This isn't Oregon - but what you are describing reminds me of the Northern central and Northeastern parts of Washington state. Some of that area is cut off during the long winters because the roads are too dangerous to travel on. There are places you can only get to by kayak or canoe... and when you mentioned "Alps"... the Cascades area up in that area look much different than the mountains here in Oregon... they look more like the Rockies I've seen in Colorado to me...
But in Oregon you won't pay sales tax!
