29/05/2024

🔥It was suggested that as I re-hike trails that have burned over the years, that I should do a before and after post. Every other week I plan on posting this before and after wildfire series and today I am featuring Shellburg Falls which burned in the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire and just reopened on May 17th. The trail is no longer a loop, although I heard rumor from Bill Sullivan (whom I saw on the hike last week), that they are working on a bridge to make it a loop hike again. You also cannot go behind the waterfall anymore, which is sad because that was one of the best parts about this hike. Also, the drive to the trailhead is a very long way off the highway on a winding gravel road, so be prepared for that if you go. Lots of wildflowers are blooming right now, which was very pretty and they did a wonderful job with these trails. (Pre wildfire pictures are from March 2018 and post wildfire pictures are from May 2024).

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

28/05/2024

Hiking Oregon's History Part 8️⃣:
Battle Ax Mountain has two stories on how it possibly received its name. You can decide which one it was.
One story is that the mountain itself is sharp and resembles a battle ax, the other story is that it was named by an old woodsman from the North Santiam Valley who really enjoyed a certain brand of chewing to***co by the name of Battle Ax that was popular in the 1890's.
My bet is on the old woodsman and his chewing to***co😉.

27/05/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have a hiking vlog about the beautiful Archer Mountain Trail in the Columbia River Gorge. Check it out➡️

On April 14, 2024 my fiancé and I hiked Archer Mountain on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. This was a really great hike with far less crowds...

24/05/2024

This video has been circulating the internet for years, but I thought I'd share it on here again since it's a good reminder that not all cougars make a scary growling noise, especially when they are calling out to their young. This is the time of year that cougars are giving birth, and one should be wary of these calls when hiking in the woods. Oregon has one of the highest cougar populations in the country, and sightings in busy and/or populated areas are becoming increasingly frequent.

This footage of a puma in Chile shows you that these felines also make other - less impressive - noises.

23/05/2024

⚠️CASCADE LAKES HIGHWAY & HIGHWAY 58 SNOW REPORT (5/22/2024):
-Santiam PCT trailhead: all parking spots are snow free, 1-2 foot snow drifts in the trees visible from parking lot.
-Tumalo Mountain trailhead/Dutchman Flat Sno-Park: parking lot is snow free, area to bathroom is snow free, solid snow pack on trail/in trees starts at trailhead.
-Todd Lake trailhead: at least 3.5 feet of solid snow pack at Todd Lake entrance road.
-Sparks Lake turn off: 5 feet of snow
-Green Lakes trailhead: 3.5 feet of solid snow pack
-Devils Lake itself is still 1/3 frozen over
-Devils Lake Trailhead: 5-6 feet of solid snow at road
-Sisters Mirror Lake Trailhead: solid snow pack between 2-5 feet
-Elk Lake PCT trailhead: trailhead not yet accessible due to snow on the road.
-Six Lakes trailhead: drive in loop still has snow in some spots, but parking lot free of snow, 2-3 foot snow drifts on trail start at trailhead.
-Hosmer Lake day use: accessible with a tiny amount of snow right before boat launch that you can drive around.
-Lucky Lake trailhead: parking area is snow free, 1-2 foot snow drifts start right after the creek by the trailhead.
-Rosary Lakes trailhead: 2-4 feet snow drifts, parking area not yet accessible.
-Gold Lake Road is still closed.
-Waldo Lake Road: road has full snow coverage at 3.55 miles in from the highway.
-Salt Creek Falls: snow free but the loop hike has areas of snow.

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

22/05/2024

Get Ready For Backpacking Series part 2:
We are continuing with the "getting you ready for the backpacking season" series so here are the tips for today...
Make sure you have all your gear for the season. If you need ideas or help shopping, here are some links that might help:
⛺️Backpacking tents: https://youtu.be/PvXxa7IaYO4
😴Sleeping pads: https://youtu.be/i_fm3_WKTkc
🎒Backpacking pack: https://youtu.be/tdBizhxwNWQ
💦Water filters: https://youtu.be/hfav9D9GvAw
👖Hiking/backpacking pants: https://youtu.be/GpHw2LtlaMM
👕Hiking/backpacking shirts: https://youtu.be/C-vMXtAcdgI
🧦Hiking/backpacking socks: https://youtu.be/plua0CuLwyA
💜All of the gear I pack for trips: https://youtu.be/hqTdbdZozZQ
If you have acquired new gear that you haven’t used yet, go out on a test hike and make sure you know how to use it properly before your big backpacking trip.
If you have gear that is a few years old, make sure it still works (tent seams, no holes in your sleeping bag and pad, make sure your water filter works etc.)

21/05/2024

The Cascade Lakes Highway is fully open for the season as of 8am today! I will be heading out there tomorrow to check out all of the trailheads and do my annual opening season snow report which will be up on Thursday.

20/05/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have for you all a video all about trekking poles, the benefits and what to look for when purchasing a pair. I haven’t always used trekking poles so I was able to give a good perspective on when they are useful and why you may want a pair. ➡️Check it out:

In this video I go over some of the pros of using trekking poles and also what features to look for when choosing which trekking poles to buy. If you would l...

17/05/2024

The trails at Shellburg Falls are reopening today after being closed since the Labor Day Fires in 2020. The scenery will look much different than this picture, and another change is that the trailhead on Fern Ridge Road Southeast is no longer available. So the walk along the gravel road through the cow pastures is no longer part of the hike. Everyone will now have to park at the main Shellburg Falls parking area off of Shellburg Road. I will be heading out this way in the next few weeks and will post before/after wildfire photos.

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

16/05/2024

Hiking Oregon's History Part 7️⃣:
Iron Mountain (https://www.hikeoregon.net/iron-mountain.html) was named for its appearance of the rock of which it is composed. As you can see in the photo, all of the exposed areas have layers and layers of deep red and orange metallic rock. However, before it was called Iron Mountain, in the 1860's it was called Pleasanton Butte, apparently in compliment to well-known officer Alfred Pleasanton who was stationed in the Pacific Northwest.

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

15/05/2024

Spine surgery update (L5/S1 fusion): 1 month post op-
If people had told me that I would feel this good just one month after spine surgery, I would have done this a long time ago!!! Recently my foot function has gotten sooo much better and I would say is almost normal (almost no more numbness when I walk and no numbness when I sit) and I can walk almost normally. I am regularly walking 3 miles at a time on the treadmill or walking in the neighborhood. Over the past week I have gained a little bit more flexibility and I am able to sit cross legged on the couch. Another mile stone is that I have been sleeping through the night for the first time since surgery and I can now sleep on my side as well yay!!! I have been doing everything without my back brace on except driving. I am thrilled that I can sit without pain, which a lot of people were saying would be the most painful after surgery, but that hasn't been the case for me. Every day I feel so incredibly lucky at how fast I am healing and my lack of pain. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am starting to plan summer hikes and trips. Over the weekend I did my first walk that involved hills, that was interesting and humbling to say the least. On Thursday I am going on my first post op hike and I cannot wait to hug trees, see some wildflowers, smell the forest and hear the gurgling creek. I am so excited!!! Thanks for sticking around while I heal.

14/05/2024

We are starting a "Getting You Ready For The Backpacking Season" here on Facebook, where every week I will share with you some tips and tricks so that by the time summer rolls around everyone will be ready to go!
The first thing we need to talk about is TRAINING!
Check out this awesome video I made about training for backpacking, check it out➡

In this video I go over 6 training tips for hiking and backpacking. MUSIC:Intro music- 'Memories' by Sappheiroshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxLKyBhC6igFh...

13/05/2024

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I made a video for you guys all about my favorite phone apps that I use for hiking, backpacking and car camping. Check it out:

In this video I give an overview of my most used phone apps for hiking, backpacking and car camping. To get a discount on the Gaia GPS premium version you ca...