About the Author

Allison Miles

Allison Miles feels at home with dirt between her toes, snowflakes in her eyes and sweat dripping off her chin. She tests her limits while exploring Oregon's wild and beautiful secrets, taking on crumbly volcanic peaks, remote trails and less-traveled ski lines.

Three Days in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness

October 23, 2016
It’s safe to say we were here to explore, to savor each moment and to celebrate the freedom of the wilderness. We set off with our dog Riggins late in the afternoon toward Slide Lake. The trail turned south, traversing the eastern side of the ridge and offering views of aptly named Slide Mountain, with numerous avalanche paths leaving scars down its face. Above, basalt columns stood in various states of toppling into each other. More
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Eastern Oregon , Canyon City , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Camping , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Hiking & Backpacking , Attractions ,

Pup in Tow on the Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway

August 10, 2016
Whirring bicycle wheels and the steady gnawing of puppy teeth against a rawhide bone merge into a peaceful rhythm as I pedal down the two-lane highway, just a handful of miles outside Mitchell. I’m exploring the Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway, Oregon’s newest addition to its official bicycle-friendly routes. Located in Eastern Oregon, the state’s 15th Scenic Bikeway connects the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument over 161 miles and tops the state’s total bikeway network to more than 1,000 miles. To... More
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Eastern Oregon , Mitchell , Trip Ideas , Bicycling ,