Latest news with #ZachUrness
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
22-year-old Utah man 'seriously injured' after jumping off Oregon's Abiqua Falls
A 22-year-old Utah man was rescued on May 18 after being injured from jumping around 90 feet from the top of Abiqua Falls, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Dispatch centers were texted at about 7:39 p.m. that the man, who was not named, "sustained serious injuries in a very remote area." Silverton Fire was the first to arrive on scene and immediately requested additional support from multiple agencies, officials said. Abiqua Falls, a popular hiking destination, is located in a remote area outside Scotts Mills. "Responders worked collaboratively to safely extract the individual from the steep, heavily wooded terrain," a Facebook post from the Marion County Sheriff's Office said. The man was eventually transported via ATV to a LifeFlight helicopter and then airlifted to a trauma center for treatment. Officials said it was their understanding the man jumped off the top of the waterfall for fun. It's unclear exactly how he was injured — whether hitting the water or a shallow rock. "This incident serves as an important reminder to exercise caution in wilderness areas: always have a plan, know your limits, and avoid taking unnecessary risks," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. Abiqua Falls is one of Oregon's more popular and frequently photographed waterfalls. In recent years, extreme whitewater kayakers have run the waterfall, even leading to a spot on the "Today" show. In 2020, a teenager was injured after attempting to jump off 177-foot South Falls at Silver Falls State Park. The rescue was a joint effort involving WVCC, LifeFlight, METCOM, Silverton Fire, Woodburn Ambulance, Mt. Angel Fire, the Salem Fire Rope Team, and the Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Utah man rescued after jumping off Abiqua Falls in Oregon
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Last call at Crater Lake, record visits to parks, Detroit drawdown
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness covers a range of outdoors news, including why this is the last summer to swim, fish or take a boat tour at Crater Lake National Park until 2029. Urness also talks about: Why this was a very good but also tragic ski season in Oregon. Oregon set a record for visits to its state parks system. The state is completely drought-free for the first time since 2019. The Central Cascades Wilderness permit system is returning this year, despite major cuts to the rangers and recreation departments that enforce it. The number of wolves and western snowy plovers — both protected under the federal Endangered Species Act — saw growth in their numbers last year. The Trump administration declared a forest health emergency to ramp up logging in Oregon and the West. The deep drawdown of Detroit Lake has been delayed until 2026, easing the water supply scare for Salem and Stayton. A long-awaited report from the Oregon Department of Forestry says Pacific Power was not at fault for the 2020 wildfires in the Santiam Canyon. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Podcast: Last summer to swim at Crater Lake National Park until 2029
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Salem ice climber ascends frozen waterfalls, glaciers
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness interviews Salem ice climber Forrest "Frosty" Gill about the fun and challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and ice flows across Oregon and the West. Gill talks about the equipment and technique used for ice climbing, the beautiful places it can take you and his journey in learning the sport through the Salem-based Chemeketans outdoors club and climb school. In February, Gill climbed frozen Paulina Creek Falls in Central Oregon but has also climbed in Alaska, Montana and Colorado. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all 168 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem ice climber ascends Oregon frozen waterfalls, glaciers
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Salem woman identified as person that drowned in Fern Ridge Reservoir near Eugene
A 42-year-old Salem woman was identified Saturday as the person that drowned in Fern Ridge Reservoir last week, according to the Lane County Sheriff's Office. Tiffany Nicole Hillyer was found deceased in the lake at about 4 p.m. on March 8, police said in a news release. The sheriff's office said previously it was investigating the incident but did not provide any updated information Saturday. The Lane County Sheriff's Office could not immediately be reached for comment. Fern Ridge Reservoir is located about 12 miles west of Eugene and a popular recreation area for sailing, power boating and water skiing. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Police ID Salem woman in Fern Ridge Reservoir drowning near Eugene
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: What do federal cuts mean for public lands and outdoor recreation?
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about what federal jobs cuts could mean for Oregon's public lands — including impacts on camping, hiking and rafting. He also highlights some excellent outdoor adventures for spring break. In the first half of the podcast, Urness reports on everything he's learned about how the federal cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service might impact outdoor recreation and exploring this summer. In the second half, Urness talks about renting mini cabins at Detroit Lake and hikes, hot springs and skiing nearby. He also talks about snowshoeing Big Springs Sno Park, a de facto wilderness on the Oregon Coast at Cascade Head and a spring break road trip from Eugene to Summer Lake Hot Springs. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all 168 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: What do federal cuts mean for Oregon's public lands and outdoor rec?
