Episodios

  • This Oregon surfer is making waves on Team USA

    This Oregon surfer is making waves on Team USA
    Nov 6 2025
    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
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    31 m
  • This organization is transforming Black Oregonians’ outdoor experiences

    This organization is transforming Black Oregonians’ outdoor experiences
    Oct 30 2025
    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
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    29 m
  • From apple picking to mountain hikes, what to do on Mount Hood this fall

    From apple picking to mountain hikes, what to do on Mount Hood this fall
    Oct 23 2025
    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
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    31 m
  • An epic road trip to find the treasures of Southeast Oregon

    An epic road trip to find the treasures of Southeast Oregon
    Oct 16 2025
    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
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    37 m
  • Onboard one of the last Crater Lake boat tours for years

    Onboard one of the last Crater Lake boat tours for years
    Oct 9 2025
    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
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    31 m
  • 8 essential fall activities in Oregon

    8 essential fall activities in Oregon
    Oct 2 2025
    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
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    32 m
  • What to see and do in the whale watching capital of Oregon

    What to see and do in the whale watching capital of Oregon
    Sep 25 2025
    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
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    36 m
  • The 10 best ways to round out your Oregon summer: Peak Northwest podcast

    The 10 best ways to round out your Oregon summer: Peak Northwest podcast
    Sep 18 2025
    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
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    33 m