News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Skylight Cave is a relatively large and fairly accessible lava tube about 10 miles west of town. I suppose I will get some complaints for publicizing it, but I have confidence that my readers are responsible stewards of the natural wonders that make Sisters Country the wonderful place it is. Lava tubes form during a volcanic eruption when the outer surface of a lava flow cools and hardens, but the molten rock below the surface remains liquid and flowing. Sometimes, the lava... Full story
It's always a treat to try new adventures, especially one as scenic and close to home as this one. Lately, my column has focused on short and middle-distance hikes. At 13.3 miles, however, today's hike offers the serious hiker more of a challenge. This little adventure starts at the Scott Trail Trailhead on the McKenzie Highway, just a few miles west of McKenzie Pass. This route combines with the popular Obsidian Trail, to make one of the most scenic hikes imaginable. At a... Full story
Last week, the U.S. Forest Service hosted a meeting of the Sisters Trail Users Group (S-TUG). According to S-TUG's mission statement, the group's periodic meetings are designed to "bring together a diverse array of trail enthusiasts from Sisters and the surrounding communities ... to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate on any trail planning management topics of interest..." The "trail enthusiasts" were represented by S-TUG members that include hikers, bicyclists,... Full story
I am frequently asked to name my favorite hike, and that's a really difficult task. On the other hand, I have an unhesitating response if someone asks me, "We only have half a day, where can I take my friends on a hike to show them the best of our area?" The answer to that question is a no-brainer. I tell them to hike the Matthieu Lakes Trail, a pleasant outing in the Three Sisters Wilderness that does not involve a major expedition. It's a great hike for people who aren't rea... Full story
Tuyas are relatively rare and unusual geological features that are found in exotic cold-climate locations such as far northern British Columbia, Iceland, Antarctica, and Tuva, Russia, near the Siberia-Mongolian border. If you don't want to go that far to see one, there is one other place on the planet where they can be found that is not quite so hard to reach. You can simply drive up to Santiam Pass. Hayrick Butte and Hogg Rock are two classic examples of an unusual... Full story
Based on input from many readers, there is quite a bit of interest in short- to mid-length hikes to wilderness destinations. With a round trip of only about four easy miles, the hike to Cabot Lake certainly qualifies. This gentle, well-maintained trail has only some slight ups and downs, with negligible elevation change. Almost all of this hike is within the boundaries of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area. Hikers enter the wilderness only a couple of hundred yards from the... Full story
There is more than one way to get to Hand Lake, and the first time I visited the site, it was near the end of a 10-mile hike. Today's version is a lot shorter and much more direct. The quickest in-and-out version is only about a mile round trip. For this hike, however, we took an interesting historical side trip around the lake for what was still a relatively short hike of about three miles. The Hand Lake Trailhead is just a half hour from Sisters over McKenzie Pass. The... Full story
It didn't take long for word to get out about the new accessible trail south of town on the Three Creek Road. Just a few weeks after the formal dedication of the Whychus Overlook, the new feature was already seeing new users for whom the project was intended. John Schubert, a former Forest Service employee, was one of those involved in the planning and construction of the project; and he mentioned the new trail to his neighbor, Nancy Stevens, who is blind. "I was so intrigued... Full story
There are many people in the area now who were not here when the B & B Fire burned nearly 100,000 acres in 2003. The scars at Santiam Pass are still quite evident, and the forest's full recovery is still generations away. To fully appreciate that recovery, it is necessary to examine it up close. A good way to view the fire's aftermath is to hike from Santiam Pass to Square Lake. This is a relatively short hike, less than 2.5 miles each way, with a few moderate ups and downs... Full story
At one time or another, almost everyone makes a pilgrimage of patriotism to Mt. Rushmore. While much of South Dakota is eminently forgettable, there are lots of things to do and see in South Dakota's Black Hills. So, once there, don't just gaze at the massive stone faces of the presidents and leave. Devote some time to take in all that the Black Hills have to offer. The Black Hills have been revered by Native Americans for hundreds of years; and, in the mad rush of... Full story
Quite often, I am asked to recommend a hike that can be enjoyed by small children or people with limited mobility. So, occasionally, I like to feature a hike that is hardly a hike at all. Let's call it an "outing in the woods." The Jack Creek Trail is probably the premier local hike in that category. It offers a short, flat, obstruction-free trail in a park-like setting, with a truly remarkable natural phenomenon as a destination objective. I have even seen families with... Full story
Chush Falls is one of the premier hiking destinations in our area, and I am always a bit surprised at the number of local residents who have not yet taken this popular hike up to the thundering waterfalls of Whychus Creek. Don't be one of them! The falls, long known as Squaw Creek Falls, had a name change to Chush Falls after the State Legislature, in a sweeping gesture of political correctness, banned the use of the S-word for Oregon place-names. No matter what name you use,... Full story
Three weeks ago, the Forest Service opened a new handicapped-accessible trail to a scenic overlook above Whychus Creek south of town. It's a very easy loop trail of about a mile. In the process, however, another trail - in Whychus Draw - was also opened. Although it is less than half a mile in length, it opens up the area to an entirely new hiking opportunity. The trail in Whychus Draw takes off from a spot adjacent to the new overlook. In all the years I've been wandering... Full story
Although the snowpack is rapidly dwindling, it is still a good idea to stick to lower- elevation trails for the early season. Keep in mind that, even after the snow disappears, trail damage can occur when using higher-elevation trails that are still soggy with meltwater. The upper McKenzie River waterfall trail is completely snow free. Plus, it's hardly more than a half an hour from Sisters. However, at just 2.6 miles, it makes for a pretty light-duty hike. To remedy that, we... Full story
The new Whychus Creek Overlook and loop trail opened to the public last week. The dedication ceremony was "by invitation only" and not staged for the general public because of limited parking space. Still, more than 100 people were on hand for this long-anticipated addition to the outdoor recreation menu of the Sisters area. Among those in attendance were representatives of local government, business and private organizations that worked together to preserve and make... Full story
Fresh off the resounding success of the Whychus Creek restoration at Camp Polk, the Deschutes Land Trust (DLT) is gearing up for yet another major creek restoration project at their Whychus Canyon Preserve, which is downstream from Camp Polk. Beginning in July, bulldozers and heavy equipment will begin to reshape the canyon floor and streambed of the 930-acre preserve. Amanda Egertson, stewardship director for the Land Trust, explained that the lessons learned during the Camp Polk restoration will help to move this next... Full story
The canyon walls of Whychus Creek, as seen here from the Alder Springs crossing, reveal thousands of years of geologic history. People I see around town keep asking me when they will start seeing my hiking columns, so I guess I am a bit overdue. Today's selection is hardly unknown to Sisters hikers, but a lot has changed since I first wrote this one up in 2008. So it's a good time to remind folks about the excellent early-season hiking opportunity at Alder Springs. Alder... Full story
When conflicting interests arise in forest management, Forest Ecologist Maret Pajutee says that win-win solutions are still possible. Pajutee, whose 25-year Forest Service career is in its final days, spoke to a keenly receptive audience last week as part of the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) speakers series. She dubbed her talk "Tale of Two Rivers - The Sequel - Keeping the 'Wild' in Wild and Scenic," building on earlier references to restoration efforts on the Metolius River... Full story
"I think the Three Sisters Irrigation District work represents a fascinating story," says Bjarne Holm, coordinator of the Sisters Trails Alliance's (STA) ongoing lecture series in Sisters. Next week, Marc Thalacker, manager of the Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID) will give an overview of his organization's continuing modernization of their irrigation system and their role, with other partners, in the restoration of Whychus Creek. Over the years, the health of Whychus Creek has been a major concern in Sisters Country.... Full story
Earlier this month, an incident in Central Oregon highlighted one of the lesser-known hazards of snow country travel: 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. This month's accident had a happy ending; but, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) team that performed the rescue, some of the credit goes to the telemark skier who was... Full story
"This organization has never been as strong as it is today!" Chuck Humphreys proclaimed as he kicked off last week's annual meeting of the Sisters Trails Alliance. Established 15 years ago, the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has grown to become a principal advocate and facilitator of outdoor recreation in the Sisters area. An all-volunteer organization, it is dedicated to the planning, construction and maintenance of non-motorized trails in Sisters Country. Asked to comment on the organization's overall perspective, Humphreys... Full story
The Sisters Bridge Club, which has a history going back more than 30 years, is thriving. Later this month, the group will be offering free bridge lessons. Just three years ago, however, the organization was in danger of fizzling out. "We had lost some of our older players," said Susan Sandberg, current co-organizer for the group, "and new people weren't taking their places." In late 2012, the group sometimes had a hard time mustering just two tables (eight players); and,... Full story
He has been described as a man protecting ecosystems "one salmon at a time." Darek Staab is the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative Project Manager for Trout Unlimited, and he will be speaking in Sisters next week. As part of its continuing quarterly speaker series, the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), will host Staab's speaking engagement next week. Staab's presentation is free and open to the public. He has titled his talk "Spring-fed Rivers and Stewardship: Conserving our... Full story
I'm accustomed to receiving quite a bit of feedback on my hiking columns, but I'm always a little surprised when I hear it from people outside of Central Oregon. So, I was once again surprised, and flattered, when I received an invitation to contact Portlander Lewis L. McArthur about my October column on Tam McArthur Rim. Lewis L. McArthur is the 98-year-old son of Lewis A. McArthur, whom one might consider to be the godfather of geographic names in the state of Oregon. Togeth... Full story
Most people would tell you that Sisters does not have a senior center, but that's not exactly true. For one day each week, there is a place where seniors gather for socialization, lunch, entertainment, games and a host of other activities. To help provide Sisters seniors with some of the benefits of a senior center, the Central Oregon Council On Aging (COCOA) provides seniors with a variety of services every Tuesday. Events always center around an excellent lunch, but other... Full story
