In today’s modern commercial aircraft, flying can be a relatively boring experience. Being cramped in a narrow seat with only a small window to look out of isn’t particularly adventurous. Luckily, Central Oregon thrill-seekers have a chance to fly boldly like the pilots of old. With the Erickson Aircraft Collection at Sunriver Resort, budding aviators […]
Bend Oregon Hikes
Posted inOutside
Natural World: Crab Spiders
Crabs may be living in your flowers…and they’re good at mimicking bird droppings, too
It’s that time of year, dear ones, for garden lovers to be on the lookout for the local crabs that hang out in your flowers. Well, not real “crabs,” but crab spiders, who are masters at camouflage. Look for it in the photo provided; it’s perched right there among the stamens, a forward pair of […]
Posted inBest Of Central Oregon
Best Outdoor Gear Shop
1st place | Pine Mountain Sports
Taking on the great outdoors is a serious game here in Bend. Whether it’s biking around Crater Lake or skiing down Mt. Bachelor, it’s important to have the right equipment. Luckily, Pine Mountain Sports stacks the deck with the best gear in town. Looking for mountain bikes? Pine Mountain carries the latest wheels from some […]
Posted inOutside
Why Count Butterflies?
Pretty pollinators play a key role in ecosystems
Over the last couple of months, my wife, Sue—a long-time member of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) and student of the beauty and ecology of butterflies—has conducted several butterfly counts in the region. She counts them because their numbers are vital to knowing what’s going on in our world, and she loves to teach […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 8/10-8/17
Relay for Love Wedding Chapel This popular event invites friends and families to celebrate life and joy with a fun day of running, walking and ceremonies to honor cancer victims, survivors and caregivers. This year’s participants will experience an extra dose of joy and fun with a different kind of ceremony: one that involves a […]
Posted inOutside
Fire in the Sky
Where to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower
Throughout this month, the sky might look brighter than usual, thanks to the Perseid Meteor Shower. The annual astral event is caused by the Earth’s passage through the debris stream of the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Thanks to a little extra gravity from Jupiter pulling on the comet, this year’s meteor shower is expected to be one […]
Posted inOutside
The Alligator Lizard: A Creature by Many Names
This alligator lizard shown at right was serious about living up to its name as it tried to eat Caleb’s finger. They met while we were exploring the Lava Beds National Monument back in the 1980s when my wife Sue and our kids were pursuing and tagging Monarch butterflies on the northern part of the […]
Posted inOutside
Go Here 8/3-8/10
Haulin’ Aspen Twenty-six-point-two miles seem too far to run? Start off with 13.1 miles—just half the distance a the regular marathon. Thanks to the Oregon Half Marathon Series, there are plenty of opportunities afoot for both experienced and beginner runners. In fact, one of the most popular races in the series, Haulin’ Aspen, is Saturday, […]
Posted inOutside
Keeping the Machine Running
Physical therapy helps with injuries, performance
Serena Gordon was coming up to the halfway point of the Cascades High 100 bike race when she crashed. “I was on pace to beat my time from last year,” she said. “I don’t remember crashing at all, but from what I can piece together, I probably washed my tire out in a loose corner […]
Posted inOutside
Quite Possibly the Creepiest Bug You’ve Ever Seen
Right here in our very own backyard —quite literally—is the strangest insect we will ever see: The Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus fuscus). However, to begin with, it’s not a cricket, and has nothing whatsoever to do with Jerusalem. (How it got that name is as baffling as how it got here.) It really belongs in a […]
