Outside

The first mile and a half is the toughest. In those six, eight or 12 minutes, your hands seem to get progressively colder and wind whips at every bit of exposed skin turning it red like the coals glowing in the woodstove that you foolishly left behind at home.
If you're lucky, the sun is out and you can think about how great it is to live in Central Oregon in January because unlike those poor schleps in Salt Lake City, Missoula or Bellingham, you can at least occasionally get some Vitamin D while you freeze. More than likely, though, it's sleeting sideways and the dark is either being slow to retreat or closing in fast, and you're thinking you should remember to buy batteries for your headlamp before this weekend's 10-miler.
At 2,000 steps, your blood finally reaches your toes, and your feet go from cherry popsicles to something bordering on comfortable. You pick up your head, squint your eyes against the grit the weather gods are throwing your way and grin. In arctic temperatures and ugly weather, you're taking control. You're getting stronger, healthier, happier. Big Bob selling treadmills on late night infomercials on channel 352 can kiss your ass. You're filled with joy, and all you have to do for the next forty minutes is keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Happy winter solstice, girls and boys. Time to decide how (and when) to celebrate the longest night of the year. Back in 46 BC, Julius Caesar arbitrarily picked December 25 as the Roman winter solstice. These days we know the beginning of longer days arrives Dec. 21 or 22. Although if you listen to country music, you know the longest night can occur any time of year, but namely when a deep voiced, tight-jean-wearing cowboy gets jilted by a lover.
While its original importance rested in a community's ability to survive the winter, these days I see solstice as a reason to celebrate the arrival of winter. While times have changed, some traditions endure. Once upon a time, cattle were slaughtered as beer and wine were fermented and made ready to be consumed. And with the recent onslaught of breweries and butcher shops in town, Bend has aligned itself nicely with the, “last feast celebration” theme.

Puffy coats and wool beanies at belay stations. Handwarmers tucked into chalkbags. Thin socks in shoes a half size larger than normal. Sun on south facing rock. Thermoses filled with hot tea. Classic lines with no crowds, and temperatures perfect for sending. Welcome to central Oregon winter rock climbing.
While many locals have been busy deriding the weather for a lack of snow, a few have taken to celebrating the recent high pressure for its resulting extension of the fall climbing season at Smith Rock and local bouldering areas.
Climbers prepared to suffer the relatively small and short-lived discomforts of frosty mornings and early darkness are reaping huge rewards in the form of 50 degree air temperatures, sun-warmed rocks, a noticeable lack of greasy hold and walk-on access to routes that in the summer have parties stacked up for hours waiting a turn.
“Most folks think summer is climbing season at Smith Rock, but that is definitely not the case,” said Chris Wright, a certified American Mountain Guide Association Rock and Alpine guide for Timberline Mountain Guides. “If the sun is shining it's almost never too cold to climb.”

Doug LaPlaca and his cohorts at Visit Bend have done an excellent job establishing Bend as a premier cyclocross destination. Events ranging from the local to national level have invaded our town giving riders yet another reason to keep their bikes tuned all year long.
With the lack of snow keeping skis in garages, now's the perfect time to check out a couple of cyclocross events.
First up is a fundraiser for junior cyclocross racers hoping to compete at the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships in Madison, WI this coming January. Former pro cyclist and coach Bart Bowen of Powered by Bowen, is hosting a “CXmas Party” Thursday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Powered by Bowen on Century Drive.
Local retailers and cycling teams have provided CXmas gifts for cyclists that will be on display. All proceeds from their sale and the $5 suggested minimum donation will go to the CX Junior Fund.