Those obsessed with fly fishing are getting ready for the greatest time of the year on the lower Deschutes River: the famous salmonfly hatch. After a long cold winter, trout are hungry. Mike Phillips, owner of Slack Line Flyfishing in Tumalo says the three-week window of opportunity to sling big flies to hungry trout is […]
Outside Features
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Pro File: Jen Luebke
Professional road cyclist #inBend
Jen Luebke is a Montana-born professional road cyclist who lives in Bend. She started her career doing triathlons, eventually turning her focus solely to the bike. Her six years as a professional triathlete provided her with a toughness and resilience that serves her well while pounding out the miles in the professional peloton. As a […]
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Sustainable Fire Protection
Project Wildfire aims to cultivate fire adapted communities
Issues pertaining to water resources, solid waste management, transportation and energy production are all quick to come to mind when thinking of sustainability issues facing communities around the globe. In Deschutes County and elsewhere in Central Oregon, planning for the long-term health of surrounding forests is also an integral part of building a sustainable future. […]
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King of the Marathon
Local elite runner Max King celebrates a decade of his running club and the acquisition of the Bend marathon with Kari Strang
Max King and I meet up to talk about his local running club and the Bend Marathon—but pretty soon, we veer off, discussing his wins in the 2014 100k World Championships and the 2011 World Mountain Running Championships. “This is going to be an article that bounces around from topic to topic, like me,” King […]
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VertFest 2019
Ski touring, Alpine touring, Randonee, backcountry, splitboarding… called by many names, the sport of backcountry shredding is growing. Once the realm of only the most adventurous and fitness oriented, recent equipment advances have fueled the flames of popularity. If you’ve ever heard someone speak of a “Dawn Patrol” session before the workday begins, they were […]
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Surfing on Snow
Mt. Bachelor’s Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge marries surf culture with snow culture
The 2019 Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge is a snowboard-only event, meshing surf and snowboard cultures on a kahuna course. During the one-of-a-kind competition, participants will carve, spin, and slash their way down a course defined as “freestyle snowboard snow-surfing.” “The Challenge is more a ‘have fun’ type event than a hardcore one,” said Gerry […]
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Racing on the Deschutes
Riverhouse Rendezvous features slalom racing in the river, before warm weather irrigation slows flows
Slalom kayaking can sometimes seem a bit backward (literally) if you aren’t familiar with the sport. Instead of taking the path of least resistance downriver, racers maneuver both up and downriver to get through specific gates. If you want a chance to see slalom kayakers battle up and down the Deschutes River, the 10th annual […]
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Expedition, Advocacy
PNW solo sea kayaker Susan Conrad links ocean and river conservation
There she was, dodging grizzlies on the shoreline, sharp green seas marching toward her like angry soldiers, and cold, snotty water bitch-slapping the sides of her kayak. It was nine years ago when, for 66 days, Susan Conrad endured those conditions for 1,200 miles during her solo kayak tour of the Inside Passage. Weaving through […]
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Everyday Sheroes
Some local women athletes do it not for the glory of competition, but for the sheer love of the outdoors
When I was a little girl, combing outdoor magazines for inspiration, there was rarely a woman to be found—and if there was, she was always a top performing, elite athlete. While there are many women who can keep up with the boys and even lead the pack, I know I’m not alone in wanting to […]
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Local Athletes Shred at X Games
A recap of the big air and high finishes for local athletes
The brainchild of ESPN alchemists, the X Games has been a focal point for athletes in many disciplines including skateboarding, rock climbing, snowboarding and snowmobile racing since its inception in 1995. The games attract millions of viewers and the biggest names in their respective sports. From Tony Hawk and Travis Pastrana, to Kelly Clark and […]