Explore Oregon Podcast: Salem ice climber ascends frozen waterfalls, glaciers
Gill talks about the equipment and technique used for ice climbing, the beautiful places it can take you and his journey in learning the sport through the Salem-based Chemeketans outdoors club and climb school.
In February, Gill climbed frozen Paulina Creek Falls in Central Oregon but has also climbed in Alaska, Montana and Colorado.
Listen to each episode at statesmanjournal.com/outdoors/explore Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes.
Find every episode: Find all 168 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem ice climber ascends Oregon frozen waterfalls, glaciers
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Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
New southern Haiti seaport, renovated airport spark Haitian trade mission to Miami
A new international port and an extended airport runway in Haiti's southern region are spawning hope of new trade and investment opportunities between South Florida and the Caribbean nation. That's the goal of a group of business leaders and investors from Haiti making the rounds in South Florida on Wednesday and Thursday to meet with key executives from the Port of Miami, Miami International Airport, the Beacon Council and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. The visit comes as South Florida-based IBC Airways attempts to enter the Haitian market with charter and cargo service into the coastal city of Les Cayes. Jeff Lozama, a South Florida resident originally from Haiti's southwest area, says he's hoping the visit will yield greater connections and business opportunities for the region, which in January inaugurated the new International Port of Saint Louis du Sud and then three months later opened an extended runway at Antoine Simon Airport in the coastal city of Les Cayes. Both projects were carried out by the country's transitional government which, unable to make a dent in the crippling gang crisis, decided to focus on trying to boost the local economy of the southern region by bringing the two major infrastructure projects to fruition after years of being shelved by previous governments. In the case of the airport, which is named after a Haitian president who led a rebellion in the early 1900s, its 4,200-foot runway was finally extended to 6,000 feet after years of failed promises to accommodate some international flights. Last month, IBC Airways conducted a test flight, fueling hope that the region will be open to tourists once more. But despite reportedly having permits to conduct cargo and charter passenger flights for the southern airport, IBC has run into problems, leading the head of Haiti's National Airport Authority to take to the radio on Wednesday to refute accusations that the company was being blocked from entering the Haitian market. 'We are always ready to talk, to negotiate with anyone who comes with a permit,' Yves Ducarmel François, the director general of the airport authority, said on Port-au-Prince's Magik 9. 'We don't give permits, and whoever has permits we will accommodate them. Our job is to give people space so they can work.' François said a French firm is currently conducting a study on behalf of the airport authority to evaluate how the Antoine Simon Airport can become a true international airport capable of receiving Airbus jets carrying as many as 300 passengers. Also, the airport authority is preparing to sign an agreement with the private sector to have the airport operated as a public-private partnership. The airport currently receives about 180 passengers a day, all of whom come in on domestic flights operated by local carrier Sunrise Airways. A major challenge at the Les Cayes airport, François said, is its lack of space to accommodate international travelers. Regulations don't allow for domestic and international passengers to fly out of the same space, François said. 'The infrastructure has to respond to the norms,' he said. François said airport authority staffers were sent to Les Cayes to see how they could accommodate IBC Airways, and he's currently 'awaiting IBC so we can put the infrastructure in place' to assure passengers' safety. In the meantime, Lozama is hoping lessons can be learned from Miami-Dade County. 'We are trying to have very good business transactions … and connect our business environment with that of Miami-Dade County,' said Lozama, a member of the International Trade Consortium, which organized the visit. Lozama says he's not just hoping for trade and investments but he is also looking for an exchange of ideas as Haitians meet their Miami counterparts in maritime, logistics and airport infrastructure. Among those from Haiti expected to be part of the trade mission: Jocelin Vilier, the head of the National Port Authority; Jean Nathan Letang, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Industry of Southern Haiti, and Cosy Joseph, an IT professional who worked in the U.S. and now heads Ideal Group S.A., which invests in agriculture and poultry farming. Joseph also sits on the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Women entrepreneurs and Professionals of Southern Haiti. Also joining the group will be experts in maritime and ports logistics, international consultancy and the head of the Collective of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Grand South. In addition to making connections, the visit will also offer opportunities to learn from Miami-Dade's experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects and exchange ideas on development strategies in Les Cayes. Gerard Philippeaux, the executive director of the Miami-Dade International Trade Consortium, said he's confident of the mission's success. 'The Miami-Dade business community has international experience and will embrace the opportunities presented to them,' said Philippeaux. 'I applaud the members of this Haitian delegation for their fortitude in showcasing all the business and investment possibilities in existence in the southern region of Haiti.' While the Les Cayes airport is a government initiative, the port is a private venture. The vision of Pierre Leger, an agronomist and leading investor before his death in February at age 77, and Ann Hauge, an American who has been involved in Haiti for decades, the International Port of Saint Louis du Sud was finally inaugurated in January when the transitional government signed the necessary agreements to make it operational. The $6.5 million port can accommodate vessels up to 490 feet in length. Since its inauguration the southern port has received several ships including a vessel delivering cement from Panama and another with rice from Cap-Haïtien in the north. Though questions remain about the government's ability to put in place the proper security measures to prevent a possible gang incursion, the port is viewed as a positive development in a region where people are desperate for access to the outside world. On the day of the inauguration, Hauge called for support for the port in encouraging 'the economy of the Greater South to be unblocked without gangs, without insecurity.' The Great South encompasses four regional departments in Haiti: the South/ Southwest, Southeast, Grande'Anse and Nippes. According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, the four areas are home to more than 497,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes by gangs. Unlike Port-au-Prince, which has been almost completely overtaken by armed gangs, the southern regions of Haiti remain relatively calm. Still, the gang crisis in the capital has led to the south's isolation— and a higher cost of living for residents as major roads and tourism remain cut off by the gangs. In 2021, Les Cayes and other nearby cities were struck by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people and caused widespread destruction. Nearly four years later, the region of rolling green mountains and vast farmland still has not fully recovered.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Dormie Network thrives by providing distinctive golf experiences for its members
Since acquiring its first golf club a decade ago, Dormie Network has become one of golf's premier boutique club operators. The Nebraska-based company is built on a commitment to quality over quantity – a vision led by Zach Peed, who carries forward the legacy once shared with his father, publishing magnate Tom Peed. Dormie Network has grown steadily, to seven golf clubs, with the recent opening of GrayBull Club, the first new course built by Dormie, in the Nebraska Sandhills. Whether acquiring a course or building from the ground up, Dormie Network's formula remains the same: provide pristine course conditions; build functional, upscale lodging, typically with 60 beds per property; serve region-specific cuisine; and hire staffers oozing in bonhomie. The company also avoids residential settings, preferring instead to provide members with core golf experiences. Dormie Network is all about golf; Mark Ruhga, the COO, said the company has no interest in properties that have 'traditional country club amenities, such as pools, tennis courts or large banquet facilities.' 'Dormie Network exists to provide our members with perfectly manicured golf courses, comfortable accommodations, outstanding dining, and highly personalized hospitality to create memorable experiences and genuine camaraderie,' Ruhga told Golfweek. Those characteristics are embodied at the eponymous Dormie Club, a 2010 Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw design that is a staple on Golfweek's Best Modern Courses list. The club, acquired by Dormie Network in 2017, always stood out among the great courses of the North Carolina Sandhills and perfectly represents the company's vision of a members' club. 'The area is very rural. There are no houses whatsoever,' said Tony Foreman, a Golfweek course rater who played there earlier this year. 'It's my kind of course. I like an aesthetically beautiful course, which it is, and I just enjoyed the fact that there were no houses around it and it wasn't part of a development. It was very peaceful, very relaxing, and just a pleasure to be out there.' Fellow raters described similar experiences after visits earlier this year to Victoria National, Golfweek's top-ranked private course in Indiana and the former host of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship from 2019 to 2023. 'I personally think Victoria National is the best Dormie Network property I have visited, although all of the properties that I have been to are excellent,' said Golfweek course rater Mac Frye, who has been to every Dormie club except GrayBull. This speaks to what makes Dormie Network unique – not just one great course, but a full portfolio of top golf destinations across the country, all accessible through a single membership. From New Jersey to Nebraska, members can travel and experience pure golf and genuine hospitality. Another Golfweek rater, Chad Peterson, played Victoria National before Dormie Network bought it in 2018 and returned recently as part of a new corporate membership. He noted that much has changed, including the addition of more than a dozen member cottages, making it 'a great place to entertain.' Victoria National, a Tom Fazio design, was cut through an old strip mine, and that design feature fosters the quintessential Dormie Network golf experience. 'It creates these natural barriers between holes, so you don't see other holes or other golfers,' Foreman said. 'It has an intimate feel to it. You feel like you're the only group out there.' Golfweek course rater Doug Kalmey recently visited Victoria National as part of a 16-person group, which included three of Kalmey's business partners and 12 of their clients. They were there to discuss business, play two rounds of golf and build relationships. 'It was perfect because the facilities are great at Victoria National,' Kalmey said. 'The place is great because the lodging and service are over the top. Every cottage has a gathering room, but each guest has a private bedroom and bath. For a client event, when you're bringing people together, the set-up of their lodging is perfect. You're together, but you have your own facilities.' Victoria National might be Dormie Network's most difficult test of golf, as one might expect from a course that ends with a five-hole stretch dubbed 'The Gauntlet.' The layout places a premium on tee shots because there is water on virtually every hole. Before playing Victoria National, Falmey gave each member of his group a sleeve of golf balls and said he would give a dozen balls to anyone who walked off 18 with the original sleeve intact. 'I did not have to pay off that bet,' Falmey said with a laugh. But that didn't diminish the fun. 'We had some low single-digits – 1- or 2-handicaps – and then we had guys who were 18- to 20-handicaps, and everyone enjoyed the course and had fun,' Falmey said. 'I think we all went into it with the mindset that this is a challenging place, but beautiful and ranks high, so let's go and enjoy ourselves.' Dormie Network is focused on providing more of these types of golf experiences. The Network has plans to grow to 10 to 12 golf clubs, whether through acquisitions or new construction. 'The success of GrayBull makes new construction an appealing option,' Ruhga said. 'Discussions about adding a second course at any of our existing clubs have been limited. Our priority remains to preserve the intimate atmosphere that comes from hosting a select number of groups at each property each day.'
Elle
5 hours ago
- Elle
This Year's Trendiest Vacation? A Reading Retreat
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Philosopher St. Augustine is believed to have said, 'The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.' That was all the way back in the 4th century, before he or anyone could know that today's travelers would be accruing air miles to turn pages in the literal sense, too. Taking notes from the creative ways brands and celebrities alike have tapped into the astronomical rise of reading, luxury hotels are launching literary offerings for book-minded boarders. Take Teranka, one of the buzziest resorts on Formentera, Ibiza's more laidback sister island, which is known for its breathtaking beaches and bohemian beginnings. This summer, the hotel is hosting a series of literary salons to bring together their most well-read guests. Called Conversations From the Sea Library, the events feature thoughtful discussions with writers and readers, including internationally acclaimed poet David Whyte. 'Placing a library at the center of the hotel was a natural instinct and a way to tell the stories that arose from Formentera,' says Teranka's interior designer Katrina Phillips, who curated the property's robust book collection and programmed Conversations From the Sea Library. 'It's important that a hotel library is more than just decoration or a token gesture, [but] somewhere you'd like to delve in and explore.' Reading doesn't have to be a solitary activity. 'Books and the library at Teranka exist to encourage conversation and a sense of community,' she adds. Community through reading is also the premise behind Page Break, an organization that hosts New York-based reading retreats in both New York City and upstate boutique hotels, including The Henson and Rhinebrook Estate, which promise to leave guests well-read and well-fed. (The itineraries include book-themed tasting menus prepared by the who's who of the New York City culinary scene.) What makes Page Break unique is that the group reads the same book in its entirety over the course of the weekend. Most of the reading happens in group sessions where members taking turns reading out loud. 'A magical thing happens when we all actively listen to each other,' says founder Mikey Friedman, who has led 12 retreats so far. 'It really enhances the way you experience a book.' Friedman was inspired by the mental health benefits of reading together that he found in a study conducted by the UK-based non-profit The Reader. Delia Cai, freelance writer and founder of Deez Links, recently went on a Page Break retreat in upstate New York. 'If I was very new to New York and wanted to meet some like-minded, book-loving people, this would be such an easy way to make friends and have a really lovely weekend,' says Cai of her experience. And what's great for readers is also great for writers. Page Break chooses to support diverse, queer, and debut authors and invites them to do Q&As. These writers then get the opportunity to connect directly with their audience, which can be an especially powerful boost of confidence for new authors. In a similar vein, Scribner's Lodge in the Catskills hosted Booked In, a two-night literary retreat last December. Led by photographer and writer Gabriella Valladares, the itinerary featured conversations with authors Georgia Clark and Alexis deBoschnek and bookstagrammers Morgan Pager, Taylor Choi, and Nnenna Odeluga, as well as dedicated reading time. The retreat will run again this November and will be a regular occurrence. And it's not just a passing trend—well-curated libraries are becoming table stakes for luxury hotels, and properties are investing time and energy into building them. Hotel Lilien, an 18-room boutique hotel located in the Catskills, recently partnered with the Brooklyn independent shop Books Are Magic to curate their literary offering. The Sandbourne Santa Monica hotel has also launched a poolside library in partnership with Zibby's Bookshop, a Los Angeles favorite. And where there is a great hotel library, book clubs follow close behind. The Il Delfino, a seaside inn in Australia, recently launched its library with handpicked selections by owner Sheree Commerford, who chose works from some of her favorite guests, artists, and literary icons. 'Since starting it, we've noticed that book clubs have taken a real interest in Il Delfino, and we love that,' Commerford says. 'The idea of a group of friends reading, drinking wine, and sharing a great story while here is a dream for us.' Partnering with hotels is also a way for virtual book clubs to gather in-person. Reese's Book Club just announced a partnership with World of Hyatt and Under Canvas hotels to host a limited series of luxury glamping holidays with beloved authors behind the book club's picks. 'Through our partnership with World of Hyatt, we now can bring our community together IRL, driving meaningful conversation and connection in nature around the stories they love,' says Sarah Harden, CEO of Hello Sunshine, Witherspoon's media company. But why the new focus on reading-fueled travel? Kriticos Mwansa, founder of The Book Club, has consulted and collaborated with the likes of The Hoxton, Soho House, and Sir Hotels on book club offerings and sees it as a way for hotels to tap into a new audience. 'I think they want to align themselves with people who are into the arts and literature and become a space of culture,' Mwansa says. 'In the low seasons for tourism, hotels need to figure out how to engage the local demographic and the people that live in the cities, while making it still fun for guests.' It's just good business.
