Zach UrnessAward-winning journalist Zach Urness is the Outdoors Content Producer for the Statesman Journal, where his columns, essays, and features focus on outdoor recreation, the environment, state parks, federal forests, and legislation impacting outdors directly or indirectly. He also freelances for the Associated Press and, prior to his position at the Journal, he was the outdoors editor and sports writer for the Grant Pass Daily Courier, and has written and reported for the Eugene Register-Guard and The Oregonian. A native of Minnesota, Zach's college studies included Environmental Studies and his first reporting job out of college was in Polson, Montana, where he began to hone his outdoor journalism skills.

He is the co-author and author of two other guidebooks. A hiker, biker, whitewater kayaker, fly-fisherman and climber, Zach spends almost every outside-the-office moment rambling the Beaver State's forests, mountains and rivers. He lives with his wife and young child. Read More Read Less