OUTFOUND Series Set for Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge this Weekend

By Geoff Nudelman Published June 5, 2017

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most scenic places in the Pacific Northwest.

The River winds it’s way between cresting valleys dividing Oregon from Washington with plenty of great outdoor activities along the way.

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For three days this weekend, it’s also going to be the center of the trade side of the outdoor industry as OUTFOUND Series launches its inaugural festival in Hood River.

outfound map — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Started by two veterans of the business who were tired of sitting in conference rooms and seminars instead of testing gear, the event features a packed schedule of speakers, gear testing and even a startup competition with a common thread of promoting all that’s great about the outdoors.

“There’s a push in the outdoor industry for more authentic experiences and opportunities where people can really connect with people, meet top athletes and the innovators behind top brands, and hear the stories behind adventures and products,” said Co-Founder Antonio Aransaenz through a press release.

Speakers include industry leaders like Bill Worthington (Co-Founder) of Olukai) and Stephan Jacob (Co-Founder of Cotopaxi). Also on the bill are professional kitesurfers, climbers and other active sports veterans.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unlike other industry events, OUTFOUND is open to the public and encourages accessibility for everyone who is interested in the outdoors. The event’s prime location in Hood River means attendees will be able to test paddle gear and summer sports equipment in world-class venues just minutes away from their tents.

“There aren’t many places where you can go kayaking in the morning, pack up and go summer snow skiing 30 minutes away and then top it off with a sunset mountain bike session, all in one day”, said Co-Founder Drew Neumann.

Tickets are still available for the festival, which starts Friday June 9. You can grab yours and join in on the adventure here.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff is a former contributor to The Manual. He's a native Oregonian who’s always up for a good challenge and a great hike…

Outdoors

Tune Outdoor’s new M1 Lite is a rugged, affordable, featherweight truck camper

Minimalist pickup owners will love the straightforward "everything you need, nothing you don't" design.

Sometimes less really is more. Personally, I think that's doubly true when it comes to camping. Whether you're backpacking, car camping, or RV'ing, there's beauty in a dead-simple camp setup. That's the thinking behind Tune Outdoor's new M1 Lite — a more affordable, more streamlined, and (wait for it ...) lighter version of the company's flagship M1 truck camper/topper.
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The compact interior features a smaller longitudinal double bed that measures 72 by 60 inches, compared to the M1's more generous east-west configuration. The over-cab space is also shorter, measuring just 45 inches. But the 57-inch-long alcove standard in the flagship M1 is available in the M1L as a $1,000 add-on. Overall, the space feels roomier than it should, though, thanks to a full-length pop-top roof with a generous 6.5 feet of headroom. That means most average-height adults can change and move around while standing. Panoramic, wraparound fabric "window" walls also help keep the space light and breezy.
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The Pebble Flow travel trailer is packed with tech and ready to change vanlife forever

The future of RV'ing is bright, tech-forward, and all-electric for serious on- and off-grid camping.

Pebble Flow all-electric travel trailer parked at a campground on a starry night.

It seems clear that the future of the world's vehicles is electric. As it turns out, running all our cars and pickups on dead dinosaur juice is only going to take us so far—literally. And the battery-powered revolution has begun in the RV industry, too, thanks in large part to the official drop of the all-electric Pebble Flow travel trailer.
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It's a 100% electric RV designed to move seamlessly between on- and off-grid camping, making it the perfect go-anywhere live/work/play space for modern nomads. Pebble promises up to seven days of off-grid camping, including full use of all onboard appliances. This is no small feat. RV owners who've tried to venture too far from the frontcountry know the struggle of keeping cool in the summer with a beastly, power-hungry air conditioner. But, it appears Pebble has finally solved this problem.
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Outdoors

Wildfire forces closure of Grand Canyon’s North Rim for the season—and maybe longer

Grand Canyon National Park faces massive closures due to natural disaster

A sweeping view of Grand Canyon on a winter morning

The Grand Canyon is one of the many areas currently affected by the Dragon Bravo Wildfire, which began last month. According to AZ Central, officials speculate that the fire began due to a lightning strike, which then spread rapidly due to sustained winds of 20 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 40 miles per hour. As of July 27th, 2025, the fire was still active, and the National Park Service reports that somewhere between 50 and 80 structures have been lost, including many administrative buildings and visitor facilities. Fortunately, they also report that no one has been injured, and no loss of life has been reported. Unfortunately, this devastating fire has closed the North Rim for the remainder of the season, and possibly longer.

Current closures at the North Rim