When I was a kid growin’ up on the farm in Connecticut during the Great Depression, my grandfather and uncles had a Thanksgiving tradition of going waterfowl hunting early that morning. I usually went along. When we had our limit of black ducks—the East Coast equivalent of the mallard—we’d come home, clean our ducks and […]
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Posted inOutside
Bundled Up for Fun
A roundup of winter events this season
Whoever wrote that, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” song clearly never lived in Bend. Locals know that this season is one of the best times to get outside for snow-related activities. From skiing to exploring the winter wilderness to partaking in the season’s festivities, here is a (by no means exhaustive) list of the some of […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The Not-So-Glamorous Life of a Lifty
The little things you can do to make their job easier
Ever wondered what it’s like to work as a ski lift operator? Here’s a peek into their world—and how you can make it a little better for everyone. Being a “lifty” makes collecting trash look cushy. They wake up at the crack of dawn to shovel extremely large amounts of snow. They tolerate the harshest […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
A Mountain of Growth
New Mt. Bachelor lift makes the mountain the 5th-largest ski area in the U.S.A.
It might be because this season is already shaping up to be snowier than last year’s disappointing accumulation. It might be because there’s new equipment that needs to be broken in. It’s not quite winter, but still, many skiers and snowboarders are already itching to hit the runs at Mt. Bachelor. Another thing making snow […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Lazy Skiers’ Delight
Skijoring lets someone else do the hard work on the snow
The colorful falling leaves and crisp bite in the night air have us all excited for one thing: Skijoring. Wait, what?! It sounds like someone with a hangover mumbling over their words, but it is an actual sport that even has worldwide competitions. Derived from the Norwegian word meaning “ski driving,” skijoring involves having a […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Snow Riders’ Guide
For some, opening day of ski and snowboard season is waaayy better than Christmas morning. Fresh snow, fresh gear…and this year, a lot of new terrain to explore. For an area that continues to experience massive growth, having more space to spread out our ski tips is a very good thing. Still, growth has its […]
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Fight for the Ochocos
Objections arise as new trail system is proposed
Northeast of the city of Prineville lies the Ochoco National Forest—a much-loved area more than 845,000 acres in size. Inside its borders are three Congressionally-designated wilderness areas, more than 375 species of wildlife and countless firs and pines. Then there's the current controversy about who can use the lands and when. Last month, the U.S. […]
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Go Here: Smoke and Brews
Smokejumper Stories Smokejumpers conduct the initial attack on forest fires by parachuting into the site of the fire, often in remote terrain. The first fire jump was made in 1940 and today there are over 240 smokejumpers working for the Forest Service. The High Desert Museum is offering people a chance to listen to retired […]
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Camping at the Airport
A traveler trades fir trees for flight towers
If there’s one thing I’ve learned writing for this section over the last few months, it’s that there’s no shortage of places to see and things to do in Central Oregon. But I’ve also realized that there are some things the West Coast can’t offer me. I’m originally from Ohio, and despite popular belief, the […]
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Bigfoot and the Late Great Chief Lelooska
The mystery of the Big Men of the Mountains
My old pal and fellow eagle researcher, Frank Isaacs, recently sent me a Bigfoot news release that reminded me of that fabled beast of mountains and forest, and an experience worth sharing. Back in the '60s my young family and I often were a presence in the life and home of Chief Lelooska, a man […]