Links & Resources

Here we have some links to gear shops, weather conditions, maps, and other resources for your adventures in the outdoors!

Getting Ready

CONDITIONS National Weather Service, Portland Oregon Road Conditions Wash. Road Conditions Mt. Hood Conditions Avalanche Forecasts Lake & River Levels in Oregon	GEAR PSU Rental Page Icebreaker Merino Wool REI Next Adventure Campmor River City Bikes Community Cycling Center
KNOW-HOW Wilderness Medicine Institute Wilderness Medicine Associates National Outdoor Leadership School Outward Bound Useful Knots Page	GETTING THERE Google Maps Terraserver—Great topo maps site Craigslist Rideshare  Please use caution when riding with strangers.

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Getting Out 

CAMP & HIKE Oregon State Parks Washington State Parks National Forests in Oregon	SKI & SNOWSHOE Mt. Hood Meadows Mt. Hood Ski Bowl Mt. Hood Timberline Lodge Mt. Hood National Forest Winter Recreation
ROCK CLIMB The Circuit Climbing Gym Portland Rock Gym Stoneworks Climbing Gym Movement Climbing Gym Smith Rock Mazamas	BIKE City of Portland Bicycle Transportation Site Oregon State Parks bike routes BikePortland.org ORBike.com

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Risk Management

Potential Causes of Accidents in Outdoor Pursuits: A Matrix (PDF)

Designed by Dan Meyer (1979) & revised by Jed Williamson (1989-2011) ©

 

Potentially Unsafe Conditions Due to:

• Falling Objects (Rocks, etc)
• Inadequate Area Security (Physical, Political, Cultural)
• Weather 
• Equipment/Clothing
• Swift/Cold Water
• Animals/Plants
• Physical/Psychological Profile of Participants and/or Staff

 

Potentially Unsafe Acts Due To: 

• Inadequate Protection
• Inadequate Instruction
• Inadequate Supervision
• Unsafe Speed (Fast/Slow)
• Inadequate or Improper Food/Drink/Medications
• Poor Position
• Unauthorized/Improper Procedure (Includes Failling to Follow Directions, Misuse of Technology)

 

Potential Errors in Judgement Due To:

• Desire to Please Others 
• Trying to Adhere to a Schedule
• Misperception
• New or Unexpected Situation (Includes Fear and Panic) 
• Fatigue
• Distraction
• Miscommunication
• Disregarding Instincts

 

Suggestions for use: Before a trip, go over what potential causes could occur given the nature of your specific outing. Discuss how the occurrence of multiple factors is often what causes problems, not just one on its own. Try and raise a culture for self-awareness given that two-thirds of the causes are human related, with only one-third having something to do with the environment. After a near-miss or incident, analyze what causes were present and why. 

Two of the most common contributing human factors: people trying to make a schedule and people wanting to please others.

Further reading: Human Attitudes that Lead to Suffering in the Backcountry, by Lester R. Zook, Eastern Mennonite University and WILD GUYde Adventures

 

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Please note that College Outdoors and Lewis & Clark College cannot be held responsible for the content of outside sites listed on this page.