September is upon us, and we can state flat out that it’s the finest month of the twelve for outdoor activity in the Pacific Northwest.  The heat of August moderates, but the sky stays blue and the scenery improves as the leaves turn to a riot of colors.  If you’re an angler, you know that as the month ages, salmon begin to gather off our bays and rivers, indulging a pre-spawning appetite.

If you’re a boater, you find the waters less crowded.  If you’re a golfer, you can enjoy early afternoon tee times without roasting.  Bikers can enjoy Oregon’s incredible alpine scenic routes without heat exhaustion. Those inclined to hike, backpack and camp will find trails and campsites sparsely populated following Labor Day.  And as a spectator, you can exult in the start of football season…which, in this corner of the country, promises a level of play at our major state schools the equal of the best in less favored climes.  

Some of our top choices for September destinations:

Boating—the coastal waters of British Columbia are paradise for yachtsmen and kayakers.  The islands and waterways between the mainland and Vancouver Island are both an ideal playground and a source of self-gathered seafood.  Both sail and motor craft can be chartered at Comox on the island, or rented in Anacortes, WA and steered northward. (See "In the wake of Captain Cook" for a full rundown on this activity)  For more remote kayaking, on the island’s west coast, check out www.rainforestkayak.com and short day kayak tours in sheltered waters may be arranged via www.bowenislandkayaking.com

Fishing—we urge you to peruse the Oregon Guides & Packers web site www.ogpa.org for a comprehensive list of guides who can arrange memorable coastal angling expeditions.  

Scenic Drive—the McKenzie Pass highway 242  (accessed via 126 east from Eugene or highway 22 east from Salem) snakes up hardwood tree-covered slopes that by late September are a panoply of color that would make a New Englander jealous.  At the top of the Pass, vast fields of lava predominate, overseen by the peaks that produced the flows.

Hiking—the Three Sisters Wilderness area west of Bend is a virtual fairyland of open pine forests dotted with azure alpine lakes and backdropped by rugged peaks.  There are both day and overnight routes to follow.

Football—both the University of Oregon and Oregon State are in contention for national honors this season, with September home dates.  The UO Ducks’ popularity may prevent you scoring tickets for their Sept. 7 hosting of Fresno State, but ducats should be available for Idaho on Sept. 14 and Portland State on Sept. 21.  The OSU Beavers will host ULas Vegas on Sept. 14 and Fresno State on the 21st.  Portland State is promising a national title contender in Division IAA and has a single September home match on the 14th against North Carolina AT&T.

Northwesterners know the best time of the year is here.  Our pioneer ancestors marveled at this land’s natural bounty as revealed by the region’s original inhabitants, and long ago
“Indian Summer” defined the days of September and early October.

(OMED: There are a number of explanations of the origin of the term.  The one we like has to do with a relative time of rest between natural  harvest periods.  Hunter-gatherers need something to hunt and something to gather.  September lies between the lush plant growth of June, July and August, and the busy October time when the Chinook enter the bays and rivers of the Northwest, and the elk descend from  their misty high mountain realms.)

© 2002 Oregon Magazine