News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 210 - 234 of 363
The Sisters High Desert Chorale, a community performing choir, begins its new season of rehearsals on February 6. The upcoming winter and spring rehearsals are leading up to the chorale's annual spring concerts, which have been scheduled for May 4 and 6. The singers are returning from their annual break after performing Christmas concerts before record crowds at Sisters Community Church in December. Hundreds of area residents turned out for the holiday concerts, as word of the performances continues to spread. "We are so... Full story
Snow is finally accumulating in the mountains, but local ski patrol preparations for the season began months ago. Sisters-area resident Tom Egan is the professional ski patrol director at Hoodoo Ski Area and says that "training is ongoing, systematic, and documented." Last week, more than 30 ski patrollers hit the snow-dusted slopes at Hoodoo to conduct their annual emergency chair lift evacuation drill. While area residents were still enjoying summer sports and activities,... Full story
This has been a short hiking season in the high country, and we've already seen new snowfall on some of the higher-elevation trails. So, if snow is limiting your outdoor activities before there is enough of it to ski on, take solace in the fact there are still hiking opportunities to be enjoyed. Here's a hiking alternative that's close to home and provides some interesting terrain. Rather than a specific hike, this is an invitation to explore. Dry Canyon, east of town, is a... Full story
Most Central Oregon hikers have been to Canyon Creek Meadows to enjoy the spectacular wildflower displays. Now that we are into October, of course, the popular flower displays are long gone. Still, there are plenty of good reasons to hike into this unique and scenic area. In spite of all the foot traffic into this area during wildflower season, most hikers I talk to have not made the extra effort to visit the little glacial tarn tucked away on the northeast slopes of Three... Full story
Marion Lake is a little farther away than some hikes, but it's still less than an hour from Sisters. Actually, there are a number of ways to reach Marion Lake by trail. The most common hiking route is a short 2.3-mile jaunt from an access road to the north. Much longer routes from the south tally 12 to 14 miles - one way. We opted for something in between. The Pine Ridge trail, from Camp Pioneer, is a "just right" hike of about 10 miles round trip. Camp Pioneer, on the shore... Full story
Although the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) was formally established in 1968, it was not until 1980 that Eric Ryback was credited with being the first person to hike the entire length of the trail from Mexico to Canada in one season. Since then, thru-hiking has achieved almost cult status. Still, according to the PCT Association, more people have climbed Mt. Everest than have successfully completed a thru-hike of the PCT! That statistic can hardly come as a surprise during a year... Full story
There are hikers - and then there are hikers like Paula Berry of Sisters. As a warm-up for hiking the Pyrenees in France and Spain next year, she decided to hike all of Oregon's Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this summer. By all accounts, 2011 has been a rough year on the Pacific Crest Trail, and Berry saw plenty of evidence to bear that out. On the trail - and in her local business - the 61-year-old fitness buff is known simply by her middle name of "Isabella." She tends to scoff... Full story
Like most salt-water-starved Central Oregonians, we make periodic forays to Oregon's magnificent coast. On one such recent trip, we discovered Oregon's newest state park and some great kayaking in the Beaver Creek State Natural Area. Just south of Newport, Beaver Creek State Natural Area opened last fall. A state natural area differs from other state parks in that a natural area is designed to stay, well, natural. Development is kept to an absolute minimum so that visitors... Full story
The first time I hiked from the north of the Three Sisters Wilderness through to Century Drive, it was 1987 - and I took three days to do it. So, when my hiking buddy suggested it as a day-hike, I was skeptical. I've been up the Pole Creek Trail many times on my way to climbing the North and Middle Sisters or other wilderness wanderings. In Park Meadow once, I'd noticed it was only four miles to the Soap Creek Crossing on the Pole Creek Trail. Connecting the two was an... Full story
Martin Lake clearly appears on most wilderness maps, but you will not find any marked trails leading there. For a little off-trail adventure, however, Martin Lake provides a worthy destination; but it would not be wise to attempt it alone. This hike involves a difficult and steep off-trail section in dense forest that should not be attempted unless the hikers are experienced and in excellent condition. Further, anyone considering this hike should possess and know how to use a... Full story
Here's a hike that offers some options. This trail, from the summit of Santiam Pass, offers a seven-mile round-trip to the Berley Lakes, with the alternate possibility of adding on Santiam Lake for a round trip totaling 11 miles. The lakes themselves escaped the 2003 B&B fire, but the first part of the trail route was seriously affected by the blaze. Still, the regenerating forest presents a beauty of its own. The burn is actually quite green, now, with young trees - especiall... Full story
Now that it's well into August, you would think that snow should have ceased to be an issue on the high-country trails. Think again. The Forest Service continues to issue bulletins warning of snow covering trails. Hardly a week goes by without news of lost hikers; and, almost invariably, this is because hikers became disoriented when they wandered off trails that were obscured under - sometimes - several feet of snow. Just last week, the Forest Service reported,... Full story
It may come as a surprise to some that nearby Blue Lake offers a pleasant little hike. For most locals, Blue Lake has faded into a peculiar esoteric status. Twenty years ago, this local miniature Crater Lake was a frequent destination for fishing, hiking, or just a scenic day outing. The curtain was drawn quietly but suddenly. While many such forest resort destinations are operated under Forest Service use permits, Blue Lake Resort had always been sited on private land. As... Full story
At last, the snow in the high country is giving way to summer. It's been a long wait, but the ground is finally starting to come out of hiding. Last week we hiked into Duffy Lake, northwest of Santiam Pass, with no difficulty at all; but there was still a substantial amount of snow between Duffy and Santiam Lakes. We had originally intended to hike beyond Duffy to Santiam Lake; but the going was so difficult over the snow that we just lost enthusiasm for what was already an... Full story
Many local hikers have enjoyed parts of this trail system, but few have hiked it all at once. Clear Lake, Sahalie Falls, and Koosah Falls are popular spots to visit by vehicle; but a hike from Fish Lake to Carmen Reservoir incorporates all these attractions and more. It's only about 6.7 miles from Fish Lake to Carmen Reservoir, and there are other options to make it longer or shorter. This trail is part of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail, which extends more than... Full story
Given the late start for high-elevation trail access this summer, I've thus far tried to focus on snow-free venues that can still offer a flavor of the wilderness experience. In that spirit, here's a very pleasant hike that leads into a deep forest to a mountain lake that is just on the other side of McKenzie Pass. In spite of its proximity to civilization, Linton Lake is actually inside the boundaries of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. At an elevation of 3,500 feet, the... Full story
Over the last several weeks, the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) has begun introducing the public to the newest acquisition in its lineup of protected conservation lands in the Deschutes Basin. Since it was established in 1995 to accommodate the donation of a 145-acre portion of Indian Ford Meadow, the land trust has been responsible for the preservation of 8,200 acres of land in Central Oregon - with even more planned. The new Whychus Canyon Preserve is a previously unprotected... Full story
For years, the loop trail around the edge of Suttle Lake has suffered significant damage from erosion and heavy traffic. Because the lake is popular for fishing and boating and is surrounded by campgrounds, a resort, youth camps, and a host of other recreational opportunities, the trail is one of the most heavily used in the Sisters Ranger District. Because the trail hugs the shoreline so closely, there isn't much vegetation to hold the soils in place; and the constant... Full story
The lingering heavy snowpack in the high country has set me to looking about for early season hiking alternatives. One such hike recently came to my attention; and, although I am tempted to classify it as an urban hike, it still offers a welcome alternative to a steady diet of hiking in the desert country. At the western edge of Bend, Shevlin Park sports a completely snow-free venue for hiking, along with a beautiful stream and towering conifer trees. Guide books list the loop... Full story
The Forest Service has completed improvements to a number of trails in the Sisters area, with more to come. Improved trails and those seeing upgrades in the near future are in popular, heavy-use, non-wilderness sections of the Sisters Ranger District. Kirk Flannigan is the Forest Service's local team leader for Recreation, Heritage, Lands & Minerals. He is pleased with steps being taken to improve experiences for local trail users. "We're already doing the planning for replacing or adding structures along the Metolius... Full story
A recent visitor to the Deschutes Land Trust's Camp Polk Meadow Preserve remarked that Whychus Creek and the Mississippi River have something in common: They were both channelized to control flooding. Today the Land Trust is undoing some of that work by restoring sections of Whychus Creek to its historic condition. In the case of the Mississippi, flood control and navigational issues were the principal concerns that resulted in alteration of the natural landscape. Navigation h... Full story
The Episcopal Church's Transfiguration Choir is only a month away from its choral tour of Ireland, and the choir plans to serenade Sisters in a "dress rehearsal" of the musical selections to be performed on tour. Concertgoers will be offered a choice of free afternoon or evening performances on Saturday, May 21. Two years ago, the Transfiguration Choir conducted a European tour with performances at nine venues in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. That trip was such a success that the choir will soon be headed back acr... Full story
The Sisters Chorale, the community's performing choir, will perform two free public concerts this weekend on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14. The selections to be performed will mark a significant departure from the choir's more traditional and classical themes of the past. Two-thirds of the concert bill is evenly divided between gospel and patriotic themes. Patriotic selections include an unusual and stirring arrangement of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Also to be performed are "This Is My Country," and the... Full story
In most of my hiking columns, I encourage readers to try new experiences and new places, but not this time. This expedition involved precipitous cliffs, rockslides, dense thickets, rattlesnakes, ticks, thorns, dead-end routes, strenuous climbing, extensive steep hillside traverses, and constant alertness for the source of the copious mountain lion sign. When we finished this endurance contest, I wasn't sure if what we felt was a sense of accomplishment or just relief. Having c... Full story
Although the weather finally seems to be on a warmer trend, the snow is still six to eight feet deep at pass levels, which leaves a continuing window of opportunity for spring cross-country skiing. Lower-elevation trails are beginning to shed their snow, but the high elevations remain completely buried and are likely to remain so for some time. It's easy for an outdoor enthusiast to feel conflicted during this overlap of seasons. Even though I've already enjoyed several hikes... Full story
