Entering Bend’s downtown, I’ve often wondered about the origins of the street names there and in the mill worker’s neighborhoods. Wall, Hill, Harriman, Steidl, Tweet and many more are attributed to significant people who developed the town. Over the years, Bend has transformed from a tent and shanty village, occupied by a handful of families, […]
Outside Features
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Get Your Gravel On
Winter, spring, summer or fall, cycling on pavement is not your only option
Central Oregon is a prime destination for cyclists, with recreational and professional spinners alike coveting the diversity and accessibility of the road and trail networks. Mountain bikes get the most attention—and for good reason. Over 300 miles of single track await those who like the dirt. Plenty of road riders seek the roadways as well, […]
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New Outdoor Adventures, Made In C.O.
Cascade Snowbikes—motorcycles on snow—and Central Oregon Jeep Tours are ready for outdoor adventures
As if there weren’t enough options for enjoying Bend’s awesome winters, Cascade Snowbikes added another one this year: motorcycles with a snowmobile-type track. Cascade Snowbikes is owned by Dave and Casey Reuss. The couple came up with the idea in 2016 and just opened the doors Feb. 15. The Reuss’ convert dirt motorcycles for riding […]
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River Talk
A three-year-long study of the Upper Deschutes is nearing completion. Here’s what two local river advocates think so far
Like a Central Oregonian impatiently waiting to go for a swim on a hot high desert day, Natasha Bellis and Gail Snyder jumped right into the hyped Upper Deschutes River Basin Study. After rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands wet, Bellis, program manager for the Deschutes River Conservancy and Snyder, co-founder and executive […]
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Tunes for Owls
Local violinist brothers to perform in support of a Great Horned Owl
It’s safe to say that the Oncken brothers, 9-year-old Ezra and 11-year-old Nicolas, have spent their lives growing up with the sounds of violin strings. Elder brother Nicolas can distinctly remember the first time he heard a violin and how powerful that moment was; and so can his mom, Akiko. “From that first day Nicolas […]
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Pow-Ow
Can certain sorts of injuries be tied to low-powder years?
At the risk of bringing up a sour subject, the base depth and snowfall for the 2017-18 snow season has been low compared to last season’s inundation. According to Mount Bachelor historical snowfall data, this season’s snow pack depth maxed out in early March at 104 inches, compared to last season’s 145 inches. As for […]
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Cartoon Oregon: Only Slightly Better Than Real Oregon
Travel Oregon video is breaking the Innermets
Props to Travel Oregon for, as one Source reader puts it, “breaking the Internet” with a video that’s a gorgeous, magical rendering of our fair state. So what do we want to do today, kids, watch Japanimation-ish vids, or go play outside #inBend? And of course, mad props to the people who made it — […]
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On the Ascent
She Moves Mountains—part of the Outdoor Women’s Fest and Bend Women’s March—empowers women in climbing
“See a need, fill a need” seems like a common sense approach to starting a new business. Yet Lizzie VanPatten, co-founder of She Moves Mountains, knew it would take more than her belief in the need for better female representation in the climbing world to get her passion project off the ground. Given the chance, […]
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Wild Women of the Water
Local fly fishing club gets more women, and children, into the Zen sport
Back in 2003, Delores Marsh, with the prodding of then-President of Central Oregon Flyfishers, Dan Driskill, started a women’s-only fly fishing group, now named the Wild Women of the Water. The original group was only three members, but has grown to 60 strong in its 15-year existence. “It became an idea in early 2003 and […]
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On Thin Ice
Firefighters train for ice rescues
The wildfire season may be over, but that doesn’t mean the Bend Fire Department isn’t keeping busy. Every year, firefighters run ice rescue drills to practice rescuing individuals and pets trapped after falling through thin ice. On Feb. 8, Bend Fire crews ran through ice rescue drills at Shevlin Pond in Bend. Battalion Chief Dave […]