The desert can be a beautiful, magical place. It can also be dangerous for hikers and backpackers, such as those hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. From the scorching heat of the day to freezing temperatures at night, hiking in the desert can be as difficult as it is rewarding. Here are five tips for safely hiking in the desert.
1. Watch the time of day.
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Spring fishing season is well underway in Oregon, and whether you’re a novice angler or a seasoned professional, you still need to arm yourself with information before heading out to your favorite lake or river. Following is some basic info about the Oregon spring fishing season.
Dates: Certain Oregon bodies of water opened for trout fishing on April 23, while others will remain closed until May 28 in order to protect young salmon and steelhead still migrating to the ocean. Follow one of the links below to find the season’s exact dates.
Two Portland hikers were airlifted from the Wahkeena Trail in the Columbia Gorge Wednesday afternoon after they became stranded on a steep cliff and couldn’t get back to the main trail. The 20-year-old men called for rescue Tuesday evening but had to spend the night in the gorge with no flashlight and no warm clothes.
They became stranded when one of the men fell in the mud and the other tried to help. Although they were described as “experienced” hikers, neither carried a flashlight and both were dressed inappropriately for the cold overnight conditions, officials said.
Good news for Idaho! Yahoo recently named the famous Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve in Idaho one of the ten places every kid should see. Forget Disneyland – Craters of the Moon is a rugged, fascinating landscape with a rich history and plenty to see. It’s fun for adults, too! Here’s some basic information on the park. Enjoy!
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Forests, lakes and rivers aren’t the only outdoor areas the Pacific Northwest has to explore. Oregon and Washington are home to many beautiful cave systems, many of which are open to the public. Here are a few of the best cave systems the Northwest has to offer:
1. Oregon Caves
Located about 20 miles outside of Cave Junction, the Oregon Caves National Monument is a breathtaking underground system just waiting to be explored. Park rangers lead guided cave and off-trail tours, as well as popular candlelight tours. Visit the park website for more information.
LED light bulbs are brighter, burn cooler and consume up to 90 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs, making your outdoor adventures safer and more eco-friendly. In honor of Earth Day 2010, we’ve put together a list of the top Coast LED light products for April:
The Washington Department of Fish and Game (WDFW) has given the “go-ahead” for the March razor clam season to begin along Washington beaches.
“The results of marine toxin tests are in, confirming that clams are safe to eat, and clearing the way for the spring’s first razor-clam digs on ocean beaches,” reports WDFW. As a result, the season opened yesterday, March 26, and will continue through April 1 at various Washington beaches.
The March 2010 issue of Backpacker Magazine featured a great review of Coast LED Lenser’s Micro Headlamp. Backpacker dubbed the LED headlamp “Lightest and Cheapest” of five headlamps tested.
According to Backpacker.com, reviewers “hiked and camped through 78 inky nights from Whitney to Katahdin to evaluate five featherweight headlamps — then ran a battery of controlled tests to rank brightness and longevity.”
