I was gassed, bleeding, and had used the last burst of energy I had to push myself out of the slot, and before me now was the final leg of the journey: a 300 foot rope climb to the top.

To hike, ride, drive, float, wade, swim, or fish the North Middle Fork is to live something special. It’s to step out of our beeping, buzzing, ringing, streaming, trending grind and into life that reminds you why free rivers and tall trees and wild things matter.

One part mountain bike adventure and one part Burning Man festival, Mountain Bike Oregon is an experience unlike any other in the region.

Squarely focused on the beating heart of west Cascadia’s Willamette National Forest, the Oakridge Trails Alliance stands as a testament to a community’s love for the land, outdoor recreation, and sustainable stewardship.

I took a look at the weather for the next few days. 4-6” on Wednesday, over 12” that night. Very quickly, the powder flu took hold.

It wasn’t until January that the temperatures began to drop and the weather radars started to pick up a large storm system heading south towards Oregon. The snow estimates got bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Then, it happened.