Outside

On Stewardship

At the intersection of loving the outdoors and "loving it to death" is one big buzzword. We explore what it means

In a Bend area Visitors Survey conducted for summer 2017 by Visit Bend, 69 percent of tourists reported visiting Bend for outdoor recreation, leisure, sightseeing and brewery tourism.

By K.M. Collins Sep 19, 2018

Outside Features Visit Bend Kolleen Miller Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Sandy Visnack Bend Endurance Academy Beau Eastes Old Mill District Dan McGarigle Pine Mountain Sports

Swampy to South Fork

Shoulder season keeps visitor numbers low and local stoke high

Cooler temperatures bring about a favored shoulder season for local mountain bikers, as the bug-infested, moondust-laden singletrack of the busy summer makes way for the slow times and the coming storms of fall.

By David Sword Sep 19, 2018

Go Here Swampy Lakes Sno-Park Swede Ridge Shelter

Fort Rock: a Place of Wonder and Music

There's a story about an old cowpoke from Fort Rock who, having breathed his last, found himself at the gates of Heaven.

By Jim Anderson Sep 19, 2018

Natural World Fort Rock Natural Area William Sullivan Reub Long E.R. Jackman Phil Brogan Hunter Noack

Fall Fashion, Sportsy Edition

Our Fall Style feature aimed to show you what's out there, beyond the puffy jacket. But in the High Desert, we know you want your outdoor threads, too

Weather wise, there's lots to look forward to in an autumn in the High Desert.

By K.M. Collins Sep 12, 2018

Outside Features Outdoor Research Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe Arc'Teryx Pine Mountain Sports Mountain Supply Gravity Sports Shop

At last! A long-nosed snake!

My longtime pal and devoted champion of Oregon's amphibians and reptiles recently sent me an email and photo, declaring: "LONG-NOSED SNAKE CONFIRMED IN THE OWYHEE!"

By Jim Anderson Sep 12, 2018

Natural World Alison Davis Rabosky Camp Hancock Oregon Natural Desert Association Carl Kauffeld

Go Here

Late-season hiking on the PCT

Put on your hiking shoes and follow in the footsteps of history

By David Sword Sep 12, 2018

Outside Features Lyndon B. Johnson Appalachian Trail Three Sisters Wilderness Mt. Washington Wilderness Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

Is Football Still King?

Participation rates are falling for tackle football, locally and nationwide

Across the country, traditional contact sports—including tackle football and soccer—are seeing declining participation rates in high school and among kids aged 6 to 12.

By Chris Miller Sep 5, 2018

Outside Features Bend Park and Recreation National Federation of High School Associations New York Times Brian Crum Lindsey Hagler

Mrazek Trail

A longtime local favorite singletrack bike trail

There are certain trails in the hundreds of miles of singletrack in Central Oregon that become popular not because of any one thing in particular.

By David Sword Sep 5, 2018

Go Here Shevlin Park Boh Mrazek Phil Meglasson

Possum Alert!

A hilarious tale of finding possums... well, everywhere

Back during the Great Depression, many people who wanted to work for a salary had a very tough time.

By Jim Anderson Sep 5, 2018

Natural World Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Virginia Opossum

Twin Bridges Loop

The "must-do" ride for roadies

Bike riders come from near and far to ride bicycles in Central Oregon, and although the suspension-needy flock to the ever-growing maze of mountain bike singletrack, those who desire the smooth roll of paved roadways also come to the region to play.

By David Sword Aug 29, 2018

Go Here Oregon State Parks Oregon Scenic Bikeways Twin Bridges loop

Bouyed Up by Volunteers

An innocent-looking buoy with an important mission: tracking water in and under the high Cascades

For those of us who have been looking at the Three Sisters and what's left of the year-round snow on the slopes, it's pretty scary.

By Jim Anderson Aug 29, 2018

Natural World Three Sisters Wilderness Larry Chitwood Nate Dachtler OSU Franke Conte Camp Sherman High Lakes Aquatic Alliance Foundation Fondriest Foundation Sisters Ranger District U.S. Forest Service Suttle Lake Dave Huni

Fall into the Fall Garden

Transitioning your garden from summer to fall

Before you know it, fall will be upon us in Central Oregon once again: the season when the leaves start to change, the soil starts to freeze and the frosty mornings are forgotten by the beat of the midday sun.

By Danielle Meyers Aug 29, 2018

Outside Features Sarahlee Lawrence Rainshadow Organics USDA Amy Jo Detweiler OSU Community Supported Agriculture OSU Deschutes County Extension Office

Misery Ridge

By David Sword Aug 22, 2018

Go Here Smith Rock State Park

Natural World

A Cleanup at Arnold Ice Cave

This month, Arnold Ice Cave—located about 12 miles down China Hat Road from Bend—was the site of a whole bunch of good people helping to remove the old, defunct stairway in the cave.

By Jim Anderson Aug 22, 2018

Natural World Phil Coyner Oregon High Desert Grotto Eddy Cartaya Brooks-Scanlon Mill USFS

A Fisheries Pioneer

Amy Stewart was ODFW's first district-wide female fish biologist

"I was told women belong in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant," recalls former state Fish Biologist Amy Stuart of Prineville.

By Brian Jennings Aug 22, 2018

Outside Features ODFW Central Oregon LandWatch Prineville Reservoir Oregon Hunters Association Oregon Wild

Natural World

Monarch butterflies make really good neighbors

If you're tuned in, you know our western monarch butterfly—the only butterfly in North America that migrates to keep from freezing its butt off—is in a heap of trouble.

By Jim Anderson Aug 15, 2018

Natural World Amanda Egertson Tom Landis Coyote Trails School of Nature Bear Creek Watershed Bend Seed Extractory Paul Edgertson Sue Edgerton