Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures

by McOmie

Overview

“Grant has long been a favorite of mine and now he’s sharing the how, what, where, and when of his insightful outdoor adventures. Whether tree climbing, cooking up a crawfish boil, digging clams and fossils, kayaking, snowshoeing, or soaring skyward, Grant offers 101 concise vignettes that intrigue and encourage us to lace up our boots and get out there. As Grant so aptly puts, ‘Why live here if you don’t go searching for those singular moments which set Oregon apart.’ Amen.” —MJ Cody, co-editor of Wild in the City

Emmy Award-winning journalist and fifth-generation Oregon native Grant McOmie provides travelers with an in-depth guide to 101 of the best Oregon destinations featured in his popular television series Grant's Getaways, produced by KGW-TV and Travel Oregon. Come along with Grant McOmie as he explores family-friendly destinations and day trips across the width and breadth of Oregon. 

From kayaking in Netarts Bay, riding a jet boat on the Rogue River, and fishing for Deschutes River steelhead to exploring Lava River Cave in the Newberry Volcanic National Monument, digging for fossils in the John Day Basin, and riding mountain bikes at Black Rock, Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures has an outdoor adventure for everyone. 

The book is organized by the month in which the television segment was filmed, and features 75 photographs from Grant’s outdoor adventures. Also included are travel tips such as "What to Know if You Go" and "Best Time of the Year" as well as access information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780882409474
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/02/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

Grant McOmie is a Pacific Northwest journalist, author, and teacher who writes and produces stories and special programs about the people, places, outdoor activities, and environmental issues of the Pacific Northwest. Grant began his broadcast career at Portland’s KGW-TV in 1981, and then worked at other stations in Seattle and Portland. He returned to KGW in 2008. He currently stars in the ongoing series Grant’s Getaways for KGW-TV and Travel Oregon. While he has had a varied career reporting and producing topical and timely environmental news stories, features and documentary programs, it’s been the exploration of the Pacific Northwest back roads and byways that he has enjoyed the most. Sharing those journeys of discovery with readers and viewers has provided the greatest personal rewards and the dominant themes in his work. Grant has received significant awards for his work, including numerous Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts, most recently a 2011-12 Emmy for Feature Reporting. He shares the distinct honor of the Edward R. Murrow Award for News Coverage from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, as well as many Oregon AP and OAB News Awards over the past three decades.

Read an Excerpt

Trying something risky takes courage, but if you’re convinced that it’s right for you, the risk can pay off with adventure. So grab a paddle, don’t forget a drysuit and helmet as we learn about the Clackamas River’s whitewater rapids from the most intimate point of view. When folks ask me about rafting or kayaking options close to home, I never hesitate to recommend a look at the Upper Clackamas River. It’s but sixty minutes from Portland, so it’s an easy day trip and scores of campsites can be found in this part of the Mt Hood National Forest near Estacada. Recently, I joined a hearty group of water-lovers who gathered along the Upper Clackamas River to celebrate their passion for adventure on one of the most exciting stretches of whitewater rivers in Oregon. Many in the small party were pros who guide for a living and take to the water with the ease of a water otter – our trip was to be a warm-up training run for them when they compete in the upcoming Clackamas River Whitewater Festival that’s slated each mid-May . Bob Mosier, the President of the North West Rafters Association said one thing was on everyone’s mind: “There’s a whole group of people who come out the third Sunday just to raft the river, get their feet wet and keep excited about the water.” It’s an incredible adventure that a newcomer should never try alone, and I was lucky to join this group of pros who’ve a passion for running whitewater. We were dressed for the occasion in drysuits, gloves, booties – plus, helmets and Type III PFD’s to take advantage of a rare sunny break in an otherwise soggy spring season. Karen Driver, owner and operator of All River Adventures told me: “It’s little more than seven miles to our take-out, but I do believe the rapids’ names say it all. So get ready for the likes of the Maze, Big Swirly and Rock and Roll, to name a few. It’s going to be wet, wild, and a whole lot of fun!” With that our team of four stepped and rolled aboard our fourteen-foot paddle raft with our guide, Larry Firman. He started us out with team paddling techniques of going forward and then in reverse. To go left, the left-side paddlers dug in, while the right-side paddlers backstroked--faster and faster and faster--until Larry had us operating together like a smooth, well-oiled machine. “It’s critical practice,” he said, “that will pay off down the river when we encounter rapids we’ll need to thread like a needle.” “Easy, easy--forward paddle, forward paddle!” he commanded, and we were off through the bumps, jumps, and starts that jolt and jive you down the twisting, winding, bucking river. Longtime local river runner, Sam Drevo, noted the care and caution you must have in this part of the river. “You are required to focus on what you’re doing and before long everything else just fades into the background. It’s that focus and attention to what’s going on in the here and now that really attracts to me to the sport.” New this year to Oregon rivers is a mandatory PFD rule for all river runners: all Class 3 or higher whitewater rivers (rivers are classified on a scale of 1-6 with 6 being un-runnable) boaters must wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) at all times. In addition, the PFD must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard as a Type I, III, or V personal flotation device It’s also important to remember that Class 3 Rivers like the Upper Clackamas are not for beginners. Boating safety is critical! The river is so strong and conditions can change so fast, the experience requires a breadth of whitewater knowledge and experience that only a professional guide can provide. Broken by boulders and frothy foam, I quickly learned that teamwork was to be the secret to keeping the boats afloat atop the cold, dangerous water. Karen Driver added, “We keep an eye on the weather and keep an eye on the water levels. It takes a long time to keep track of all those things, but it’s essential because the river level can change in heartbeat if we have a heavy spring shower.” Ryan Seaton, another longtime guide said that there’s no room for mistakes on the roaring rapids. “When we are in a scary spot, I always remain calm – everyone in the boat looks to the guide to remain calm and keep things in control – Even when I am scared – keeping cool – goes a long ways to reassuring my people.” As we sped along on the face of the current and approached another rollicking, rolling drop, Larry Firman added, “United we paddle – divided we flip!” The payoff for our hard physical efforts was heart-soaring and huge; to feel the power of a roaring river on its terms and then to succeed. One of my boating partners, Gina Kelly-Smith said, “Actually I prefer it when we go thru the rapid water and hit a really big hole and spin a bit. I like that – I think that’s the most fun of the ride.” Sitting next to her was her husband, Don Smith, who wore a huge smile and heartily agreed: “What I get out of it is just this big smile I have the whole time. It’s like a kid’s smile – just brings me to life.” “Okay, everyone, hang on to the boat with one hand and your paddle with the other . . . whoo haaaaa,” shouted Firman. “Now dig in and paddle forward. Everyone paddle forward!” And so it went for two and a half hours! In between the hair-soaking rapids, we had a moment to regroup and Bob Mosier offered: “The water’s flowing off the mountains, the rivers are foamy – water is rushing thru these canyons; it’s just the most beautiful experience you can think of. You start seeing the buds on the trees, leaves coming out – It’s the re-invigoration of our forest and just a wonderful time to experience it.” The Clackamas River rapids will cool you off, lift your spirits and even take your breath away for their awesome power. “When you get on the river,” added Karen, “your stress just goes away and you get to be a kid – and we all need to be kids – We don’t want to grow old. We want to grow happy!”

Table of Contents

“101 GRANT’S GETAWAYS” – CHAPTER LIST JANUARY 8 1-Eco Pub/Hopworks Brew Pub 2-Adventures Without Limits 3-Heritage Trees 4-Dinosaurs with Fins @Bonneville Hatchery 5-Fort Yamhill SP 6-McKenzie River Valley- Belknap Hot Springs 7-Mush Puppies/Jerry Scdoris 8-Elkhorn Wildlife Area Elk Tour FEBRUARY 8 9-Rice Rocks Gem Museum 10-Romance of Waterfalls 11-Erratic Rocks SP 12-Snow Shoes to Trillium Lake 13-OHV Tillamook State Forest 14-Cape Perpetua Scenic Area 15-Klamath Refuge/Eagle Celebration 16-Hot Lake Springs Resort MARCH 8 17-Magness Farm and World Forestry Center 18-Aquatic Invasive Species/Marine Patrol 19-Kayak Tillamook/Netarts 20-Drift Creek Trail and Niagara Falls 21-White River Wildlife Area 22-Covered Bridges of Linn County 23-Cottage Grove Scenic Bikeway 24-Wildlife Safari 25-Friend to the Critters/Wildlife Images APRIL 9 26-Soar like an Eagle 27-Tree-to-Tree Adventure 28-Rowena/CG Scenic Hwy 29-Holleywood Ranch Petrified Wood 30-Mt Hood Sc Drive/Parkdale&Lost Lake 31-Razor Clams/Horseneck Clams 32-Cape Lookout Hike – Whale Watch 33-Kam Wah Chung Museum 34-Oasis in the Desert-Malheur Wildlife Refuge Frenchglen/Round Barn/Diamond Craters MAY 9 35-Saddle Mtn, Spruce Run, Nehalem Falls 36-Ki-A-Kuts Falls 37-Nestucca River Scenic Byway 38-Mary’s Peak 39-Valley of the Giants 40-Upper Willamette: Black Canyon Campground, Willamette Hatchery Museum, Salt Springs Falls, Odell Lake 41-Green Peter Reservoir 42-Klamath Canoe Trail 43-Klamath Trout Fishing JUNE 9 44-Up, Up and Away/Newberg Hot Air Balloons 45-ODFW-Heritage Foundation: First Hand Oregon 46-ODFW Trout Airlift 47-Soft Sides of an Iron Giant/Iron Mtn Hike 48-Newberry Crater/Paulina Lake 49-A River Runs Through It/Metolius 50-La Pine State Park, Lava River Cave, Lava Butte, Lava Cast Forest 51-Diamond Lake is Fishy Again! 52-Three for One/Sunset, Shore Acres, C Arago (also Xmas Lighting at Shore Acres) JULY 9 53-Youth Outdoor/Becoming Outdoors Woman 54-Black Rock Mtn Bike Trails 55-Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge/Whalen Is SP 56-Santiam Horseback Trail 57-Oakridge Mountain Bikes 58-High Cascade Canoe/Sparks Lake 59- Palisades SP/Cove Houseboats 60-Oregon Caves National Monument and Lodge* 61-Rogue River Jet Boat AUGUST 8 62-Disc Golf @Stub Stewart SP 63-Trask River Crawfish 64-Huckleberry Hounds 65-Climbing Old Growth Trees 66-Siltcoos River Canoe Trail 67-J. Day Fossil Beds/Digging Fossils/Wheeler HS 68-Crater Lake Boat Tour 69-Swiss Alps of the West- Wallowa Lake SP SEPTEMBER 8 70-Taking Aim at Archery 71-Bald Peak State Park and Wheatland Ferry 72-Tillamook Bay Chinook Fishing 73-Trail of 10 Falls/Silver Falls 74-All Hands on Deck/Newport 75-Wolf Creek Inn and Golden SP 76-South Slough National Estuarine Reserve 77-Deschutes River Steelhead OCTOBER 8 78-Afoot and Afloat Fall Colors/Tualatin Refuge 79-Historic Cemeteries 80-Chanterelle Mushroom Hunt 81-Walk on the Wildside/Wildwood Rec Area 82-ODFW Crabbing Class (Oct) 83-Bonney Butte Raptors 84-The Oregon Birding Trail/Willamette Valley 85-Sumpter Dredge NOVEMBER 8 86-Fernhill and Jackson Bottom Wetlands 87-Sandy River Gorge Preserve 88-Wheelchair Destinations 89-Sauvie Island Sandhills 90-Down by the Ol’Mill Stream/Thompson’s Mills SP 91-All Oregon Boat 92-Secrets in the Sand/Lincoln City 93-Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area DECEMBER 8 94-Wild in the City/Portland Intertwine 95-Smith Bybee Lakes 96-Columbia River Highway 30 97-Twilight Eagle Sanctuary 98-Snow Play on the Mtn 99-Jewell Elk 100-Deep Tracks/Snow Shoe Deschutes Forest 101-High Desert Museum

Editorial Reviews

No one knows how to get more out of our amazing state than Grant McOmie. He’s been showing us how to enjoy the best stuff along the back roads and beyond for a long time. I suspect he might actually be trying to get away from the question everyone asks him—‘How do I get your job?’—but I’m thankful Grant’s made it so easy for all of us to . . . get away.”
—Paul Linnman, KEX 1190 radio personality, and author of The Exploding Whale and Oregon Golf
 
 “I've been a fan of Grant McOmie since his cub reporter days in Seattle. He is the voice of the great Pacific Northwest outdoors. Capturing not only the story of the destination, but sharing the legends, yarns, and accounts of the personalities that make Oregon this unique place we call home. Great read, makes me want to get outdoors even more!”     
—John Williams, creator/host of Wheelchair Destinations
 
 “Grant has long been a favorite of mine and now he’s sharing the how, what, where, and when of his insightful outdoor adventures. Whether tree climbing, cooking up a crawfish boil, digging clams and fossils, kayaking, snowshoeing, or soaring skyward, Grant offers 101 concise vignettes that intrigue and encourage us to lace up our boots and get out there. As Grant so aptly puts, ‘Why live here if you don’t go searching for those singular moments which set Oregon apart.’ Amen.”
—MJ Cody, co-editor of Wild in the City

From the Publisher