Fri.-Sun Sept. 21-23

Smith Rock Detour

Even if you don't eat rocks for breakfast like the Rock Chewers from The Neverending Story, this festival has a little sumpin' for everyone to stomach, from morning yoga to the newest batch of climbing films at the Reel Rock Film Tour ($10) Saturday night. But for serious climbers, 45 buckaroos ain't bad for two full days of clinics led by pros like Arno Ilgner. Overnight camping, a spaghetti dinner/pancake breakfast, parking and film fest all included in the price. Smith Rock State Park, 9137 NE Crooked Drive, Terrebonne. 8 am-8:30 pm Saturday, 8 am-5 pm Sunday, smithrockdetour07.com. $45. Easy-Difficult.

Saturday Sept. 22

Locked and Loaded

The annual flotilla at the Willamette Falls Lock Fest reminds me of the start to Aerosmith's "Love in an Elevator" video, only with a bored lock operator in place of the hot chick, mumbling, "Going down," to his eager passengers. Since 2003, West Linn has held this fundraiser to keep the 134-year-old "river elevator" afloat, literally. Our city's own Rose City Roamers are helping raise money by hosting both 6k and 10k walks to the 40-foot falls. Walks leave from Hammerle Park, 1505 Lewis St., West Linn. 8 am-1 pm, willamettefalls.org. Donations welcome. Willamette Falls Lock Fest, 7 am-5 pm. Easy-Moderate.

Bikes and Botany

Shaun Deller is one of the most down-to-earth dudes you'll ever meet—he just happens to sport a hide vest and a bag made from raccoon roadkill. So, if you bypassed his Pedalpalooza Wilderness Skillz Ride out of fear he was a complete nutjob, here's another chance to have that preconceived notion changed. He'll even show you how to grind acorns into flour and twist nettles into amazingly strong cords. Alberta Park, Northeast 22nd Avenue and Killingsworth Street. 9 am-2 pm. Call 453-3038 to register. $35 (or bartering materials). Easy.

Sunday Sept. 23

The Cure

According to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Oregon is second only to Washington in having the highest breast-cancer rates in the country. A sad but powerfully motivational fact when it comes to fundraising, as witnessed by the sheer number of activities scheduled this weekend, including the Race for the Cure (a 5k run-walk along the waterfront), Row for the Cure (a 5,000-meter paddle race on the Willamette), Sail for the Cure (noncompetitive wind power on the Columbia) and even Sleep In for the Cure (donation only). For the complete list of events, visit komenoregon.org. Easy-Difficult.