Oregon Natural Desert Association
Posted inCulture

Van Life: The Event

Annual Descend on Bend event draws hundreds of van-dwellers to Oregon Outback this weekend
Avatar photo Magdalena Bokowa

“I died and went to van heaven.” That’s the sentiment repeated by countless van lifers attending the annual Descend on Bend event, taking place this Labor Day weekend in the Oregon Outback. Welcoming all shapes, sizes and models of vans—from the original VW Vanagon, which sparked the notion of van life, to modern day Sprinters and […]

Posted inNews

Planning Effort Targets Southeastern Oregon

Environment group questions BLM plan choice
Hilary Corrigan

The public has another week to help craft an update to the plan that manages a chunk of southeastern Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management is amending its resource management plan for about 4.6 million acres of its public lands in southeastern Oregon. Federal law directs BLM to develop, maintain, amend and revise land use […]

Posted inNews

Conservation in Central Oregon

When it comes to plugging into local environmental and conservation causes, these are groups to choose from
Mary Fleishmann

Bitterbrush Broads – Great Old Broads for Wilderness Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a national nonprofit organization based in Durango, Colo. Currently, 40 Chapters of the Broads operate throughout the U.S., with four chapters in Oregon. The Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads chapter is local to this region. The Broads are engaged in inspiring women […]

Posted inNews

Progress For Public Lands

The newly passed public lands bill helps with fuel reduction at Crooked River Ranch, but resource activists say it missed protecting some important public lands
Chris Miller

On March 12, President Trump signed the public lands bill— formally known as S. 47, or the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, into law. The Act, formerly known as the National Resources Management Act—includes the Oregon Wildlands Act. Included in this large piece of legislation was a new wilderness designation for […]

Posted inOutside

At last! A long-nosed snake!

Jim Anderson

My longtime pal and devoted champion of Oregon’s amphibians and reptiles recently sent me an email and photo, declaring: “LONG-NOSED SNAKE CONFIRMED IN THE OWYHEE!” If you’d been trying to document that species in Oregon for 50 years like he has, you’d have spread the word in caps and exclamation points, too. It’s a big […]

Posted inNews

Clash in the Canyonlands

Some want to turn a giant swath of land in Southeast Oregon into a National Monument. Others think it’s a waste of time.
Brian Jennings

If you want to ponder the wonder of the universe under a vast umbrella of stars, head to Owyhee country. Native Oregonian and Bend-area resident Karl Findling calls it “one of the darkest and most remote regions” in the lower 48 states—and that renders it perfect for watching the stars. Findling, who grew up in […]

Posted inOutside

Go Here 8/24-8/31

Russ Axon

Volcanic Bike and Brew Festival No other town does beer and outdoor sports quite like Bend. Need an example? Check out the Volcanic Bike and Brew Festival at Mt. Bachelor from Aug. 26-28, featuring the best in mountain bike racing and local brews. Kicking off at 11 am each day, riders will compete in the […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

2016 Woman of the Year: Alice Elshoff

Educator and conservationist protecting Oregon’s natural treasures
Brian Jennings

As co-founder of Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Alice Elshoff’s patience with the armed occupation near Burns unraveled on Jan. 9. She had patiently watched the armed takeover of the 188,000-acre preserve, admitting that she didn’t take it seriously at first. On that early Saturday in January, however, all that changed. She fired […]

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