How Not to Die When Visiting Oregon

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Safety precautions for people who want to visit the Oregon wilderness, but lack outdoor skills or, in some cases, common sense.

Oregon. Home to many natural wonders in the Pacific Northwest. Tourism in the state has increased over the last 10–15 years as social media has shared with the world some of the beautiful areas that are found in this great state. However, with an increase in tourism comes an increase of news headlines that read:

“Tourist Slips and Falls at……”

or

“Search and Rescue Operation Underway in….”

or

“Search and Rescue was called out to….”

Now, this just covers some of the headlines that I have read over the years of a lifetime of living in Oregon. To be frank, I’m tired of reading them. Stories like these rarely have a happy ending. It seems that more often than not, these stories have a tragic ending and the search is deemed a recovery mission.

So, I’ve put together some useful common sense tips that you should know about, and tell your kids about, before visiting Oregon.

Stay on the damn trails.

Seriously, this one isn’t difficult, yet far too many people venture off trails. Yet there is always that one guy who will want to get that “epic” shot and try to hop across the rocks, slip, and fall.

Here’s the thing: It rains quite a bit in Oregon. What happens in damp environments? Algae and moss tend to grow. So, you might think you are hopping onto just a wet rock, not expecting it to be slick, and you hit algae that just so happens to be the same color as the rock. Best case scenario? You end up with a bruised bum. Worst case could lead to significant injury and/or death.

(On the last waterfall hike I did, I literally saw a photographer hopping across rocks in the middle of a rapids above a two-tier waterfall. Don’t be that guy.)

With the availability of drones these days, there is no reason that anyone needs to risk it. If you are new to drones and don’t plan on using it professionally, check out the DJI Mini 2 SE. It’s their cheapest model yet, at just $279.00 on Amazon. Check it out here. Plan to use it professionally? Check out DJI’s other models, like the Mini 4 Pro or the Mavic 3 Pro.

Tell Someone Where You Are Going…..and actually go there.

Most of the time, if someone is missing, its because they got turned around in the woods. This can happen to even the most experienced outdoorsman in their own backyard, check out Harry Burleigh’s story if you don’t believe me. Burleigh survived 17 days in the wilderness, an absolutely incredible feat. However, he is the exception. He survived because he was an avid outdoorsman, knew what to do, and remained calm.

If you are planning on going hiking or exploring the backcountry parts of Oregon, you might consider a GPS device or a satellite phone as a precaution in case you do get turned around. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 and the Spot X are both good options for satellite phones if you choose to go that route. There are plenty of GPS’s out there these days, but I personally like the Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS for short adventures due to its simple interface and size. For longer adventures, I like the Garmin eTrex 22x for the topographical features and color screen.

Overall, always tell someone where you are going and if you change your route, communicate that as well. It could very well save your life.

Don’t Hike at Night.

Yes, unfortunately, this one needs to be said.

I grew up just a quick drive from some of the most epic natural hotsprings that sit along a cliff overlooking the river. To get to the springs, you have to quite literally go up the side of the mountain. Far too many people have fallen off that trail trying to go soak in the springs at night due to the lack of railing and because you can’t see.

Now, I’m not going to say I haven’t made the trek carrying a case of beer in the dark with a phone for my flashlight, cause I definitely did that back in high school. We were kids making dumb choices, however, we also grew up running through the woods. So, we were very surefooted cause we were used to walking on uneven ground with frequent obsticles. Most visitors are not used to that type of terrain. With no railing along the side of the trail, its easy to trip and fall off.

You might be thinking: just use a flashlight. And, sure, you are right that you can see better with a flashlight. Except in Oregon, most of our hotsprings are located off the beaten path, where there is no light pollution. This means everything is black unless the moon is out. And when I mean black, I mean it’s like walking around with your eyes closed.

Moral of the story: Don’t even try it.

Don’t Dive Into the Water.

Again, you would think this would be common sense, but our lakes can be deceptive. One of the more popular sites that that people tend to dive into that you definitely shouldn’t is Blue Pool, just outside of Eugene.

So, just remember, if you are going to get in the water, make sure you actually get in and check the depth of the water before jumping or diving in.

Another thing about the water- it’s flipping cold. Remember that just because its sunny, doesn’t mean that you can’t get hypothermia.

One last one…..

If you don’t know, ask.

If you’ve never been hiking in the area before, stop by a ranger station and ask them about any precautions in the area you should know about. Grab a map while you are there. Read about the area before you visit. Or even ask an employee at the gas station what they know about the area. Chances are, you will find some great tips just by talking to people.

Oregon is beautiful. Us Oregon natives treasure it greatly and love to boast about how beautiful it is. We don’t mind sharing it for the most part, but please use common sense when visiting. None of us like seeing the search teams heading out.

If you found this helpful, do me a favor share it with your friends. I would appreciate it!

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