Enjoying the View from Oregon

"Alis volat propriis"-the motto of Oregon, which translates roughly to "we don't tan in summer, we rust!" Yes, Oregon gets enough rain to justify keeping an ark in the garage. Thats Oregon. And the Beaver State sure loves beards and flannel and of course, beer. Portland has more microbreweries than any city in the world, including any of those found in Germany or Belgium, who are also apparently fond of the stuff.

But Oregon is more than IPAs and lumberjacks. Its also got some solid mountains, snow, climbing, surf, world class whitewater and loads of public land (almost half of the total land area in the state is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM). Viva socialism!

The outdoor recreation opportunities in the Beer State are endless. The past 72 hours for this author have included 6-10 foot surf (with sea lions for company), a last-minute hike of 4,000 foot high Mary's Peak (highest in the Coastal Range-bigger ones lie just east in the Cascades), and a split lip sustained from mountain biking in one the many nearby forests. Just for good measure, there was also plenty of quality beer (may I suggest Bridgeport's IPA and Ebenezer Winter?). Click below to continue

There are some caveats, of course: the ocean is thick with great white sharks (go away sea lions!). Mountain peaks vistas that might serve as a dangling carrot to many typical hikers are frequently obscured by fog and clouds (as are all vistas in Oregon, for that matter). And the split lip won't heal for days as it will inevitably be picked at (rather, the trails are always muddy so you better have disc brakes). And there are simply too many beers to be expected to keep up with.

But nonetheless, Oregon has done better than the rest of the country to preserve the plethora of beautiful places that offer outstanding recreation and ensure public access to them. And its got so much of it. The coast is pristine and without the suffocating development that plagues the east. The beaches are all public and access is guaranteed. The forests seem boundless and mountain lions, black bears, elk, and even wolves roam the wilderness areas. Postcard-quality waterfalls are a dime-a-dozen, steady rain means raging rivers for the whitewater crowd, and the salmon and steelhead fishing are worth a trip. The saltwater angling ain't bad either. And then there are the Cascades, a spine of mountains and volcanoes that offer adventure and intrigue. The great Pacific Ring of Fire.

Man, this place is great.

And if you're worried about the rain...well..in the words of former Governor Tom McCall: "Come visit us again and again, but for heaven's sake, don't stay."

"On behalf of the citizens of the great state of Oregon, Governor Tom Lawson McCall cordially invites you to visit Washington or California or Idaho or Nevada or Afghanistan." And I hear North Korea is lovely this time of year.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to sip on a Rogue Brutal Bitter and plan a trip to hit some of Mt. Bachelor's 100" of snow.

-Capn Avalanche, now of Oregon

photos: recent surf at an undisclosable location; signage at an Oregon beach; Chinook salmon caught at an undisclosable location; a waterfall found just off the highway outside Portland.