Outside
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Take a Hike, Ladies!

The Outdoor Women’s Alliance connects women interested in cultivating new skills and friendships
Alli Miles

A little motivation, encouragement, or camaraderie goes a long way when it comes to getting out and finding adventure, especially when trying something new. The Outdoor Women’s Alliance (OWA) is a global network with the mission of supporting women in the outdoors and offering them that little extra push to get outside and test their […]

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Go Here 9/16-9/23

Going to the extreme
Kevin Sperl

For most, you might achieve an adrenaline rush by running a road race or taking on the steepest mountain bike trail. What those endeavors have in common is that your feet, for the most part, are firmly planted on terra firma. If these activities don’t quite do it for you, here are some suggestions for […]

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A Plague on the Klamath River

The race to prevent a repeat of the West’s worst salmon kill
Terray Sylvester

Nearly one year ago, Mike Belchik, a senior biologist for the Yurok Tribe, was overseeing an emergency laboratory on a remote gravel bar in the Klamath River on the tribe’s Northern California reservation. That morning, crews had netted two dozen salmon from a 20-mile stretch of the lower river. Now they were inspecting their catch […]

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Clocking Miles for Migraines

Redmond man trains for 50-mile fundraising run
Avatar photo Erin Rook

Three years ago, Dearric Winchester couldn’t run a quarter mile before excruciating knee pain set in. Today, he’s tearing through shoes as he trains for a 50-mile solo run later this month. “After a lot of rehab I was able to run a little and I set a goal of completing a half marathon. Thankfully, […]

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On the Rocks

Climbing opportunities for every skill level
Kevin Sperl

Think rock climbing in Central Oregon and the mind naturally gravitates to Smith Rock State Park, termed the birthplace of American sport climbing, and its thousands of bolted routes. But, for those less experienced climbers seeking the thrill of scaling walls, Bend Endurance Academy’s Climbing Program Director Mike Rougeux, a 15-year climbing veteran, has some […]

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The Biggest Stinker of Them All

That’s not the neighbor’s ganja you’re smelling
Jim Anderson

Back in 1979 I was the manger of Ramsey Canyon Preserve in southeast Arizona, once known as the “Hummingbird Capitol of the World.” Unbeknownst, however, to the birders who labeled that beautiful place for the 12-or-so hummingbirds that were around in summer, it is also the “Skunk Capitol of the World.” All four skunks native […]

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Don’t Mind the Gaps

Deschutes River Trail connectivity chugs along
Kevin Sperl

Humans have been drawn to water since time immemorial, and Central Oregonians are no exception. That’s why locals and tourists alike are eager to see the completion of the Deschutes River Trail, which currently spans more than 30, somewhat disjointed, miles from Sunriver to Tumalo. Steve Jorgensen is the man with the plan. His days […]

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Bend’s Banana Belt

Master Gardeners reap what they sow at Hollinshead Garden
Jonathan Weston

“It’s warmer here at Hollinshead,” Master Gardener Nancy Crossan says, “more than any other place in Bend. That’s why it’s called the Banana Belt, and why everything here grows so bountifully.” You mean I live in the SE frost belt? Say it isn’t so! “You can still plant asparagus,” Kris Kornchild, another Master Gardener chimes […]

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Where the Dogs Are

Kevin Sperl

Bend has a reputation for going to the dogs, or at least accommodating them. A number of breweries, restaurants, and other businesses accommodate pet owners, even leaving out water bowls for our canine companions during the summer’s heat. But with their popularity comes controversy, especially regarding humans allowing their dogs to run off leash or […]

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