Outside Features
Posted inOutside

High Desert Horror Story

Getting that ‘Bend starter kit’ of outdoor equipment is tougher this year, with gear shortages happening locally and nationally
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

What’s more traumatic to a Bendite? Ravaged and empty shelves where toilet paper once was, or not knowing when you’ll receive that new piece of recreation equipment you ordered months ago? Resounding concern is mounting for outdoor-related retail items that seem to be condemned to backorder purgatory. Never mind the usual delays industry enthusiasts would […]

Posted inOutside

Boaters’ Lament

Low river flows abound—a bummer for recreationalists and ecology alike
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

As soon as we left the bank, sharky rocks were biting at our oars on every side. A scrape here, a drag there. With each contact to a textured slice of iceberg granite, the 30-year worn hyperline on my royal blue Momentum raft, “Wonder Woman,” stuck. Rock dodging at its finest. Ground truthing 1,000 cubic […]

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Diving into Multi-Day Inflatable Paddleboarding

Spending a night—or many—with your boat, your gear and a gaggle of stars
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

Have you ever dreamt about paddling out to a distant shoreline or island and spending the night? If you have, then this article is for you! In a water wonderland like Central Oregon, where there’s a secret lake around every corner, if you haven’t slept out under the stars after a day of paddling, you […]

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Riding for the Environment

SnoPlanks collaborates with surf legend Gery Lopez on a line of skateboards aimed at supporting natural spaces
Avatar photo by Isaac Biehl

Started in 2012 by James Nicol, SnoPlanks has since become a fixture of the extreme sports world in Bend and beyond, with its handmade skateboards and snowboards. So it makes sense that its latest collab is with legendary surfer Gerry Lopez, aka Mr. Pipeline. The new line of boards is called Street Surfer. Designed by […]

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The Pride Must Go On

June’s Pride Month events include music, beer, drag… and climbing
Avatar photo by Nicole Vulcan

In other years, the month of June is marked by Pride parades in cities around the globe—including here in Bend. While the pandemic may be waning and more events are starting to come, OUT Central Oregon and its partners opted to focus energy during this year’s Pride Month on smaller activities beyond a parade. The […]

Posted inOutside

Gear Up

If You’re New Here: Tips to prep for summer in Bend
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

If you’re a Central Oregon local and an archetypal Bendite, you’re probably already starting to plot a course to maximize your outdoor Disneyland experience this summer. Breweries, rivers and trails, oh my. For those who still need some direction, below are some gear tips from a tried-and-true decade-deep professional recreation and lady of high desert […]

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Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day

If You’re New Here: How to float like a local this summer
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

Can you believe it’s almost that time of year again—when you can slip into the Deschutes River on an inner tube and float downstream like Central Oregon royalty #livingyourbestlife?! Although a few more storm systems are blowing the last of this year’s pow up at the mountain, down in town, the weather’s been almost float-worthy.  […]

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Sheroes: Healing with Acupuncture and Herbs

The busy athletes of Bend get support in optimizing athletic performance and health with local ‘shero’ Ileana Bourland
Avatar photo by K.M. Collins

Lying on the table at Heal Grow Thrive Medicine, looking up at the familiar origami crane mobile in each treatment room, I’m immediately set at ease. As a mediocre athlete trying to get to the bottom of chronic neck and back pain, licensed acupuncturist Ileana Bourland was recommended to me by a local yogi. Bourland’s […]

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