If the Seattle Seahawks lived up to their namesake, they would be known as the Seattle Osprey. Inspired by these magnificent birds of prey, the team unveiled their team sea hawk logo in 1976, which was a stylized inspiration paying homage to artwork of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who lived along the Pacific Northwest coast, primarily […]
Outside
Posted inOutside Features
Oakridge Offers Miles of Picturesque, Quiet, Forest Trails for Mountain Biking and Hiking
About a 90-minute drive from Bend, the small town nestled in the Willamette National Forest enables an escape from civilization, but volunteers are needed to help maintain its trails and fundraise
In the time it takes to polish off a breakfast burrito and listen to an episode or two of your favorite podcast, Derrick Bell wants you to know that you could be enjoying the solitude of nearly 600 miles of biking and hiking through serene forest trails, reminiscent of Central Oregon a couple decades ago. […]
Posted inOutside Features
High Desert Speaker Series Coming This Winter
Exciting presentations covering geology and Tribal history
Oregon Natural Desert Association’s 2026 High Desert Speaker Series invites audiences across Oregon and beyond to uncover the landscapes, geology and cultural histories of eastern Oregon through a pair of engaging online talks this winter. Registration is now open for the free, online public series, which runs from February through March. The High Desert Speaker […]
Posted inOutside Features
Local Author Wins Literary Awards Following Publication of His Evocative Memoir About His Adventures
Michael Cooper, a Sisters resident, is an accomplished mountaineer, recording engineer, producer and music journalist, and now adds award-winning author to his résumé
Michael Cooper, like most people, has many sides. There’s Michael Cooper, adventuring outdoorsman who’s racked up more than 8,000 miles trailblazing in the desert and backcountry, summitted countless mountains (including the 10 highest peaks in Oregon), run wild rivers, and been on the brink of death more than once. There’s also Michael Cooper, music journalist, […]
Posted inNatural World
Winter Waterfowl Watching
Central Oregon has numerous options for winter birding
As winter settles in to Central Oregon, rivers and managed wetlands offer excellent areas to view waterfowl. “Central Oregon is a great place to see a wide variety of winter waterfowl, including ducks, geese, swans and grebes,” said Duke Tufty, East Cascades Bird Alliance Birders’ Night coordinator. “We are lucky to have the Deschutes River […]
Posted inOutside
A Lens to a World of Outdoor Adventure
Mountainfilm on Tour returns for its 23rd year
A series of short films based on the outdoors returns to the Tower Theatre for two nights in February. Mountainfilm On Tour has been an annual fundraiser for the Environmental Center for 23 years. The event features documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. This year there’s a slate of nine […]
Posted inOutside Features
Health At Every Size and All Movement Counts
A Bend running/workout group is tailored for mid-life women
Michelle Poirot is no stranger to exercise and running. She’s coached local running groups for a dozen years and is certified by the Road Runners Club of America. But aging and some health challenges led her to refocus her mission. About six years ago, she started Ceiling: Unlimited, a health and running coaching business, specifically […]
Posted inOutside
Miles of Fun to Keep You Fit & Healthy
A list of local runs/walks for all ages
There is no shortage of runs and races in Central Oregon, for all levels. Some shorter family fun-runs will get your blood flowing during the cold weather with longer, tougher races to prepare you for a slate of spring runs. Here is a list of runs/walks in the coming months that may inspire you! February […]
Posted inOutside Features
Seed to Table Aims to Build Community Health and Wellness
Nonprofit provides access to fresh produce and hands-on farming education for Central Oregonians
Little did 10-year-old Audrey Tehan know, as she furiously shielded her fledgling beet plants from a pounding hail storm on her family’s farm in Sisters, that one day, she’d be helping to grow more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce in that same spot and helming a nonprofit that distributes the bounty to Central Oregon […]
Posted inOutside
New Meissner Bus to Shuttle Skiers & Snowshoers
The pilot program is a stress-free way to enjoy the snow (once it’s here!)
Avoid the stress of jockeying for parking spots at the ever-popular Meissner Sno Park this winter by taking a new shuttle. The Meissner bus is scheduled to make three trips every Saturday and Sunday through March. The best part? It’s a bargain at $5 roundtrip! Visit Bend, Deschutes Trails Coalition and an anonymous donor contributed […]