Rex Shepard isn’t just an ordinary year-round outdoor enthusiast. Even the term extraordinary doesn’t seem to adequately describe him. The 30-year-old Bend native has accomplished more than most dare to dream. A coach at Bend’s Endurance Academy, Shepard pushes himself to the limits of his outdoor endurance and says his goal is to inspire others. […]
hiking
Go Here 5/20-5/27
Because this is Bend, there is an actual organization dedicated to the your-peanut butter-fell-in-my-chocolate style serendipity that blends place-based education and craft beer. Behold: Beers Made By Walking, and you can be a part of it. BMBW has teamed up with the good folks at Oregon Natural Desert Association to organize a series of free […]
Those Boots Are Made For Hiking
Since I first moved to Oregon two decades ago, Bill Sullivan has been one of the consistent voices in my head. As the author of the popular series of 100 Hikes, each covering one of five regions in the state, Sullivan has directed me deep into the Cascades and on wind-swept trails along the coast. […]
DO Go Chasing Waterfalls!
Despite the disappointing snowpack across the state, sunny skies and warm spring temperatures mean it’s waterfall season in Oregon. Here are three worth leaving the county for. White River Falls State Park This park contains at least three of my favorite features: huge geologic landforms, a series of cascading whitewater falls, and the physical remains […]
Go Here 4/8-4/15
There are so many things about spring in Central Oregon to love. Not the least of them is the unveiling of the Deschutes Land Trust free hike schedule. For over a decade, the Deschutes Land Trust has worked tirelessly to conserve thousands of acres of vitally important lands in Central Oregon. DLT lands serve as […]
Gift Guide: The Hiker
You don’t have to be a hardcore athlete to enjoy the great outdoors. For those who tread more gently upon the earth, there is no shortage of creative and adventurous gift ideas. Whether you’re shopping for a fair-weather outdoorsperson or 24/7/365 “outside kid,” these gifts will aid in their exploration and recreation. While the more […]
Thousand-Mile Journeys, By Foot
When author Jonathan Stewart completed an extensive career with the National Forest Service, he sought a different view of the woods he’s walked countless times and many, many miles. His latest book, “Walking Away from the Land: Change at the Crest of a Continent” chronicles Stewart’s 3,200-mile trek of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to […]
Go Here! 10/30-11/5
Lace ’em up because like the fall leaves, the hiking season is peaking. Whether it’s an out-and-back walkabout or a hill climb, there is still time to put in miles on trails before winter officially sets in. We’ve compiled a short list of go-to fall hikes where you can still leave the skis at home…for […]
100 Hikes are Worth Three Minutes of your Day
Local “Hike Guy” Kolby Kirk took on a big project in 2012, he wanted to hike 100 times and 700 trail miles by January 1st, 2014. Check out details of the 100 Hikes Project here. “On each hike, I created a number using natural materials found along the trail,” explains Kirk who lives in Bend, […]

