Inner-stellar

McKinzie Lane stands at the top of a snow-slick hill with a two-person inner tube in hand, staring into a dark abyss and wondering just what the heck friend Naomi Miller has talked her into. Lane had heard that Diamond Lake Resort’s inner-tubing hill is a happy scream a minute in daylight, but at night... “Honestly it is kind of scary,” Lane says. “There’s light, but at the bottom it’s pitch black.

New fishing license app needs a reboot

By Mark Freeman. Mail Tribune. Oregon’s new web-based phone app for hunting and fishing licenses and tags had a tough first week, but state wildlife officials hope it doesn’t scare anglers and hunters away from using the new app. App-based salmon-steelhead harvest cards wouldn’t work offline, and missing or misdated big-game tags marred the app’s launch. Beginning Jan.

Jan. 11, 2019 Fishing Report

Get Out: Friday, Jan. 11

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. com. Cross-country ski lessons. Saturday, Jan. 12: The Southern Oregon Nordic Club offers cross-country ski lessons at 11 a. m. Saturdays at various locations during the winter depending on conditions. For the location of this week’s lesson, call Michael Dawkins at 541-482-2703. Lollipop Loop cross-country ski outing. Sunday, Jan.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Diamond-grade tubing, pt. 3

Running the Diamond Lake inner tube hill during the day is a lot of fun. But on Friday night, they staff opens it up to night tubing. And it gets pretty wild. WATCH: Tubing3. Watch part 1 here. Watch part 2 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Diamond-grade tubing, pt. 2

For years at the Diamond Lake tubing hill, it was tough for riders to get to the top. But a recently installed conveyor belt was a total game changer. WATCH: Tubing2. Watch part 1 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Diamond-grade tubing, pt. 1

What better way to spend a winter day in Southern Oregon than to spend a day tubing at Diamond Lake? WATCH: Tubing1. Watch part 2 here.

Snow puts skiers back on the slopes at Willamette Pass

After the winter of 2017-18, when a lack of snow effectively kept the Willamette Pass Resort closed, people are again hitting the slopes. “We’re really hopeful of getting more snow,” says Tim Wiper, who has owned the ski area that straddles Klamath and Lane counties along Highway 58 since 1982. “We’d really like to have more snow, but we’ve been at full operations for the Christmas break.

See and Savor: The Wood River Wetlands

Some places are temptations for all seasons. Consider the Wood River Wetland, a 3,200-acre area along the eastern shore of Agency Lake north of Klamath Falls. A recent 8-mile loop hike around the wetland was a visual delight, especially as layers of clouds blanketing Cascade peaks oh-so gradually peeled away. The last peak to fully appear was Mount Scott and, like the others — Aspen Butte, Pelican Butte, Devil’s Peak, Goosenest and more — its upper reaches were snow-covered.

Crater Lake let-down

Cross-country skiing at Crater Lake National Park usually means enjoying winter views of the sparkling blue lake from snow-covered West Rim Drive. These aren’t usual times. The government shutdown created by President Donald Trump means access to Crater Lake, and other national parks, is closed until the stalemate over his demands for $5 billion to create a wall between the U. S. and Mexico is settled.

Roadkill cuisine on the menu Jan. 1

Motorists will be allowed to take dead deer and elk from grille to grill beginning New Year’s Day when Oregon’s roadkill salvage program goes live. Beginning Tuesday, free online permits will be available for those looking to salvage a deer or elk killed or mortally wounded from an accidental vehicle collision, joining skunks, possums and other unprotected mammals on the list of legal meals under wheels.

Skiing and slipping along the PCT

The tracks led to a trail that was tempting because, well, just because. We clipped into our cross-country skis, then instead of taking our usual route that connects with the Big Mac and Petunia trails, we glided across the snow-covered Summit Sno-Park parking lot to the place where the ski tracks headed north. At an intersection a short way up, the sign at a junction offered two choices, head toward Brown Mountain or continue north toward Fourmile Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Shasta on skis

Fog sometimes shrouded visibility to only a few feet. The wind occasionally felt like lashings from a whip. Chilly temperatures clouded our ski goggles. And, by mid-afternoon, rain proved that a friend’s new jacket wasn’t waterproof. The conditions at Mt. Shasta Ski Park the Thursday before Christmas weren’t ideal. But we were anxious to ski and, despite the weather, the snow was good and plentiful enough for a great day of downhill skiing.

Get Out: Friday, Dec. 28

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. com. Cross-country ski lessonsSaturday, Dec. 28: The Southern Oregon Nordic Club offers ski lessons at various locations during the winter depending on conditions. For location of Saturday’s lesson, call Michael Dawkins at 541-482-2703. Whale Watch WeekFriday-Monday, Dec.

Capture the crustacean

CHARLESTON — With three crab rings and a bag of frozen tuna in hand, Rob Gensorek walks out of his Basin Tackle store and across the parking lot to a public dock to prove just how simple it is to catch a Coos Bay crustacean in winter. One by one Gensorek gently lowers the baited rings into the water from an open dock slip, ties the rope to the dock and begins the toughest part of dock crabbing — waiting. “I hate waiting,” he says.

Northern flickers are oddballs among woodpeckers

When most people think of woodpeckers, they think of a robin-sized bird clinging to a trunk and bashing away with its bill attempting to extract some beetle grub or other insect from beneath the bark of a tree. This is the life of most woodpeckers, but every family has its black sheep, and the woodpecker family has more than one oddball. Sapsuckers pound on trees to create oozing sap wells that provide them sustenance. Sap is sweeter than grubs.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Crab catch, pt. 3

The best thing about having a really good day of dock crabbing in places like Charleston in Coos Bay, is you get a bunch of crabs, you bring them up on the dock, and cook them right there. WATCH: Crabbing3. Part 1 here. Part 2 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Crab catch, pt. 2

For dock crabbing in places like Charleston, Ore. , the action can be really furious in the fall. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, you need to know what you can keep and what you have to throw back. Oregon Outdoors host Mark Freeman breaks the basics down for you: WATCH:

Watch part 1 here. Watch part 3 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Crab catch, pt. 1

If you ever find yourself in Charleston, Ore. , you need to do what every Oregonian does at least one time in their life. That's going crabbing. WATCH:

Watch part 2 here. Watch part 3 here.

You've got to snowshoe for these views

Monique Porter slides her foot cautiously into the virgin snow of a meadow along the Crater Lake rim, unconvinced the borrowed snowshoes will buoy her in the sea of white. Looking down, the former Virginian and recent Portlander initially isn’t sure following park Ranger Dave Grimes into the winter woods with these glorified plastic boards on her feet is the smartest decision of the day. But then Porter looks up at the expansive views of Oregon’s most pristine of places.

Get Out: Friday, Dec. 14

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. com. Crater Lake snowshoe hikesThrough April 28: Ranger-guided snowshoe hikes will be offered on weekends and holidays through April, and every day from Dec. 15 through Jan. 6. They start at 1 p. m. , last two hours, and cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Snow walk, pt. 3

Each holiday season, the National Park Service at Crater Lake National Park has free guided snowshoe hikes across the wintry expanse. But instead of babbling about the pristine views, we'll let the landscape speak for itself. WATCH: Snowshoeing3.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Snow walk, pt. 2

There's a lot of cool ways to see Crater Lake. But one most people haven't tried is with snowshoes. A lot of natural interpretation goes along the trail as well. So when you stop for a break, you get to learn something. WATCH: Snowshoeing2. Watch part 1 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Snow walk, pt. 1

Strapping on snowshoes is a great way to discover parts of Crater Lake National Park that you normally wouldn't see. Each winter, the National Park Service at the park has free guided snowshoe hikes. Beginning Saturday, Dec. 15, the hikes are on every day through Jan. 6, excepting Christmas. After that, it's weekends through April. WATCH: Oregon Outdoors host Mark Freeman takes a snowshoe trip at Crater Lake National Park. {}

Saving the Titans

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — A giant coastal redwood tree that typifies the almost mythical Grove of Titans has been rising toward the heavens for about 1,000 years, yet all that effort is in jeopardy from a few years worth of selfies.

Open rockfish waters may expand

Oregon’s recreational bottomfishing fleet would be allowed to fish deeper water for a longer period under proposed bottomfishing rules up for a vote Friday by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Fishing report, Dec. 7, 2018

Wild Williamson is like a little Yosemite

It’s an area so beautiful that Gary Vequist likes to call it “Little Yosemite. ”That may sound a bit overstated, but after being there, it’s not a totally unjustified comparison. Vequist is a hiker and kayaker who’s seen a lot of wild areas during a career with the National Park Service. His “Little Yosemite,” which comes complete with what he calls a miniature Half Dome, is along a trail that parallels a seldom traveled section the Williamson River Canyon north of Chiloquin.

Get Out: Friday, Dec. 7

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. com. Mt. Ashland Opening Day. Friday, Dec. 7: Mt. Ashland Ski Area will spin all lifts from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. To celebrate Day One, Mt. Ashland will celebrate with Day Onesie. All guests are encouraged to wear a one-piece suit and join in the parade of first-chair Onesies. The parade of Onesies will line up with ski area General Manager Hiram Towle outside the lodge at 8:30 a. m.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: In the Grove of Titans, pt. 3

Discovered 20 years ago, a grove of redwoods inside Jedediah Smith State Park is called the Grove of Titans. It's really taken a beating from visitors over the years. Now there are plans to get people in and out safely to view the majestic redwoods and not harm the ecosystem. WATCH: Redwoods3.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: In the Grove of Titans, pt. 2

There's kind of an allure to the Grove of Titans. Three of the largest coastal redwoods, by volume, are there. There's also no direct trail access, attractive to explorers. But that allure has come with its share of problems. WATCH: Redwoods2.

Podcast on hunting big lingcod and bigger redwoods

Here's my latest podcast on fishing fall lingcod without feeling guilty and hunting big redwoods. Check it out. It's free.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: In the Grove of Titans, pt. 1

Ling on!

BROOKINGS — When late fall weather provided a respite from the winds and waves that can plague the Oregon Coast, Mike VanCamp of Brookings knew exactly where to go. VanCamp hopped aboard Capt. Andy Martin’s boat, the Miss Brooke, and headed out to catch lingcod — not in deep water but in shallow waters closer to shore where lingcod are congregating for winter. Leave summer to the tourists. Locals such as VanCamp know that late fall and winter is when the lings are the things.

New license system launches

Oregon hunters and anglers will be able to download 2019 licenses and tags on their smartphones, tablets or computers beginning Saturday as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife dumps its old point-of-sale licensing system for a new web-based one. Some time Saturday, hunters and anglers will be able to buy their new licenses and tags directly over the Internet from the new vendor, Maryland-based JMT Technologies.

Some birds can sing a solo duet

For me, one of the great joys of music is beautiful harmony. How I would love to be able to sing along with friends and harmonize, but my singing abilities are suspect at best. So, I sit back and enjoy the talents of others. We each get one voice. Some singers are sopranos, others a gravelly bass. But good or bad, high pitch or low, harmonizing with oneself is out of the question. It takes two or more singers to create this kind of magic. Not so with birds.

Fishing report, Nov. 30, 2018

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Looking for lingcod, pt. 3

One of the great things about fishing off the Southern Oregon Coast is everything tastes good. WATCH: lingcod3. Part 1 here. Part 2 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Looking for lingcod, pt. 2

Fall fishing off the Southern Oregon Coast is really a lot of fun and really productive. But 20 years ago, it almost all went away. WATCH: lingcod2. Part 1 here. Part 3 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Looking for lingcod, pt. 1

If you're ever on the Southern Oregon Coast, fishing rod in hand, you've got to catch a lingcod. WATCH: lingcod1. Part 2 here. Part 3 here.

Chinook regs eased on Chetco, Winchuck

BROOKINGS — Fishing-gear restrictions meant to curb illegal snagging of fall chinook salmon were lifted Tuesday on the Chetco and Winchuck rivers after significant rains reduced the snagging risk, authorities said. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lifted the anti-snagging “bobber rule” after rains swelled the rivers enough for chinook to move out of lower-river pools and run upstream.

Exploring faces and shapes in the Callahan Flow

Sometimes going with the flow is best way. Over the years, hikes to Whitney Butte have led me and others near the Callahan Flow, a visually foreboding, massive frozen river of basaltic andesite. Usually the hike, either from a trailhead by the Merrill Cave parking lot or another trailhead off Gold Digger Pass, features a cross-country climb up the butte, where the expansive, 360-degree view includes the Callahan Flow’s seemingly endless black sea of lava.

Goin' pro

Nov. 23 Fishing Report

OCEAN OUTLOOKCOASTWIDE: The first major storm of the season is forecast to continue Friday and Saturday, days to not be on the water. The forecast calls for rain, 25-knot winds and swells up to 10 feet Friday, with 5-knot winds Saturday but 7-foot swells. Sunday looks to be similar to Saturday. The marine aggregate rockfish daily limit for bottomfishers is five fish. Cabezon must be released unharmed.

Get Out: Friday, Nov. 23

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. com. Project FeederWatch AshlandSaturday, Nov. 24: Count the birds that visit the feeders at North Mountain Park Nature Center, 620 N. Mountain Ave. , Ashland, from 9 to 10 a. m. Organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers and other locales in North America.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Bass champ, pt. 3

When you fish for money, what do you do for fun? We asked Jacob Wall, local and bass pro tour rookie. Watch below: 11_20 bass fishing 3 ACTUAL. Watch part 1 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Bass champ, pt. 2

Rogue Valley local Jacob Wall is a rookie on the FLW pro bass tour. He's been working toward this much of his life. Watch below:

Watch part 1 here.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Bass champ, pt. 1

One of the great secrets in life is "the job for you is the job you do for free. " And if you get paid for it, all the better. That's where Jacob Wall of Jacksonville — the first person from Southern Oregon to break into the world of professional bass fishing — comes in. WATCH:

My Adventure: Rafting with icebergs

In the last 20 years or so, we’ve had the opportunity to float some of the great rivers in the U. S. — the Colorado, Rogue and Salmon among them. Our search for something different took us to the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers, which are large glacial rivers in Canada and Alaska, which gave us sunshine, heat, fog, glacial chill, rain and icebergs. After gathering in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, we drove to our put-in at Dalton Post, a historic trading post.

Fishing report, Nov. 16, 2018

OCEAN OUTLOOK. COASTWIDE: A small-craft advisory is in effect through Saturday morning. Forecasts call for 5-knot winds and swells up to 7 feet in the Brookings area Friday, followed by much of the same Saturday. Sunday’s forecast calls for 5-knot winds and swells to around 5 feet. The marine aggregate rockfish daily limit for bottomfishers is five fish. Cabezon must be released unharmed.

Ski swap sizzles

When a group of high-school parents formed a nonprofit association to get Medford kids a ski-racing program in the mid 1990s, they needed a way to raise money to pay for things like coaching and insurance. Like other organizations across the country, the Medford Ski Education Foundation turned to a ski swap as a way to raise cash and help defray the cost of equipment for kids who grow out of gear in a year. “It was tiny, maybe a couple-hundred items,” volunteer Ron Johnson says.

Summers in December

Summers in December Summer steelhead provide a unique December fishing opportunity

Get Out: Friday, Nov. 16

To have an event listed in Get Out! , email the information to adventure@rosebudmedia. comNative Plant Society hikeSaturday, Nov. 17: Oregon Caves National Monument botanist John Roth will lead a free hike to Whiskey Creek in the Illinois Valley. The group will walk several hundred meters on and off trail along Whiskey Creek to look at endemic plants and investigate the local geology. The group will also see which plants are growing in a small fen nearby.

Get Out: Friday, Dec. 9

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Climbing Mt. McLoughlin, pt. 1

Hiking Mt. McLoughlin should be at the top of every Southern Oregon hiker's bucket list. And why not? At 9,495 feet above sea level, it's the area's highest peak. Watch below: McLoughlin1.

OREGON OUTDOORS VIDEO: Climbing Mt. McLoughlin, pt. 2

The pickup truck of Jackson County Search & Rescue's Shawn Richards could get to the Mt. McLoughlin trailhead on autopilot. Why has he been there so many times? The optical illusion at the top that leads some to believe they can get back down quicker using a shortcut. It's not. Watch for more info and to see a solution that's being discussed. McLoughlin2.