Rising To The Occasion

In its first year in the Big Ten Conference, the University of Oregon's men's basketball team has earned a return trip to March Madness after weathering a competitive schedule in one of the nation's premiere leagues, finishing 24-9 and beating powerhouses like Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State.

Yet it was a mere two years ago that the Ducks landed a less desirable berth in the National Invitational Tournament, leading to criticism by The Oregonian suggesting it was time for the team's longtime coach and sure-bet Hall of Fame Coach Dana Altman to ride off into the sunset.

Not so fast, my friend. I took umbrage at such a short-sighted -- nay blinkered -- suggestion. I was compelled to write UO Athletic Director Rob Mullens and show my support for Coach Altman, who has an overall head coaching record of 710-367, with 15 consecutive 20-win seasons at Oregon.

"Hi, Rob. As a 38-year season ticket holder to Duck basketball, I was disheartened to read in The Oregonian that Dana Altman, whom I consider a great coach, was so frustrated after the NIT game against Wisconsin that he consequently took too much responsibility for the lack of fans in the stands."

"While I appreciate the fact that Dana is a stand-up guy, the real reasons behind the lack of fans at the game go way beyond the performance of the team or the coaches. The real for the lack of attendance, aside from the fact that it was spring break, is lack of parking, ticket prices and late games."

"Dana is not the problem. He is a Hall of Fame coach-in-waiting whom I hope will remain at Oregon for many years to come. UO should develop new approaches to address the real reasons for lack of attendance: provide more parking options and get more creative with ticket prices and scheduling of game times."

Incredibly, I heard back from Rob Mullens almost immediately: "Thanks for your thoughtful note. And many thanks for your generosity as a long-time season ticket holder to Oregon men’s basketball. We are in total agreement that Dana Altman is a Hall of Fame coach and is the best person to lead the Ducks."

"You provided a lot to unpack in your other three key areas.  Given your 38 years of experience, I would like to touch base with you via phone to learn more and share information which may be helpful. Please let me know your availability and best number to reach you. Thanks again for your loyalty. Rob."

Now that's what I call customer service. After a 15-minute conversation with Rob Mullens, I was reassured that Altman was in good stead with the athletic department. The very next season, the UO men made the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. This season, the Ducks made the Big Dance again.

Along with Oregon natives Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad, Altman reloaded with key transfers from other former Pac-10 schools, such as T.J. Bamba from WSU and Branden Angel from Stanford. On Friday, March 21, the Webfoots will face off against the Liberty Flames in Seattle. Go Ducks!

Thrill Ride

With the college football season now in the rear view mirror, it's safe to say that the University of Oregon Ducks took fans for quite the amusement park thrill ride, leading Head Coach Dan Lanning to ask his team and Duck fans everywhere: "Are you not entertained?" In the end, the team fell short of its ultimate goal in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, but fans can take comfort in the fact it was a helluva ride.

Consider that in their first year in the expanded Big 10 Conference, the Ducks not only won the conference championship, completing an undefeated season, but also became the first Big 10 team to ever beat the heavyweights in the league -- Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State -- all in the same season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (top) became the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Gabriel was also the second consecutive Heisman finalist, following Bo Nix. The team featured numerous all-league and all-American players who will be drafted by the National Football League. Though the Ducks lost to Ohio State (.816) in the playoff quarterfinals, a team they had beaten earlier in the season, UO nonetheless finished third in final poll, and featured the highest winning percentage (.823) in the nation.

Last Canyon Next To The Mountains

(Editor's Note: This article is reprised from a previous GonzoPR post and celebrates my new coffee table picture book titled "Aye, Chiwawa: Wilderness Photography" published in January, 2025.)

The Chiwawa River (above and below) flows into the Wenatchee River below our property in Shugart Flats near Plain in the North Cascades of Washington. So it was only fitting that friend and frequent climbing companion Steve Still and I explore the headwaters of the Chiwawa in the Glacier Peak Wilderness during the week of August 11-18.

The river, which takes its name from the Native American (probably Wenatchi, but possibly Salish) expression for "last canyon next to the mountains," has a low valley -- 2,000-3,000 feet -- and is surrounded by 6,000- to 9,000-foot peaks in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Because it resides in a low valley scoured by Ice Age glaciers, the Chiwawa River is a delightfully meandering stream that provides a white sandy beach at the base of our property where our kids would frolic in the hot summer sun where the Chiwawa joins the Wenatchee River on its way to the Columbia River in Wenatchee.

Back before we had kids, Rebecca was the Rock Creek Prevention Guard, patrolling campgrounds in the Chiwawa Valley, while I was the wilderness ranger for the Chiwawa and Napeequa drainages.

As the eyes and ears of the U.S. Forest Service up the Chiwawa River, we were based at the Rock Creek Guard Station about halfway up the valley on the way to the road's terminus at the old Trinity mine.

Glacier Peak (below), known to the natives as Dakobed, or White Goddess, is the most remote and inaccessible volcano in the Cascade Range. The broad massif looms large over other significant peaks in a vast wilderness that covers over a half-million acres.

With deep valleys carved by glaciers, forbidding cliffs and ominous ramparts of ice, the Glacier Peak Wilderness is only a place for those who are willing to brave its precipitous trails and high routes.

After quietly pouring out lava for most of its long existence, Glacier Peak burst into violent activity about 12,000 years ago, expelling immense quantities of ash and smoke.

Prevailing winds carried the ash hundreds of miles to the east as far away as Montana and Alberta, Canada. In the post-glacial period in the U.S., only Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake) covered a larger territory.

And so it was on Thursday, August 11, Steve and I departed for Owl Farm to prepare for our wilderness sojourn.