While Bend’s finest eateries may be all booked up for Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of no-reservations-required options for those who’d prefer to combine their fondness for a special someone with their love of nature. Tumalo Mountain Sunrise All those iconic images of Mt. Bachelor at sunset? Those are taken from the vantage atop Tumalo […]
Outside
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What Goes Up
Vertfest celebrates a boom in backcountry skiing
“It’s really a festival of fun,” says Stirling Cobb, the events and sponsorship manager at Mt. Bachelor. He’s talking about Vertfest, one of the few winter carnivals to focus on backcountry skiing, which returns this weekend to Central Oregon for its third consecutive year. “It’s all about the mountain lifestyle where like-minded people can come […]
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Counting Crows
The 2015 Great Backyard Bird Count
It’s seems like just yesterday that the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and then the Ft. Rock/Christmas Valley Raptor Count, plus several other “counts” have taken place, and now for those who want to—or have to—stay at home and look at birds out the window, here comes the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). This one is […]
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No More Killing Coyotes for Sport
Sport shooters slaughter coyotes at recent event in Harney County
In mid-January, the second annual Harney Coyote Classic encouraged what can only be called a “coyote slaughter.” The event, held near Burns, is yet another example of some sportsman’s desires gone haywire. Over the past 100 years, stories of coyotes being the worst nemesis of ranchers and farmers have been so blown out of proportion […]
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Too Bad We Can’t Ski on Tears
Nordic ski season is pretty thin for high school racers again this year
“I think it’s obvious to all of us who are skiers and have skied in Central Oregon for a while that there is a change in the weather patterns,” says Matt Fox, who helps coach the Mountain View High School Nordic team. Every Wednesday for the junior racers is an “on snow” day, and so […]
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Not At All For The Birds
Some choice spots for winter birdwatching
From high desert to sub-alpine, Central Oregon hosts a wide range of ecosystems making it one of the best places in the state to spot a diverse range of birds, even in the middle of winter. With snow levels unseasonably low, many of the best birding spots in the region are easily accessible. Brothers Oasis […]
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Go Big!
Winter X-Games showcase local skiers
A decade ago, Ravi Drugan was struck by a train; the injuries left him a double amputee. At the time of the accident, he was 15 years old and admits that he wasn’t yet the strongest skier. He was, however, immersed in ski culture. His dad had been skiing since he was two years old, […]
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Go Here 1/21-1/28
Powder-free Pastimes
Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been generous with the snow lately, so if you’re looking for a winter activity that isn’t powder dependent, check out a couple of these local gems. High Desert Museum This 135-acre complex, part wildlife center, part cultural museum can make short work of a no-powder day. Open 10 am – 4 […]
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Look Out For the Big One!
Something’s gotta give
Every night, just as I lay my head on my pillow and slowly sink into a peaceful sleep, my eyes snap open. I think, “Where’s the flashlight!? Where’s the fire extinguisher and my whistle!?” Scoff if you will, but like it or not, beautiful Central Oregon, those glittering snow-capped volcanic peaks are magnificent scenery, but […]
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Not Quite a Wash-Out
Rain and local controversy threaten national cyclocross races
Cyclocross is a messy sport, one in which riders seem to thrive on dust and dirt, and when it rains, mud and slop. But there is apparently a limit to just how messy a race can be. Last week, the annual Cyclocross National Championships were scheduled to be held in Zilker City Park in Austin, […]