News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 64
The Forest Service is partnering with Sisters Trails Alliance to make the Whychus Creek Overlook on the Sisters Ranger District more accessible. The top rail of the Whychus Creek Overlook wall will be removed, and two viewing portals with security cables will be created to improve accessibility. The modifications will provide better views of the creek and mountains for visitors with disabilities. The modification project will begin May 6 and is expected to conclude May 9. The Whychus Creek Overlook will be closed for public s... Full story
Marcus Boyd is a prodigious talent on a snowmobile - and he proved it last month in Wyoming. Boyd won the juniors World Championship Hill Climb at Jackson Hole March 21-24, and he won by four seconds, a very big margin in such races. The run is like an Olympic downhill in reverse, with the snowmobile climbing a steep slope. "It feels like it's straight up and down," Boyd said. Boyd didn't know he'd won, let alone by a wide margin, until he started heading back down the hill.... Full story
Wolves, once native to Central Oregon, were eradicated from the State by the mid-1940s. However, over the past 15 years, wolves have steadily migrated from neighboring states to reestablish themselves in Oregon, including in the Deschutes National Forest and surrounding areas. The chances of encountering a wild wolf are extremely low. Wolves are generally shy and secretive animals, and there are significantly more bears and cougars in Oregon than wolves. However, just like... Full story
Award-winning Oregon author Bob Welch, will share stories and pictures from the Pacific Crest Trail on Thursday, April 18, at the Sisters Athletic Club. The event begins with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by a presentation at 5:30 p.m., followed by a book signing. Books by Welch will be available for purchase. Welch will discuss his latest book, “Seven Summers (And a Few Bummers): My Adventure Hiking the 2,650-Mile PCT.” Poignant, poetic, and fall-down funny, the story guides readers through the iconic trail, while lau... Full story
After more than 20 years of directing the annual Peterson Ridge Rumble trail race, Sean Meissner doesn't take ideal weather for granted. After days of rain finally abated and gave way to near-perfect weather conditions for endurance athletes, over 300 runners took part in the race's three distances, 20, 26, and 40 miles on Sunday. "It's always a bonus when the weather is good," said Meissner. Last year's deep snow resulted in the 40-mile race being shortened to 26 miles and... Full story
Along Lake Creek, in between Suttle Lake and Metolious River, lies a little-known protected area known as the Metolious Preserve, owned by Deschutes Land Trust. It's an unusual property, with a very diverse species mix along beautiful creeks - making it a great place to go as winter morphs into spring. Why go? It's an easy, essentially flat hike with beautiful creeks and diverse plants, with plenty of wildlife. The good trail system criscrosses the creek forks and several... Full story
For 63-year-old Paul Reina of Bend, last weekend's Lucky Leprechaun run marked his first-ever formal race. "I started running in November with my daughter, who is a cancer survivor, and figured that by signing up for events like this, I would stay motivated to keep running," Reina said. "This was a lot of fun." Reina was one of more than 200 runners and walkers, many clad in green, who took to the streets of Sisters for the Lucky Leprechaun 5k and 10k Saturday, March 9, as... Full story
What a difference a few weeks make. Ski Hoodoo waited until January to open for lack of snow. Now they are sitting atop 80 inches plus, with more coming in. At the nearby Sno Parks, and Three Creek Sno Park closer to town, the snowmobiles are revved up and gliding over deep snow terrain. The Three Creek snow-measuring station reported 40-inch snowpack on Saturday - 88 percent of normal, a big gain from just a few weeks ago. The late-season snow is a delight of snowmobilers,... Full story
Lauren Fleshman made her mark athletically as an elite runner, but her memoir may be her legacy. Fleshman's deep concern for the well-being of athletes, especially girls and women, is woven throughout her book, "Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World." In a book talk at Sisters Athletic Club (SAC) Wednesday, March 6, this theme remained her focus before an audience of around 100 guests. "This was really our first social event since COVID and it was so great to see... Full story
What does the Sisters Ranger District do when the ground is buried under five to 10 feet of snow, or the roads are closed? They do much of the same work they do any other time of the year. Only the means of conveyance changes. Last week The Nugget accompanied Jim Beaupre, recreation team lead, and Skyler Ogden, recreation management specialist, in making a safety and compliance inspection around the Three Creek Lake area. We met at the Sno Park, checked our gear, and took... Full story
Lauren Fleshman, well known for her highly decorated running career, will visit Sisters Athletic Club on Wednesday, March 6, to discuss her recent book “Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World,” published last year. The memoir became a New York Times best seller, and won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. The Washington Post described the book as “A close-up look at the uncertain and often unhealthy climb toward stardom for women in organized sports.” As a runner, Fleshman, who resides in Bend, won... Full story
Oregon Partners in Conservation Expo is hosting a family expo on February 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Interstate Event Center at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond. Oregon’s vast landscapes are a treasure trove of outdoor adventures and the people who make it all possible will be coming together under one roof at one time for youth and families to enjoy, and pursue whatever may interest them. They’ll meet experts from a wide variety of nonprofit outdoor recreation organizations alongside State & Federal Age... Full story
Four winter range closures are now in effect across the Deschutes National Forest to provide critical habitat for deer and elk. Closure areas include Cabin/Silver Lake, Metolius Winter Range, Opine Travel Management Area, and Tumalo Winter Range. Motorized vehicles (including snowmobiles and electric bicycles) are prohibited in the closure areas to protect deer and elk during the winter. The winter wildlife closures will last through March 31, 2024. Winter range is habitat deer and elk migrate to in order to find more... Full story
For the third year, RunSistersRun is offering a good reason to pull that Ugly Sweater out of the back of the closet as the Ugly Sweater 5k run is on tap for Saturday, December 2, starting in downtown Sisters. Action gets under way at 9:45 a.m. with a free "Santa's Lil' Helpers" 100-yard dash for ages 10 and under. At 10 a.m., runners and walkers will depart from Fir Street Park for a circuit to the north, past the post office and through Sun Ranch, making a short dogleg out Pi... Full story
Sisters Moto keeps rolling through the fall/winter season on two wheels. After their Sisters Moto fall celebration party in October, they keep rolling with events, hosting a pre-party to the AMA EnduroCross competitions held in Redmond last weekend. "EnduroCross is one of the wildest sports on two wheels. It combines the race format of motocross with the challenging obstacles of an enduro, all packed into the tight confines of a fan-friendly stadium setting," according to the... Full story
After five years of planning, fundraising, and delays, Black Butte School and the Camp Sherman community finally have a new playground. Kids are overjoyed with this new, beautiful, nature-integrated play structure. The playground incorporates logs of hazard trees cut from within the footprint of the playground. Other play elements include an ADA accessible pathway, ramp, and nest swing, tetherball and volleyball, a parkour challenge course, and some old-school style monkey... Full story
Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) plans to repurpose the Sisters Elementary School site to become a multiuse community recreation center under a long-term lease. Dougherty Landscape Architects (DLA), a planning firm in Eugene, has been hired by the SPRD Board of Directors to create a conceptual design for the outdoor space of the property. DLA will utilize recent work done by the City of Sisters, Sisters School District and Sisters Park & Recreation District while also offering new community engagement opportunities... Full story
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will seasonally close six areas in Central Oregon to safeguard habitat for federally protected raptors. These annual seasonal closures will protect the habitat of bald eagles, golden eagles, and prairie falcons during breeding and nesting periods. All public use, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and off-highway vehicle use, is prohibited in the following closure areas during the identified timeframes: • Tumalo Reservoir: Closed from January 1 to August 31 of every yea... Full story
Sisters has a hidden gem for those who like to test their skills on two wheels. Bike Park 242 is located just off the McKenzie Highway (242) adjacent to the Sisters Park & Recreation Coffield Center, at the west end of the Sisters High School parking lot. Not a lot of folks know it's there. That will change this weekend, as volunteers who have sunk hours of work and a substantial chunk of grant money into reviving and improving the park will host a grand opening. Riders are... Full story
Cool fall weather greeted just over 200 runners and walkers at the second annual GiddyUp Run organized by Kelly Bither of RunSistersRun, held Saturday, September 23 at Pole Creek Ranch. Action got underway with a short Buckaroo Run for about 50 kids 10 and under and then moved on to the 5- mile race and the 5-kilometer run/walk, which totaled 175 participants according to Bither. Members of the Sisters High School Alpine ski team served as course monitors, for which Bither... Full story
The Godby Farm in Sisters hosted officials from the KWPN (Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands) for a keuring event on Thursday, September 7. A "keuring" is an official inspection by a jury, wherein Dutch Warmblood horses are evaluated for their adherence to breed standards and fitness for participation in events such as dressage, hunter-jumper, or harness. Horse owners from around Central Oregon brought their mares and foals to a tradition-filled evaluation on a perfec... Full story
On a course that included a gnarly mud pit and two river crossings, a group of nine Outlaw runners experienced true cross-country at the Ultimook Race held at the Hydrangea Ranch outside Tillamook on Saturday, September 2. Ultimook has become a favorite early season meet for teams throughout Oregon for its uniquely challenging course. Over the span of the day over 2,000 runners splashed, slid, and ran through the 5,000-meter course. Sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s... Full story
Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) is the recipient of a $45,000 grant from The Oregon Trails Fund (OTF), a Travel Oregon program, developed and funded in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, that aims to bolster Oregon's competitive advantage as a world-class outdoor recreation destination and provide exceptional trail experiences. In 2023, Travel Oregon awarded $438,977 in Oregon Trails Funds to increase capacity of Oregon trail organizations to support stewardship projects... Full story
Two Sisters athletes set national records in their class in powerlifting competition last month. Don Frosland, 68, 242 pounds, bench-pressed 264 pounds and deadlifted 405 for records. Debi Braun, competing in the 70-74 category in the 148-pound weight class, benched 110 pounds and deadlifted 171 pounds for records. Both are well enough pleased with their accomplishment at the U.S. Powerlifting Association-sanctioned Summer Strength Wars meet at the Strength Warehouse in Bend l... Full story
There are now 5 million pickleball players, or "picklers," in the United States, according to a recent report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Pickleball, a mash-up of tennis, Ping-Pong, and badminton, grew some 40 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it America's fastest-growing sport. The sport trended older in its early years - half of all serious pickleball players in 2021 were 55 and older, according to the USA Pickleball Association. But the vast majority... Full story
