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Peak Northwest

Peak Northwest

Written by: The Oregonian/OregonLive
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About this listen

 Hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.The Oregonian/OregonLive Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • How to tap a common tree to make Northwest maple syrup

    How to tap a common tree to make Northwest maple syrup
    Mar 5 2026
    It might be a lot easier to do in Vermont, but you can make your very own maple syrup right here in the Pacific Northwest. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into the world of bigleaf maple syrup, Oregon and Washington’s spin on the classic treat. Eliza Nelson, founder and director of the Oregon Maple Project, a nonprofit dedicated to educating people about bigleaf maple syrup, talks about the joy of watching people discover local-made syrup, and how people can learn how to tap trees in their own backyard. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: What’s the difference between bigleaf maple syrup and sugar maple syrup? Why bigleaf syrup isn’t usually put on pancakes. How to tap a bigleaf maple tree for sap. What will it take to get bigleaf maple syrup in grocery stores? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Why Lewis and Clark hated their winter in the Pacific Northwest

    Why Lewis and Clark hated their winter in the Pacific Northwest
    Feb 26 2026
    They hated the rain. There wasn’t enough sunshine. Everybody wanted to hug. We’re not talking about your east coast friends who just moved to Portland, we’re talking about legendary explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who spent one miserable winter in the Pacific Northwest before making a desperate flight upriver. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Jill Harding, visitor services program manager at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s famous stay on the lower Columbia River. Like many new residents, they learned firsthand just how tough a Northwest winter can be. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How joy turned to misery almost immediately. The expedition was well equipped for the journey — just not for the Northwest. The famous story of the stolen canoe. Why you should visit Lewis and Clark National Historical Park today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Meet the Crag Rats: Oregon mountain rescue team is still going strong after 100 years

    Meet the Crag Rats: Oregon mountain rescue team is still going strong after 100 years
    Feb 19 2026
    If you get injured on Mount Hood or lost in the Columbia River Gorge, odds are good that a Crag Rat will find you. The Crag Rats are one of the nation’s oldest mountain rescue organizations, first formed in 1926. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we speak with Christopher Van Tilburg, a mountain rescue doctor with the Crag Rats and author of a new book about the organization, “Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 Years of Mountain Rescue.” Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How the Crag Rats perform their rescues. What it takes to be on the mountain rescue team. The storied 100-year history behind the group. How did they get the name Crag Rats anyway? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 mins
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