New event opens Redwood trails to visitors with limited mobility

New event opens Redwood trails to visitors with limited mobility

David's Chair provides electric all-terrain track chairs for use by those with mobility challenges, free of charge. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e175d51/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1542x1157+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8d%2Fbb%2F9d3fc8cd414d91fbee7751e1aa4c%2Fdavids-chair-outdoor-mobility.jpeg]David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems provides electric all-terrain track chairs for use by those with mobility challenges, free of charge.(https://davidschair.org/) Visitors with limited mobility will have a chance to explore trails in Redwood National Park next month using specialized all-terrain track chairs during a free accessibility event. The July 11 event comes as the National Park Service continues improving accessibility throughout the park by rebuilding some trails and modifying others. "As more people with limited mobility are getting out and exploring these areas, the National Park Service has been in the process of rebuilding new trails that are accessible, while also rehabilitating some of the older trails that needed to be widened or flattened," said Mark Abetz, director of events and community engagement for the Redwood Parks Conservancy. David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems offers electric all-terrain track chairs for use by those with mobility challenges, free of charge. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8bc7861/2147483647/strip/false/crop/240x320+0+0/resize/240x320!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2Faa%2F54d167454eaca4e6a9f2c19aa672%2Fdavids-chair-on-beach.jpeg]David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems offers electric all-terrain track chairs for use by those with mobility challenges, free of charge. (https://davidschair.org/ ) The event, called "Excursion into the Redwoods," is a partnership among the Redwood Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service and David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems. David's Chair [https://davidschair.org/], a nonprofit organization, provides electric all-terrain track chairs at no cost to people with mobility challenges. The battery-powered chairs use rubber tracks instead of wheels, allowing them to travel over uneven forest trails and other terrain that traditional wheelchairs often cannot navigate. Jeff Kallevig, northwest operations manager for David's Chair, said the chairs have a zero-turn radius and allow users to explore the outdoors independently alongside family and friends. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 at Elk Meadow Day Use Area, about 3 miles north of Orick, California. Participants can reserve one-hour time slots [https://redwoodparksconservancy.org/events/] to use the chairs. Organizers say the event is intended to give more people the opportunity to experience the park's old-growth forests while highlighting ongoing efforts to make public lands more accessible. GUESTS * Mark Abetz, director of events and community engagement, Redwood Parks Conservancy * Jeff Kallevig, northwest operations manager, David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems

Connecting the past to today: preserving the deep roots of Coos County, Oregon

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/be3f65f/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2000x1500+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F4a%2F57c25eb140b9ae49ae9b35ceb00c%2Fcoos-history-museum.jpg](https://cooshistory.org/exhibits/) The Coos History Museum [https://cooshistory.org/] in Coos Bay, Oregon, serves as a portal to the region's past. Founded in 1891, it is the second-oldest historical society in the state. Originally established in 1947 as the Coos-Curry Pioneer and Historical Association Museum, it now occupies a building just off Highway 101 and houses a collection of over 40,000 artifacts and 200,000 images. HONEST STORYTELLING The museum is committed to telling the "whole story" of the southern Oregon coast, including its most difficult chapters, said Heather Christenbury, executive director and curator. Current displays address the Oregon's black exclusion laws, the forced removal of Native tribes and the 1902 lynching of Alonzo Tucker. By partnering with local tribes and the Oregon Remembrance Project [https://oregonremembrance.org/], the museum ensures these "dark" histories are recognized alongside the "light." WHAT TO SEE * Waves of Tradition: A new exhibit for America’s 250th anniversary, focusing on maritime traditions, the dunes and local forests. * Birds in Flight: An upcoming natural history exhibit featuring local wildlife and taxidermy. * Permanent Treasures: Highlights include a Fresnel lens from a lighthouse, historic boats, and timber-industry equipment. An exhibit featured at the Coos History Museum in Coos Bay, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/003ec9c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/768x576+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2F98%2Fd5b733924ef6b952015507bdbb68%2Fcoos-history-museum-exhibit.jpg]An exhibit featured at the Coos History Museum in Coos Bay, Oregon. (https://cooshistory.org/exhibits/ ) GUEST * Heather Christenbury, Coos History Museum executive director and curator Note: this story originally aired on JPR, March 2, 2026.

Oregon State's DNA detectives study 'adorable' carnivores in northern California

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ece1116/2147483647/strip/false/crop/799x532+0+0/resize/792x527!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F08%2F45%2F1d84aead413bbe8ecad782693a6f%2Fhumboldt-marten-osu-photo.jpg](Benjamin Wymer / https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonstateuniversity/albums/72177720330803000/) The Humboldt marten, a rare, ferret-sized carnivore, is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Weighing about two pounds, the subspecies of the Pacific marten was nearly wiped out by the fur trade and old-growth logging. It was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered during a wildlife survey in the mid-1990s. Innovative population tracking Sean Matthews, wildlife ecologist at Oregon State University, is leading efforts [https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/meet-marten-oregon-state-research-provides-updated-look-rare-adorable-carnivore] to determine whether the small, isolated marten populations are stable or declining. His team collects hair samples for genetic analysis, placing PVC baited with chicken and fitted with glue strips in the forest. DNA analysis allows researchers to identify individual martens, which Matthews calls "adorable," and determine their sex, providing a baseline for long-term population monitoring. Matthews said the work moves beyond simply mapping where martens live to estimating how many remain. Martens are closely associated with high-elevation forested ridgetops and lower-elevation coastal ravines. They depend on forests with a complex, layered structure — including large trees, downed logs and dense vegetation — to survive and evade predators such as bobcats. Skilled climbers, they move through the canopy and can descend trees headfirst to escape danger. During a three-month study in 2022, researchers used the hair snares and remote cameras to survey about 150 square miles east of Klamath, California. Genetic analysis identified 46 martens, 28 males and 18 females. Martens were most abundant along high-elevation forested ridgetops with consistent winter snowpack and in lower-elevation ravines and riparian areas within coastal forests. The findings help inform conservation and land-use decisions affecting the coastal marten, a member of the weasel family. Remaining populations in Northern California and Southern Oregon continue to face threats from habitat loss, rodenticides, vehicles and disease. Land managers, including the Yurok Tribe and public and private landowners, are using the findings to identify areas with higher marten densities and apply lighter-touch wildfire fuel treatments. Researchers said this approach reduces fire risk while preserving critical habitat and supporting climate-resilient forests, helping the Humboldt marten expand its narrow coastal range. GUEST * Sean Matthews, wildlife ecologist, Oregon State University Note: This segment originally aired on Jan 30, 2026.

Why Crater Lake's new superintendent says now is a good time to visit

Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Curt Dimmick. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3f855bd/2147483647/strip/false/crop/981x731+0+0/resize/709x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2Ff2%2Ff9456c6343c4bcd00032245750e1%2Fcurt-dimmick-crater-lake-national-park.png]Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Curt Dimmick. (Photo courtesy of Curt Dimmick ) Crater Lake National Park [https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm] has a new superintendent as the park navigates one of its busiest construction seasons in years. Curt Dimmick has returned to Crater Lake after a 30-year career with the National Park Service that included assignments at 12 national park units. He previously served as the park's chief ranger from 2012 to 2015 and called the appointment a career homecoming. "This is kind of a dream of mine to actually be in this position and working back at Crater Lake," Dimmick said. Dimmick takes over as the park continues several major infrastructure projects, including rebuilding the Cleetwood Cove Trail [https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/cleetwood-cove-trail-and-marina-rehabilitation.htm] and boat docks. The trail is the park's only route to the shore of Crater Lake and the only access point for boat tours. While construction has changed some visitor experiences, he said the park remains open and welcomes visitors. "Crater Lake National Park is open, and we're seeing a lot of folks come and visit," Dimmick said. "We encourage everybody to come up to the park." The Cleetwood Cove Trail is scheduled to remain closed through 2029 while crews rebuild the trail and boat docks to improve long-term safety and access. Although boat tours are suspended during construction, visitors can still explore nearly 100 miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks and popular destinations such as the Watchman Trail. In addition to overseeing the park's construction projects, Dimmick is responsible for park operations, including staffing, budgeting and visitor services. He said one of his first priorities is spending time with employees and learning more about their work. "I'm a big believer in getting out and meeting my staff and spending time with them and talking and finding out what's happening in their work areas," he said. Looking ahead, Dimmick said planning is underway for a new south entrance station designed to better handle heavy visitation while protecting park resources for years to come. GUEST * Curt Dimmick, superintendent, Crater Lake National Park

How Ashland Little League built a state tournament team

Ashland Little League All Stars are district champions and will compete in the state tournament. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aae5e48/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1600x1201+0+0/resize/703x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff9%2Fca%2Fabdd7a954d8ea9b0fbd18840b8ad%2Fashland-all-stars-26.jpeg]Ashland Little League All Stars are district champions and will compete in the state tournament. (https://www.ashlandoregonlittleleague.org/ ) The Ashland Little League [https://www.ashlandoregonlittleleague.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1350378] 10-12 All-Stars are headed to the state tournament after winning the district championship and are now raising money to help cover the cost of the trip. The team, made up of players from Ashland, Phoenix and Talent, will compete against Oregon's top eight teams in a double-elimination tournament later this month. League President Keri Pennell said Ashland Little League has grown to 208 players this season, its highest enrollment since 2020. She credits part of that growth to making T-ball free this year, which attracted 77 new players. "Our vision is to keep kids passionate about something," Pennell said. "We do this through baseball and softball." Coach Peter Bolton said the team's success comes after a difficult season last year and reflects how the players have grown together. "What I try to bring to the team is really focusing on supporting your teammate," Bolton said. The league is trying to raise about $20,000 to cover travel and tournament expenses. Players will participate in Ashland's Fourth of July parade and host a car wash at Northwest Pizza on July 11 to help fund the trip. Pennell encouraged the players to enjoy the opportunity. "Give it your all and have fun!" she said. GUESTS * Keri Pennell, Ashland Little League [https://www.ashlandoregonlittleleague.org/], president * Peter Bolton, Ashland Little League [https://www.ashlandoregonlittleleague.org/], coach and fundraising chair