Outside
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Embracing What’s Real & Important in Life

A man in hospice care with stage 4 cancer continues inspiring those who know him
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Cinematographer Greg Balkin made a short film in 2023 that so inspired him he’s organizing an event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The 24-minute film, “The Life We Have,” which was shown during last year’s BendFilm Festival, follows Rob Shaver of San Antonio, Texas, for more than a year. After being diagnosed […]

Posted inOutside

Thrilling Adventure Films Benefit Local Students

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour stops at the Tower in April
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Two nights of films about mountain adventure, environmental stories and outdoor exploration are coming to the Tower Theatre. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, April 17-18, benefits Friends of Realms, a nonprofit that supports outdoor learning programs at Realms Schools. Each night of the festival showcases different films. The Friday night selection, titled “Crevasse,” […]

Posted inOutside Features

Shredder Bend

A year-round, indoor ski school for children opens March 18
Avatar photo by Nic Moye

Getting youngsters excited about skiing for the first time can be a challenge. It’s cold, and for some, intimidating. Morgan Schaening and his wife, Natalie, are opening Shredder Bend, an indoor, year-round ski and snowboard school for children ages one to 10. “We get them in real skis, real boots, real snowboards and we help […]

Posted inOutside Features

Bend Into Balance

An interview with Cornelius Edison, former NFL athlete and owner of Lift Fitness Studio
by Adriana Marino

Perhaps drawn to the sheer natural beauty surrounding Bend and its endless trails and terrains for hiking, biking, running, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding (and so much more), the city has attracted many individuals who get out, play, compete and thrive in this vibrant outdoor playground. And along with them, so have a great […]

Posted inOutside Features

Lead Toxicity in the Wild Ones

What is it? Where does it come from? How can we help?
by Sue Dougherty DVM MA DACVIM Think Wild Board President

My first experience with lead toxicity as a veterinarian was in a sweet basset hound that developed acute lead poisoning from licking lead paint dust from his paws. Currently, in the wildlife hospital at Think Wild in Bend, we see a different manifestation of the same toxicity, from an avoidable source. In mid 2025, a […]

Posted inOutside Features

The Iconic Osprey

Share your passion through OspreyWatch
by Damian Fagan

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 […]

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
by Dallas Finn Calvert

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
by Renee Schiavone

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
by Dallas Finn Calvert

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
by Damian Fagan

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 […]

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