News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 160 - 184 of 363
Wasco Lake came to mind recently because of the current Forest Service initiative under consideration to decommission several miles of trails in that area. If the trail closures are enacted as proposed, Wasco Lake would still be accessible from Jack Lake, but it would not be accessible from Bear Valley to the east. Since the B&B Fire 10 years ago, the eastern access has not been maintained and is largely impassable amid a tangle of dead trees. So, today's hike to Wasco Lake... Full story
Many of us who live on the east side of the Cascades tend to forget that there are some great hikes just over the pass. In this case, McKenzie Pass. Benson Lake is a relatively short and easy hike that is a great choice for the entire family, although toddlers may object to a gradual, but long, uphill grade. The trail is well-defined and mostly smooth, with a conifer-needle carpeting. There are a few downed trees, which must be scrambled over or otherwise circumvented along... Full story
The Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has incorporated some interesting features into their trail system surrounding the town of Sisters, and Eagle Rock is one of them. The community trail network takes off from the edge of town and wanders through the area's neighboring woodlands. Eagle Rock is not a well-known local landmark, despite the fact that it is only a couple of miles from downtown, is easily accessible, and offers spectacular views of the region's surrounding... Full story
The Round Lake to Square Lake trail is an easy wilderness hike of about two miles each way. I hear from quite a few people who tell me that they read my hiking columns regularly, but protest that they feel too old, too slow, too out-of-shape - or too whatever - to actually do the hikes. Well, if you fall into that category and would like to get back in the game, this is a great "starter hike." Ten years ago, this spot fell victim to our seemingly endless litany of severe... Full story
There is no escaping the fact that burned-over forests will be a part of life in Sisters Country for generations to come. The land burned in last year's Pole Creek Fire was only the most recent of thousands upon thousands of local forest acres that have gone up in flames over the last several years. Fire in the forest has always been a natural part of the greater ecological picture, but recent fires in the second-growth forests of the West are not especially natural. Very few... Full story
The Forest Service has proposed several changes to current wilderness trail maintenance practices in the Sisters Ranger District. Largely due to limited resources and damage from wildfires, trail maintenance in some areas has been curtailed; and some trails have become impassable. The proposed changes encompass a range of options that include resuming historical maintenance levels on some trails, reducing targeted maintenance on others, and decommissioning other trails entirely. In the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, proposals... Full story
The community trail network sponsored by the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) receives plenty of use, but a surprising number of local people are not familiar with it. According to an informal survey conducted by the STA, most STA trail users are from places other than Sisters. It stands to reason that, if people are traveling from far and wide to use the Sisters trail system, local residents ought to take advantage of it, too! Truth be told, the principal trailhead is so close... Full story
The after-effects of the Pole Creek Fire continue to haunt Sisters Country and will continue to do so for some time. The Forest Service has opened many of the previously closed access roads into the burn area, but additional work will be required before all areas are open to the public. In the meantime, safety issues - principally falling tree hazards - and forest rehabilitation are continuing to be addressed. The Forest Service recently granted The Nugget a special permit... Full story
Chush Falls, formerly known as Squaw Creek Falls, is one of the most popular hiking destinations in our area. In the wake of last year's Pole Creek Fire, however, it has become an entirely different hike. The Chush Falls report is one of those good news, bad news scenarios. Bad news: the fire has dramatically altered and scarred much of the surrounding landscape. Good news: most of the area immediately adjacent to the falls did not burn! Bad news: the hike is now longer. Good... Full story
A light mid-elevation snow pack this past winter is resulting in a potentially early hiking season this year. Up until last week's brief cold snap, there had been virtually no mountain snowfall since early April, and hiking trails are becoming snow-free considerably earlier than usual this year. Still, there are a number of constraints that hikers should consider before heading out onto the trail system. Extensive snow may still be found at some elevations above 5,500 feet... Full story
People keep asking me if the Black Butte Trail is free of snow. The short answer is "yes." In fact, when I was up there a couple of weeks ago, only the slightest remnants of snow remained. Just a few years ago, during what would be the equivalent of next week, I was forced to clamber over extensive snowfields to reach the summit. Guide books list the trail as open from July to October, but there is no need to wait. One thing to keep in mind this year, is that there are now... Full story
Ever since the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) took last year's historic step of returning Whychus Creek to its original meandering path at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, anxious eyes have watched to see how the fish would adapt. Last week, longtime DLT board member Rod Bonacker led a group of local residents on a fish-oriented tour of the new Whychus Creek channel to discuss just that. Bonacker began his tour with a brief history of the historic salmon and steelhead runs of the... Full story
In recent years, declining snowpack and increased wildfires have been prominent features in the ecological story of Sisters Country - but is there a connection between the two? And how does climate change fit into the picture? These questions, and others, were discussed in Sisters at last week's "Science Pub" sponsored by OSU-Cascades. With an official lecture title of "Waning Winters and the Interconnected Effects of Snow and Wildfire," Oregon State University Geoscientist... Full story
Because of my personal plans, I knew I would be unable to take part in the John Craig Memorial ski event, which was scheduled over last weekend. Still, it seemed like an interesting idea; so, I decided to take a run up there anyway. Prior to that time, skiing on a road that I've driven many times before hadn't been real high on my to-do list; but I'm glad that I took the time to do it. When my friend and I decided to make the trek, we were unable to drive within about a mile... Full story
After a recent higher-elevation snowfall, a friend and I decided to see how some of the forest south of town had fared during last summer's Pole Creek Fire. The first question we had to deal with was whether to travel the backcountry on skis or snowshoes. After hearing about a steep hill and reported icy, rutted conditions out of the Upper Three Creek Sno-Park, we opted for snowshoes. Although the trip went just fine on snowshoes, most of the time I regretted that choice. I sa... Full story
When John Templeton Craig set out from "Craig's Bridge" (now McKenzie Bridge) in December of 1877 to cross the Cascades, he had no idea that he was about to die or that, 135 years later, Nordic skiers would be massing at his grave to commemorate his ill-fated journey. Craig was an Oregon pioneer in the truest sense of the word. He came to Oregon in 1852 and was a part of the Scott expedition in 1862 that ushered in a new era of travel between the Willamette Valley and Central... Full story
Back in January, I reported on Hoodoo's lower Nordic trail system, which I have skied a number of times. It wasn't until last month, however, that I finally got around to skiing Hoodoo's outback on the upper Nordic trail system and enjoying its beautiful mountain views. Readers who follow my outdoor columns may recall that, while I have certainly been enjoying cross-country skiing lately, I lay no claim to any lofty level of expertise. As a result, I have always scrupulously... Full story
Not all backcountry ski touring involves long distances or wild, remote terrain. Here's a little excursion that is short, pretty easy, and readily accessible. There are a number of ways to reach the North Blowout Shelter, just south of Santiam Pass. The most commonly traveled route is from the Ray Benson Sno-Park. We decided to take a slightly different approach and avoid some of the more heavily trafficked, and often icy, ruts that sometimes accumulate near the popular... Full story
One of the lesser-known hazards of snow country travel is the danger posed by tree wells. Tree wells form around the bases of evergreen trees when overhanging limbs interfere with the natural deposition of falling snow, and the resulting cavities can be deadly. When a uniform blanket of snow is disrupted by tree limbs, the opening created around the tree trunk can partially fill with loose, unconsolidated snow. Like quicksand, these cavities can swallow a person in an... Full story
Children and staff from Black Butte School (BBS) in Camp Sherman celebrated 40 years of partnership with Hoodoo ski schools by dedicating a 1,200-square-foot wall mural in Hoodoo's ski lodge. The mural was completed by BBS students last year with the talent and supervision of BBS's health and physical education specialist, Stephanie Blakelock. Hoodoo's general manager, Matthew McFarland, welcomed the students, parents and staff gathered to mark the occasion and thanked the school for the mural. Directing his remarks... Full story
What images are usually associated with elementary school PE classes? Children's games? Foot races? Dodgeball? Children at most schools have their physical education classes in a gym or on a playground. Camp Sherman's Black Butte School (BBS), however, has a PE program that sounds more like a fantasy camp. As befits a community carved out of the Cascade forest, the little two-room schoolhouse in the woods takes full advantage of its surrounding environment. As might be expected at an elementary school, the BBS PE program... Full story
Okay, it's a stretch to say that I've finally found a silver lining to the awful wildfire destruction of our local forests; but I recently discovered something not-so-awful about the whole mess. Still, I'm firmly in the camp of those who have been nearly despondent over having most of my high-country wilderness playgrounds go up in flames over the last several years. Until now, though, I've been hard-pressed to find anything positive amidst all the destruction. Until now. On... Full story
Just because the high-country trails are buried in snow doesn't mean that the high country is closed. In fact, the Deschutes National Forest Trails office continues to publish trail updates designed for winter outdoor enthusiasts. The recent plentiful snow and sunshine have made this January a great time to get out and explore the woods. Although I'm more likely to be found on the alpine slopes, my skiing buddy has been trying to gradually expand my horizons a little further... Full story
Sisters bridge players are looking for a few good card players. Actually, they don't have to be very good at all. Or even players. "We're willing to help people brush up on their skills if they haven't played in a while," said bridge enthusiast Ardie Winters. "We'll even give lessons to interested people who haven't played before." Susan Sandberg is the current organizer for the group, which meets every Thursday afternoon at the Pines Clubhouse. "We play a very low-key... Full story
As our weather becomes more wintry and hiking opportunities continue to dwindle, the Lower Whychus Creek trail comes to mind as an excellent hike for almost any time of the year. Also, if you choose to hike this popular local trail in the next ten days, your hike will be four miles shorter than if you wait until December! Effective December 1 through March 31, the access road to that corner of the Crooked River National Grassland is closed to motor vehicles. That doesn't mean... Full story
