Damian Fagan, Author at The Source - Bend, Oregon

The Godfather of Ultralight Backpacking Comes to Bend

Glen Van Peski’s new book, “Take Less. Do More.” encompasses life lessons learned from ultralight travel spiced with generosity, gratitude, and curiosity

by Damian Fagan April 24, 2024October 8, 2024

Author Glen Van Peski’s byline reads “Entrepreneur/Engineer, Author/Speaker, Philanthropist/Dishwasher,” which provides a unique introduction to this man of many accomplishments, especially the “dishwasher” moniker. Van Peski will do a book signing and presentation at Roundabout Books and Cafe in Bend on May 2 for his new book, “Take Less. Do More: Surprising life lessons in […]

Culture

Bend’s Upcoming BioBlitz

Think Wild hosts inaugural City Nature Challenge

by Damian Fagan April 17, 2024July 15, 2024

Get ready for Central Oregon’s first ever City Nature Challenge from April 26-29, hosted by Think Wild and other community partners. For three days, the Central Oregon community is encouraged to record wildlife and native plant observations through the free smart phone app, iNaturalist. This worldwide “bioblitz” will provide a baseline of data highlighting the […]

Outside

Birds Headline Upcoming Festivals and Field Trips

Explore the wonderful world of birds this spring in Central Oregon

by Damian Fagan March 20, 2024September 18, 2024

If you have not caught on to the amazing world of birds and birdwatching, perhaps this is your lucky year. Not only can these incredible creatures fly, but their ability to migrate thousands of miles through adverse and ever-changing conditions, is a feat worthy of a hero’s welcome. So, here are a few selected birding […]

Outside

The Running of the Dogs

With plenty of snow about, sled dog and skijor races are on in Central Oregon and beyond

by Damian Fagan February 28, 2024November 28, 2024

Humans have been harnessing dog power to pull sleds for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. One of the oldest sleigh runner artifacts in existence, discovered in Finland, dates back to around 9,000 years ago — although whether dogs or humans pulled or pushed the sleigh is still a bone of debate. These ancient sled […]

Outside

Winter Walks along the Deschutes River

From mild to wild, explore these river reaches in the heart of the cold season

by Damian Fagan February 14, 2024March 14, 2025

As winter continues, snow and ice create challenges for getting out to trails in the region. Dog walkers miss cleared sidewalks and some hikers lament breaking trail through deep snow. Not only can the trails get blanketed with snow, but some of the trailheads have limited parking making access difficult. Fortunately, there are options. Numerous […]

Outside

ONDA High Desert Speaker Series

Great presentations set for the spring cover indigenous knowledge, rocks and minerals, and exploring the Owyhee

by Damian Fagan February 7, 2024June 30, 2024

Oregon Natural Desert Association’s High Desert Speaker Series this spring covers a variety of topics related to the High Desert. Take a visual tour through the remote Owyhee Canyonlands Region of eastern Oregon. Learn how Indigenous knowledge works with western science to rehabilitate landscapes, and how the High Desert’s geology is expressed through minerals and […]

Outside

Think Wild Hosts Training with Renowned Raptor Orthopedic Surgeon

Local wildlife hospital hopes to expand its treatment and post-op care for wildlife

by Damian Fagan January 17, 2024April 28, 2025

Renowned raptor orthopedic surgeon, Dr. David Scott, former staff veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center and author of “Raptor Medicine, Surgery, and Rehabilitation” and other books used in veterinary medicine, recently led a Think Wild staff training in Bend. “Dr. Scott was teaching the team, including myself, how to manage avian orthopedic cases that require […]

Outside

Explore Winter on Cross-Country Skis

With plenty of snow in the forecast, get ready to stride on some XC trails

by Damian Fagan January 10, 2024February 22, 2025

If you’re new to Nordic or cross-country skiing (XC skiing), there is a plethora of trails to stride out on to explore the winter wonderland of Central Oregon. Though the XC skiing has been thin this season, weather predictions for snow are on the rise! If you’re looking to get off the groomed tracks at […]

Outside

USDA Releases Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Team at OSU works on the project that helps gardeners and growers choose plants

by Damian Fagan December 20, 2023July 18, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released an updated version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November, with data provided by Oregon State University’s PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) Climate Group and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. This map answers the age-old questions for gardeners, landscapers, plant nurseries, and others: What plant zone […]

Outside

Becoming a Beaver Believer

A tour aimed at bringing back the beaver, one stream at a time

by Damian Fagan November 29, 2023January 27, 2025

On a recent field trip to Shevlin Park with Think Wild and Beaver Works Oregon staff, the group learned about the important role of one of nature’s finest dam builders: the American beaver (Castor canadensis). But all has not been rosy for this keystone species. Historical estimates put beaver populations in North America between 60 […]

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