Peak Northwest

Are you mushroom foraging curious? Maybe you’ve been out a few times, but haven’t known what to look for? Worry not, the world of chanterelles is close at hand. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we get an education from Jess Liotta, an independent mushroom forager and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. Liotta dives into the basics of mushroom foraging, discusses how to get over our fears and, crucially, tells us what to do with all those tasty chanterelles. While many foragers jealously guard their knowledge, Liotta is happy to share. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What makes the Pacific Northwest so good for mushrooms? Getting over your fear of mushrooms, one nibble at a time. How to get started foraging for chanterelles. Liotta’s favorite chanterelle recipe, which is perfect for Thanksgiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King tide season is almost here. The exceptionally high tides, which in 2025 will occur in November, December and January, according to the Oregon King Tide Project, are an opportunity for excitement on the Oregon coast, but come with a heavy dose of caution for anyone hoping to see them. Before you pull on your rain gear and head out into the elements, here is everything you need to know about the king tides this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

found freedom, confidence and community. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, host Chiara Profenna talks with Purry, a blind surfer from Oregon who was recently named to Team USA Para Surfing. At 40, Purry discovered adaptive surfing and has since become an advocate for accessibility and inclusion in outdoor sports. From navigating Oregon’s cold, wild coastline to preparing for her upcoming debut at the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships in Oceanside, California, Purry shares how she trains, connects with other adaptive athletes and embraces the ocean on her own terms. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How Purry found surfing later in life and what it’s taught her about confidence and resilience. What adaptive surfing looks like in practice, from team support to navigating waves with a guide. The growing adaptive sports community and how organizations like AmpSurf are helping others get involved. Why highlighting adaptive athletes matters and how listeners can support Team USA Para Surfing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Oregonians, the outdoors is a place of adventure, but it can also be a space for community and belonging. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, host Chiara Profenna talks with Dr. Shirley A. Jackson, volunteer leader for Outdoor Afro Oregon and west regional leader for the national organization reconnecting Black people to land, water and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation and conservation. From local hikes and bird watching to cosmic tubing and jump roping, Jackson shared some of the ways she cultivates community by increasing access to Oregon’s natural spaces. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How Outdoor Afro is building community and connection in Oregon’s natural spaces. Ideas for enjoying the outdoors through fall and winter, rain or shine. Ways to get involved and join upcoming Outdoor Afro events. Why creating inclusive, welcoming spaces in nature matters for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Mount Hood the best autumn getaway in Oregon? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we explore all there is to do on Mount Hood in the fall, from apple picking to mushroom foraging, beautiful hikes to early-season skiing. Fall is a great time of year on Oregon’s tallest mountain, situated between the summer backpacking season and the winter ski season, offering an abundance of activities for people of all persuasions. Whether you want a laid-back road trip or a big adventure, you’ll find something great to do on Mount Hood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a lot to love about the southeast corner of Oregon – if you’re willing to drive. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we follow Vickie Connor, a visual journalist for The Oregonian/OregonLive, as she explores this far-flung region of the state. While her trip was short, Connor discovered a ton of southeast Oregon’s greatest treasures, from a towering fire lookout to hidden desert hot springs, and even spied some of the region’s famously reclusive wildlife. It’s hard to get enough of this part of Oregon, where dark skies give access to some seriously starry nights, and natural beauty seems to pop up out of nowhere. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Why the Drake Peak Fire Lookout was stunningly beautiful – and a little creepy. No, it’s not an oasis: these roadside milkshakes are worth a stop. What to do in the Alvord Desert, one of Oregon’s most spectacular landscapes. Soaking at the Alvord Hot Springs is all about timing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boat tours on Crater Lake are among the top bucket list experiences in Oregon, but after this past summer, it will be a few years before they head back out on the water. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, features reporter Janet Eastman recounts her ride on one of the last Crater Lake boat tours until 2029, which took her and a group of tourists around the blue-hued lake and to the famed Wizard Island. With the season now over and the trail that leads down to the boats about to close for a major renovation project, the boat tours will need to be pushed back to bucket lists in the future. But as Eastman’s experience shows, it will be well worth the wait. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How being on the water offers a whole new perspective of Crater Lake. What it’s like to hang out on Wizard Island. Boat tours offer not just scenic beauty but fascinating history as well. Why are the boat tours cancelled for the next few years? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon is perfect in the fall. From the crisp, bright days of September to the gray, mossy days of December, the Pacific Northwest has so much to offer this time of year. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we discuss eight of the most essential fall activities in Oregon, helping you make the most of the season. Are you an outdoors enthusiast? You have to try your hand at mushroom foraging or hiking to a mountain hot spring. Love the autumn harvest? There’s no better place than Sauvie Island or the Fruit Loop. From road trippers to city people, there’s bound to be something here for you. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Two of the best places to pick apples and harvest pumpkins. Fall is the start of hot spring season in Oregon, and there are a lot of springs to choose from. Some of the best spots for fall color in the state. One of Oregon’s best fall destinations is right in the heart of Portland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon is not known as a particular hot spot for whale watching – at least not compared to places like the Puget Sound or Hawaii – but at least one spot has enough action that it’s been dubbed the “whale watching capital of Oregon.” On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we take a trip to Depoe Bay, the whale watching destination on the central Oregon coast, where we look for gray whales, eat good seafood and explore all the other attractions around town. While most gray whales swim right past Depoe Bay on their annual migration, a small population likes to stick around. These “summer residents” have earned a following and helped establish a whale watching industry in town. As the whales gather in the shallows offshore, the people gather on the shores to watch. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Where, when and how to go whale watching in Depoe Bay. The food scene in town is worth exploring, from Gracie’s Sea Hag to Pirate Coffee Company. A series of small parks around town offer beautiful ocean views. What would a coast town be without some good shoppy shops? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is almost officially over, and while some Oregonians may be eagerly transitioning into fall, there’s still time to get in your final few summer activities. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we go over 10 of the best ways to round out an Oregon summer, making sure you make the most of the last days of the season. While many are oriented around water – hanging out by a river, taking a trip to the coast – there are so many other ways to enjoy the warm, sunny season while it lasts. So before you hang up your swimsuit for your flannel, make sure to get in a couple more summer activities for good measure. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Sugarpine Drive-In combines two great Oregon summer pastimes. Why late summer is the best time to get into the mountains. This might be the perfect time for a road trip across eastern Oregon. Caves are often associated with the spooky season, but summertime is the best time to get underground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably traveled through some small cities in Oregon, but it’s unlikely you’ve been to cities this small. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we head to the five smallest cities in the state, places that barely have a population or main street to speak of. That’s not to say there’s nothing to see there. Samantha Swindler, features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive took a road trip out to all five tiny cities, talking to locals and learning everything she could about these places. From Old West reenactments to incredible stargazing and one particularly unusual city council meeting, here’s what you can discover in the smallest small towns in Oregon. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What are Oregon’s five smallest cities and how small are we talking about? Greenhorn and Granite are so small and so remote, that few people ever pass through. How Shaniko embraces its Old West history to draw in tourists. Why locals in Antelope may be especially leery of outsiders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s an age-old question for anyone who’s flown the nest: What are you going to do when your parents come to town? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we go over one family’s perfect itinerary for showing off Oregon, from coastal landscapes to incredible Portland restaurants. While adventures will be different for every family, the intention is typically the same: finding a way to balance your desire to show your parents the places you love, with the need to cater to their own needs and desires. With so many good options in Oregon, it’s easy enough to do. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: There are few better ways to show off Oregon than a trip to the coast. These Portland restaurants are some of the best spots in town. Why a hike to Pittock Mansion is a great introduction to the outdoors. In the summer, you can’t beat a day on the river – any river. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whitewater paddling is everyone’s cup of tea, but some people feel like they don’t even have the chance to try. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to the leaders of nonprofit organization Diversify Whitewater, who talk about the barriers that some paddlers face, and how the organization is helping serve those underserved communities. While Diversify Whitewater is not based in the Pacific Northwest, it has been bringing its Kayak Progression program, in which people gradually gain comfort on the water, to Oregon and Washington waterways. Those accepted into the program get access to an activity that may have felt inaccessible, the organization said, and can find a community of likeminded people. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: The origin story of Diversify Whitewater. What barriers do these paddlers face? What is the Kayak Progression program? How you can get ready to sign up for the organization’s 2026 events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 196 miles over two days, from the top of Mount Hood to the sand at the Oregon Coast, there’s a reason they call it the “mother of all relays.” On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we look at what it takes to tackle the Hood to Coast Relay, Oregon’s biggest annual footrace, which is returning this weekend. Cristian Vargas, founder of Juntos PDX and Caminando Running Club, joined the podcast to talk about training his team for the big relay race. Co-host Chiara Profenna, who will be running the relay this weekend, has been training with Vargas all spring in preparation. Their methods and mentality going into the relay show just how tough this event can be. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Everything you need to know about Hood to Coast. How running the race inspired Vargas to start his own team. A training regimen includes waking up before sunrise to run. Why the Caminando Running Club is already looking ahead to 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If cute cottages and ghostly tree stumps are your idea of a good time, you’ll want to plan your next Oregon coast vacation for Neskowin. The tiny town on the north Oregon coast is known for its quiet, residential feel, with no small shops and few restaurants to speak of. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we get into everything you need to know to visit. The major attractions in Neskowin are both wild: the Ghost Forest, which is a collection of ancient, submerged stumps that emerge at low tide, and Proposal Rock, a dominating sea stack that’s covered with a small forest. Beyond the beach, there isn’t much to Neskowin – and for many slower-paced coastal travelers, that’s absolutely perfect. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: Booking a place to stay in Neskowin can be a little complicated. We have the lowdown on the two places to eat in town. How to see the Ghost Forest at low tide. What else can you do around the area? Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if you consider yourself a runner, you probably aren’t prepared for a run quite like this. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dive into the Cascade Lakes Relay, a 216-mile race across the landscape of central Oregon that can get a little wilder and weirder than your average footrace. Similar to Oregon’s famed Hood to Coast Relay, the Cascade Lakes Relay involves teams of runners who collectively tackle the length of the course over the course of two days. That means late-night shifts, spartan sleeping conditions and lots of wackiness along the way. Jamie Goldberg, politics and education editor for The Oregonian/Oregonlive, joined the podcast to talk about her recent experience running the relay. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How Goldberg survived a dusty midnight run through the mountains. Rain and snow made the summertime event a little chillier than expected. A pop-up rave and one double-decker party bus kept things lively during the race. Team culture is a major part of relay races, even if the runs are all solo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon is renowned for its wilderness areas, found in high desert landscapes and around towering volcanoes, but you don’t need to go far from the state’s largest city to get there. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we explore the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness of the Mt. Hood National Forest, found just 50 miles east of Portland. This wilderness area has rushing rivers, dense evergreen forests dripping with moss and great views of the tallest mountain in Oregon. It’s a perfect destination for day hikers and backpackers alike, with hikes that range from easy to difficult. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: • Why the Salmon River Trail is one of Oregon’s best backpacking spots. • Devils Peak is an easy hike with a great payoff. • Hunchback Mountain is one of the most challenging trails in the wilderness. • What you’ll find on the Eagle Creek Trail (no, not that Eagle Creek Trail). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Portland has a lot of great places to see and things to do, but there’s nothing quite like this. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we take a trip along the 4T Trail, a roughly 9-mile loop that takes combines public transit with hiking trails, taking visitors on an epic tour of Southwest Portland. The 4T Trail covers a lot of ground, from the Willamette River way up to Council Crest, over to Washington Park and down to downtown. The four T’s stand for the four modes of transportation used throughout the journey: tram, trail, train and trolley. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What is the 4T Trail route? What it’s like to tackle the whole thing. While most of the trail is easy to do, there are a couple of dicey sections. Some advice on doing the 4T Trail yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surviving in the wilderness isn’t a game, but learning the skills necessary to do it can still be plenty of fun. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Tony Peniche, creator of the PNW Survival Games, talks about his attempts to turn some basic survival skills into big entertainment. Peniche’s games take hardcore survivalists and inexperienced people through skills like building shelter, making fire and putting together a raft, seeing who can execute at the highest level. An annual competition held in Oregon, the games may soon get their own show on a streaming service, bringing a much bigger audience to the local event. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: The unlikely origin story of the PNW Survival Games. Who are the participants in these events? What would the TV show version of the games look like? How you can join (or just watch) the competition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the snow melts and the alpine flowers begin to bloom, it’s time for the folks at Mt. Hood Skibowl to start taking out all their toys. With racecars, ziplines and the beloved alpine slide, there’s a lot that goes into transforming the snowy ski area into a summer adventure park. That’s not to mention the hiking trails that emerge from the snowmelt and the skilift that gets rebranded to the “sky chair” for the season. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Mike Quinn, vice president and general manager of Mt. Hood Skibowl, talks all about what goes into the transformation, and how people can best enjoy the summer slopes. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What goes into transforming Skibowl into the summer adventure park? Activities are offered a la carte, allowing people to design their own days. Does climate change affect when and how the summer season is offered? How to make the most of a summer day on the mountain.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices