Outside
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Winter Walks along the Deschutes River

From mild to wild, explore these river reaches in the heart of the cold season
by Damian Fagan

As winter continues, snow and ice create challenges for getting out to trails in the region. Dog walkers miss cleared sidewalks and some hikers lament breaking trail through deep snow. Not only can the trails get blanketed with snow, but some of the trailheads have limited parking making access difficult. Fortunately, there are options. Numerous […]

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Romancing with Stones

Local nature sanctuary and club lodge Juniper Preserve will host two weekends of romance-infused cave tours
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Let’s be honest, during the Valentine’s season it’s all too easy to feel a tad overwhelmed by the commercial expectations of February’s “Hallmark Holiday.” Cards, chocolates, flowers and all kinds of other gifts have been plastered through grocery and retail stores over the past few days and believe me, it can be a bit confusing […]

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ONDA High Desert Speaker Series

Great presentations set for the spring cover indigenous knowledge, rocks and minerals, and exploring the Owyhee
by Damian Fagan

Oregon Natural Desert Association’s High Desert Speaker Series this spring covers a variety of topics related to the High Desert. Take a visual tour through the remote Owyhee Canyonlands Region of eastern Oregon. Learn how Indigenous knowledge works with western science to rehabilitate landscapes, and how the High Desert’s geology is expressed through minerals and […]

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Expo Invites People to the Outdoor Playground

Expo highlights mushroom hunting clubs, falconry groups and Central Oregon scuba divers, among many others
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 3, the Oregon Partners in Conservation Family and Youth Expo invites adventurists of all ages to discover more of the outdoor playground that is Central Oregon. The expo will serve as an educational platform where families and youth can learn from subject matter experts who are passionate about […]

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Beats, Bites and Beautiful Art

A rundown of some of the most exciting events, musicians and vendors that will descend on Central Oregon for the 2024 Bend WinterFest
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Winter’s embrace is holding tight to the city of Bend. The snow came in quickly last week and the ice and rain followed. Over the last few days, pipes have burst, roads were closed, the weather on the mountain wasn’t rippin’ and overall, all that sudden snow might’ve ruined a weekend or two. With that […]

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Winter Wonders: Caring for Wintering Hummingbirds

Our Anna's hummingbirds face real trouble as deep freeze, blizzard conditions, and icy rain continue. We can help these winter wonders in several simple ways.
by Elise Wolf

As remarkable as it sounds, hummingbirds overwinter in Central Oregon. These toughies are Anna’s hummingbirds and are amazingly stout for their 4-4.5-gram size. These green gems have expanded their range into hotter and colder climates over the last 20 years. Yet, they face real trouble in deep freeze, blizzard conditions and icy rain. There are […]

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Zooming into Elk Lake Resort

Winter enthusiasts can embrace the thrill of snowmobiling with Elk Lake Resort’s exclusive rental options
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

This past weekend, I woke to something I had never experienced before, but what I was told was a common occurrence come the middle of winter in the high desert. In a blink, the Bend area received anywhere from 10 to 16 inches of snow in just two days, which promptly blanketed every mailbox and […]

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Think Wild Hosts Training with Renowned Raptor Orthopedic Surgeon

Local wildlife hospital hopes to expand its treatment and post-op care for wildlife
by Damian Fagan

Renowned raptor orthopedic surgeon, Dr. David Scott, former staff veterinarian at the Carolina Raptor Center and author of “Raptor Medicine, Surgery, and Rehabilitation” and other books used in veterinary medicine, recently led a Think Wild staff training in Bend. “Dr. Scott was teaching the team, including myself, how to manage avian orthopedic cases that require […]

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Tour de France? No, It’s the Tour of Meissner

With a warmer winter, the fate of the upcoming Tour of Meissner hangs in the balance
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

The Meissner Nordic Community Ski Area offers a variety of trails catering to different skill levels, making it suitable for beginners as well as experienced skiers. It spans across beautiful terrain, including forests and open spaces, providing a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts during the winter months. This Nordic ski area is managed by volunteers […]

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Where to Follow Wildlife Tracks

Winter rain and snowfall make for wildlife stories worth investigating
by Scott Bowler

“Oh wow – what’s that print?” I have this same reaction numerous times over when encountering animal tracks in the high desert. The “what is it?” aspect is the first and most obvious question to ask upon seeing tracks in dirt, mud or snow. But it’s especially interesting to investigate “why is that here?” and […]

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