It’s not the most storied river in Oregon. When it comes to fishing in this state, I’d be surprised if most folks even mentioned the Breitenbush. It begins on the slopes of Mt. Jefferson and ends in Lake Detroit, and it’s as cold in the summer as most northern rivers are during spring runoff. My Portland friends said the trout are many in number, but … Continue reading Breitenbush River, Oregon
When President Donald Trump today announced plans to reduce the size of Bears Ears National Monument and nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, he said it was because he wants to “take back the land.” He wants to “take back” land that we already own. This is the largest elimination of public lands in US history. Bears Ears was cut by 85% (from 1.3 million acres … Continue reading Trump’s Move On Bears Ears Should Anger (And Inspire) You
Every city you visit deserves to be seen on two wheels. Riding with traffic and chatting with other cyclists at stoplights, cruising hills big and small, and breathing in the sounds and smells of whatever the city exhales. When I was in San Francisco, I made it a point to find a rental that I could ride through the city to the fire roads of … Continue reading San Francisco On A Rental Bike
It’s about damn time we celebrate the bison. The Obama Administration dedicated the first Saturday in November to our national mammal in 2012. For such a storied, majestic creature, what the hell took us so long? Before the West was settled, upwards of 30,000,000 bison roamed our country. This was back when caribou were at home in Minnesota and elk resided in the Appalachians. By … Continue reading National Bison Day
The best way to see a city is on a bike. Doesn’t matter if it’s sunny or rainy, crowded or quiet, hot or cold. You’ll notice parts of town that you just can’t when you’re in an Uber, on foot, or in a bus. It’s a different experience entirely, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend. Let’s talk about Tromsø. It’s a small island city in … Continue reading Fat Biking in Tromsø
It’s the unofficial end of summer, this long weekend. The warm season starts on Memorial Day weekend and ends on Labor Day weekend. Summer abides by long weekends, it seems. I do, too. And I take every chance I can get to thoroughly spend time outside when I’m not at work. We were planning on camping over the weekend, but plans changes and we were … Continue reading Labor Days And Other Days Off
A good day in the woods can meet the need of a week-long vacation. It saves money, too. When quiet tree-lined dirt trails are less than 10 miles from my house and I’ve got the mood to sweat before getting dirty, I get on the bike. The trails aren’t really official (or even marked, for that matter). In the gorge at the confluence of the … Continue reading A Lesson In Mental Health From Crosby Lake
The longest days of the year makes for extended daylight perfect for long rides to a spot to watch the sunset. This was something I’ve wanted to do for a while. Ride to Mounds Park in St. Paul with a cooler full of beers and watch the sunset behind the skyline during Solstice week. A group met up at Angry Catfish at 5pm for pre-ride … Continue reading Angry Catfish x Surly Brewing Solstice Ride
No, I didn’t drive to Texas. Or fly to Texas. It’s a tiny, tiny town in Wisconsin on the Rush River. It’s also one of my favorite places to catch fish. On a summer night after the sun disappears behind the steep valley walls and a fog hangs in the air, there are few places I’d rather be. This stretch of the river is known … Continue reading An Evening In El Paso
You wake up before your alarm. It’s 4:45am and the dew on the trees above your tent is starting to coalesce and drip. You’re not sure if anxiety or doubt is the reason for your awakening–anxiety because you drove four hours for this race; doubt because it would be easier to sleep in and fish all day than ride 60 miles on gravel. You go … Continue reading Le Gran du Nord
Birch & Flannel 