The Pawd Life Mountain Signals

07/23/2026

This adventure takes me deep into Oregon's spectacular Wallowa Mountains for an overnight e-bikepacking trip to historic McGraw Fire Lookout and a closer-than-expected encounter with the local wildlife!

Starting from Ollokot Campground, I follow the Wallowa Mountain Loop before climbing Forest Road 490 toward the Hells Canyon overlook and eventually the lookout itself. The route covers approximately 23.4 miles with 2,436 feet of elevation gain, making for an enjoyable challenge while carrying all of my camping, camera, drone, and amateur radio gear.

Once at McGraw, I spend time exploring the lookout, capturing aerial footage, and soaking in one of the most scenic corners of northeast Oregon. As evening settles over the mountains, I set up camp beside the tower and prepare for a quiet night...

Instead, the darkness comes alive.

For nearly two hours, the surrounding forest echoes with the calls of what were almost certainly coyotes, though for a while my imagination wondered if wolves had joined the conversation. Alone on the mountain with nothing but a tent, bear spray, and a headlamp, it became one of those unforgettable moments that reminds you just how wild these places still are.

Overnight rain gives way to one of the most peaceful mornings I've experienced. As the clouds lift, the forest awakens with birdsong, fresh mountain air, and the unmistakable scent of rain-soaked pines. It's one of those moments that simply can't be captured completely on camera—but I hope this video comes close.

The following morning I descend Forest Road 490, connect with Road 3965, and follow the beautiful Imnaha River back toward camp, wrapping up another unforgettable lookout adventure.

If you enjoy fire lookout history, e-bikepacking, mountain camping, drones, amateur radio, and exploring Oregon's incredible backcountry, I hope you'll come along for the ride.

Trip Statistics
• Distance: 23.4 miles (37.7 km)
• Elevation Gain: 2,436 ft (743 m)
• Location: McGraw Fire Lookout, Wallowa Mountains, Oregon
• Starting Point: Ollokot Campground
• Bike: Canyon StriveOn E-bike and customized Bob Trailer
• Filmed with drone and action cameras

Have you ever spent the night alone at a fire lookout? Let me know your favorite lookout or backcountry camping experience in the comments!

This adventure takes me deep into Oregon's spectacular Wallowa Moun...

07/19/2026

There are few places on Earth quite like Crater Lake National Park. Formed nearly 7,700 years ago after the catastrophic eruption and collapse of Mount Mazama, it is home to the deepest lake in the United States and one of the most remarkable volcanic landscapes in North America.

In this episode, I hike to the summit of Mt. Scott, the highest point in Crater Lake National Park at 8,929 feet. Although the trail is only about 5 miles round trip, its steep climb becomes an excellent mountain training hike when carrying my 25-pound pack loaded with amateur radio and camera gear. This outing served as a tune-up for two much bigger adventures waiting just ahead: a climb of Mt. Bachelor and an extended e-bikepacking expedition into Oregon's Wallowa Mountains.

Along the way, the trail reveals three very different personalities. The shaded lower forest gives way to a mountainside alive with butterflies before reaching the rocky summit, where sweeping views extend across Crater Lake, Mount Thielsen, Diamond Peak, Union Peak, and much of southern Oregon.

Standing on the summit is the historic Mt. Scott Fire Lookout. For decades, lookout observers scanned these forests for the first signs of wildfire, protecting one of America's most treasured national parks. Although the lookout no longer serves that original purpose, the site continues an important mission today. It now supports U.S. Geological Survey seismic monitoring equipment, quietly listening for the subtle movements beneath this sleeping volcano. It's a fitting evolution from watching for smoke above the landscape to monitoring the volcanic forces below it.

Join me as I explore the history of the Mt. Scott Lookout, activate the summit on amateur radio through the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program, and enjoy one of Oregon's most spectacular viewpoints.

If you enjoy fire lookout history, mountain hiking, SOTA activations, backcountry adventures, and discovering the stories behind remarkable places, I'd love to have you subscribe. More adventures are already on the way—including a climb of Mt. Bachelor and a multi-day e-bikepacking journey into the Wallowa Mountains.

Thanks for watching, and I'll see you on the next summit.

There are few places on Earth quite like Crater Lake National Park....

07/06/2026

Wagner Butte - Off-Trail Route, SOTA & Lost Fire Lookout...

Most hikers who climb Wagner Butte never actually reach the true su...

07/06/2026

Had a great trip up to the Wagner Butte region near Ashland, Oregon. Decided to try out a cross country route up to the true butte as part of a radio project. (SOTA). Pretty fun adventure and gave me a great excuse to fly the drone and research the history of the old Fire Lookout on the side peak.

Got an early start and glad I did as it was low 90's on the way down. Ended up with about 11 miles of trail and around 3'100 ft of elevation climb. Total time on the mountain was 6H 48M, but movement time was only 4H 15M.

Next week I'll be heading out to do hikes on Mt. Scott (Crater Lake), and Mt. Bachelor. Then I am headed to NE Oregon to do a eBikepack trip somewhere in the Wallowa region to sleep under an old fire lookout tower, then over to Idaho for some mountain biking. Should be at least one or two good videos coming from all of that!

Check out the video for the full story on the YouTube channel!
https://youtu.be/NpGe42_wmxw

06/08/2026

Taylor Creek Trail | Southern Oregon's Hidden Black Diamond Epic

Southern Oregon is packed with incredible mountain biking, but few rides combine flow, challenge, scenery, and solitude quite like the Taylor Creek Trail near Galice, Oregon.

Today's adventure covers roughly 22 miles and 3,500 feet of elevation gain through some of the most beautiful backcountry terrain in the Rogue River region. This black diamond trail system offers a little bit of everything: dense forest canopy, remote creekside riding, technical trail features, dramatic cliff exposure, and stunning mountain views, all without the crowds often found on more popular trail networks.

The ride is generally divided into two distinct sections:

The Jedi Trail
A fast, flowy section winding through an old burn scar. Local riders often refer to this portion simply as "Jedi" thanks to its unique character and playful riding style.

The Taylor Creek Section
The true Taylor Creek Trail delivers a much more technical experience with constant elevation changes, rocky and choppy trail surfaces, multiple creek crossings, bridges, and exposed sections that demand focus and commitment.

Together they create one of Southern Oregon's most rewarding backcountry mountain bike rides.

A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers of the Southern Oregon Trail Alliance for their recent maintenance work on this trail. Organizations like SOTA are the reason we have access to incredible riding opportunities like this. If you enjoy trails throughout Southern Oregon, consider supporting their efforts.

If you enjoy mountain biking, trail adventures, fire lookout explorations, amateur radio, and discovering hidden corners of the Pacific Northwest, consider subscribing and following along for future adventures.

Southern Oregon is packed with incredible mountain biking, but few ...

05/10/2026

Sticking with the Umpqua-Tiller region!
Pickett Butte Fire Lookout in Southern Oregon is a unique site above the South Umpqua River Valley. In this video, I hike in and activate the summit using Morse code as part of the Summits on the Air (SOTA) ham radio challenge.

Pickett Butte is one of those places that doesn’t try to impress you, but ends up doing it anyway! Especially when you get surprise access for an inside self-guided tour!

Set above the South Umpqua River Valley in Southern Oregon, Pickett Butte has a quiet kind of presence. It’s not the tallest peak around, but it holds a long view into the surrounding forests, exactly why it was chosen as a fire lookout site in the early 20th century.

The butte takes its name from early homesteader William Pickett, part of the wave of settlers who worked this rugged landscape long before roads made access easy. Like much of Southern Oregon, this area carries that layered history of homesteads, timber, and the constant relationship with fire.

As wildfire detection became more organized in the early 1900s, Pickett Butte became part of the growing network of lookouts across lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The current tower, which is still standing today, is a reminder of that era, when observers would spend long stretches scanning the horizon, triangulating smoke sightings with nearby lookouts, and relaying information by radio or phone lines.

Unlike many abandoned or lost sites, this one still holds onto its structure 40 foot high tower and structure, and with it, a direct connection to how wildfire response once worked to protect the valuable natural resources of our region.

This trip was about stepping into that space and using it in a different way.

I hiked in carrying radio gear and set up on the summit to activate Pickett Butte as part of Summits on the Air (SOTA), or as I like to call it, Lookout on the Air! There’s something that feels special about making contacts from a place that was once built entirely around communication, just with a different kind of signal.

Yes, there’s cell service up here. But that’s not really the point.

The point is choosing to slow things down, set up intentionally, and reach out the old way, finishing the activation with Morse code sent from a historic lookout that’s been doing its own version of “watch and report” for decades.

This is Southern Oregon in a nutshell!
Layered history, working landscapes, and just enough access to get you there… if you’re willing to go.

Pickett Butte Fire Lookout in Southern Oregon is a unique SOTA activation site above the South Umpqua River Valley. In this video, I hike in and activate the...

05/02/2026

I am filled with grief and sadness to make this announcement. Unfortunately, Timber has finally ended his battle with his extensive arthritis. After almost 15 years of living his very best life doing all the things with all the people, we finally reached the point that we both agreed was far enough.

His final day was very peaceful. He had an entire package of bacon and we snuggled together in our van as he closed his eyes for the last time.

I cannot say enough how thankful we both were and are for the love, help, and support that were given to him over his action-filled life. He had both knees and both elbows surgically repaired, he had over 15 foxtails removed from his ears, nose, and eyes, he was a frequent blood donor and gave so much blood he was in the "Gallon Club" more than once. Timber was an official Ruffwear ambassador and product tester. He was on mountain peaks above 10k more than once. He had his own backpacking gear. In the end he had over 14 orthopedic beds spread around the house and property. But more than all of that...he had friends. Lots and lots of friends. The human kind and the dog kind (he said cats were "okayish").

My heart is broken, and I’m still learning how to do life without him. But alongside that grief is a deep sense of gratitude for the life we shared and the adventures we had.

I put together a video to share this update in a way that felt true to him. Timber was the heart of everything we created, the main character in our story, and I hope this serves as a fitting send-off.

Thank you all for loving him.

Thank you especially to Dr. Kalams, Dr. Hoyt, Dr. Campbell, Michelle, and all of the amazing people that work at the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center for making his final days as comfortable as possible and supporting me through the final goodbye. My heart overflows with gratitude for the love and care you gave us both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brZkCdWKfUU

04/23/2026

No trail. No cell service. Just a line on the map.

This trip took me up the southwest aspect of Illahee Rock Lookout, fully loaded with radio gear and a new drone setup. The route in was faint to nonexistent in places, so this one came down to pure backcountry navigation and trail finding. Add in cool, cloudy weather with rain threatening all day, and it turned into a slow, focused push to the summit.

At the top, I stepped into history.

Illahee Rock hosts two generations of fire lookouts:

A D6 cupola built in 1922 (now over 100 years old)
A 20-foot L4 lookout tower from the peak of Forest Service fire detection efforts

One of these structures is officially listed on the National Register, and standing there, you can feel the weight of what these places once meant.

Along the way, I crossed fresh spring bear tracks—a solid reminder that this is still wild country.

From the summit, I completed my first official Morse code (CW) activation, making contacts from a place completely off-grid. I also tested out a new drone setup in less-than-ideal conditions—this trip was as much about dialing in systems as it was about the adventure.

Everything came together on this one.

➡️ Next stop: Glide Sasquatch Festival (June)

If you’re into:
Backcountry travel • Fire lookouts • Off-grid communication • Route finding • SOTA / ham radio
You’ll feel at home here.

Hiking to Illahee Rock Lookout | First Morse Code Activation + Drone Test