News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 363
Our continuing dearth of precipitation is a disaster for the mountains, the snowpack, our water supply, and the skiing industry; but it does serve to extend the hiking season. Although, with dry lake-bottoms exposed, brooks dried up, and vegetation brown and bleak, the scenery isn't what we're accustomed to in the mountains. Yet there are some destinations that still have plenty to offer. So, when a friend asked me how recently I last wrote up Tam McArthur Rim, I had to think... Full story
In the latest installment of its continuing quarterly speaker series, next week the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) will host a presentation by Michael Riehle, the Forest Service district fisheries biologist in Sisters, who will be speaking on the restoration of salmon and steelhead habitat in Whychus Creek. STA board member Bjarne Holm is the coordinator for STA's speaker series and invited Riehle to address the STA forum. Holm has a strong personal interest in the... Full story
Here is a pleasant 10-mile hike, peppered with historical footnotes, that involves a net loss of a little over 500 feet in elevation. This route begins near McKenzie Pass, ascends to the Matthieu Lakes, descends from Scott Pass, skirts the base of Yapoah Crater, and returns to the McKenzie Highway near Scott Lake. A car drop is required unless you want to walk the 6.5 miles of the McKenzie Highway between the two trailheads. The hike begins at the trailhead near Lava Camp... Full story
Yapoah Lake turned out to be a little bit of a mystery for me, and there are probably some folks out there who would have preferred that it remain that way. This remote little lake came to my attention when a reader contacted me hoping that I could help her find it. I told her that I didn't have a clue, but I'd be glad to help her look. She explained that, about 20 years ago, she had been a volunteer in the Forest Service's Passport in Time project. At that time, anthropology... Full story
Demaris Lake isn't really on the way to anywhere else, so it tends to be kind of off the general public's radar screen. Also, it's a little longer hike than some of the more popular destinations, and it can only be reached by hiking through the devastation of the Pole Creek Fire. On the other hand, I've never seen another hiker at Demaris Lake, so - unless everyone runs up there after reading this column - it's usually a place of solitude. A round-trip to Demaris Lake clocks in at just under 11 miles, and the elevation gain... Full story
In spite of the rich rewards offered by the short hike to Echo Basin, the trail is in horrible condition due to very poor maintenance. It is so bad that, if it gets much worse, only the most agile hikers should even attempt it. Severe erosion has created areas of rocky trenches that once sported a very nice trail. Numerous "leg traps" dot the trail's entire length. Some of these traps consist of hidden holes that cannot be seen because the trail is so badly overgrown by the... Full story
Most local travelers know that Lost Lake lies along that low, flat stretch of Highway 20 between Santiam Pass and the Santiam "Y." I've always thought it a bit odd that such a conspicuously located feature should be named as "lost." Lately, however, it does seem to be lost. I had seen recent reports that, in this year of extreme drought, Lost Lake's water was being lost through a big drain hole into a subterranean lava tube. So I decided to investigate it, myself. I didn't... Full story
At one time or another, most Central Oregon hikers have taken the opportunity to enjoy Canyon Creek Meadows and witness the rich and varied displays of wildflowers. Because of our warm and dry year, wildflowers peaked early this year; but that doesn't mean that all the flowers are completely gone. Regardless, there are still plenty of other good reasons to hike into this unique and scenic area. This hike explores the eastern base of Three Fingered Jack, and there are a number... Full story
Many of us have our own places in the mountains that have special meaning. One reader and long-time Nugget subscriber, a California resident named Ricks Mattson, contacted me to share just such a special spot. The place is Robinson Lake, a not-too-distant wilderness site that I was completely unfamiliar with. Mattson proposed to his late wife at Robinson Lake, and he still returns there to honor her memory. So, to follow up on this tip, I first had to locate the place.... Full story
Old-growth trees, towering mountains, mountain meadows, acres of wildflowers, mountain streams, and fields of sparkling natural glass: It's no wonder that, for decades, the Obsidian Trail was designated as a "Heavy Use Area," with vague instructions such as "try to avoid." In more recent years, however, the Forest Service was forced to take further steps to limit user impact and designate it a "Limited Entry Area," requiring possession of an entry permit, the numbers of which... Full story
As part of its continuing quarterly speaker series, the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) will be hosting a presentation by Oregon Wild's Central Oregon Field Representative Pam Hardy. She plans to talk about the organization's efforts to protect National Forests, wildlife and clean water. Some of Oregon Wild's most recent efforts, such as fighting for designation of new wilderness areas near places like Crater Lake, will also be on the agenda. Founded in 1974, Oregon Wild works... Full story
Perhaps you've seen them. Popping up along forest trails, or even in your own backyard, pinedrops are one of the more unusual plant species awaiting your discovery. Hikers frequently ask, "What are those things?" And that's a good question. The woodland pine drop is a parasitic plant that lives in a sort of biological "three-way," with a particular type of fungus and - not surprisingly, given its name - pine trees. Woodland pinedrops appear in the spring and on into the... Full story
For the second year in a row, a Sisters-area resident is the recipient of the Big Chainring Award. Phyllis Lewis was honored last week with the 2015 award. The Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) selected her for the honor in recognition of her volunteer contributions to pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly environments in Deschutes County. Last year's award went to Patrick Eckford, also of Sisters. Started in 1996, the Big Chainring Awards are presen... Full story
This is a great time of the year for wildflower viewing. However, due to the poor snow year, blooms are occurring earlier than ever; so, there is no time to waste if wildflowers are an interest of yours. Few places have more to offer in the wildflower arena than Cone Peak Meadows. Among wildflower enthusiasts, Cone Peak is well known; but, for the casual wildflower observer, it may be off the radar. The trail is 35 miles west of Sisters on Highway 20 and is easily accessed on... Full story
I had heard of Steins Pillar before but had never visited it until a friend suggested that we do just that and hike the four-mile round trip. So, off we went and discovered that Steins Pillar is 57 miles from Sisters in the Ochoco National Forest. Our first surprise was how lush the area was. It was also relatively cool on a very hot day. We had both traveled the area east of Prineville many times and thought of the area as being much hotter and drier. However, the valley... Full story
The loop trail around Suttle Lake is an excellent nearby hiking opportunity that is sometimes overlooked simply because it's so obvious. Nestled along the south side of Highway 20, right where the road angles up the steep grade to Santiam Pass, it is easy to drive right on by this pleasant hike. However, it's worth noting that this trail is ideal for an early season tune-up hike. (Note: There is currently an algae bloom in the lake and the Forest Service has placed a caution... Full story
The Deschutes Land Trust's (DLT) "Campaign for Whychus Creek" continued to gain momentum last Saturday with the dedication of newly acquired acreage that more than doubles the size of its Whychus Canyon Preserve. The addition, which was actually acquired last fall, is the product of several years of planning and negotiations. More than 100 guests attended Saturday's ceremony in what will be one of the last public opportunities to view the area prior to restoration activities... Full story
Certainly, the annual blizzard of pine pollen is annoying when it turns my red car yellow or coats my front porch with that yellow dust ready to be tracked into the house. Still, I didn't fully recognize the extent of the pollination in progress until I hiked to the top of Black Butte last week. Looking down at Sisters Country from more than 6,400 feet, we saw a haze over the local forests. At first we assumed it was smoke, and we could see some controlled burns, so that... Full story
Nearly 20 years ago, inmates seeking a little elusive outdoor freedom volunteered to do trail stabilization work at Suttle Lake. In the decades since, their work has held up well. However, since their principal building materials were logs, the structures they built have begun to rot and crumble over time. As a result, the loop trail around the edge of Suttle Lake has suffered significant damage from erosion and heavy traffic. Since the lake is popular for fishing and boating... Full story
The Forest Service announced that the bridge across Indian Ford Creek at Indian Ford Campground will be removed this week. Amy Racki, recreation team leader for the Deschutes National Forest, Sisters Ranger District, said that the rotting bridge has been condemned and has been closed to equestrian traffic for more than two years. Removal of the bridge has been necessitated by the determination that it poses a public-safety risk. The bridge links the Sisters Tie Trail with the... Full story
As part of the continuing quarterly speaker series offered by the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), the organization will be hosting a presentation by nationally recognized professional trail builder and trail consultant, Woody Keen. Scheduled to speak next week, Keen's topic will be "Leave No Child Indoors: How to Make Trails Interesting for Children." Among his many trail affiliations, Keen spent six years on the board of the International Mountain Bicycling Association... Full story
The Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) held their annual meeting last week, and there was a lot to review from 2014. STA President Chuck Humphreys began the program by outlining STA's significant accomplishments in trail work in the Sisters area. He forcefully drove home his biggest point that "the trails are for everyone." STA supports trail use by all non-motorized trail users. Membership is comprised of hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Humphreys also applauded the launching... Full story
Last week in Sisters, Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) Executive Director Brad Chalfant outlined the history of Whychus Creek and what the Land Trust sees as the future for this important stream that flows through Sisters. He also took the time to discuss the role of the Land Trust in the Deschutes River Basin. Chalfant was introduced by Bjarne Holm, board member for the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), which hosted the event. Holm praised the work of the Land Trust and Chalfant as... Full story
The Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) will be holding their annual meeting next Thursday on January 29, at 7 p.m. in The Pines Clubhouse at the west end of Sisters. Even though this is the club's annual meeting, the public is welcome. In addition to the meeting agenda, the STA will be having Marv Lang of the U.S. Forest Service as the guest speaker for the event. Although Lang's official title with the Forest Service is Recreation Forester for the Deschutes National Forest, he... Full story
Last year, the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) began offering a series of formal quarterly presentations by speakers focusing on outdoor recreation. This year, the series continues. Scheduled to speak next week is Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) Executive Director Brad Chalfant. Chalfant and DLT have had a tremendous impact on conservation of land and natural resources in the Deschutes River Basin and, even more specifically, in the Sisters area. Actually, the DLT was sort of "born"... Full story
