Outside
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Birds Headline Upcoming Festivals and Field Trips

Explore the wonderful world of birds this spring in Central Oregon
by Damian Fagan

If you have not caught on to the amazing world of birds and birdwatching, perhaps this is your lucky year. Not only can these incredible creatures fly, but their ability to migrate thousands of miles through adverse and ever-changing conditions, is a feat worthy of a hero’s welcome. So, here are a few selected birding […]

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Recovering Essential Desert Waters

Working with tribes to restore the lifeblood of desert ecosystems
by Gena Goodman-Campbell

Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water. A mere 2% of the high desert is wetland or riparian habitat, and nearly all of the wildlife in the region depend on these oases to survive. While mighty desert rivers like the Owyhee and the John Day are critical pieces of […]

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Snowy Adventures

Outdoor family enjoyment away from the weekend Mt. Bachelor hustle
by Roseann Dennery

Need a break from the downhill slopes? Finding day outings that everyone can enjoy is essential to embracing the extended winter season here in Central Oregon. It’s time to take advantage of the hundreds of miles of marked trails, charming warming huts and pillowy powder found in our backyard Cascades. After all, that’s why we […]

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Central Oregon’s Winter PrideFest is Here!

A conversation with organizers ahead of the largest Winter PrideFest in Central Oregon
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

The upcoming Central Oregon Winter PrideFest promises an unforgettable blend of entertainment, outdoor adventures and cultural experiences, uniting the community in a celebration of diversity and inclusion. “This is the sixth year we’ll be having it,” OUT Central Oregon Board President Brayan Gonzalez explained. “It’s four days of indoor/outdoor events and is a huge point […]

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Get the Girls Out!

Nonprofit organization SheJumps emphasizes the importance of equity and accessibility in the world of outdoor sports
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

SheJumps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for women and girls to engage in outdoor adventures, ranging from skiing to hiking, camping and more. This Sunday, adrenaline meets empowerment as this trailblazing nonprofit organization gears up for an exhilarating skiing event, “SheJumps, Get the Girls Out.” The nationwide campaign promises a day of […]

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The Running of the Dogs

With plenty of snow about, sled dog and skijor races are on in Central Oregon and beyond
by Damian Fagan

Humans have been harnessing dog power to pull sleds for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. One of the oldest sleigh runner artifacts in existence, discovered in Finland, dates back to around 9,000 years ago — although whether dogs or humans pulled or pushed the sleigh is still a bone of debate. These ancient sled […]

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Local Teen Neve Gerard Slays Nordic Skiing on the World Stage

Bend XC skier competes internationally, forging her path in women’s professional athletics
by Tiffany Neptune

R eturning from Gangwon, South Korea, with several top 20 rankings in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games and winning Gold in Utah last month, competitive Nordic ski athlete and Bend teen, Neve Gerard, crushes cross-country racing. In Gangwon, Gerard took home sixth place in the Women’s 7.5-kilometer Classic, 17th in the Freestyle Sprint, and […]

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Mountainfilm on Tour 2024

A two-night film festival brings breathtaking stories of nature and the indomitable spirit of humans
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

An annual rendezvous with breathtaking stories and awe-inspiring documentaries is just around the corner as The Environmental Center brings Mountainfilm on Tour back to Central Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24. This film event promises an evening of adventure, climate change revelations, cultural exploration and resilient tales from every corner of the globe. Mountainfilm […]

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Hot Spring Hype

Why these hot, mineral-rich pools are good for your health, and some soaking dos and don’ts
by Tiffany Neptune

Whether day tripping or planning a perfect weekend getaway, nearby hot springs offer Central Oregonians a comfortingly warm escape from the winter cold. These geothermally heated, mineral-rich waters rise out of the earth’s interior through fissures and cracks after making contact with very hot rocks deep below, and in the right conditions pool — naturally […]

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Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers

What we can learn from beaver about keeping desert waterways healthy
by Renee Schiavone

In late fall, while pronghorn prepare for winter migration and sagebrush lizards enter hibernation, beavers are hard at work. They’re ferrying across waterways, cutting down streamside trees with their teeth and submerging their stock into shallow water. Neither hibernators nor migrators, they’ll subsist off this wet pantry of live wood and green bark until spring […]

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