As I stood on the edge of the platform—my toes gripping the carpet that separated me from a 300-foot drop—I tried not to look down. Otherwise I might not jump. And I wanted to jump. Crazy, right? Not entirely. This past weekend I was on assignment at Central Oregon Bungee Adventures, a company operating from […]
Outside Features
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Disc Golfing for Gold
Local pro wins her fourth world championship
If golf is the traditional gentleman’s sport, then disc golf is the cooler, laid-back sibling who everyone would rather hang out with. The sport continues to grow in popularity around the world, and it’s no different in Bend. A large part of that is definitely thanks to Valarie Jenkins, the 2016 Professional Disc Golf Association […]
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Scuba Dooba Do!
Learn diving in high-altitude Bend and you’ll be ready to dive anywhere
With summer’s end just around the corner, it feels like the season is making a final push to oppress Bend with high temperatures. Still, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat, from air-conditioned buildings to floating the Deschutes to stalking an ice cream truck. One extreme alternative, though, allows Bendites to not only […]
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Playing Rough
Local rugby champions host annual tourney this Saturday
What sport combines the endurance of soccer, the dexterity of basketball and the toughness of football? A local team of athletes known as the Lady Roughriders knows the answer: Rugby. And with that, these champions are ready to take the field for another winning season. The Bend Lady Roughriders Rugby Club will host the annual […]
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Flying Old School
Touching the sky in WWII plane rides
In today’s modern commercial aircraft, flying can be a relatively boring experience. Being cramped in a narrow seat with only a small window to look out of isn’t particularly adventurous. Luckily, Central Oregon thrill-seekers have a chance to fly boldly like the pilots of old. With the Erickson Aircraft Collection at Sunriver Resort, budding aviators […]
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Fire in the Sky
Where to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower
Throughout this month, the sky might look brighter than usual, thanks to the Perseid Meteor Shower. The annual astral event is caused by the Earth’s passage through the debris stream of the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Thanks to a little extra gravity from Jupiter pulling on the comet, this year’s meteor shower is expected to be one […]
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Keeping the Machine Running
Physical therapy helps with injuries, performance
Serena Gordon was coming up to the halfway point of the Cascades High 100 bike race when she crashed. “I was on pace to beat my time from last year,” she said. “I don’t remember crashing at all, but from what I can piece together, I probably washed my tire out in a loose corner […]
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The World Beneath Bend
Wanderlust’s cave tours packed
with science, adventure
This summer, intrepid explorers can add one more environment to their local bucket list: Bend’s underground. Wanderlust Tours is offering lava tube cave tours, taking visitors deep beneath the high desert to explore a cavernous world. Tourists can visit Skeleton Cave or Boyd Cave, two distinct caverns that exemplify the common features of lava caves. […]
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Let’s Pokémon Go for a Walk
Exploring Bend through new mobile game
I made my first important life decision when I was six years old: I choose Squirtle as my starter. This decision was made on a brand new GameBoy Color, and motivated by a desire to be competitive against my brother’s Charmander. A lot of people will comprehend those statements, but for the confused and uninitiated, […]
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Enduring the High Cascades
Riders compete to finish 100-mile bike race
With its mix of mountainous terrain and high desert flatlands, Bend is a mountain biker’s paradise. The trails here offer a variety of challenges and sights, and their abundance makes it easy for riders to spend at least a week exploring all of them. Or, they can compete in The High Cascades 100 and see […]