Ian McCluskey
Ian McCluskey is a seventh-generation Oregonian and avid outdoor enthusiast (despite once having been hit by lightning).
He is passionate about telling stories from the wild and remote corners of the Pacific Northwest. He loves to highlight the work of interesting folks carrying on tradition and culture of our great Northwest, and helping better understand and appreciate the wildlife, history, and natural science of our region.
He’s profiled blacksmiths, teenage glider pilots, trail crews, horse loggers, dog sled mushers and wildlife biologists. Some of his adventures for “Oregon Field Guide” have included skiing around Crater Lake in winter, running the Wild and Scenic Rogue river in handmade wooden dories, and searching for sections of Oregon’s lost Skyline Trail.
His work has earned more than a dozen national awards, including several Emmys, and has toured internationally with film festivals like Banff.
When not exploring stories for “Oregon Field Guide,” you can find Ian restoring historic cabins on Mount Hood or climbing one of the snowy Cascade volcanoes.
Latest Stories
Oregon nonprofit addresses fire risk at the forest’s edge
Many fear that it could be a matter of time before a catastrophic wildfire burns along the Highway 26 corridor on the west slope of Mount Hood.
It’s a long shot, but for this Oregon archer breaking an ‘unbeatable’ record has an irresistible draw
Beaverton's Alan Case, a long-distance archer, is on a quest to shoot an arrow farther than anyone else in history.
‘The Evergreen’: Pig-N-Ford tradition endures in Tillamook County
You may be familiar with Ferris wheels, funnel cakes, quilting competitions and demolition derbies. But the Tillamook County Fair has a unique event you’ve probably never heard of: Pig-N-Ford races. Racers hold piglets while driving around a dirt track on stripped-down Ford Model T cars.
Racing Model T Fords with squealing pigs: A Tillamook County tradition
Traditions grow deep roots in Oregon, but few are as simultaneously silly and serious as the annual Pig-N-Ford races.
Siskiyou Mountain Club to rebuild historic fire lookout in southern Oregon
The last of the iconic lookout towers are becoming fewer each year, but a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and a grassroots nonprofit is bringing one back from the ashes of a wildfire.
Beneath the ash: Uncovering hidden history of Mount St. Helens
Amateur archeologist Scott Kemery leads a team on expeditions to uncover the artifacts left behind by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Their discoveries shed light on the human experience amidst the devastation and honor the memories of those who died.
‘The Evergreen’: Remembering the Mount St. Helens eruption and people who died on the mountain
Everyone who was in the Pacific Northwest on May 18, 1980 has some kind of story about the Mount St. Helens eruption. OPB producer Ian McCluskey recently revisited that fateful day with some people who remember it very well for both personal and professional reasons.
Salt making on the Oregon Coast, then and now
Two groups on the coast are trying to unlock the secret of making pure, clean, edible salt from sea water. One is a modern, innovative company and the other is recreating history.
In Hood River some teens take to the sky before they can even drive
Gliding in the skies is a form of freedom and responsibility taken on by a group of teenagers in the Columbia Gorge who came together through the Hood River Soaring Club.
To keep the Deschutes River clean, ‘Two-ply’ goes on ‘Poo Patrol’
For those who have to answer the call of nature while boating down the Deschutes, Jerry Christensen’s work to clean and maintain the bathroom facilities is much appreciated. He’s even become a bit of a local celebrity for his work, earning the nickname “Two-ply.”