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Outdooregon<br />
Oregon Living<br />
Explore an Urban Legend<br />
If you think urban-wilderness is an oxymoron, you haven't spent<br />
much time in Portland's Forest Park. At 5,100 acres, it's the largest<br />
urban forest in the country– but it gets better. At its most southern<br />
point, the park meets up with Macleay Park,<br />
trail running<br />
Portland Metro<br />
which then spills into Washington Park. The<br />
30-mile Wildwood Trail spans all three parks<br />
and is crisscrossed by miles and miles and<br />
miles of single-track and fire roads. “Even traversing our regular<br />
routes backwards can provide a novel run,” says Ruben Galbraith,<br />
an ultra runner and leader of Trail Factor running club (trailfactor.<br />
com). This 6-mile run is one of his staples: Start at Lower Macleay<br />
parking lot (NW 29th St. and Upshur St.) and run or hike west<br />
along Balch Creek until the trail intersects with the Wildwood<br />
Trail at the Stone House (a defunct public restroom built in the<br />
1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration). Bear left at<br />
the Wildwood Trail and wind up to Pittock Mansion. On a clear<br />
day, you're rewarded with panoramic views of downtown Portland,<br />
Mt. Tabor and Mt. Hood. From the mansion, double back or keep<br />
going another 3.5 miles to the Oregon Zoo and the southern-most<br />
point of the Wildwood Trail. Detailed maps are available at the<br />
Forest Park Conservancy (forestparkconservancy.org).<br />
Go Off Piste in the Wallowas<br />
The Cascades may get most of the glory, but for breathtaking views<br />
and dry and plentiful snow, you can't beat the Wallowa Mountains.<br />
To see these rugged peaks, grab a few friends and book a back-country<br />
yurt. Experienced off-pisters will get the<br />
Backcountry skiing<br />
Eastern Oregon<br />
most bang for their buck at one of the two selfcatered<br />
camps run by Wing Ridge Ski Tours<br />
(wingski.com). As long as you pass the outdoor<br />
skills assessment, you can ski (or snowshoe) into one of two camps<br />
without a guide for the rate of $55 per night per person. Each camp<br />
is composed of a cook tent, sauna tent, latrine and two five-person<br />
sleeping tents. Don't want to go it alone? Wing Ridge offers guiding<br />
service starting at $200 a day. If you'd rather not worry about cooking<br />
or navigating, Wallowa Alpine Huts (wallowahuts.com) offers fourday<br />
all-inclusive trips for $625 a person.<br />
Photos Robert Agli<br />
What's in her pack?<br />
When it comes to preparedness, Wing Ridge's lead guide Charla Whiting<br />
treats a two-hour cruise in the backcountry no differently than a two-day trip<br />
“just in case something goes wrong.”<br />
First aid kit Flint and matches in a plastic bag Whistle Compass<br />
Disposable hand warmers Down jacket Avalanche shovel Avalanche<br />
transceiver Thin rope Small tarp or heavy garbage bag Dry soup<br />
Extra socks Nuts and other high protein foods Knife with scissors<br />
Something bright to flag for help Small thermos with a hot drink<br />
Can to heat soup on a fire<br />
1859 oregon's magazine winter <strong>2010</strong> 49
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