By Renee Patrick 　　The quintessential Oregon that comes to mind for many is one of wet, lush forests, rocky coastlines, and snowy peaks, but on the other side of the Cascade Mountains lies a high desert landscape that covers almost half of the state. For Brent Fenty, Oregon Natural Desert Association’s (ONDA) executive director, this immense desert has captivated him...

　　 　　We set out from the comfort of our day jobs to experience a new place—a new horizon. We headed north and then west to the Wind River Range of Wyoming. With alternating sounds of good tunes, good conversations, and the constant ‘whirr’ of rubber on the road, we made our way to the trailhead. As the sun slipped lower...

　　When I started planning my 2015 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, I knew I wanted ultralight backpacking gear. I wasn’t aiming for sub-10 pounds or any particular ‘goal weight’, but I wanted to make intentional gear choices that kept my base weight low without going completely barebones. (Base weight is the total weight of your pack, fully loaded, not including anything...