A 260-acre ranch beside Whychus Creek, surrounded by the peaks of the Three Sisters Wilderness and the Deschutes National Forest in Sisters, is inspiring artists of all disciplines from around the country. In rustic studios, including a converted dairy barn, tack room and shop, artists immerse themselves in pursuits from metalwork and painting to fiber arts, photography, writing, music and more.
At Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, during two- and four-week residencies, artists share the ranch’s large, historic home, engage with local and regional experts related to their fields and offer events for the public. The center aims to bridge sustainable agriculture, conservation, the arts and sciences.
Kathy Deggendorfer
This year’s residency theme, “Care and Stewardship,” links the program with the work of its umbrella organization, the Roundhouse Foundation, which focuses on supporting rural and Indigenous spaces.
Connecting Artists and Community in Creative Collaboration
The value of an artist residency in the creation of a work was evident this past spring, when the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for a memoir was awarded to one of the ranch’s first participants. Tessa Hulls of Seattle worked on her debut book, the graphic novel Feeding Ghosts, during her residency at the ranch in 2018. She mentioned that she was inspired by the Ranch and did much of her writing there, in the book’s acknowledgements.
It’s an example of the vision of Roundhouse Foundation Founder and Trustee Kathy Deggendorfer, an accomplished painter who believes that bringing together artists and scientists of seemingly disparate disciplines yields inspiring discussion and the basis for creative problem solving. She researched and attended multiple residencies around the nation and abroad to inform the program at the ranch.
“There were always interesting conversations, new ways of thinking about things, expanding people’s horizons,” she said. “It’s this great equalizer and a way to create this area of respect between people, which I think is something that’s really, really needed now.”
Two recent artist residents, Mallory Craig and Joshua Anderson, hail from New York City and North Dakota respectively, and at the ranch both deepened their artistic journeys and worked on projects they shared with the local community.
Bucolic inspiration on the ranch
Connecting with the Land
For Mallory Craig, a residency gave her insight into rural food systems, which connects to her work with the urban food system in her home neighborhood of Harlem. There, Craig manages the Greenhouse and Education Center and Learning Gardens, where she offers community programs around therapeutic horticulture, art
and foodways.
At the ranch, Craig shadowed staff, learning about regenerative practices such as rotational grazing and the use of native plants to support water conservation and fire ecology. As part of her ongoing project around eating as an agricultural act, she made plant pigments and handmade papers for image transfers. She often found herself in the sagebrush at the ranch, surrounded by ponderosa pines.
“We play a part in our local ecologies and our food system just by what we decide to eat,” she said. “To look up and know that the water that I was hearing was coming from these amazing mountains—you can see how it all connects and how the ecology really relies on itself,” said Craig.
She led a workshop on developing a more intimate relationship with food and nature. The workshop included two activities: starting a sit-spot practice, where guests found a quiet place to observe nature, and creating an artful recipe book by considering their everyday foods.
Words and Filmmaking as Seeds of Change
An integral part of our food system and health is soil, the focus of another artist resident, writer Joshua Anderson. He had been teaching literature and creative writing in New England in 2022 when he made a fateful visit to his hometown in rural North Dakota. “There was a biblical windstorm, acres and acres and acres of topsoil were blowing away, it looked like [a scene from] The Grapes of Wrath.”
Poor soil health practices, including the area’s monoculture of sugar beets for processed sugar, led to erosion. His home county has lost more than half of its topsoil since 1960. “People think the Dust Bowl ended in the 1930s, but it has decidedly not ended in the rural Great Plains,” Anderson said.
A past artist in residence, Mersaedy Atkins, at work.
A job with his hometown’s soil conservation district opened, and he took it. As manager and watershed coordinator, his work ranges from running public education and outreach programs to planting grass and trees, and collecting water samples.
Pine Meadow Ranch connected him with Central Oregon soil scientists, geologists, river ecologists and others to help advance his conservation and storytelling work, which includes “Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast” and a documentary film tentatively titled “Soil and Water.”
During his residency, he also collaborated on a lecture with his sister, Jordana Anderson, a geologist and biologist in Prineville, exploring land health, personal care work and rural abundance. Guests engaged in discussion, followed by a seed planting activity.
Conservation work is much like seed planting, he said. “A lot of the seeds that you plant, nothing grows, and so you’ve got to plant a lot of them.”
What happens when an entrepreneurial seed is planted in a prime environment and nurtured by the wisdom of experienced leaders in an emerging industry? The result can be exponential economic impact and sustainable success. The outdoor industry in Bend is blooming as proof that one person’s idea can grow into a successful business that contributes to a thriving community and creates career opportunities for many. Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW) is a catalyst for this particular breed of success; the outdoor sector accounts for $8.4 billion of Oregon’s economy annually.
Bend Outdoor Worx Supports Entrepreneurs and the Outdoor Industry
Celebrating its 10th cohort this year, BOW began as the first business accelerator in the nation dedicated solely to the outdoor industry. With an initial mission to help entrepreneurs, develop the economy and create jobs in the outdoor industry locally, BOW now reaches far beyond Bend, serving some of the most exciting brands across the industry.
“When we launched BOW, it came from a place of genuine passion. We weren’t looking to create a typical business incubator, we wanted to build something authentic that gave outdoor start-ups tools to be sustainable, successful and scalable,” said Gary Bracelin, BOW founder and mentor.
Photo by Ely Roberts | LEFT TO RIGHT: Meg Chun, Kialoa Paddles (mentor) | Will Blount, Ruffwear (mentor) | Adam Short & Dan Gummel, StoryBooth Experience | Melanie Jenkinson, Howl at the Spoon | Sherrise Erlandson, Giddyup Glove | Miki Keller, Bend Outdoor Worx | Gary Bracelin, Founder, Bend Outdoor Worx | Kate Raber & Kai Nevers, Wanderhut Vehicle Equipment| Tim Karpinski, Spiral Wax | Tiffany Huey, Snowshoe Labs | Cindy Hayes, Oregon Outdoor Alliance (mentor) | Jak & Sanjay Green, Eyeonize | Susan Strible, Oregon Outdoor Alliance (mentor) | Scott Allan, Hydro Flask (mentor) | Drew Hornbeck, Snunny | Matt Szundy, Mindful Mitigations Corp. (mentor)
Gary Bracelin
A 32-year resident of Bend, Bracelin got started in the outdoor business sector when he helped a friend launch Epic, a skateboard and surf brand. When snowboarding exploded onto the scene, he became one of the first sales representatives in the business, eventually building a sales agency that represented more than 30 brands. Bracelin moved into leadership positions with larger outdoor brands, managing sales teams and international relationships. Shifting into consulting and mentoring was a natural extension of everything he had learned.
“Nothing beats working directly with entrepreneurs, helping them avoid common pitfalls, navigate the loneliness of building something from scratch and ultimately watching them succeed,” Bracelin said. “Their energy and passion are contagious. It feeds my soul to be part of their journey.”
Mentoring companies like Picky Bars and Cairn that went from idea seeds planted to full-grown trees that made gainful exits, BOW has an 89% success rate with 31 of the 35 accelerator program businesses still operating.
An example of BOW’s effectiveness, Robert Axle Project is a bicycle industry start-up that manufactures thru axles for all types of bikes. The business has maintained sustainable growth since its participation in the cohort program in 2015, even acquiring a second company, Old Man Mountain, which produces bikepacking gear including racks, bags and accessories. Robert Axle Project was born in co-founders Katy Bryce and Chris Kratsch’s garage in Bend as a solution to an issue the bike industry had overlooked. The business evolved from an idea to an employer of 14 people in the commercial building Bryce and Kratsch now own.
“Bend Outdoor Worx was a huge help to us. Neither of us came from a business background, so we had to learn margins, sales channels, trademarks, finance, all of it,” said Bryce, CEO and co-owner of the companies. “We got connected to key resources like lawyers, CPAs and insurance resources in addition to our mentors. We were also the first company to win BOW Pitch Night. That $10,000 helped a ton.”
Scott Allan and Gary Bracelin | Photo by Katie Sox
Oregon’s total gross domestic product, the value of goods produced and services provided during a year, was $262 billion in 2023, with the outdoor industry making up 2.6% of that revenue and providing 72,925 jobs, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
“We need diverse businesses that provide jobs for people living here. Product companies provide a unique situation in that they can employ people of various education, training and skill levels,” Bryce said. Ryan Price of Broke Supply Co., a member of the 2023 BOW cohort, shared that “BOW pushed us to look at the entirety of our business, not just the exciting and creative aspects. The process helped us to explore weaknesses and develop them into strengths.” While the outdoor industry faces challenges, Bracelin believes that the next five years will deliver another wave of growth.
“Tariffs are a top concern across the industry, and logistics are always a challenge. Production financing is another hurdle that many early-stage brands face. But the outdoor industry is inherently scrappy and resilient. At BOW, we help entrepreneurs find creative, sustainable ways to overcome those barriers and keep moving forward,” Bracelin said. “Bend has truly become a hub for outdoor innovation, and that was always our vision.”
With the 2025 BOW cohort being the largest to date, the future looks promising for the outdoor industry.
Bracelin remarked, “Oregon has been a pioneer in outdoor products and apparel. That innovation continues today, and it’s deeply tied to our lifestyle, economy and state identity. Through hands-on mentorship and real-world guidance, BOW plays a vital role in helping these companies thrive, supporting a sector that’s increasingly recognized as an economic engine for Oregon.”
Bend Outdoor Worx 2025 Cohort
While Bend Outdoor Worx has worked with businesses from as far away as Alaska, New York, Tennessee and Texas, the 2025 cohort is the largest in BOW’s history, and all nine companies hail from Oregon—eight are from Central Oregon.
Eyeonize: A caffeinated, mentholated under-eye balm designed for adventure seekers, providing comfort and invigoration for dry or fatigued eyes.
GiddyUp Glove: Gloves designed to let you enjoy your favorite drink in the cold without freezing your hand.
Howl at the Spoon: This company from Portland, Oregon, offers portioned, gourmet-quality sauce singles for outdoor enthusiasts looking to elevate meals.
SnoPlanks: An independent Northwest snowboard brand now operated by students at Oregon State University-Cascades.
Snowshoe Labs: A premium leather conditioner that protects, waterproofs and keeps leather soft and supple, enhancing durability for outdoor adventures.
Snunny: An outdoor gear company founded on a storm-ready, waterproof butt pad—engineered for comfort in harsh weather conditions.
Spiral Wax: All-natural, PFAS-free snowboard wax, handmade by riders for riders in Bend, Oregon.
StoryBooth Experience:A pop-up podcast studio for events, designed to capture voices, stories and memories that last a lifetime.
Wanderhut Vehicle equipment: A car camping solution that offers an alternative to rooftop tents, vans and traditional setups.
You’ve driven past the iconic wooden Cascade Lakes Recreation Area sign on Century Drive dozens of times and might know the mileage posts by heart. But even if it’s a road well-traveled, how well do you really know the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway? [Photo above by Cody Rheault]
Map Illustration by Elizabeth Person
Beyond a Road Well Traveled
The 66-mile route from Bend to Crescent Lake accesses 14 sparkling lakes and dozens more if you’re willing to do some legwork from one of its many trailheads. Yet beyond the countless opportunities for fun along the way, there are scores of hidden gems, subtle secrets and tall tales that are waiting to be uncovered and explored. So grab a Northwest Forest Pass, fasten your seatbelt and come along for a drive that will shed new light on the byway in your backyard.
Michael McLandress driving his yellow VW bus down the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway | Photo by Cody Rheault
Before the dormant volcano known as Bachelor Butte became the seventh largest ski area in North America, it was also known as Brother Jonathan and Mount Brother. The developers figured that skiing on a butte sounded small time, so they called their resort “Mt. Bachelor.” The name stuck but didn’t become official until the Oregon Geographic Names Board reluctantly voted to change it in 1983. By whatever name, the volcano last erupted between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago, which means its top layer of ash actually came from the more recent eruption of Mt. Mazama. No wonder its powder is so magical.
If you visit Todd Lake or Sparks Meadow and feel a sense of déjà vu, you may have seen one of them before. These two sites are so quintessentially Westernthat they’ve set the stage for numerous Hollywood movies including “Rooster Cogburn,” starring John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn, “The Way West” with Kirk Douglas, and “Homeward Bound,” featuring two adorable dogs and a cat. Haven’t seen those classics? They may not be streaming, but you can rent them at the last Blockbuster after you drive back to Bend.Photo of Todd Lake by Richard Bacon
On large, flat-sided boulders near Devil’s Lake, look for Native pictographs, evidence of the Indigenous people who once lived here. A few of the drawings are said to be thousands of years old.
At Devil’s Lake, the glacial-fed water is both extra chilly and a clear aquamarine color. Paddling on the shallow, clear blue water gives the sensation of a magic carpet ride.
In the late 1960s, astronauts in the Apollo space program came to places like the lava flow at Devil’s Garden to prepare themselves for walking on the moon. They climbed around similar lava rock at Lava Butte in their space suits. As it turned out, the surface of the moon was much less rugged than Devil’s Garden, but the astronauts added to its topography by taking one of our local rocks and placing it on the moon surface in exchange for a lunar rock now on display at the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum.
In the 1950s, little-known Mud Lake was completely overshadowed by its resplendent neighbor Elk Lake. With a murky name and no fish, it had very few visitors. Then, someone had the audacity to stock it with Atlantic salmon for catch and release flytfishing. Paul Hosmer, The Sage of the Sagebrush Country, began singing its praises in the Brooks-Scanlon Pine Echoes newspaper, and they renamed it Hosmer Lake after him in 1962. These days, anglers, paddlers and campers can’t stay away. Now that’s a lake that cleaned up its act (and the fish evade catching like Nessie avoids being sighted at Loch Ness).
Photo of Hosmer Lake by Christian Murillo
Peaceful Lava Lake is notorious for one of Central Oregon’s greatest unsolved mysteries. In the winter of 1923-24, three burly men settled into a small cabin near the lake for what they thought would be a profitable winter of fur trapping. However, in early spring, the cabin was found abandoned and all three of their bodies were discovered on the surface of the lake when the ice melted, each with evidence of gunshot wounds. While no one was ever charged in the murders, it’s safe to say the killer is no longer at large.
Lava Lake Murders, courtesy of Deschutes County Historical Society
Nearby, the creek flowing out of Little Lava Lake is the source of the Deschutes River. Its water has been traced all the way back to Mount Bachelor, which absorbs most of its snowmelt like a sponge and sends it downhill to the lake. From here, the Deschutes River continues south to Crane Prairie Reservoir, does a 180 at Wickiup Reservoir and completes its rollicking journey to the Columbia River, 252 miles in all.
Little Lava Lake
A short hike to Osprey Point at Crane Prairie Reservoir brings you to a prime spot for wildlife viewing. Once an endangered species, about half of Oregon’s osprey population returns to nest and mate here every spring. They share the habitat with eagles, often competing over the same fish in their unique ways. While eagles gracefully soar down and grab a fish near the surface of the water, osprey pause high above the lake, then power dive as much as three feet underwater, which gives osprey their name “fishing hawks.”
In April of 1940, a team of 600 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers began clearing trees and moving dirt to build Wickiup Reservoir. Creating this source of irrigation water for the Madras area was one of the CCC’s biggest undertakings; and yet, as WWII roared in, most of the crew members were called away to serve elsewhere. So who stepped in to finish the job in 1946? A group of Mennonite conscientious objectors.
Wickiup Dam, courtesy of Deschutes County Historical Society
At the end of the byway lies Crescent Lake. Until 1941, ski trains shuttled people there to downhill ski. Soon after, Willamette Pass Ski Area usurped it with easier access and better terrain. Appearing like a throwback to those times is the roadside cabin, Manley’s Tavern. The Manley family has been serving up broasted chicken since 1973. If you’re lucky, reserve a night at the 1930s Crescent Guard Station to feel the history of the land and the roadway to get there.
El Sancho is back with a fresh new look and the same killer tacos. Part taco stand, part neighborhood living room, El Sancho has always felt effortlessly hardwired for joy, held together with hot sauce and scrappy, low-key magic that somehow works. So when a fire rolled through the eastside location last June, it felt like someone pulled a chair out from under the city.
The building may have burned, but El Sancho’s spirit never flinched. The crew regrouped, rallied its crowd and cranked out an insane amount of tacos at the Galveston location during the eastside rebuild. It turns out that good people, and good tacos, don’t mind getting a little messy.
Different Walls, Same Sancho Vibes
“We built the original restaurant with whatever we could scrounge up,” said co-owner Joel Cordes. “The rebuild allowed us to create the space we always dreamed of—even though the path wasn’t ideal.” Almost a year after the fire, El Sancho East is back with a fresh new look. The sprawling outdoor patio is once again pulling in Bend’s taco faithful. A line occasionally snakes through the parking lot, but nobody cares because the air smells like grilled meat, citrus and everything else good in the world. The dining room got a major glow-up, less squeeze, more ease, with joyful colors and funky artwork that crank up the energy without sanding down the charm. Cordes calls it “a slightly more grown-up El Sancho.” Everyone’s still wearing flip-flops, but the tables no longer wobble.
El Sancho’s food remains as unfussy and glorious as ever. Just real-deal Mexican street food best eaten near a pile of napkins. Fried plantains, served with a tongue-tingling dollop of serrano aioli, are the perfect little snack. And the tacos still crush it, carnitas dripping with salsa verde, barbacoa buried under a pile of Cotija cheese and grilled mahi-mahi fresh enough to summon a sea breeze.
Of course, it wouldn’t be El Sancho without margaritas. Every drink begins with fresh juice, squeezed daily by an actual human. Pineapple Serrano, the margarita darling of the seven-flavor lineup, continues to seduce guests with its slow, welcome burn. “And when you just want a great margarita, go for the El Camino,” Cordes advised. Cointreau steps in for Triple Sec, tequila gets upgraded, and a splash of fresh lime juice brings the zing.
The surprise comes after turning off a well-traveled route onto a county road that crosses through an old-growth juniper forest, banks right and descends toward a cliff high above the Deschutes River. Unexpectantly, visitors arrive at a 6,458-square-foot home set among boulders, sagebrush, water features and more junipers, a marvel of design, engineering, creativity and collaboration between the owners and their team.
A Cliffside Marvel of Design and Construction Hidden in Plain Sight
A thoughtful conversion of the site into a secluded family getaway known as “Juniper Rim” began in 2018. While house hunting in Bend, Carol Ann and Scott Smallwood took a break to walk upstream from Tumalo State Park. “We realized [a parcel of land for sale] was right above us,” Scott recalled. “We scrambled up, bouldering until we reached the top. It was a bluebird day, and when we saw the land, we thought, ‘Wow, this is ridiculous.’” They purchased 100 acres, later subdividing the property into 10-acre parcels, reserving one for themselves.
Beginning in 2019, the couple assembled their team, first selecting Bend architect Scott Gilbride. “The site felt nice because it opens up to the views,” he said, noting how rock outcroppings framed a natural place to nestle the home. “The combination of the river canyon and the mountain views makes the land rare and spectacular.”
Joining Gilbride were builder Trevin Duey of Trevin Duey Construction, Harper House interior designers Lucy Roland and Allie Stoddard and landscape designer Arianne “Ani” Cahill. “It was a group effort from day one,” said Roland.
Duey described how they shaped the site to harmonize the home with its surroundings. “It was a sizable project, but we minimized its visual footprint more than one might expect,” he said, noting that the pool and pickleball court were tucked to one side. “From the river, you can’t even see the house—a feat in itself.”
Cahill emphasized the Smallwoods’ commitment to preserving the site.
“Once we figured out the best location, not too close to the cliff for safety, we adjusted the plans, pulling the home back and instead bringing the cliff to the house,” she explained. To achieve this, Bryan Harrison and his team at LandEscapes carefully moved additional rock to the patios. “They did such a stunning job, it was pure artistry,” she said. “You can’t even tell where the native rock ends and the new material begins.”
Gilbride designed a two-story building with two wings, one with the everyday living spaces for the couple, including the great room. The primary suite has a disappearing door that opens to a covered patio for a morning soak in the hot tub or a nightcap around the firepit. This side also incorporates the couples’ offices, a workout room and a guest bedroom. The other wing, built above the garage, has what the Smallwoods call “a kid zone,” including a rec room with couches and a pool table that converts to ping pong, a bunk room and guest amenities.
With 25 years of home-building experience, contractor Duey’s expertise proved invaluable in overcoming the project’s many challenges. “It was as complicated a house as I’ve ever built,” he said. Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Duey ensured that every aspect, from structural execution to finishing touches, met or exceeded the owners’ expectations. “He cared so much that it became clear there wouldn’t be a single flaw if he could help it,” Scott recalled. He shared a memorable example: A particular stone in the center of the entryway wall had a hint of pink that didn’t match the rest of the stone. It quickly became an eyesore to those who noticed it. After Roland mentioned it to Duey, the stone was gone by the couple’s next visit.
Bringing the Outside In
Blending the landscape with the home’s interior shaped both architecture and design. “When you’re inside, it feels like a comfortable cocoon, yet everywhere you look, you’re outside again,” Gilbride said. Expansive patios, including a covered one off the kitchen and upper-level balconies, ensure light-filled rooms open to sweeping canyon views.
A key feature throughout is Montana moss stone, inspired by Carol Ann’s fascination with “gorgeous juniper branches covered in lichen.” A dry-stack Montana stone wall greets visitors in the foyer. To the left, the masonry rises two stories behind the staircase. In the great room, it forms the fireplace wall, with additional placements throughout the home. Stone mason Jason Buckley of Elevated Stoneworks spent three years meticulously placing each piece.
Rock walls, hemlock ceilings and white oak cabinets create a rustic feel, offset with contemporary elements such as floor-to-ceiling doors along the canyon-facing side and a steel-supported staircase and balcony railings. “We wanted the home to look contemporary but not modern, which can feel cold and sterile,” Scott said. “We asked for informal comfort—low key but with cool style. The team nailed it.”
Designers Roland and Stoddard let the stonework, white oak and cement floor take center stage. “Everything else should take a back seat, and nothing should feel too precious,” said Roland. They chose earthy tones for the bathroom tile and walls, switching them up with subtle color shifts. “We wanted to achieve an organic feel that flowed from the bathrooms to the furniture,” she said. They incorporated natural fabrics such as linen and wool while keeping the palette neutral so the interior wouldn’t overpower the surrounding landscape.
The kitchen showcases a sleek, minimalist design with white oak cabinets and a quartzite island with a waterfall edge. It is complemented by light fixtures that “feel like jewelry,”Roland said. The rare use of the same quartzite to wrap the stove hood, reinforced with steel due to its weight, adds an unconventional twist, reflecting the builder’s skill in executing an innovative design.
One of Carol Ann’s favorite rooms is the butler’s pantry, which serves as a kitchen behind the kitchen. “When I walk into the pantry to make coffee, I see bunnies and birds. It’s a comforting space where every window has a fun, interesting view,” she said.
Intentional Landscape
Cahill’s challenge was balancing fire resistance, drought tolerance and efficient water use. She achieved this by using gravel and rock mulches with fire-safe plants.“It can be tricky to choose plants that tolerate drought and also resist fire,” she explained. One favored strategy was restoring undisturbed areas to nurture native species, such as Idaho fescue, wildflowers, penstemon, buckwheat and flax.
Scott and Carol Ann Smallwood | Photo: Zee Wendell
For the front yard, she positioned ornamental plants close to the house to maximize water efficiency while avoiding high-flammability species. “You can see the two water features from most of the house. It’s really quite dramatic and lovely,” she said.
Every detail reflects the Smallwoods’ commitment to creating a haven that feels both intimate and grand. A gem hidden in plain sight.
Overlanding is as Much About the Journey as the Destination
Look out, Redmond. On June 27-29, 2025, the overlanders are converging. A Toyota Tacoma with 33-inch mud tires and LED lights on a custom bumper might crest the horizon. Behind it might be a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van with retractable awnings and skid plates to protect its underbelly. These vehicles are rigged to withstand rough terrain, and there’s plenty to explore—the United States has more public land than any other developed country in the world. [Photo above by Benjamin Edwards]
Around 17,000 overland enthusiasts and their rigs are expected to descend on the Deschutes County Expo Center for the Overland Expo PNW, a weekend dedicated to off-road adventures. Imagine an off-camber, log-jammed driving course, a backcountry-specific culinary pavilion, more than 300 gear exhibits and demonstrations, educational workshops, and 1,000-plus campers all in one place.
The term “overlanding” originated in Australia, originally referring to moving cattle across long distances. Today, this concept has evolved to mean self-sufficient vehicle travel, where the odyssey of traveling is itself the destination. The trend gained momentum in part when Jeep Wrangler fanatics began developing backcountry modifications. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, overlanding exploded as people leaned heavily into outdoor recreation and wanted to work remotely, as in faraway forests, canyons or beaches.
“For many people the term overlanding means you have to drive a specific kind of tricked-out rig, but shorter adventures with smaller vehicles can still be overlanding,” said David Kerstan, a marketing specialist at Overland Expo. “I like to define overlanding as using a vehicle to get to a place to do a thing, from expeditions in the outback to weekend warriors car camping.”
Photo by Ray Gordon
While there is a diversity of approaches to overlanding, a consistent feature is the embrace and utilization of gear and vehicle modifications. Imagine improved suspension, engine snorkels for river crossing, traction boards for tires, intricate mounting systems, hitch-mounted cargo carriers, rooftop solar panels and cell phone boosters for backcountry service.
Overlanding has recruited a solid following in Central Oregon, where people have an outsized affinity for both getting outside and cutting-edge gear. Naturally, related businesses have popped up in the area and are thriving, from rack specialists to makers of tow-behind tents and backcountry meal kits.
“As an outdoor-centric area, Central Oregon is a hotspot for overlanding,” said Kerstan. “Our PNW expo is a place wherelocals hang out around fires and connect during campgroundafter-parties after expo activities and classes are done.”
Many local enthusiasts are a part of the Central Oregon Landcruisers, a collective of people who love to ride their highly equipped vehicles on super rough land and snow. Online, the forum IH8Mud is also a hub for local information. One Oregon group, Team Overland, is a volunteer-run nonprofit based in Southern Oregon which takes veterans on free trips three to four times per year, sometimes exploring Central Oregon. Their trips epitomize the spirit of overlanding and why so many people are drawn to it.
Bobby Raetz, the vice president of Team Overland, describes the magic of retreating deep into the woods: “As we travel away from civilization, we tap back into a mentality of camaraderie and support. We use teamwork to navigate obstacles and set up camp. Then, at the end of the day, we sit around the fire and use that as common ground to communicate.”
Overlanding provides the gift of outdoor recreation | Photo by Fluri Adventures
Get Ready to Overland with Central Oregon Companies
When Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage,” he may have appreciated a city covered in quilts. On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Sisters, Oregon, hosts the 50th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, transforming the town into a vibrant, open-air art gallery. This free, family-friendly event features over 1,300 handcrafted quilts created by textile artists from around the globe. Each July, more than 10,000 quilting enthusiasts and visitors flock to Central Oregon to witness this spectacular showcase of fabric art, tradition, and innovation. Seeing is believing how an entire town can be covered in quilts.
Jean Wells: Founder and Quilting Pioneer Honored in the Quilter’s Hall of Fame
The origins of this world-renowned quilt show go back to 1975 when Jean Wells, a passionate quilter and owner of local quilt shop in Sisters called the Stitchin’ Post, displayed a dozen quilts outside her storefront. The simple heartfelt act of sharing colorful textile art kicked off what has become the world’s largest outdoor quilt show. Wells’ dedication to quilting and the Sisters community has earned her numerous accolades, including a 2010 induction into the Quilter’s Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana, in 2010.
Golden Anniversary Events: Quilt Show Week Highlights
To honor the show’s 50-year legacy, several special events are planned leading up to the main event on Saturday:
Quilters Affair: July 7–11, 2025 Leading up to the big day, attend the Quilters Affair, where 118 hands-on quilting workshops are offered by renowned instructors from around the world. Don’t miss the instructor meet-and-greet on Thursday, July 10 at Sisters High School, featuring a special talk by Jean Wells on the early days of the quilt show.
A Town Covered in Quilts: Friday, July 11, 2025 Join Jean and her daughter Valori Wells at Sisters High School for an intimate evening of storytelling, a Q&A session, and a charity quilt auction. Discover the personal stories behind their iconic quilt designs.
Save It for Sunday: July 13, 2025 Spend Sunday morning at FivePine Lodge with nationally recognized quilter Karen Stone, who will host lectures and walking tours highlighting her innovative approach to modern quilting and design.
Local Quilting Guilds Unite for 50th Anniversary Exhibits The 50th Annual Quilt Show wouldn’t be possible without support from Central Oregon’s vibrant quilting community. Local guilds—including the East of the Cascades Quilt Guild, Central Oregon Modern Quilt Guild, and more—will present exclusive anniversary-themed exhibits, such as “Log Cabin Redux,” “Golden Threads,” and “Quilting Sisters: A Tribute to Oregon.”
Featured Quilters: Celebrating Local Talent
Mari Wymore: A Central Oregon resident for 55 years, Wymore’s quilting journey began in 1965. She is recognized for her wool appliqué techniques, her commitment to sustainable quilting, and her innovative use of recycled fabrics. Her work honors both heritage craftsmanship and contemporary design
Karen Stone: A nationally recognized quilter and teacher, Stone is known for her bold color palettes, complex paper-pieced patterns, and award-winning quilts. She is a sought-after teacher and speaker, and her innovative style bridges the gap between traditional quilting and modern art.
Ways to Get Involved in the Show
View quilts hung across town, or get involved in multiple ways:
WISH Fabric Postcard Challenge Design a 4” x 6” fabric postcard commemorating the 50th anniversary. The top entries will be auctioned off to benefit the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Scholarship Fund.
Quilt Block Design Contest Submit a custom quilt block using Sisters Mountain Meadow fabrics. Winning blocks will be showcased in future quilt exhibits and publications.
Plan Your Trip to the Sisters Show
Don’t miss a chance to experience quilting artistry in Sisters, Oregon. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter, a textile lover or a curious visitor, the annual show offers art, inspiration, community and a celebration of creativity in Sisters, Oregon this summer.
Apologies to Ted Lasso, but water (not football) is life. It’s Earth’s secret sauce, the magic elixir of existence. Those who live amid the plateaus and canyons of Central Oregon understand its value. The perpetually thirsty landscape, porous by nature, absorbs nearly all the scant precipitation it receives and redirects that flow underground. Chemistry and gravity carve fissures in volcanic bedrock, fill vast aquifers underneath arid plains and create rivers that sustain every form of life that call this place home.
Few of us, even the most dedicated anglers and paddlers, are as intimately connected to rivers, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems as professional fishing guides. Successful guides don’t just show up, put in their hours and go home—they observe and catalog every nuance of these complex systems for their clients’ success and safety. Because of that vigilance, they’re often the first to notice when a river changes or exhibits signs of distress.
Mia Sheppard owns and operates Maupin-based Little Creek Outfitters and Juniper River Adventures
From the Mouths of Guides
“Guides witness the river’s rhythms every day,” said Dylan Stanford, who takes clients out on the Deschutes River as owner of North Fork Outfitters. “That awareness and intimacy is beneficial in assessing the health of the river system over time. We see the subtle shifts in water quality and the impact on the bird, insect and fish populations. It’s our home water. We’re consistent observers of this place.”
Similarly, Mia Sheppard owns and operates Maupin-based Little Creek Outfitters and Juniper River Adventures with her husband, Marty. She’s been a professional fishing and river guide since 2003.
“Every day, I wake up and see the Deschutes River,” Sheppard explained. “We have raised our daughter on the water. We have hiked almost every canyon and peak in the lower 25 miles. Rivers are our life. [They’re] the lifeblood of Oregon rural communities and this planet.”
Matt Mendes of Spin the Handle guide service has been guiding on the Warm Springs Reservation since he was 16 years old. He apprenticed under his grandfather, the first Native guide on the Warm Springs section of the Deschutes, and continues to work as a full-time fishing guide.
“The Deschutes River is like family: The water, this river, it means everything to us, [through] several generations. I’ve grown up on it. My grandpa took me fishing there. My kids now fish it. I’ve spent countless days and hours with friends on it. It gives us confidence, life, peace, closure and, at moments, even sadness.”
Dylan Stanford
Protecting Resources
Unlike casual anglers and recreators, guides have multiple incentives to care for the river. “Guides bear an inherent responsibility to steward the waters they work,” said Stanford. “We’re obligated to preserve, educate and advocate for these ecosystems. Our livelihoods are tied to the health of the river and fish populations, so it’s not only an ethical obligation, but in a guide’s best business interest to protect these natural resources.”
“Outfitters and guides play significant roles in river conservation,” said Sheppard. “We educate people about the river and wildlife, about sustainable practices, such as how to properly handle wild fish; we inspire people to practice Leave No Trace; we pick up trash and poop and pack it out; we break up fire rings and pull noxious weeds. Our business has donated more than $100,000 in trips to conservation organizations over the years.”
Mendes holds himself and his business accountable to the river, carrying on his family legacy of stewardship.
Forming Relationships
Good guides don’t just lead to fish, they help people develop relationships with rivers and educate them about wild places. The fish are adrenaline catalysts, searing experiences in the minds of people who would otherwise never have such visceral and personal reasons to care about watershed conservation. Some of the people who hire guides become ardent conservation supporters themselves.
“On the surface, it would seem that a fishing guide is primarily responsible to put their clients on fish,” Stanford said. “In my experience, however, the fishing—and especially the catching of the fish—comes second to the overall experience. Bridging the gap between a mysterious wild river and people who want to interact with that place in a positive way is what makes a great guide. I believe people are more likely to protect what they know and understand.”
Sheppard believes guides facilitate meaningful interactions that would otherwise never happen. “A lot of people don’t have a boat, know how to row safely, or have time to learn a river,” she said. “This is why people hire guides. We are all servants to the resources and to our guests. When guests inquire about where to donate money, we offer suggestions on NGOs [nonprofits that address non-governmental or political issues] we trust or suggest giving back to rural communities and programs.”
Fishing and river guides don’t care for the rivers because they work as guides; they work as guides because they care for the rivers.
Mendes explained, “When I need to get away, I go listen to the sounds of the canyon. The wind, the birds, the pungent aromas of sage and juniper. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks balances out my soul. It’s the best medicine around. When I’m in such a sacred and powerful place, all is well again.”
Sisters filmmaker R.A. Beattie and Off the Grid Studios premiered a new film, “The Hard Way,” depicting the beauty and challenges of the Deschutes River through the eyes of fly-fishing guide Matt Mendes. An enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Mendes follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was the first Native American fishing guide on the river. The film portrays four seasons of the Deschutes and how the living ecosystem changes throughout the year. Beattie and his team, including writer Miles Nolte and cinematographer Arian Stevens, took two years to create “The Hard Way” and secured rare permits to film on tribal land.
“While it’s a fishing film, it’s not just about the fish,” said Beattie. “It’s about effort, place and presence; about showing what it really means to choose the harder path, and why that choice matters. It’s the kind of story that reminds us why we started fishing in the first place, and why it’s worth pushing through the tough days to get to the good ones.”
The film premiered as part of the 2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour, which spanned more than 14 countries and 300 events, including a sold-out premier in Bend in spring 2025. See offthegridstudios.com.
Here in Central Oregon, long before it was known for skiing and mountain biking, it was a hub for ranching and farming. Folks grew their own food, fixed their own fences and relied on each other for help when needed. The roots of that culture still thrive here, and growing numbers of people seek out the satisfaction of creating a lifestyle that is grounded, literally, in the land. Traditional knowledge that once passed through generations now can be learned through local organizations such as the School of Ranch. With its blend of high and low technology, the nonprofit connects people who want to learn traditional ranch skills with local mentors and helps build a community of shared values, according to its founder Mark Gross.
In 2020, Gross left a high-tech career in California, aiming for a low-tech retirement in rural Central Oregon. Rural life wasn’t as simple as it seemed, and he soon realized he needed help learning to use a chainsaw. Ex-Marine Kaleb Watson answered his Craigslist ad.
“We were opposites in many ways, but through that project we became friends,” said Gross. “I saw how hands-on collaboration builds bridges across differences, while teaching practical skills.”
This learning experience inspired Gross to establish the school, based in Terrebonne, and cultivate a team of instructors. The organization’s website links students to in-person, hands-on workshops held throughout Central Oregon. With a full menu of ranch-relevant topics such as handyman basics, tractor driving, welding, beekeeping, canning and soapmaking, participants and expert mentors work and learn together. Along the way, they find common ground and friendship.
Mark Gross
Resilient Individuals, Stronger Communities
Julia Vasinda and Steve Challis joined the School of Ranch in 2024 after purchasing 80 acres of undeveloped farmland near Sisters. They’d been seeking a more balanced life, one that felt substantial and connected to the land. They had a vision for small-scale farming and the School of Ranch workshops are helping them realize that dream.
“The Power Saws for Women class got me started. Then carpentry, soil management, welding and chicken keeping,” said Vasinda.
Each class enriches students’ ranching know-how and builds upon itself—a student learns how to build a coop before learning how to raise chickens. Of all the workshops, Vasinda and Challis found welding the most challenging and satisfying. “Welding can be intimidating, but by the end I had the basic skills. On our rocky terrain, we’re sure to break equipment, and now I know how to fix it,” said Challis.
Joe Slattery
That sense of satisfaction came as no surprise to welding instructor Joe Slattery, who runs the class in his personal workshop. After a career that included fusing NASA space shuttles, he enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge. “Everyone likes to make stuff, to fix things yourself instead of hiring someone,” said Slattery. “Each class has a diverse group, people from all walks of life, but here we share the same goals.”
A drive for self-sufficiency shows up in the kitchen, as well, according to Beth Covert, School of Ranch board member and instructor. Covert has seen a fresh desire for a return to traditional ways, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In that time of insecurity, people turned to the forgotten arts of cultivating gardens, preserving the bounty and sharing delicious dishes.
Beth Covert
For Covert, food is the foundation of a healthy community. She’s always cultivated and preserved home-grown food, even as more convenient options filled grocery aisles. Covert’s workshops focus on high desert gardening and food preservation, including canning, fermenting and dehydrating. Sharing her knowledge is easy, she explained, because of the structure built into every School of Ranch program.
“I’ve built hoop beds, propagated low-water plants, mastered my compost system and filled my pantry with dried and canned food, but I’ve never been a teacher,” said Covert.
For her classes, Covert schedules time for a potluck to nurture friendships among the participants.
While Covert’s classes revolve around the garden, instructor Rick Bell helps learners move toward energy independence. After a lengthy military career, Bell turned to self sufficiency, living off the energy grid. Through School of Ranch, he teaches others to do the same. His workshops help participants understand wiring and electrical systems, beginning with small projects such as solar batteries and wiring for trailers. Like other instructors, Bell remains available for advice and help as students venture into their own solar and off-grid projects.
“These classes help people take care of both themselves and others, rather than depending on the grid. It makes for a stronger local community, and the local level is where it matters,” said Bell.
Rick Bell
Nurturing the Ranch Mindset
Community engagement has always been part of the mission for Shannon and Taylor Kane of Wild Grown Farm in Redmond. Through School of Ranch, they help people understand the foundations of producing their own food. “As a society, we’re increasingly disconnected from where our food comes from,” said Taylor. “I was raised in a city, so I took the long route to learning these skills. These workshops allow us to bridge the gap for folks like me who weren’t raised with this knowledge base.”
The Kanes’ approach to farming goes beyond traditional agriculture into agroecology and permaculture, with a mindset that keeps them looking to nature as a guide for building regenerative, closed-loop systems on their farm.
The Kanes
“These workshops are a gateway into this lifestyle and philosophy. We hope that folks see the connection between nurturing the earth and nurturing ourselves. Getting your hands in the soil and raising your own food is empowering, and we want to inspire people on that path. The more folks that do that, the better we collectively will be,” said Shannon.
For Vasinda and Challis, they’re ready to start beekeeping while carefully laying out their farming strategy. They’ve got a list of workshops yet to join, to grow their community as well as their skills. Eventually, they hope to come full circle and host School of Ranch sessions on their own land.
Gross, in the meantime, has gone from thoughts of retirement to creating a legacy. “School of Ranch will continue to grow because there is so much in the concept of ranching that matters,” he said. “Ranch is a metaphor for using your hands, for connecting to land, for community, for sustainability, and even for finding common ground with those who have differing opinions. We all need that now.” Learn more at School of Ranch.
Get ready for a cosmic spectacle, 2025 offers a variety of notable astronomical events! 2025 is packed with incredible night sky events, from dazzling meteor showers to breathtaking auroras and dramatic blood moons. Discover the must-see celestial shows of the year, many of which you can enjoy with just your own eyes. Even if you’re new to stargazing, these upcoming wonders are sure to amaze.
Join amateur astronomers at Indian Trail Spring in the Ochoco National Forest for this annual multiday celebration. Find educational speakers, telescope mentoring for adults and youth, along with telescopes available for use in the ‘Telescope Tent.’ Oregon Star Party is held 45 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, and camping is available.
June 26, 2025: Moon and Mercury Meet Up
Witness a rare celestial rendezvous! On June 26th, tiny Mercury, the sun’s closest planet, emerges from its hiding place to join the slender crescent moon. To see this subtle spectacle, peer low into the western sky shortly after sunset, 20-30 minutes before darkness falls. Mercury, a faint glimmer, will be just three degrees from the moon. A clear western view is essential, and binoculars can cut through the sunset’s glow.
August 12, 2025: Venus and Jupiter’s Close Encounter
Mark your calendars for an early morning planetary conjunction on August 12th. Venus and Jupiter will appear very close together in the eastern dawn sky. Venus will be the brighter of the two, shining with a white light, while Jupiter will appear dimmer and golden. Binoculars will easily show both planets together. A small telescope will reveal Jupiter’s atmospheric bands and the Galilean moons.
September 7, 2025: Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
Sorry, this total lunar eclipse (“blood moon”) will only be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. But in case you are traveling, a partial eclipse begins at 9:27 a.m. PST, with totality from 10:30 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. PST. This timing is to show when it occurs relative to PST, it will be visible during evening hours in the locations mentioned above. Look east at the moonrise for the red glow. No equipment is needed, but binoculars/telescope will enhance the view.
September 19, 2025: Moon, Venus, and Regulus in Celestial Group Hug
Dawn’s celestial triangle. 45 minutes before sunrise, look east for the crescent moon, dazzling Venus, and blue-white Regulus forming a beautiful trio.
November 8, 2025: Saturn’s Rings Vanish
Prepare for a rare Saturn sighting! In early November, its famous rings will appear edge-on, nearly vanishing. This happens only every 15 years. Use a backyard telescope for the best view, looking south in the evening sky within Aquarius.
December 13 to 14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks
Prepare for a dazzling display of shooting stars! The Geminid meteor shower, peaking December 13-14, will deliver up to 120 meteors per hour. Thanks to a dark, moonless sky, this year’s show will be exceptional. Escape light pollution for the best experience, but even backyards can offer a great view.
Oregon Badlands Wilderness
Past Events in 2025
March 13, 2025: Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
The eclipse is viewable anywhere in the Western Hemisphere that has clear skies, including every state in the U.S. The moon will start to look a little different just before midnight EDT on Thursday. The eclipse will start shortly after 10 p.m. PST and totality happens between about 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. PST.
March 29, 2025: Partial Solar Eclipse
The next partial solar eclipse will occur on March 29 and will begin around 1:50 a.m. PST, according to timeanddate.com. It’s expected to end just before 5:43 a.m. PST. The peak of the partial eclipse is scheduled to happen around 3:47 a.m. PST.
Dawn Nilson spends a lot of time under starry night skies. When she gazes at the cosmos alongside campers and astronomers, she notices a peculiar pattern. Voices get quiet, and tones are softened. A serene stillness blankets the scene. Certain animals come out and specific plants begin to flower. As the sun sets and the stars twinkle, the world transforms, and we transform with it.
In those awe-inspiring moments, Nilson—dark sky preservation director with the Rose City Astronomers and a delegate for DarkSky International—says we’re connecting to something deeper than the brilliant display before us. “The stars have engaged people since we’ve been people,” she said. “They have inspired all the major religions, all the sciences, farm work and poetry. It’s just this big beyond—these really vast places of unknown.”
Todd Lake looking at Mount Bachelor | Photo by Jared Mantzouranis
This is the sentiment at the heart of Nilson’s professional efforts to protect and preserve dark night skies for generations to come. Most recently, she managed and authored an application to create the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary—an area of more than 2 million acres, roughly 90 minutes southeast of Bend, recognized for its bracingly clear night skies.
Broken Top | Photo by Nick Lake
Those efforts paid off in early 2024 with the establishment of the sanctuary, and organizers across the region aren’t done trying to save our dark skies. Here’s why that matters and what organizers are doing to keep those pristine views intact.
Why Dark Night Skies Matter
According to a 2016 study published in the journal Science Advances, nearly 80% of North Americans can’t see the Milky Way on an otherwise clear evening—a problem caused by what’s known as light pollution.
Light pollution occurs when streetlights and other sources of artificial light brighten and wash out otherwise pristine night skies. According to the National Park Service, that man-made light can travel up to 125 miles from its original source.
But the effects go far beyond what we can or cannot see. The presence of artificial light may attract invasive species that can alter established ecosystems, force native species from their habitats and throw off long-held migration patterns.
Summer Lake Hot Springs | Photo by Joey Hamilton
How Skies Are Being Protected
Fortunately, organizations around the world are working to reduce light pollution and protect clear night skies. Chief among them is the nonprofit organization DarkSky International, whose International Dark Sky Places program strives to curtail light pollution, collaborate with local communities to implement responsible lighting practices and educate the public on the importance of clear skies.
The first location in Central Oregon to receive a DarkSky designation was the community of Sunriver—which in 2020 was dubbed a Dark Sky Friendly Development of Distinction.
The recognition came after collaboration between Bob Grossfeld, who led the effort as observatory manager of Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, and local stakeholders. Efforts included minimizing the number of streetlights and reworking lights on homes and community buildings—typically by installing shields and focusing beams of light away from the sky and toward the ground. The following year, Prineville Reservoir was dubbed an International Dark Sky Park after staff members installed soft yellow and red lighting that reduced light pollution.
Most recently, in March 2024, the 2.5-million-acre Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary was established in southeastern Oregon. Within those boundaries, and under the region’s clear night skies, sits Summer Lake Hot Springs, the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and other popular attractions.
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory | Photo by Grant Tandy
Todd Forbes, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Lakeview district manager, said the effort started after being approached in 2019 by community stakeholders, including Nilson.
Forbes has worked in Lakeview for more than two decades and says that travelers have been visiting the Oregon Outback the entire time to admire its starry skies. So when Nilson and others asked the BLM to support their efforts to establish the sanctuary, Forbes said it was a no-brainer to take part. “We saw this as a way to validate some of that recreation use that was already happening—and maybe draw some additional attention to the area,” he said.
The sanctuary largely sits on existing BLM land, much of which is unlit—reducing the need to mitigate light pollution. “There are usually a lot of conflicting uses out there,” Forbes said. “And this is one that really doesn’t conflict much with uses that are already going on.”
That solitude gets at why so many have visited the region for decades—a trend that Forbes doesn’t think will slow anytime soon. “What makes the Oregon Outback so special is the ability to find solitude pretty easily,” he said. And now there are two million acres of dark sky to make it even more remarkable.
Chasing Aurora
Written by Christian Murillo
When people think of chasing the northern lights, arctic destinations such as Alaska, Iceland or Norway typically come to mind. While auroras may not occur often in Central Oregon, the year ahead could be special.
The aurora borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a dazzling display of light and color. The solar flares that cause these energetic spikes follow a roughly 25-year cycle. We are currently reaching the solar maximum, a period typically associated with more frequent and stronger auroras. This period is expected to last through 2025 and may not appear for another 11 years.
To View and Enjoy the Aurora in Central Oregon
First, keep an eye on the planetary K-index of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The planetary K-index, or Kp, predicts the strength of an aurora. For reference, the aurora on May 10 hit Kp levels of 9, the upper limit of the scale. I have photographed an aurora in Oregon with a Kp as low as 6, but have found that it isn’t really visible to the naked eye until it gets above 7. Even at this strength, the aurora is more visible to most cameras (even smartphone cameras) than to the naked eye. Since night vision in humans is poor, we need to do everything possible to see the night sky in its full glory.
One of the best ways to see the aurora with your naked eyes is to avoid light pollution. The northern lights typically display on the northern horizon so it is worth noting light pollution to the north. The moon should also be considered when making aurora plans. Its brightness can easily wash out even the strongest auroras; instead check for aurora activity around a new moon, before moonrise or after moonset.
As with any night sky viewing, it is important to look for a place with clear skies. Central Oregon is blessed with frequently clear skies, but weather patterns may be different in the mountains. Always check the latest forecast before heading out.
Lastly, it is important to let your eyes adjust to true darkness when trying to view an aurora. It takes our eyes about 30 minutes to adjust and see as much detail in the night sky as possible. That means no headlamps, phones or flashlights, except in red mode. Red light wavelengths do not spoil night vision, so this mode is recommended when viewing the night sky. With that said, part of the reason catching an aurora is so special is because it is so rare. Aurora forecasts are even less accurate than weather forecasts. Worst case scenario, you get to spend an incredible night out under a blanket of endless stars. See murillophoto.com.
Santiam Pass | Photo by Christian Murillo
What Can You Do?
Eager to help reduce light pollution and brighten the night skies across Central Oregon? It’s easier than you think. Here’s how to get started:
Unused lights: One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to turn off lights when not in use or aren’t a necessity after dark.
Household lighting: Install shields that prevent porch lighting from pointing upward and toward the atmosphere and use lighting that focuses its beam toward the ground.
Camp lighting: Traditional headlamps, lanterns and flashlights can impair night vision and wash out the sky, so consider using red lighting, which provides illumination without ruining the views overhead.
Make a donation: Nilson says one of the easiest ways to get involved is through a tax-deductible donation to DarkSky International, which funds the group’s advocacy work and supports the growth of its Dark Sky Places program.
Where can you go?
In Central Oregon, we’re some of the lucky ones who can actually see the Milky Way on a clear night. If you’d like to take a closer look, appreciate and celebrate the wonders of the universe, here are a few places around the region where you can do just that:
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory has the largest collection of telescopes accessible to the public in the United States and offers year-round nighttime viewing by reservation. See snco.org.
Twenty-six miles southeast of Bend, Pine Mountain Observatory welcomes visitors on weekends from May through late September. The observatory is operated by University of Oregon Department of Physics under a special use permit from the Deschutes National Forest. See pmo.uoregon.edu.
The Asterisk Observatory at Smith Rock features a 17-inch PlaneWave telescope to offer a 360-degree view of the night sky and surrounding skyline. Visitors are welcome nightly through October or by appointment. See asteriskobservatory.org.
Overnight guests in Tetherow’s Ridge Homes can view galaxies, star clusters and other celestial wonders alongside Bend-based astronomer Grant Tandy. The experience even includes celestial-themed drinks and dessert. See tetherow.com.
Here’s What We Love to Do in Beautiful Bend, Oregon
Bend truly has a lot to offer. From exploring the great outdoors behind the wheel of an ATV to grabbing a beer with friends, something can fill your calendar every day. From summer to winter, spring to fall, below are some of our favorite activities that make Bend, Bend.
Octane Adventures | Photo by Cody Rheault
Hiking and Backpacking
Let’s start small, and then expand to the surrounding area. In Bend, we’re fortunate that trails literally touch the edges of town. Many Bendites can even walk to these trails from home.
The Deschutes River Trail
Stretching from the north end of Bend to Sunriver, the Deschutes River Trail (DRT) is a hometown favorite. Linking the nearly 20 miles of the trail can be tricky. Different segments leave you on one side of the river or the other. But, with proper maps and the occasional walk through a neighborhood, it can be done.
Awbrey Reach Trail | Photo courtesy of Bend Park and Recreation District
Most of us have our favorite “reaches” of the DRT. Several of them cut through spectacular sections of Bend, following the river as it winds through the city. Others are on the edges, such as the South Canyon Reach, which feels like you left the city entirely and entered the forest.
Hiking in the Cascade Range
In Bend, it feels like we can reach out and touch the mountains. The neighboring Cascade Range to the west offers both spectacular views and phenomenal hiking.
Perhaps the most popular mountain in the Central Oregon Cascades is Bend’s Mt. Bachelor. Aside from winter skiing and the summer mountain bike park, Bachelor offers a few hiking trails, including the new Evergreen trail. Evergreen climbs just over 1,300 feet in 4.5 miles with a consistent grade, easy terrain, and striking viewpoints.
If you are looking for a bit more of a challenge, there are miles of trails in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. Whether you are just looking for an out-and-back or want to summit South Sister or Broken Top, the endless options create a “choose your own adventure” scenario.
Photo Benjamin Krause
Backpacking
Turn a day hike into an overnighter or even a multi-day adventure! Countless loops between lakes are found throughout the surrounding forest. The Pacific Crest Trail is also nearby, just make sure you have proper permits when required.
The Deschutes River
Bend wouldn’t exist without the Deschutes River. It cuts through the middle of town and once upon a time, the Deschutes was a crucial part of Bend’s logging industry. Beyond some of the best fishing in the state, the river is still vital for life in Bend.
The river’s whitewater welcomes many kayakers and rafting enthusiasts. For a mellower option, try the perfect river float. From just south of the Old Mill to Bend’s Whitewater Park. Just past the Colorado Bridge, the currents pick up for a moment. Stay to the left side of the river to float through the easier rapids and avoid river surfers, then you’ll be cruising.
Poppy Smith | Photo by Cody Rheault
Mountain Biking
Central Oregon has roughly 700 miles of singletrack, with the lion’s share in Bend. The majority of these trails fall on the west side, where the city bleeds into the Cascade slopes. Trailheads like Phil’s and Wanoga are summer launching points, but mountain bikers head east to Maston or Horse Ridge Trailheads when the snow flies.
Bend is also very fortunate to have a bike park less than 30 minutes from town. Mt. Bachelor Bike Park runs from early summer to early fall. It offers some of the best gravity riding for professionals and beginners.
Photo courtesy of Mt. Bachelor
Skiing and Snowboarding
We can’t mention Mt. Bachelor without talking about the world-class skiing and snowboarding. The 7th largest resort in North America, Mt. Bachelor has 101 different runs spread out across 4,300 skiable acres. Twelve different lifts are scattered around the mountain, including a summit lift that allows skiers and snowboarders to descend a tremendous 3,300 feet.
A thriving Nordic skiing community is also found on the mountain. Many choose to ditch the lifts and “skin” up the hill to tackle the mountain’s backcountry terrain on the way down.
Photo credit: Max Rhulen, Skier: Cody Winters
Food and Beer
After getting off the trails or a day on the river, locals head to one of their favorite spots for beer and a bite.
El Sancho and Parrilla Grill have authentic Mexican street food and margaritas that may change your life. Check out Salute in downtown Bend for classic Italian dishes. For the traditional burger and beer combo, visit one of the countless breweries around town. Time it right, and stop in during happy hour.
El Sanchos | Photo by Tina Paymaster
Food Truck Pods
The easiest way to feed everyone is to head to one of Bend’s many food truck pods. Enjoy dishes from around the world. Nearly every food truck pod in Bend surrounds a taphouse where you can try different beers, both local and from abroad. Some taphouses feature 40 beers, ciders, CBD drinks, and wines, with constantly rotating taps. Check out our online dining guide for the best dining options Central Oregon has to offer.
Downtown Bend, Oregon
With food, shopping, and festivals, downtown Bend constantly has something going on. Every Wednesday during the summer hosts the Farmer’s Market, followed by Saturday’s Artisans Market, which runs year-round. There is also the First Friday Art Walk every month.
Walk the streets of downtown during summer and fall festivals. Eat delicious food, drink beer, and listen to live music. What could be better? Bend’s Munch & Music series happens each summer in neighboring Drake Park and is a must-visit.
Bend Farmers Market | Photo by Marvin Walder
The Old Mill District
More shopping and incredible restaurants can be found in the historic Old Mill District. After you’re done shopping, walk or ride the paved Deschutes River Trail. Heading in either direction will take you to either Farewell Bend Park or McKay Park, both of which have excellent river access. If you have kiddos, Farewell Bend Park has a play structure and rock climbing.
Across the bridge from the Old Mill is the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. If you didn’t know, Bend brings in phenomenal live music from some of the biggest bands in the world. 2024 saw some of the biggest names yet.
Artists such as Anderson Paak., The Beach Boys, Cage the Elephant, Dave Matthews Band, and Jason Aldean visited in 2024, just to name a few. The amphitheater had shows on 58 nights from May through September in 2024.
Cake | Photo courtesy of Hayden Homes Amphitheater by Michelle Adams
In Bend, you can catch views from the top of Pilot Butte, one of the only city-dwelling volcanoes in the United States, or take in the Cascade Range. With over 300 days of annual sunshine and over 200 perfect adventure days per year, the high desert is full of possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts and culture lovers.
Bend is a place where you can enjoy the powder at Mt. Bachelor in the morning, take on world-class mountain bike trails in the afternoon, and finish your evening with craft beers and live music. Culture shines through year-round. Catch the Winter PrideFest, new restaurant openings, and festivals that add to Central Oregon’s vibrant community. This “Best of Bend” list could go on, and we’d love to hear what you think we missed. Let us know your “Best of Bend” by tagging us @bendmagazine on social media. New to Bend, read our First Timer’s Guide to Bend, here.
Entering the Redmond Public Library is an invitation to connect with the community. There, sculptor John Grade found a space for an art installation surrounded by volumes of books. His new work has an organic subject and is at the center of an intellectual landscape to provoke thought and inspire visitors to grow.
Commissioned by the Deschutes Public Library, “SAGE” is a large-scale sculpture suspended from the ceiling of the renovated Redmond branch, which reopened in January 2025. Inspired by the structure within a stem of high desert sagebrush, “SAGE” mimics a horizontal cross section of the plant’s growth rings and shows the intricate biological geometry that draw water and nutrients from deep within the high desert’s soil. Similar to a cell network, each segment of the art piece was created individually. Walking up the staircase in the library space, a visitor is meant to feel part of an interconnected root system. Then, from a walkway above the art, a viewer will see more additional nuances from Grade: an undulating reference to Central Oregon’s topography.
Where to Find John Grade’s Work
While based in Seattle, Grade’s work is found both across the country and the world. The award-winning artist has pieces at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kew Gardens in London, Arte Sella sculpture garden in Italy, the Seattle Art Museum and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Working from his studio with a team of artists, designers and structural engineers, he creates works in collaboration with others, much in the way he approaches the imagining of each piece: in its relationship to the ecosystem.
“John’s connection to and deep sense of place was critical for us,” said Chantal Strobel, a member of the library’s art committee and assistant director of Deschutes Public Library. ”John’s immediate and holistic sense of Central Oregon was exciting to witness. He quickly embraced the polarity of our landscape and set out to discover it.”
Photos courtesy of the Deschutes Public Library
Grade had previous experience in Central Oregon, having spent 15 years exploring the region. He was drawn to the Badlands in particular and what he referred to as “the humble sagebrush.”
“The sculpture started by asking how it participates in the landscape,” Grade explained, adding that a journal he read informally called the sagebrush a community builder. “With its deep root system, it takes in more water than it can use itself, and it disperses it to the plants around it and smaller plants that live in its shadow. I thought it was a beautiful metaphor for what a library could be.”
Creation of a Centerpiece
The first step in designing the sculpture was finding a dead sagebrush and cutting a cross-section of its stem. “The growth rings are similar to a tree, but much more dynamic,” Grade said. The formal qualities of a one-inch cross-section were magnified to almost 30 feet across and used as inspiration. The building of the large-scale work was what Grade calls a “feat of structural engineering.” The ceiling wouldn’t support a monolithic object and had to follow seismic-safety parameters, so the 1,000-pound work had to be hollow. What appears to be a singular piece is actually a 10-section exoskeleton, with thousands of small holes that Grade said refer to the cell structure of the plant. It was created by his team in Grade’s Seattle studio before being installed at the Redmond Public Library. Standing beneath the artwork—positioned under a skylight—gives the viewer a feeling of seeing through a stem.
“On multiple visits, you may discover something new,” Grade said. “Similar to a library and how it functions for a cross section of people, the sculpture is a way to interact with the building.”
More John Grade Art for Libraries
Next, Grade will install the work “JUNIPER” at the Central Library at Stevens Ranch, opening in 2026. This piece was inspired by contrast: the expansion of the high desert’s ubiquitous and quick-growing western juniper compared to the contraction of the glacier at South Sister. “I liked the idea of taking two difficult things going on in the landscape, thinking of how we frame them, and bringing them together.” Referring to his sculpture as “cultural manifestation,” Grade often includes groups of people in the creation of his art and hopes “JUNIPER” will include a hands-on program in conjunction with the library related to its themes. “It will have a long legacy for visitors, not just today but into the future, because that’s what the library is trying to do: create community.”
Camp Clay Keeps the Health of its Members and the Earth Top of Mind
Walking into Camp Clay, you’ll be greeted by artists working their hands through muddy clay or artfully glazing freshly fired creations. The ceramics studio is a welcoming space, the first of two goals that owner Jess Volk had in mind as she dreamed up the concept for her membership-based workshop. The second goal: To create sustainability in a craft that can create a large amount of waste. The result is a gorgeous and welcoming studio designed for all, from first-time students and novice creatives to professional ceramicists, all with a keen eye on reducing the carbon footprint of clay work being fabricated. From reusing materials to understanding how slowing down the process reduces waste, Volk’s thoughtfulness to detail is clear. Bend Magazine visited the studio to learn more about Volk’s mission to keep clean while getting hands dirty.
What inspired you to open a studio focused on both community and the environment?
I wanted to set up a space that would make it easy to recycle and reclaim what we can, in an environment that almost guarantees the best circumstances so there is less waste. While there are a lot of ways to recycle ceramics, there is undoubtedly tons of refuse. Plus, we use water throughout the entire process. Sometimes, even in our best efforts, our work fails in the last firing and it feels like an entire waste of resources. I joke that in ceramics we practice nonattachment, but it is true, there is a lot of failure. It’s part of learning. I just hope to lessen the waste for a medium that I, and others, love so much. It has become clear that now is the time to act; we must do what we can right now to try and save this planet.
What processes do you use to help your sustainable practice?
We use two sinks with dedicated traps, one for clay and one for glaze. We did this with the basic intention of keeping clay and glaze materials from clogging our plumbing. But also, I know there is so much energy that goes into mining, refining and distributing these materials that it would be a shame to simply throw them away. We reclaim the contents of the glaze sink trap and turn them into a new glaze.
I also purchased a 50-year-old pugging machine [a mill that mixes and compresses clay to remove air bubbles, which creates a workable product]. I fixed it up and now use the machine to aid in our clay-recycling process. Our reclaimed product is as good as brand “new clay,” new in quotations because much like rocks, clay is very old.
I am also in the process of harnessing the heat of the kilns to be redistributed through the building. Initially, we put the kilns into a room with an exhaust fan so that we didn’t have to breathe in the fumes when the kilns started to burn off organic materials. The exhaust fans also helped to blow the heat out of the space. In the winter, I’m hoping to add new fans to blow the warm air into the studio after the kilns have burned off organics; they continuously put off heat for another 48 hours which we can use as a heater of sorts.
In what ways do you support the community of artists who enjoy your space?
I designed the space to be able to sustain the amount of members we have at capacity. The studio will never exceed 65 members, even with shared larger studios and a full work-trade program. We have two kilns now, but we have space for four, so it is my priority to be able to sustain these members and students without the work of others suffering. I believe that when members choose to work at Camp, they are entrusting me to have their best interest at heart. It is my commitment to this community and environment to continue to learn how to accomplish this in better ways.
Members can join Camp for a fee, but are there other ways to join?
Yes! We offer a work-trade program, where members trade their help around the studio in exchange for a full membership and even space to store their materials and works in progress.
The studio opened in July 2024, and the gallery in November. Are there any new additions on your horizon?
I am most excited to continue to polish the studio; it was certainly a lot to get everything up and running, and already I am making changes to systems I put in place in the beginning. I am really looking forward to getting my own studio space organized and going. I have so many ideas, and I can’t wait to get my hands back into clay.
Yep, Central Oregon is undeniably landlocked. There are no docks, no tides, no anglers staring pensively out to sea. And yet, defying all expectations, sushi is flourishing in the high desert thanks to a motley crew of fish whisperers and flavor explorers who refuse to let geography define greatness.
Before we start, let’s clear up some confusion about sushi: It’s not simply raw fish. Sushi begins where plain rice ends—with vinegar and precision—whether shaped into hand-pressed nigiri, wrapped around fillings in a roll or anchoring a chef’s wildest ideas. Technically, those beautiful slices of raw seafood known as sashimi aren’t sushi at all (there’s no rice in sight), but that doesn’t stop us from giving it the love it deserves.
Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market
The Catch is In at Sebastian’s
Athena and Sebastian Galletti, Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market
The most crucial ingredient in sushi isn’t fish—it’s trust. You have to know that everything you’re eating has been handled with care, precision and zero shortcuts. Founded in 2021 by Sebastian Galletti, Sebastian’s Seafood & Specialty Market at The Grove in NorthWest Crossing sources fish directly from his family’s seafood distribution business in California, ensuring Central Oregon gets nothing but the best.
The Sebastian’s seafood case brims with fresh catches, including buttery salmon and ruby-hued yellowfin plus rotating stars such as Chilean sea bass and Hawaiian bigeye tuna. While availability shifts with the tides, every fish is handpicked by people who take seafood personally. Ambitious home sushi enthusiasts can even snag a perfectly rectangular saku block of tuna, ensuring beautifully geometric slices land on the plate. Friendly fishmongers are also happy to answer questions or track down special requests.
While seafood is the showstopper, Sebastian’s shelves are packed with must-haves for a proper sushi night: nori sheets, sushi rice, premium soy sauces, togarashi spice blends and chili crunch oil for an extra kick. As Galletti joked, “The only thing missing is the rice maker.”
Raw Talent at Kusshi & Kanpai
Sashimi may not check the official sushi box, but Kusshi is far too busy crafting beautiful plates to argue semantics. In Japanese, the word kusshi translates to “precious,” a deliberate nod to the deep respect chefs Ian Skomski and Marcus Mitchell have for the ocean’s bounty. Their evolving menu at its location tucked off of Century Drive, confidently explores Nikkei cuisine and its inspired union of Japanese precision and punchy Peruvian flavors. “Our dishes feel accessible even if you’re new to sashimi,” Skomski explained. “It’s not just a slab of raw fish—we surround it with bright sauces and exciting flavors that didn’t exist in Bend until now.”
Kusshi
Take the Tuna Tiradito, with delicate slices of Hawaiian tuna swimming in a fruity-spicy aji amarillo sauce that practically begs diners to consider drinking directly from the bowl. Or the Causa Limeña that reimagines Peru’s mashed potato dish as a neatly stacked one-bite wonder topped with tuna, avocado purée and a salty hit of tobiko (flying fish roe). Even Hokkaido scallops get special treatment with delightfully acidic Leche de Tigre sauce and Peruvian salsa.
Longtime locals know Kanpai as the place that started Bend’s love affair with sushi. Its standout nigiri—hand-pressed mounds of rice topped with a perfect slice of fresh fish—features classics such as maguro (bluefin tuna) and uni (sea urchin), as well as inventive specialties like Sunrise, featuring tuna crowned with tobiko and luxurious quail egg yolk. See our original article on Chef Ian Skomski from 2017.
Ryoshi Sushi & Izakaya
At Ryoshi Sushi & Izakaya, the izakaya part is less about late-night revelry and more about the joyful chaos of passing plates, swapping stories and not caring about who double-dipped. It’s the kind of place where local chefs gather after their shifts to sip sake and share fresh-off-the-blade sashimi.
Here, rice is treated with reverence, crafted exclusively by the sushi chef to achieve a perfect texture and balance, subtly vinegared, slightly sweet, structured yet soft enough to hold everything together. Great rice may not win awards, but it’s the quiet hero of every great sushi roll.
The daily specials at Ryoshi showcase seasonal fish flown in from Japan. Those seeking adventure can opt for omakase—a multicourse meal left entirely to the sushi chef’s imagination. There are also dependable sides like garlic edamame, tangy seaweed salad and comforting miso soup to round things out.
Ryoshi Sushi & Izakaya
But it’s the rolls that bring everyone to the table.
Sushi rolls come in two main varieties: maki (seaweed wrapped neatly on the outside) and uramaki (an inside-out approach that hides the seaweed beneath perfectly sticky rice). Within these humble parameters lies limitless creative potential. Ryoshi’s signature roll exemplifies controlled elegance with salmon, avocado, tiny beads of masago (capelin fish roe) and rice neatly pressed into a compact and deceptively simple rectangle. A thin slice of torched salmon and a sliver of jalapeño take it from subtle to sublime.
While the Ryoshi Roll plays with form, the Sunset Roll plays with crunch. Sushi rice is fried into crispy, golden slabs and piled high with spicy tuna, creamy avocado, tempura flakes and masago. The aptly named Dynamite Roll dares to combine tempura shrimp, smoky grilled eel and…yes… melted cheese. “People see cheese on a sushi roll and hesitate,” said manager Yuki Li. “But one bite, and they get it.”
Grab Ingredients & Go Fishin’ at Home
Ginger 101: Not a garnish or topping—just a reset button for your palate.
Hands vs. Chopsticks: Nigiri gets a pass, rolls get the sticks—but it’s always your call.
One and Done: Sushi is designed for one perfect bite. Don’t overthink it.
Soy Sauce Strategy: A quick dip, fish-side first. No dunking, no drowning.
School’s out for summer and camps are ready for another season of adventure. From rugged backcountry excursions to classic campfire sing-alongs, these programs don’t just create happy campers, they fuel local businesses, support jobs and turn the region’s incomparable outdoors into an immersive experience for leadership, resilience and tons of fun. [Photo above courtesy of C.A.M.P. Bend]
Photo by Mason Otis
By drawing on the area’s mountains, rivers, forests and deserts, these programs are evolving in new ways to deepen connections to nature and expand access to more campers—an invaluable benefit to families. But as funding sources shift, organizations are adapting with strategic partnerships and diversified revenue streams to stay competitive, and to continue creating lanyards and lifelong memories.
A Tradition of Outdoor Adventure
Summer camps in Bend have been a tradition dating back to its logging-camp days and today, they need to adapt and evolve to remain vital. Camp Fire Central Oregon, for example, began in 1916 when newcomers flocking to the timber industry wanted their girls to learn outdoors skills for life in their new environs. The camp thrives today, and is open to all. Since 1935, Camp Tamarack taps into the power of the Deschutes National Forest in Sisters to inspire campers and offers counselor-in-training programs that develop leadership.The sight of teepees dotting Shevlin Park signals another year of Cougar Camp. Beginning in the early 1980s, Bend Park and Recreation has offered a classic experience, from the creation of camp names, songs and skits to a family barbecue before kids overnight in the teepees as a Bend rite of passage.
Photo courtesy of R.A.D. Camps
The Path to Camp Ownership
Summer camps provide leadership development to counselors, and Chance Caruso’s outdoor-education career began while he was a camper at R.A.D. Camps. The camp was founded in 2008, and Caruso took the reins in 2021. He has maintained its focus on true wilderness experiences, offering adventures in more than 50 backcountry locations within a two-hour radius of Bend, from desert to rivers, creeks, mountain lakes and forests.
As a child, the young entrepreneur had unknowingly absorbed business skills by overhearing his mother, a real estate agent, on speaker phone as she sold houses and negotiated deals.
“I just slowly took things in over years and years and years, so it’s always been natural for me to be able to do that type of thing,” he said.
The company has the advantage of possessing rare, highly sought-after special-use permits for the Deschutes and Willamette national forests. Caruso continues the camp’s focus on free play, while developing ease in nature, with leave-no-trace practices and no electronics.
R.A.D. Camp has wide appeal, including for families relocating from urban areas that want their children to develop outdoor skills, not unlike Bend’s timber industry families a century ago. Clients have expanded from locals to visitors from across the country and some from abroad. Caruso cites the camp’s flexible, single-day trips which appeal to vacationing families.
Photo courtesy of R.A.D. Camps
Meeting Growing Demand
As Bend continues to grow, so does the demand for diverse and enriching youth programs. Luckily, new camps are stepping in to meet that need. Cascade Adventure Mountain Programs (C.A.M.P.) Bend is one example, launched last year by Drew Hornbeck who drew on decades of experience in adventure and wilderness therapy to create a summer camp focused on leadership and personal growth through outdoor experiences. The focus also underscores how offering a niche program can be essential for standing out and gaining traction when launching a new business.
“Whether it’s paddleboarding, hiking, caving, mountain biking or camping, we’re there for a purpose—to create more insight, awareness, resiliency and personal growth within the context of becoming a leader,” said Hornbeck.
He requires staff to have related degrees or significant outdoor education experience to achieve a high-quality, safe, inclusive environment, emphasizing both physical and emotional well-being. As a result, personnel is the largest business expense. To sustain the camp year-round, he is expanding into after-school and business team-building programs.
Accessibility is key to the financial models for camps such as Camp Fire, C.A.M.P. Bend and R.A.D. Camps, with tuition and business sponsorships generating funds to subsidize enrollment for underserved kids.
Photo courtesy of Cougar Camp, Bend Park & Recreation District
Camps Innovate to Thrive
As summer camps face evolving financial pressures, some are seeking commercial partnerships or offering specialized programs to stay viable and fulfill their mission to serve local children and families. Camp Fire Central Oregon, for example, is addressing federal budget cuts by seeking alternative funding sources.
To adapt, Executive Director Kecia Kubota is focusing on diversifying revenue through business sponsorships and individual donations. A recent grant enabled the hiring of a marketing and development director to strengthen outreach and secure corporate partnerships, particularly with businesses that depend on and prioritize outdoor spaces. These efforts aim to sustain programming and expand scholarship opportunities for summer campers.
Camp Fire Central Oregon, a local affiliate of the national nonprofit, hosts about 120 summer campers each week at Tumalo Day Camp, a traditional outdoor experience with optional overnight stays for older kids and a nine-week, elementary school-based day camp with themed activities, catering to working families. The emphasis is on fostering stewardship of the natural world and preparing campers for becoming valuable employees and contributing citizens.
Another example of creative funding and marketing partnerships is from C.A.M.P. Bend, which has leaned on strategic partnerships to build momentum. A key collaboration with Bend Park and Recreation District played a pivotal role in boosting enrollment this year, generating 50 signups the first day it was posted, Hornbeck said. He also relies on a mix of digital and grassroots efforts, from boosted social media ads to old-school methods such as posting flyers in local businesses and hosting booths at community events. Hornbeck’s personal networks helped with inaugural trips last year—families that knew him through his two teenage daughters trusted his expertise.
The trust and tradition of Central Oregon summer camps offer more than play. With another summer comes a new wave of kids ready to grow under open skies with camps working to create something bigger—for families, the community and the wild places that make it all possible.
More Camp Fun
Summer Skate Camp 2025 is open for registration, offering a week-long skateboarding experience for all levels from June 16 to August 29 in Central Oregon. The camp will provide opportunities to learn and improve skateboarding skills, design tech deck skate parks, create art, and more. Learn more about Board House and their summer camps here.
April Lawyer is a professional athlete and founder of Vanilla boutique, celebrating 20 years in Bend.
Recipe for Success
Start with an industrious child growing up in the sports-centric culture of Big Bear Lake, California, during the ‘80s. Fold in raw athletic talent, tenacity and grit. Add hefty doses of style and community support. That only begins to describe April Lawyer: professional athlete—the first woman to compete in both downhill mountain biking and snowboarding in the first X Games of 1997, and founder of the Old Mill District boutique Vanilla, celebrating its20th anniversary in 2025. Lawyer was one of the first retailers in the Old Mill District when it was a sparkle in Bill Smith’s eye. Similarly, Lawyer saw a new niche for her shop with its melding of the snowboard and fashion worlds. She recently talked with Adam Short ofBend Magazine’s The Circling Podcast.
A lemonade stand and a bedroom window candy drive-through were a start for the young entrepreneur:
We lived in an old house and I was on the lower floor, so I had a little pop-out window. I got some milk crates and lined them up so kids could step up to the window. I made a little sign, and I created a little store out of my bedroom window. Kids would knock on the window, I’d slide it open and they would ask, “What do you have today?”
I don’t know that my dad completely loved having kids constantly knocking on the windows, but it was really fun, and it created such a great opportunity to understand how to put my profits [from selling candy] into overhead. It was my first introduction into how retail works, but also to customer service and talking to people and just sort of figuring out what people want.
It was an important step to advocate for herself, and being authentic was the best form of marketing:
At one point in time I did bring on a manager [as a professional athlete], but I felt like just being my own authentic self was my best marketing. Having somebody on the outside trying to do that just didn’t sit well with me. I really learned a lot about marketing because I negotiated all my own contracts, and I think that to this day it was the best education I could have given myself—to be an advocate for myself.
Vanilla began as the “vanilla shell” of a space and an idea to blend the cultures of a snowboard shop with a boutique:
April Lawyer
In 2005, you were either a snowboard shop or you were a boutique; there wasn’t any in between. And I thought, why can’t we just put the two worlds that I’ve now been exposed to and really love together? Nowadays, there are lots of those, but back then, there really wasn’t a whole lot of that. There was one space that was available in a brand new building that hadn’t been built out yet. It was what they called a “vanilla shell.” It was this huge 2,500-square-foot space, but it was beautiful. I guess I must’ve been crazy.
Bill Smith believed in her ideas—and the osprey out his window—in the rising Old Mill District of 20 years ago:
I didn’t know who Bill Smith was, and I didn’t know what I was walking into. Bill was just sitting there in his Old Mill office smiling at me. And I thought, “Okay, I have to make a pitch. This is the real deal.” I didn’t have a business plan. I just had to pitch [him and his team] on an idea.
Bill looked at me silently, and he had this funny look on his face and I thought, ”Oh, this isn’t going to go well.” He didn’t say anything. He just let me keep talking and talking. Then, finally, he looks at his window and he says, “Look out there. Do you like my osprey? Isn’t that beautiful?” He was so proud. He looked at me, smiled and said,“I like you, let’s do this.”
Vanilla was embraced by the community early on and it’s an honor to share a vision:
I am so fortunate that the community embraced what we were doing early on, and I think they saw its value. My goal with Vanilla from the beginning was for people to enjoy it because of what we had curated, but also the authenticity of what we were all about. I wanted people to enjoy what I created, and not because it was attached to whatever [sports-related] notoriety I had at that time. But I think to be able to tap into a little bit of who you are is very unique, and I’m very honored to be able to do this.
Last summer, humpback whales spouted and breached around Bend natives Jennifer and Kristen Hofer’s 28-foot skiff during the first two days of the World’s Toughest Row competition from Monterey Bay, California, to Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i. It wasn’t all whales and rainbows, though. On the eighth day, a 20-foot wave capsized their boat. Their self-righting vessel flipped back over, with the rowers strapped onto the boat with harnesses. All were safe.
It could be assumed that the Hofer sisters had immense experience navigating open ocean. However, they grew up in land-locked Central Oregon, graduated from Bend High School and had no experience in deep ocean waters before the race. Jennifer, 30, was on a rowing team at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon; Kristen, 31, competed in outrigger canoe races when attending University of Hawaii at Hilo, but never away from coastal zones.
Despite growing up far from the ocean, their team, Hericane Rowing, finished the 2,800-mile race on July 19, 2024, in 40 days, 22 hours and 14 minutes, coming in sixth out of eight teams. Jennifer and Kristen became the first sisters to complete a mid-Pacific row together.
Photo courtesy of World’s Toughest Row
The Dream Begins
Jennifer was the first to get excited about the potential of racing. “In 2022, we watched the Lat 35 team break the women’s record crossing the Pacific,” said Jennifer, who quit her job as a data analyst in Portland to do the race. But she couldn’t do it alone. “I asked Kristen and Sierra Myers, my college rowing teammate, if I was crazy to consider doing this. They were both instantly interested. We connected to our skipper, Kelsey Pfender. through the race organization. She had the most open water experience.”
The women trained for two years, not just physically but also for sleep deprivation, stress and pressure. They prepared to row in teams of two—two hours on, two hours off. To go faster, sometimes the women did three-hour day shifts on the oars with 30-minute breaks.
“We averaged four hours of sleep per day across 40 days,” said Kristen, who is a rafting guide for Wanderlust Tours in Central Oregon. “We were so exhausted, we worried less about getting to sleep and more about going to sleep with unchewed goldfish in our mouths.”
Nighttime rowing was even more challenging. “Talking kept us from falling asleep at the oars, which sometimes happened,” said Jennifer. “Focusing on what a rowing partner needed helped distract us from our own struggles.”
Kristen added, “Talking at night, we learned everything about each other. Jenn and I really got to know each other as adults.”
Their two-hour breaks weren’t just for sleeping. They had chores. The women used a solar-powered desalinator for a limited amount of freshwater. Many times laundry meant a bucket of seawater and dish soap. They also concentrated on sunscreening, wound care, baby-wipe showering, teeth brushing, water boiling and, of course, eating.
“We had a bag of food each per day; our job was to eat a whole bag to get the calories we needed,” said Kristen, and Jennifer added: “Eating that amount of food was difficult because you had to sacrifice sleep to eat. You had to convince yourself to eat. People brought a surprise snack pack every 500 miles. One time, chocolate pudding changed our entire day.”
High points included an unexpected rest day when skipper Pfender was able to use the shape of the boat to sail, going faster than rowing. They paddled through a night of meteor showers and had a day being followed by a family of whales. They savored wearing shorts on the first sunny day and replaying the MP3 audio files from their family and friends.
Team Hericane Rowing: Left to Right: Kelsey Pfender, Jennifer Hofer, Sierra Myers, and Kristen Hofer
Challenges on Open Water
As for the scariest moment, it wasn’t capsizing. It wasn’t the shark that lurked under their boat. It wasn’t the pitch-black night when they could hear, but not see, humongous swells that had them wondering if these would be the waves that dumped them. It was the night they used a parachute-style anchor when a bad storm was shoving them the wrong way. Their satellite monitor’s alarm jolted them awake. They were on a collision course with a cargo ship—vessels that are huge, fast and can suck a boat under.
Their radio communication wasn’t answered. They had to act fast, pull anchor and row as if their lives depended on it.“In those make or break moments, we learned we could pull through and trust each other,” said Jennifer.
Around 4 a.m. on day 40, they neared Kaua’i and their cheering family and friends. “We saw their tiny light in the distance; it seemed to take forever for it to grow closer,” said Mary Hofer, the sisters’ mother who had her two daughters and a son (deployed in the navy) all on open ocean at the same time during the trip.
Crossing the Finish Line
“Seeing the finish celebration flares from the pier was a moment I’ll never forget,” said Mary. “Seeing their faces was the most wonderful feeling in the world. I couldn’t wait to get my arms around them. When the four of them walked to shore, holding each other up because they could barely stand, I felt so much pride in this team of amazing young women.”
The team drank cold bubbly water to celebrate, except none of them could open a can themselves. Their fingers were seized up. They struggled with a common rowing injury called claw hand that limits the ability to extend fingers, as well as atrophied walking muscles.
They quickly recovered, but were forever changed. “I think about who I was when I started training, then who I was on the starting line and end of the race,” said Kristen. “You learn you are stronger than you think you are—physically, emotionally and mentally.” Jennifer added, “Gaining confidence, pushing through fear—that translates to everything else in life.”
When Stephanie Alvstad thinks about J Bar J Youth Services, the organization she leads as president and CEO, she sees it through the lens of community connection. “Everything we do comes down to relationships. And when those connections are strong, lives change,” said Alvstad. The mission of J Bar J Youth Services is to support young people facing significant challenges. Youth connect with the nonprofit in various ways, including court appointments, referrals from community partners and by seeking help directly through the programs.
J Bar J’s network of programs have served Central Oregon’s at-risk youth for nearly six decades. Founded in 1968, J Bar J facilitates everything from emergency shelter to equine psychotherapy and helping young people build confidence and self-sufficiency. “We work with youth who have often been through tremendous difficulties,” Alvstad said. “Our goal is to provide the stability and support they need to move forward.”
The Oregon High Desert Classics is the major fundraiser for J Bar J Youth Services.
Different from traditional services, J Bar J’s programs offer specialized support systems. Their residential facilities, such as the J Bar J Boys Ranch and J5, provide rehabilitation for young men facing adversity or those involved in the juvenile justice system.
J Bar J Youth Services includes multiple programs: The Cascade Youth and Family Center delivers emergency shelter and housing solutions for youth experiencing homelessness. J Bar J operates the at: project, providing intervention and assistance for human trafficking victims; and Grandma’s House offers shelter for pregnant girls and young mothers.
Mentorship remains central through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, which pairs children as young as age 8—known as “Littles”—with adult mentors for guidance. These relationships often extend into high school. In 2023, 100% of the program’s high school Littles graduated or received their GED. For young women needing intensive intervention, The Academy at Sisters serves as a therapeutic boarding school focusing on healing and growth.
The J Bar J Learning Center offers alternative education for youth who struggle in traditional schools, while Kindred Connections stabilizes home environments by supporting families in crisis.
Funding for Programs Comes From Oregon High Desert Classics
To support its wide range of programs, J Bar J hosts the Oregon High Desert Classics at its Boys Ranch every July. The two-week hunter-jumper competition draws thousands of equestrians from across North America to compete for $150,000 in prizes, including the $25,000 Grand Prix. The event is the organization’s largest fundraiser and holds the highest AA rating from the U.S. Equestrian Foundation. The competition is on one of the last remaining grass footing rings in the country—a prized surface in the equestrian world that’s worth experiencing.
The event is open to the public, with many locals making it an annual tradition. Spectators enjoy watching skilled riders and horses in action, plus exploring a variety of vendors offering local food and artisan items.
The Central Oregon community is invited to contribute time and professional expertise to support J Bar J’s mission. From bankers teaching accounting skills to chefs hosting cooking classes, community members have numerous opportunities to make an impact on young people’s lives. Become more involved with J Bar J’s mission, here.
In many ways, interior designer Celeste McGowan and her family’s home eschews mainstream home design trends. It’s small by today’s standards, at 1,300 square feet. The opposite of “open concept,” every room is defined and infused with personality.
“Spaces with character are what I love to design. When I had the chance to dream up spaces in my own house, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go in,” said Celeste, who owns Iron Roots Design along with her husband, Tim. The design-build studio does everything from large home renovations to designing restaurant interiors such as Dear Irene in downtown Bend.
The home already came with a history. Built in 1911, the schoolhouse was moved in the 1970s in Tumalo to its current location, a larger property on Old Bend Redmond Highway. When the McGowans first saw it, the house had blue office carpet and commercial lighting, but the they saw its potential.
The living room was once the main school room, and features custom cabinets made by Tim McGowan.
Elements of History
While little of the original building was salvaged, the McGowans set about creating spaces that harken back to the building’s first iteration, while showcasing their personal style.
They added the decorative black-glazed brick fireplace from California-based Arto Brick in the living room. Celeste found the heavy wooden oversized mirror, a focal point of the room, at a Bend thrift shop. Tim, a multitalented craftsman with a background in custom metal fabrication, made the steel and stained-wood built-in cabinets on the opposite wall, which is both functional and stylish. “In small spaces, playing with scale can be important. I feel like we’re doing that with these two opposing elements [of steel and wood],” said Celeste.
History is also important: The living room, which would have been the main school room, is decorated with family photographs and heirlooms, such as a brass oil lamp passed down through Tim’s family and a coin purse from Celeste’s grandmother. Celeste is a descendant of a famed Oregonian, Captain George Flavel, whose former Queen Anne-style residence is now the Flavel House Museum in Astoria.
One of the living room’s most eye-catching features is the dry bar with gold accents and earthy mint green Zelige tile that catches the mid-afternoon light.
The McGowans moved the front door so they could turn an awkward entryway into a second bathroom. This jewel box of a powder room features early 20th-century inspired Art Nouveau wallpaper in a warm cream and black color palette.
“We wanted it to feel special, light and bright,” said Celeste.
The 1911 schoolhouse was renovated to serve as the McGowan family home.
Family Ties
After living in Sonoma—where Celeste studied interior design and architectural drafting—the McGowan’s moved to Tumalo to be closer to family; Celeste’s mother and stepfather live down the road. The couple was also searching for a place to start a business and a family. They moved into the home in 2019 and two years later the couple welcomed their son. Today, 3-year-old Sloane loves playing in the renovated mudroom off the kitchen that is decorated with an array of plants and an Iron Roots Design custom bench. While she put a lot of heart and effort into the home’s design, Celeste laughed when she admitted, “There’s going to be toy dinosaurs scattered across my living room 95% of the time.”
Celeste McGowan creates restful spaces accented with heirlooms and photographs.Tim & Celeste McGowan
The primary bedroom is the best example of the layered design look. It features the natural, organic and textured elements Celeste loves. Eucalyptus-themed wallpaper by artist Yvonne Hart adds drama. A green Four Hands bench draped in blankets and linens of different colors and textures adds a point of interest at the end of the bed. The wooden side tables built by Tim’s late father were important to incorporate into the space—the McGowans also encourage clients to showcase meaningful pieces.
“Family is the main reason we do everything. To have the opportunity to be a small part of somebody’s story or to make their home feel like a safe space is important to me,” she said.
As the McGowan’s embarked on their home renovation journey, they noticed that more clients also began asking for separation and privacy in their living spaces. While open floor plans have their upsides, they said, they believe there will be a continued movement toward more traditional design in home architecture.
The McGowans also added a deck to the front of the house, but they have more plans for the home, including renovating the bright but dated kitchen and possibly exposing the schoolhouse’s original brick chimney stack hidden inside a wall. Every renovation makes the house feel more like a home while staying true to its roots.
“With this project, we didn’t want to try to make the house something it isn’t. That’s how we approach all our work,” said Celeste.
As summer approaches, the wilderness around Bend is brimming with hikers eager to summit buttes and mountain peaks clear of winter snow. But why not take a road trip to explore an equally spectacular landscape with lesser-traversed paths and leave some of the crowds behind? Nestled in the Malheur National Forest of Eastern Oregon is one such place—a glacier-carved valley seeming to rise out of nowhere from the surrounding sage brush hills. This postcard-perfect alpine region is known as the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, named by homesteader Nathan Willis Fisk—one of Oregon’s earliest pioneers—from his simple observation of an abundance of wild strawberries found there.” [Photo by Garrett & Nina, Oregonisforadventure.com]
To access the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, hikers starting from Bend drive roughly three-and-a-half hours to the parking area at Strawberry Campground. The sojourner is welcomed with stunning views and more than 100 miles of trails showcasing waterfalls, craggy peaks, spring-fed meadows and seven alpine lakes. The appeal of the Strawberry Mountains is perhaps their ability to simultaneously humble and awe visitors with both a grandeur and quiet nature. The landscape here seems more akin to the Canadian Rockies than the Cascade’s high desert peaks—an unexpected delight in what feels like Oregon’s forgotten backcountry.
Strawberry Lake | Photo by Troy McMullin
This wilderness is also a haven for wildlife and wildflowers. California bighorn sheep and mountain goats are frequent visitors on the andesite cliff outcroppings. In early summer, the mountain basins bloom with colorful explosions of a variety of wildflower species. Throughout the hillside meadows, paintbrush, lupine and monkeyflower mingle and dance to create a colorful symphony of bright pinks, deep purples and striking yellows.
Fortunately, Fisk’s namesake observations still hold true as spring-fed meadows feed the fields and ripe huckleberries and strawberries dot the trails in late summer, offering the hiker plenty of sweet trailside treats. The region is also a backpacker’s paradise, offering an ideal setting for a two- or three-day loop to take in one of the few less-touched areas of majestic wilderness east of the Cascade Range.
Here are three hikes that feature some of the most scenic portions of the Strawberry Mountains, all starting from Strawberry Campground. Choose a beginner’s loop, or level up to the Summit.
Strawberry Lake Loop
If a shorter hike is at the top of the list, the trek around Strawberry Lake provides a perfect introduction to the splendor of the area. The trail picks up at the Strawberry Basin Trailhead in the campground day-use parking lot. It begins with a gradual ascent through a thick fir forest before opening up to a dramatic view of glistening Strawberry Lake. The 4-mile loop follows the shoreline before connecting back to the trailhead and gives ample shaded inlets to take in the valley’s breeze, cast your line or enjoy a tranquil picnic lunch. At around the 1.5-mile marker, turn right to take the lesser-traveled path and enjoy the stillness of the lake’s western shores on the return.
Distance: 4-mile loop | Difficulty: Easy | Dog and family friendly
Strawberry Falls | Photo by Christian Murillo
Strawberry Falls and Little Strawberry Lake
At the head of Strawberry Lake is a large grassy meadow and a series of bubbling stream crossings. Look for the sign to the falls branching off to the right and begin the climb. In roughly a mile, feel the mist from 60-foot Strawberry Falls—a welcome treat on a hot summer day. Continue on a long switchback toward the footbridge that traverses the top of the falls. The next fork heads uphill toward the Little Strawberry Lake basin. The babbling Strawberry Creek will follow the trail through the next half-mile section of ponderosa pine forest as glistening Little Strawberry Lake comes into view. Keep watch for mountain goats on the towering cliffs here. There are several secluded sites in which to pitch a tent for overnighting, or head back the same way you came, turning right to explore the other side of the shoreline back toward the falls.
Distance: 6.5 miles out and back | Difficulty: Moderate, but with some challenging sections | Dog and older kid-friendly
Strawberry Mountain | Photo by Christian Murillo
Strawberry Mountain Summit
This trail gains more than 3,000 feet of elevation, so prepare accordingly. At the Strawberry Basin/Little Strawberry Lake Trail Junction is the optional (but recommended) side trip to Little Strawberry Lake, which adds about a mile. From here, the Strawberry Basin trail continues and offers a bird’s-eye view of Strawberry Lake as a kaleidoscope of wildflower meadows come to life. Keep an eye out for the remains of an old cabin, and across the valley to the east, catch a glimpse of Rabbit Ears, a rock formation jutting out of the rocks on the ridgeline. The trail eventually opens up to a drier, more rugged and exposed landscape. Keep right and expect some scree field scrambling here, reminiscent of South Sister’s summit trail (the “one step forward, two steps back” kind). The last 300 feet of the ascent is a series of switchbacks toward the summit’s reward: arguably the best panoramic views of the John Day River valley, the Blue Mountains and the vast Strawberry Mountain Wilderness below. Return the same way for the most scenic descent.
Distance: 13 miles (with optional side trip to Little Strawberry Lake) | Difficulty: Hard | Not recommended for dogs or kids due to narrow trails and drop-offs
Helpful Hiking Tips:
There are small, nonreservable campsites—one at the base of the trailhead, another farther down the road at Slide Creek—to overnight and begin at early light.
Pack a fishing pole. The lakes in the area are stocked with brook and rainbow trout.
A Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass, such as America the Beautiful, is needed to park at any of the trailheads.
Mosquito spray is highly recommended if exploring in the early summer months.
On trips to Bend for the elite cycling race, the Cascade Cycling Classic, James and Tracy Chao began dreaming of a life in Central Oregon. Coming from San Clemente, California, where space comes at a premium, the couple was attracted to the abundant biking opportunities and open landscapes.
A Contemporary Highlands Family Home Blends Northwest Tradition and Asian-inspired Design
In architect Eric Meglasson, James found a fellow cycling enthusiast and someone who shared his affinity for clean, contemporary design. The Chaos purchased a 10-acre parcel in the Highlands At Broken Top, close enough to walk to NorthWest Crossing but overlooking a meadow with views of the Cascade Range beyond. Meglasson designed a single-story residence nestled next to ponderosa pine trees.
“It is very rooted in the Northwest tradition of using exposed timberwork for the structure,” said Meglasson. “The scale is perfect for family living,” he added.
The home’s exposed glulam roof beam structure is an homage to the region’s timber industry. Asian influences are found in the simplicity of the design and repetition of the roof beam work.
The Chaos, who have a son and two Schnauzers, wanted a large private courtyard to capitalize on the privacy they were lacking in California. They also wanted a comfortable dwelling area for James’ mother who is spending more and more time in Bend, as well as display areas for their art collection.
“We wanted every space to be functional and useful,” said Tracy.
Influence From Down Under
The large courtyard with a gas fire pit is calming and open. With sliding glass doors, the great room—which includes a kitchen with natural soapstone countertops—is bright and stylish.
Fans of mid-century modern design, the Chaos furnished the bungalow they lived in for 17 years in San Clemente with colorful mid-century pieces. In their Bend home, they wanted to do something different. The mid-century-inspired yet modern furniture with darker and more neutral tones is a mix of pieces from Italy, such as the slim walnut dining table, as well as from Room & Board and Design Within Reach.
They stumbled on the work of Australian architect and interior designer Lani Fixler on social media and loved her clean, but not overly cold, aesthetic. “It’s just the small details where she came up with something different,” said James.
In the kitchen, Fixler—who they hired to do the fixed items in the house, such as cabinetry and decorative light fixtures—suggested a tile backsplash overlaid with a white range hood cover. The look is sleek, but soft. The home’s smooth profile wooden cabinets have recessed handles, so everything looks like one piece and clothes don’t snag on a protruding handle.
A Personal Collection
James’ appreciation for art began early. His aunt Flory Chowe was an accomplished artist. Her sculptures, paintings and sketches decorate the home and capture family memories big and small: an ethereal portrait of James’ grandmother and a 1976 sketch of his grandfather and father playing Go, a board game that originated in ancient China. A joint passion, the couple began adding to James’ collection more than 15 years ago. They especially love supporting up-and-coming young artists.
Meglasson designed the L-shaped home to showcase the Chao’s artwork. The main hallway doubles as a gallery with works ranging from surf art by Andy Davis and Jeff Canham to a large painting with tribal motifs and bright colors called “Sacred and Profane” by mural artist Zio Ziegler.
“Initially, what pulled us in was the complexity, but it also made us feel good. Art makes us happy,” said James.
Another captivating work is a narrative wall mural by Oklahoma City-based artist Denise Duong. Done in three pieces, it represents various states of being, from feeling overwhelmed to desiring exploration and septuagenarians eating ice cream, a quirky obsession of the artist.
Throughout the home, other details tell a story about the homeowners and their interests, from black and white vintage cycling photography to a stock print of slender trees turned into wallpaper in the primary bedroom, which Tracy calls her “happy place.”
With a soft and serene color palette and views of nature in every direction, the Chaos finally have the sanctuary they long craved.
In a sport where athletes stand in vertical splits on the back of a cantering horse, courage, teamwork and trust are paramount. An artistic and technical blend of gymnastics, ballet and horsemanship, equestrian vaulting finds its roots in Ancient Roman games and is soon to make its Olympic debut at the 2032 Summer Olympics. In Central Oregon, young athletes train year-round at Hope Mountain Vaulters, one of only three clubs in Oregon and 78 in the United States.
Athletic Artistry at Hope Mountain Vaulters
Combining grace and strength, the performative sport of vaulting involves an athlete executing a series of acrobatic movements while perched on a moving horse. A “lunger” guides the horse with 15 feet of lead rope in a circular walk, trot or canter from the arena’s center throughout the vaulter’s routine. Performed to music, vaulting is judged on a scale of one to 10 for compulsory and artistic elements.
Vivianna Singer (top) & Allison Patron
Led by longtime equestrian and lead lunger Lydia Singer, Hope Mountain Vaulters offers recreational and competitive vaulting programs. “We’re very careful and thoughtful about how we train our horses and vaulters,” Singer explained. Having a horse for a teammate requires a different set of skills than other sports, she added. Care for the horse is woven into the daily practice schedule, and athletes are educated on how to identify a horse’s injuries and ailments. This daily connection is integral to building mutual trust, the foundation of vaulting.
Eleven-year-old national qualifier Emery Mills said, “Our horse, Kitty, always knows what we need. When I’m nervous, she helps me feel calm.”
At Hope Mountain Vaulters, athletes say it’s more than just fun and hard work. “Vaulting has taught me about life,” Emery shared. Riding horses in rodeo-style events since the age of 7, she switched to vaulting in 2020 after a frightening barrel racing experience. Immediately hooked, she’s been dedicated to the sport ever since. “Vaulting got me back in the saddle,” she said. In 2032, Mills will be 19 years old and is working toward a spot in the Brisbane Summer Olympics.
Coached by Hope Mountain’s Julia Walk, 15-year-old canter vaulter Vivianna Singer, is entering the competition season this spring ranked fifth in the nation. Vivianna began vaulting in 2019 and has competed and trained with clubs across the country and in Canada. Her signature move, the “Needle,” earned her a rare perfect 10 in an international competition. Working toward the Junior World Championships, Vivianna, with partner Katherine Midkiff of Serendipity Vaulters in Yamhill, Oregon, won a national title for their pas de deux, an event involving two vaulters performing synchronized movements on the back of one horse, and often lifting each other into the air while the horse circles inside the arena.
Vivianna Singer
Although vaulting appears to be a dangerous pursuit, the intensive training, trust and controlled environment make it safer. Working in a synergistic partnership, the vaulter, lunger and horse are in-tune with each other and adjustments are made if there’s a hint of agitation, Singer explained. Athletes are taught emergency dismounts, and audiences are educated on the etiquette of spectating. “Our horses are chosen for their solid minds,” she said, and arenas—even the soil—are analyzed for safety.
In a sport where athletes as young as 5 years old are perched on a 2,000 pound, 17-hands-tall horse, mental toughness develops naturally—and athletes find ways to combat nerves before entering the arena. Doing the Makarena on the back of her horse is Emery’s tactic, “I get a lot of laughs,” she said. Vivianna focuses on the judges. “I read my horse so I can mirror her,” she explained. “Learning to trust the horse underneath you teaches you how to trust yourself.”
It’s not surprising that a sport reliant on connection fosters a community spirit. “Every club we travel to offers their horses to visiting competitors, along with advice on how to ride them,” Hope Mountain Vaulters volunteer Courtney Eastwood shared. “The vaulting community is all about lifting each other up, safety and respect.”
Offering periodic recitals throughout the year for the public to enjoy, the club also welcomes visitors to watch practice sessions with advanced notice. “Vaulting is so unique. People are really surprised when they see it,” Vivianna said, “It’s a hidden gem.” Read more about Hope Mountain Vaulters.
More than a half century ago, women’s work conjured visions of homemakers in aprons or Rosie the Riveter rolling up her sleeves during wartime. Generations of women have fought to open doors to greater opportunities, and their efforts have paid off. With grit and perseverance, women are thriving in careers once dominated by men. For Women’s History Month, the spotlight is on a sampling of Central Oregon professionals who have broken through stereotypes. These women followed their passions, embraced challenges and have elevated the lives of others along the way.
Tracy Williams (left) and Sami Gotschall (right)
Tracy Williams, Bend Municipal Airport Manager
Overseeing the action and safety at an airport is a critical part of aviation and requires specific skills, such as an Accredited Aviation Executive (AAE) certification. Only 20% of AAE-certified airport executives are women, and Central Oregon’s Tracy Williams is among them. Williams served eight years on active duty in Air Force Command and Control, tracking aircraft and weapon systems globally. Along the way, she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in aeronautics, her pilot’s license, and established herself as a leader in airport management.
“I breathe aviation; I thrive on the fast pace. But I was ready for a balanced life. That’s what brought me to Bend,” said Williams. When Williams accepted the Bend Airport manager position in 2020, she set her sights on raising the regional airport to a higher level of safety and technology with the addition of an air traffic control tower. “Years ago, the Bend Airport was a sleepy operation. We’re not sleeping anymore,” said Williams. The airport has approximately 140,000 takeoffs and landings per year as the third busiest airport in Oregon, and the tower is long overdue. Breaking ground in December 2025, the new 115-foot control tower will add a critical layer of safety for pilots, who currently must talk to each other directly. “Guiding this project to completion feels like a capstone. If I could choose a legacy to leave, it’d be this tower.”
Sami Gotschall, Helicopter Pilot
The first woman to earn a helicopter pilot license was Ann Shaw Carter, in 1947. Since then, helicopter flying has expanded into many sectors, yet the percentage of female pilots has grown slowly, barely nudging past 10% in 2023. Sami Gotschall, of Bend, sees a world of opportunity for more women in aviation.
After completing her training at Leading Edge Aviation in Bend in 2018, Gotschall flew helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam and worked as a flight instructor. Then the Camp Fire raged through her childhood hometown of Paradise, California, a disaster that compelled Gotschall to use her skills to fight wildfires. She shifted to aerial firefighting, flying in quick-response firefighters and water buckets in a Bell 407. These days, her work helps prevent wildfires from starting. As a utility flyer, she carries crews and equipment on external long lines into remote areas for power line repairs. It’s precision flying that requires a calm demeanor, persistence and spatial awareness, according to Gotschall.
“I stay on high alert because human beings are attached to the line hanging below me. Getting them to the exact spot takes finesse, a soft approach. Using both hands and feet, and sometimes my head is out the window, I consider the weather, the aerodynamics and the mechanics of the load,” she said. “Getting the linemen back safely at the end of the day is the best reward.”
Trish Connolly, Deputy Fire Chief
Trish Connolly, Deputy Fire Chief
“I never intended to be a groundbreaker. I just wanted to do this work,” said Trish Connolly of Bend Fire Department. In 2020, when Connolly was its first female firefighter, only 2% of career firefighters across the country were women. Today, Connolly serves as deputy chief at Bend Fire and Rescue, and her work lifts the department as a whole. “We have such talented, capable people and an open, caring culture. My goal is to help each [person] work to their highest ability,” said Connolly.
Women now make up only 5% of firefighters nationwide, and Connolly emphasizes the need for more. “Firefighters need physical fitness, but not brute strength. The great majority of emergency calls are medical, and we need a diverse team of responders who can solve problems in different ways,” she said.
One piece of advice she received early in her career has stayed with her. “My mentor reminded me I was hired as a female, so I should lead as a female. Lead as my authentic self. That helped me step into my role and trust myself. I think that advice is something more women should hear—to not be afraid to lead as a woman.”
Julia Sparks, Bike Guru
While Bend’s singletrack hums with female bikers, it’s a different story elsewhere. Nationwide, only one in five mountain bikers is a woman, and even fewer work on bikes or in bike shops. For Julia Sparks, a love of adventure biking runs in her family and drives her business, Chariot Bike. Working as a bike mechanic for more than a decade and inspired by her grandmother, who rode across the country in 1948 on a bicycle named Chariot, Sparks launched the Chariot mobile bike repair van in 2020. After five years of growth, Chariot Bike now fills a storefront stocked with gravel and mountain bikes, bike repair stations, bikepacking gear, community event space, and coming soon: a coffee bar. Sparks has kept the space flexible for DIY repair workshops and other gatherings.
“Without our Bend community, Chariot would not exist,” she said. On her rare days away from work, Sparks follows her grandmother’s example and rides her bike into nature. “Bikes get you outdoors. You forget the rest of the world and recharge,” she said. “I just want more people to get on bikes.”
A woman’s place hasn’t traditionally been in building a home. Today, women make up just 10% of the construction workforce, and the numbers are similar for residential contractors. When Katie Pendleton began her career, she knew there could be obstacles, but she didn’t let that hold her back. She gained valuable experience in commercial building, but had a passion for creating beautiful homes. In 2020, Pendleton launched The Fort, her residential construction business.
Working in construction means constant problem solving and collaboration with architects, subcontractors and clients. For Pendleton, that requires strong relationships. “I never take respect or trust for granted; I earn it through my work,” she said. This year, Pendleton will serve as president of the Central Oregon Builders Association.
While construction has been slow to open doors, the number of women in architecture has steadily increased in number from 20% in 2000 to nearly half of all new architects in 2023. Architect Karen Smuland appreciates the balance between art and science in the field of architecture. As a registered architect with LEED Accredited Professional certification, Smuland weaves sustainability into her designs. “Most of my clients want a fire-wise approach, and lean toward net-zero energy usage through solar panels and responsible design principles,” she said. Smuland’s designs aim to bring the outdoors in, with natural light and intentional views to connect to nature.
Architecture relies on technical knowledge, physics and mathematics, but art is what makes a design special, according to Smuland.
“Feeding that creative spark is important, even when other parts of the work try to take over,” she said.
Michelle Mitchell, Cofounder of Humm Kombucha
Michelle Mitchell, Cofounder of Humm Kombucha
Craft brewing has long been considered a guy’s world, but kombucha breaks that mold. Industry organizations estimate 40% of kombucha companies today are women-owned with female brewers. Bendites Michelle Mitchell and Jamie Danek brought this trend home when they launched their kombucha company during the worst recession of this century.
In 2008, Mitchell and Danek got together for a glass of Mitchell’s homebrewed kombucha. Inspired by its health-boosting probiotic vitality, they began selling gallon jugs of the bubbly, non-alcoholic brew. They never imagined they’d still be making kombucha 16 years later as a national brand, with 160 employees and in 2024 its 100 millionth bottle rolling across the production line.
“It’s always been about making people feel great, internally and externally,” said Mitchell. The pair grew from single jugs to a full-scale brewery by holding true to their core values: healthy business, partnership, quality and optimism. That translates to fastidious quality control, responsible fiscal planning, and building a team that feels like family, according to Mitchell.
As Chief Culture Angel, her unofficial title, Mitchell is responsible for worksite culture and community engagement. “We rely on both hard science and what I call heart science, meaning intuition and creativity to solve problems,” said Mitchell. “And, we have an amazing brewing community in Bend that helped us every step of the way.”
For aspiring entrepreneurs and brewers, Mitchell has some advice. “Ask tons of questions. Gather information. Reach out to collaborate, but trust your gut to bring your idea to light.”
Known for expert craftsmanship and full-service remodeling, Bend’s Surface Kitchen & Bath—a division of Nelson Tile & Stone—specializes in customized kitchen and bath spaces, and recently transformed a 1989 home in the Mountain High community. Company owners Chris and Jennifer Nelson purchased the home to showcase the many products that the company offers through its Surface Kitchen & Bath showroom. Thoughtful updates preserved the home’s original charm while enhancing flow and natural light by opening compartmentalized spaces. Durable materials such as quartz countertops and engineered hardwood add warmth and timeless appeal. The result is a modern yet character-rich home, reflecting the team’s dedication to elevated, functional design.
Q&A with Marketing Manager James Deitz of Surface Kitchen & Bath
How did you approach updating the home’s 1989 layout to enhance functionality while preserving its character?
The original layout of the Edelweiss home, named for its street location, reflects a classic late-1980s design: compartmentalized spaces, low soffits and a lack of natural flow. While the home had great bones, it felt dark and inefficient for modern living. We reimagined the space with an open design concept, removing multiple walls in the kitchen and living areas to create a seamless connection and maximize natural light to make the home feel larger. We also carved out a dedicated office space, addressing a need for a functional workspace. In the primary bath, we removed overhead partitions to highlight the soaring ceilings and skylight. We preserved vaulted ceilings and architectural lines while updating finishes with a neutral, timeless palette.
How is collaboration important to achieving the project’s goals?
We are especially proud of our team’s collaborative efforts. While it wasn’t a traditional client project, our staff took great pride in incorporating many of our own brands, resulting in a beautifully finished home. Chris and Jennifer Nelson were both born and raised in Bend and they knew this neighborhood since its inception in the 1980s. They saw it as a hidden gem with spacious common areas, a golf course lined with towering pines and homes with incredible bones. Updating an original home in Mountain High allowed them to be consistent with the character of the neighborhood while bringing it into the modern era.
What role does natural light and intentional lighting design play in modernizing and elevating the overall feel of a home?
Lighting played a major role in transforming the space. The home initially felt dark, so we prioritized natural and layered lighting to bring warmth and openness. We enhanced existing natural light by opening the floor plan, which allowed light to flow more freely, and emphasized the primary bath skylight to create a spa-like feel. Layered lighting, combined with recessed lighting, pendant fixtures and under-cabinet illumination, led to the perfect balance of ambiance and functionality. Strategic fixture placement ensured workspaces were well-lit, while softer accent lighting enhanced the inviting atmosphere. The result is a home that feels brighter, more expansive and visually striking, elevating the modern and luxurious feel.
How do you incorporate today’s materials while maintaining warmth in a home remodel?
We approached material selection with intentionality to balance contemporary style with comfort. Durable, marblelike quartz countertops provide elegance without the upkeep of real stone. The USA-made Calacatta Miraggio Cove quartz creates a seamless look that complements the home’s warm design. Engineered hardwood offers rich texture and durability, while clean-lined cabinets blend modern efficiency with classic craftsmanship. Neutral tones highlight the natural beauty of the materials for a timeless appeal. By integrating warm and cool elements, we achieved a sophisticated yet inviting aesthetic that enhances the home’s character.
When Norman Building & Design’s client needs an escape from the stress of his high-tech job, he retreats to his custom home theater. With the press of a button, the lights dim, a comfortable chair awaits and one of his favorite movies springs to life on the 120-inch screen. It’s showtime!
The theater, designed by Norman Building & Design (NBD), is part of an award-winning residence near Whychus Creek in Sisters. The room captures the essence of large traditional and classic drive-in theaters with a “starry night” ceiling that evokes a nostalgic, cinematic experience in an intimate setting.
Founded in 1977, NBD is an enduring presence in the Central Oregon home-building market. The theater is part of a 4,875-square-foot home designed and constructed by NBD. It won Central Oregon Builders Association’s 2019 Tour of Homes Best of Show and Best Feature awards in the $2.4 million-plus category.
An Interview with Greg Garrick of Norman Building & Design
You said that people who saw this theater on the 2019 Tour of Homes often mention it to you as a memorable feature. How did the specific design of this theater come about?
When we met with the client in the early design phase, the husband focused on his desire for a true theater room. He had a collection of 2,000 to 3,000 DVDs that he wanted to display–showcasing the covers. He loves all movies, from classic to current releases, but is especially fond of classics such as Casablanca. He wanted to be wholly enveloped in the movie experience, so we designed the space to be relatively small—5 by 16 feet. To make movie selection easy, one wall is lined with glass storage for DVD covers, plus we built additional “hidden” storage in a nodule accessed by a door from the theater. To enhance sound quality, we blunted the corners by creating an octagonal shape, eliminating dead space.
Besides this “extraordinarily comfortable room” as you’ve described, what other amenities are near the theater?
Just outside the theater is a wet bar equipped with a sink, refrigerator, separate wine, beer and cold drinks cooler and other conveniences. Across the hallway is a media room, perfect for entertaining friends and family or simply relaxing on the couch to watch football and favorite shows on the built-in TV.The media room is connected to the outdoor living area and a covered patio for extended enjoyment. Two guest ensuite bedrooms complete this entertainment-focused wing of the home.
How unique is this theater room compared to other theaters you’ve built in new or remodeled homes?
Norman Building & Design has designed and built other theaters before, but none that are dedicated solely to movies. This theater is its own immersive world. During tours, I often let it run on a continuous film loop. Unlike the overwhelming intensity of an IMAX, this theater offers a more enveloping and experiential atmosphere. People would peek in and say, “Wow! I want to go in and watch.” It’s about the experience of being in there, sitting down and being enveloped by the darkness. It makes the viewing all the more powerful.
Greg Garrick
How did the process of designing the theater mimic how Norman Building & Design works with clients?
Every Norman home begins with notepads, sketchbooks and meetings.With the client often away from Central Oregon for his job in San Jose, we’d literally meet him halfway in Mount Shasta at Bistro No. 107. We’d review plans, make observations and I’d carry his input back to our designers. We go the extra mile for our clients.
Norman Building & Design 1016 SW Emkay Drive, Bend
Lauren and Lisa Cassity grew up loving Bend since the ‘80s, coming here with their parents from Hawaii every summer and winter break. Their taste for Central Oregon was shaped by learning to snowboard at Mt. Bachelor, while their culinary sensibilities were formed in Oahu and Southern California before the twin sisters moved to Bend and opened Hook & Plow restaurant in 2023.
Growing up on Oahu, nightly dinner at home reflected local culture, from sashimi to Hawaiian barbecue, and rice at every meal. As teenagers, the sisters’ first jobs were in restaurants.
“Hawaii is such a mixing pot of culture and diversity—[with] all sorts of different styles of food, like Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, obviously the fresh fish, all of these different cultures melding together in one location on an island,” said Lisa. “We started being really passionate about food and different cultures early on.”
They earned bachelor’s degrees: marketing for Lisa, finance for Lauren, and headed to the corporate world, but realized it wasn’t for them. They landed in Southern California, managing a little beach bar in the early 2000s, learning everything about running a restaurant. By 2014, they opened the first Hook & Plow in Hermosa Beach, just as the farm-to-table movement was in full bloom. Local restaurants hadn’t yet embraced that ethic, so they focused on it in their new endeavor, serving local seafood, organic farm fare and wine and beer crafted in the area. Two more Hook & Plows, in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, followed.
The Cassitys had always dreamed of living full time in Bend though, and by 2022 they’d both moved to Central Oregon with their families and opened the fourth Hook & Plow. The “hook” part of the dining concept begins with briny, sweet Pacific Northwest oysters, glistening on the half shell with fennel mignonette and tomato ponzu alongside them. A nod to the Cassity’s roots, Hawaiian-style ahi poke is layered artfully with avocado, scallion and cucumber. House-made poke sauce brings a subtle zing; tortilla chips, a complementing crunch.
Grass-fed beef with brussels sprouts
The Menu at Hook & Plow
Entrees such as pan-roasted halibut with delicate bunashimeji mushrooms in dashi broth with house-made ricotta gnocchi, freeze-dried corn and microgreens change with the seasons. Diver scallops are seared and served with risotto al nero—arborio rice with black, buttery squid ink, Calabrian peppers and delicate, parsley-esque chervil.
From the “plow” comes dishes such as grass-fed beef from an Oregon-based cooperative of ranchers. Slices of perfectly grilled steak top potato puree, beneath a rich peppercorn demi-glace and seasonal vegetables such as lemon-garlic Brussels sprouts. Burgers are heightened with sweet onion jam, rich gorgonzola and crunchy, fried shoestring onions, sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun.
Executive Chef Ryan Ohmert brings a passion for making fresh pasta and a style aimed at letting great ingredients shine.
“I’d much rather us do ‘simple-done-well’ than overcomplicate something, making [the menu] unapproachable,” he said.
Creative cocktails follow suit, such as the brown butter old fashioned, which blends bourbon with butter, browned to a smooth nuttiness, and walnut bitters for a cool drink with warm, round flavors. Chilly high desert nights call for a pear hot toddy with Oregon pear-infused vodka, brandy, cinnamon, honey and lemon.
It all happens in an ambiance that Lauren designed using details such as a drape of nautical ropes, blonde wood and round mirrors that suggest portholes. The effect is cozy and beachy, matched with a culinary journey reflecting the Cassitys’ past and present, which the community is pleased to embark on, too.
Chef Ryan Ohmert (left) with Lisa Warren (middle) and Lauren Coplean (right)
The Hook & Plow Bend
210 SW Century Drive, Suite 150, Bend thehookandplow.com
A strategy is emerging among businesses wanting to improve the state of the world; the term “nature-positive” refers to a global goal, and Bend could be a forerunner to the movement. “Bend has the potential to be the first city to have a systemic approach to mitigating human impacts on nature and climate, an epicenter for nature-positive strategies,” said Tony Hansen of Bend, director of natural capital at management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. [Photo above by Cody Rheault]
While many climate strategies address the carbon footprint, a nature-positive strategy considers the entire nature footprint. Emissions are one factor, but others include fresh water use, chemical pollution, forest coverage and biodiversity loss from top to bottom of a business’ supply chain. The UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a pathway to halt and reverse dangerous and detrimental human impacts on nature by 2030, outlines these priorities.
Hansen works with corporations and large public bodies to create practical blueprints to enact nature-positive initiatives, and there’s one small business in Central Oregon leading the way.
“Mountain Burger represents the possibility of small businesses becoming nature-positive. It’s exciting to see who might follow suit in Bend,” he said.
Photo by Pete Alport
Mountain Burger’s Nature Positive Strategy
Located in NorthWest Crossing, Mountain Burger is the first in the area to tackle a nature-positive strategy. Local investors and Mountain Burger co-owners Sara and Dan Hobin wanted to act on the climate crisis, which they see affecting Bend in myriad ways. For instance, the summer wildfire smoke caused a 6% drop in tourism in 2024.
“It’s time to think about dependency on natural capital, risk from natural disasters, environmental impact, and what I can do to reduce that impact with my business,” said Dan Hobin, who was previously founder and CEO of Bend software marketing firm G5.
Hobin, who had a climate action plan for Mountain Burger from the beginning, reached out to Hansen to deepen his understanding of how he could enact a nature-positive strategy. Unfortunately, the existing guidance isn’t tailored to small businesses such as Mountain Burger. So Hansen and Hobin brought Tanner Fields into the conversation. Fields, a sustainability consultant based in Bend, scaled the nature-positive model specifically for Mountain Burger.
“For the most part, the model is our brainchild,” said Fields, who once led sustainability initiatives at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. “The nature-positive field is new. We are hoping models become templatable, making nature-positive strategies more accessible and easier to implement for small businesses.”
Fields’ work with Mountain Burger resulted in a 14-page assessment detailing Mountain Burger’s nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities. Mountain Burger had already integrated an electric griddle, LED light bulbs, motion sensor light switches, renewable energy, natural lighting and a composting and recycling program. However, 85% of its impact was from buying beef alone—the cattle industry is one of the most destructive to nature.
That revelation spurred the creation of a 50/50 burger made up of half grass-fed meat from a regenerative farm and half plant-based ingredients, such as onions, mushroom, shallots and nori.
“We are for meat eaters, plant eaters and everything in between. We don’t shame people; rather encourage them to consider eating less meat,” said Hobin, who notes that sales of the 50/50 burger are increasing as hoped.
The 50/50 burger is an example of what Hansen would call an opportunity that arises from nature-positive strategies: “In our framework, there’s both defense (preventing climate fallout) and offense (creating opportunity). Mountain Burger discovered a unique, marketable product in the 50/50. Customers, employees, and investors are increasingly drawn to businesses that have good environmental practices.”
“I want to prove that you can have a sustainable restaurant with a successful business model,” added Hobin.
Sara and Dan Hobin of Mountain Burger
Sustainability Minded Bend Businesses
While other businesses in Bend don’t specifically apply the nature-positive model, some are moving forward robust sustainability initiatives.
For Hayden Homes Amphitheater in the Old Mill District, it all started when musician Jack Johnson refused to play at venues with single-use water bottles.
“After that, we thought: What else can we do?” said Beau Eastes, marketing director at the Old Mill District. “We started recycling and upcycling more and more items. We take banners from shows that can’t be reused and make them into bags for staff. We collect random screws and nails to be donated.”
During shows, the waste stations, with trash, recycling and compost, are staffed by garbage concierges of sorts, who answer people’s questions about what bin to use. After a show, staff members sort the bins. If they’re attentive, they might find the “Trashy Golden Ticket,” an incentive hidden in one of the receptacles, which they exchange for a prize.
Photo Courtesy of the Old Mill District, by Nate Wyeth | Hayden Homes Amphitheater is one of the greenest venues in the country.
In 2024, the amphitheater’s landfill diversion rate was 87%, or 195,000 pounds of trash. In 2025, it plans to be 90%. This and other initiatives, such as bike parking and compostable tableware, make the amphitheater one of the greenest music venues in the country.
Local breweries are also doing their part. Alongside partnerships with conservation nonprofits, Deschutes Brewery has invested in energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting on its Bend campus. Worthy Brewing’s nonprofit, Worthy Garden Club, advocates for soil health, native pollinators and dark sky conservation.
“A lot of businesses might think there is nothing they can do,” said Fields. “They might be overwhelmed by the crisis. Some aspects of a nature-positive strategy cost money, which can seem like an obstacle. But everybody can do something. Even little [steps] count. It’s important to show up in any way you can.”
From his home outside Tumalo, with a panoramic view of snowcapped mountain peaks, composer Dave Metzger, arranger and orchestrator of multiple Grammy-winning projects, quietly writes music that connects viewers to a film.
“Sometimes I will play a scene where there’s no music at all for people and then play that scene with music and people’s jaws drop; they haven’t thought about how much of an impact the music has,” said Metzger. He has worked with Disney for 25 years, and his film credits include “Frozen,” “Moana,” and most recently 2024’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” for which he composed all 100 minutes of the film’s score.
David Metzger’s studio was designed by renowned audio and acoustical engineer, George Augspurger. | Photo by Tim Cotter
The score signals to viewers how to feel: happy, sad, concerned or hopeful. It swells or ebbs during the most impactful moments of a movie and is a big reason why those scenes stick with cinema-goers long after they’ve left the theater.
Originally from Corvallis, Metzger began writing music when he took a choir class at the age of 12. After he saw the first “Star Wars” movie at 16, he dreamed of becoming a film composer. He took music theory classes in college and eventually moved to Los Angeles. However, when he moved back to Oregon with his family in the mid-90s, his career started to thrive.
“Southern California never felt like home to me,” said Metzger. “As soon as we moved back to Oregon, I just felt so much more creative again.”
World Class Studio in Tumalo
After living in Salem for many years, Metzger and his wife, a retired physician, moved to Bend full time in 2021. The region’s mountain views and hikes continue to be constant sources of inspiration. His home studio is a world-class facility, designed by renowned audio and acoustical engineer George Augspurger. The sound diffuser, panels of wood cut at different dimensions and depths, looks like a work of art, but it has the essential purpose of breaking up sound.
Photo by Hannah Turner
In the studio, Metzger is surrounded by instruments, including a 1965 vintage Fender bass guitar he has had since he was 17 years old and an octave mandolin he used for composing the score for Disney’s “Wish,” Metzger’s first lead composer credit. To begin the creative process, Metzger receives “prints,” or 10-minute clips, from the films he’s working on. He watches the scenes several times to get a feel for the tempo. Then Metzger writes a piano guide track in a sequencing program called Cubase that helps him decipher key themes. Like a puzzle, he decides where to place the themes and fill in the rest. When the director has approved of the segment, Metzger travels to Los Angeles or London to record the music with musicians.
“Musicians are expensive, so they sight-read everything. There’s no rehearsal or anything. It’s wild,” said Metzger.
From “The Lion King” on Broadway to “Mufasa”
Metzger’s path to “Mufasa” began decades ago. His first “big break,” as he calls it, was the opportunity to write music for the 1997 action film “Speed 2: Cruise Control.” That’s where he met Mark Mancina, music producer for the Broadway version of “The Lion King.” Metzger orchestrated the musical, making sure the music was adapted for a live theater setting.
When the President of Disney Music, Tom MacDougall, was looking for a composer for “Mufasa,” he knew Metzger would understand how to tie in original themes and create something new. In addition to using some of Hans Zimmer’s music from “The Lion King” movie and writing new material, Metzger helped save the villain track “Bye, Bye,” from the cutting room floor. In one night, Metzger, also a song arranger, used elements from his score, such as the clack of sticks on the rim of a taiko drum and menacing violins to integrate the song into the film more and recall the character Scar’s “Be Prepared.”
Photo by Tim Cotter
Metzger has also arranged some of the most well-known songs in the Disney universe, such as “Let it Go” from “Frozen.”
“I’m proud that on films like ‘Moana’ and ‘Frozen,’ I had an impact on how the songs turned out. The piano part is all there is when I do the song arranging, so everything else you hear is what I bring to it,” he said.
Despite working with people such as Lin Manuel-Miranda, who Metzger says is just as charismatic and kind as he appear, much of his work for years was as an additional composer or ghostwriter. In those roles, he wasn’t necessarily front and center, but that all changed when he got the call to be the composer for the 2023 movie, “Wish.”
“It was like a dream fulfilled, you know, and this movie ‘Mufasa’ was icing on the cake,” he said.
Sundrenched trails beckon high desert adventurers as the days grow longer this time of year. That means you can ski your heart out all morning then hop on a bike in the afternoon, making it a multisport kind of day. Perhaps you simply prefer pedals over poles and just can’t wait until summer to feel the kiss of tires on trails. In that case, dust off those cobwebs from your gravel bike and set out for an early-season cycling adventure. Enjoy a leisurely spin with scenic views or challenge yourself to a bit of lava rock tech mixed in with miles of flowy dirt singletrack. Whether you’re new to adventure cycling or a seasoned vet, there are many places to explore on your gravel steed.
Maston Outer Loop
Located about 20 minutes north of Bend, outside of Tumalo, the Maston Trail System can be accessed from Newcomb Road off Cline Falls Highway. Enjoy the 12-mile outer loop by riding counterclockwise from the parking lot and taking right turns at every major trail intersection. The route features smooth, fast dirt singletrack and a spicy spur out to the river rim on the Rockbar trail, about 2.5 miles in. This technical section with armored rock is sure to tickle the fancy of those looking for a thrill and provides a dazzling view of the Deschutes River winding through the canyon below. Most of the ride is easy to moderate, however the rocky sections are more advanced on a gravel bike. Swooping trails will lead to stunning glimpses of the Cascade Range as you loop back to the trailhead. Extend the adventure by exploring any of the trails within the Maston trail network. Stop into The Bite food truck lot in Tumalo for après nibbles and sips.
Distance: 12 miles, loop Surface: Singletrack dirt trail with technical rock features Difficulty: Moderate to advanced Elevation: +500/-500 feet Parking: Maston Trailhead
Maston Outer Loop | Photo by Katie Sox
Deschutes River Trail
River Run Reach + Awbrey Reach
Meandering along the Deschutes River, this easy-to-access ride offers views of the mountains, overlooks Archie Briggs Canyon, and has plenty of places to stop and enjoy your surroundings. A great choice for those new to gravel biking, the trail features a wide, compacted gravel surface and some short but punchy elevation changes. With lovely options for taking a break along the riverbank by Sawyer Park, the River Run and Awbrey Reach sections of the Deschutes River Trail make for a fun and scenic out-and-back ride. Head north from Pioneer Park, cross the footbridge over the Deschutes, then follow the compacted gravel trail for a sweet little escapade right from town. You’ll want to watch out for flying golf balls as you pass through River’s Edge Golf Course. The trail is popular for walking and biking, so be mindful of other users and share the trail kindly.
Distance: 10.7 miles, out and back Surface: Wide, compacted gravel trail Difficulty: Easy Elevation: +440/-440 feet Parking: Pioneer Park
Horse Butte Coyote Loop
Flowing through desert sagebrush and lava rock outcroppings, this singletrack loop serves up mountain views and a bit of rocky technical riding. On Bend’s eastside, the Horse Butte area is often accessible throughout the year, depending on snowfall and freeze-thaw cycles. Take time to enjoy many moments of awe at expansive vantage points. This loop is rideable in both directions, with the counterclockwise loop beginning on Arnold Ice Cave Trail adjacent to the trailhead parking area. Take a left on Swamp Wells Trail, then hop on Coyote Loop Trail to make your way back to where you started. With an exciting little switchback section, this is a great ride for those looking to challenge their gravel-bike skills. The Horse Butte area offers many miles of trails and route options, as well as gravel and paved roads for those looking for a bigger ride. You could even navigate a road route from town out to the trails, making for a longer, car-free adventure.
Distance: 9.8 miles, loop Surface: Singletrack dirt trail with technical rock features Difficulty: Moderate to advanced Elevation: +649/-649 feet Parking: Horse Butte Trailhead
Know Before You Go
It’s a dreamy time of year to hit the trails, as they’re often less dusty and more hard-packed than later in the season. Weather can change quickly on the high desert, so you’ll want to check the forecast, dress in layers according to the range of temperatures. Be mindful of trail-user etiquette by not riding in muddy conditions. You can find trail maps and GPS info on apps like Ride with GPS and Strava, or websites such as bendtrails.org. Be sure to ride within your skillset and, as with any outdoor foray, know before you go.
In Bend, there is no shortage of adventures to be had. But, not having the proper gear and equipment can stand in the way of getting out and enjoying all Central Oregon has to offer. From snowshoes to ATVs, mountain bikes to ski boats, Bend has rentals to meet every adventure.
Photo by Nate Wyeth
Best Gear for Summer Adventures
Get on the Water!
With the Deschutes River cutting through the middle of town and many lakes within an hour’s drive from Bend, summer happens on the water. Nothing could be more “Bend” than a lazy summer float on the Deschutes River. Tube rentals are easy and affordable with Tumalo Creek. The rental comes with a personal flotation device (PFD), which must be with you while you float and worn if under 12. You can also include a shuttle ride for just $6. Tumalo Creek also rents stand-up paddleboards for two-hour and all-day adventures. Paddleboard rentals come with a paddle, PFD, and rooftop pads and straps. They also rent whitewater rafts, kayaks, and offer lessons.
Maybe you’re planning a long weekend at one of Central Oregon’s many lakes. If you book with nearby Cultus Lake Resort, you can enjoy the water in several ways. Cultus Lake offers ski boat rentals and an additional towing package that allows you to also rent wakeboards, tubes, and kneeboards. Those 18 years and older can also rent jet skis that fit up to two adults and one child. If your idea of a lake day is all about relaxation, check out their pontoon boat rentals.
Summer in Bend means plenty of bike rides. Whether you are hitting the local trails, looking to put in miles on a road bike, or simply cruise the city, there is a bike for you in Bend. Bend has an ample number of bike shops, so you are likely to find a bike to rent even at the busiest times of the season. Bike shops like Project Bike have a large rental fleet covering all riding disciplines. If you need transportation options for your rental, check if your chosen bike shop offers bike racks or tailgate pads for rent.
Make your next camping adventure more comfortable by renting a camper van or motorhome. And with Happy Campers RV Rentals, you’re covered. If you’re looking for a longer getaway, check in about extended road trip rentals.
For the ultimate off-road adventure, check out ATV rentals from Octane Adventures. Rental options are four or eight hours, with no need to tow, since you will meet at the trailhead. Octane Adventures also offers guided tours, which we highly recommend!
If there isn’t too much snow and you can handle the cold, many Bend adventures can be done year-round.
Year-Round Gear Supply
For adventure enthusiasts seeking quality equipment without the sticker shock, Gear Fix and Second Wind Sports Bend are treasure troves just waiting to be explored. Gear Fix specializes in expertly refurbished outdoor equipment, breathing new life into pre-loved items (and your outdoor adventures). Meanwhile, Second Wind Sports Bend offers an impressive selection of consignment gear that lets you outfit yourself for Central Oregon’s outdoor playground without breaking the bank.
Alan Watts at Smith Rock in climbing gear | Photo by Trevor Roemer
Rock Climbing
World-class rock climbing is just a stone’s throw away (pun intended) at Smith Rock State Park. If you are new to the sport, a great place to start and rent equipment is at Bend Rock Gym. To maintain safety standards, the shoes, harnesses, and other climbing gear rented must be used at Bend Rock Gym’s indoor facility.
With standup paddleboarding, kayaking, and river tubes, plenty of fun happens on the surface of the Deschutes River. But, ask any fisherman and they’ll tell you that there is more life happening underneath the water. [More fishing here.] If you’d like to try fishing, find poles, reels, waders, boots, and floats at Bend’s The Patient Angler.
If it is your first time skiing or snowboarding, or you’re just between setups, Mt. Bachelor has you covered. There are two rental shops at the mountain — located at the West Village Lodge and the Sunrise Lodge. Rentals can conveniently be reserved the day of, or scheduled ahead of time. Use gear for a day, lease for the season, or rent for any amount of time in between.
Do you want to pick up gear before heading to the slopes? Check out local shops such as the Powder House on Century Drive. They offer daily and seasonal rentals for everything you need. Stop in or call ahead.
Sprinkled along either side of the Cascade Lakes Highway are a variety of snow parks that are a great launching point for an XC ski or snowshoe adventure. The Virginia Meissner Sno-Park features 40 kilometers of groomed skiing trails. Up the road, Wanoga Sno-Park welcomes Nordic skiers and snowshoers.
Bend has several options for XC ski and snowshoe rentals. Sunnyside Sports is a great stop for XC ski and snowshoe rentals, including sleds for gear or kids!
If you want to get into the competitive side of Nordic skiing, visit the groomed tracks at Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic Center. It has 22 trails and 56 kilometers of track and rents any needed equipment. For those new to the sport, the Nordic Center offers both lessons and clinics.
If the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing and snowboarding isn’t enough, consider renting a snowmobile. Adrenaline Rentals provides a lineup of the top snowmobiles and snowbikes on the market. Sleds are loaded on a trailer and are ready to be hooked up for your adventure.
A full-face, fog-resistant helmet is included in your rental. Adrenaline Rentals also has snowmobiling suits, gloves, and boots available for rent. Other accessories available include a ski/snowboard rack or a pull-behind utility sled.
Brett Pulliam rides at Todd Lake. Photo David Braun
Winter and Fat Tire Biking
Who says you can’t ride bikes because of snow? That person has never heard of fat-tire bikes. The wide tires set at low pressures act as snowshoes, distributing the weight of you and your bike as you pedal across the snow. Groomed fat bike trails can be found at Wanoga Sno-Park.
But fat tire bikes aren’t the only winter pedaling available. When the snow sets on Bend’s infamous westside trails, mountain bikers head east of town to ride the best winter mountain biking trails.
Regardless of the winter riding you’re doing, Bend has many bike shops, such as Pine Mountain Sports, that rent regular mountain bikes and fat tire bikes.
The term multigenerational can have multiple meanings. The McCann House, one of Bend’s most recognizable homes, underwent a Herculean renovation, resulting in a lasting legacy. The family that saved it from demise were the skilled craftspeople who helped restore it and the Historic District, one of Bend’s oldest neighborhoods.
Preserves a Gem of Bend for Future Generations
The imposing four-level house was built in 1916 for Thomas McCann, the vice president and general manager of the Shevlin-Hixon Company. He arrived in Bend from Minnesota, bringing with him a sophisticated sensibility along with his family. David C. Lewis, a renowned Portland architect, was enlisted to bring his signature Georgian Colonial design to the emerging city. After having eight private owners during the 100 years since the mill sold the house into private ownership, along with a sagging roof and decades of deferred maintenance, the house was in need of a benefactor. “It hadn’t been loved,” said Melissa Barnes Dholakia, who along with her husband Sanjay Dholakia, had previously renovated a historic home when they lived in Oakland, California. “Unfortunately, [maintenance] got away,” she said. Sanjay added, for “any rational person,”taking on the project was a bad idea. But with a penchant for historic preservation that runs in the family, and community-mindedness, the Barnes Dholakias were all in.
Photo courtesy of The Deschutes Historical Society
Generations of Family
Melissa fell in love with Bend decades ago as she headed to Whitman College, stopping along the way to backpack the Three Sisters Wilderness and climb at Smith Rock. “Bend is where I’ve come home to for a long time,” she said. She and Sanjay married at Broken Top 26 years ago. Her parents have lived in Bend for more than three decades, and her mother, writer and former journalist Christine Barnes, served on the Bend Landmarks Commission and penned the book Great Lodges of the National Parks as a nod to preservation and design.
Many of the original trees are still on the property. The view from the front of what is now Congress Street.
On the National Register of Historic Places, the McCann House was a center of attention when it went into foreclosure in 2017. Sited on four city lots, developers had their sights on razing the home and building homes or condominiums. Hearing about the intense interest from developers, Sanjay and Melissa were extra motivated to save the property. They bought the home in April of 2018.
Saving the McCann House
“I’d driven by the property hundreds of times,” said Josh Wilhite, principal of Copperline Homes, and the contractor selected to take on the renovation project. “It’s the jewel of Bend,” he said. “Taking an older house and revitalizing it has always been important for these neighborhoods to keep them fresh and vibrant,” he said.
Along with John Kvapil and Kimberly Stroup of DKA Architecture & Design, P.C.— architects who renovated the Tower Theatre—the team included Ani Cahill of Cahill Design, Chris Ferguson of Part & Process, Parker MacDonald of Landscape Elements, Lisa Rokosh of Brass Tacks Design and Doug White of White’s Fine Woodworking. More than 300 “artists, not just craftspeople” took part in restoring the house, Sanjay added.
It took close to three years to finish the project, which had to balance the standards of historic preservation and period aesthetics with contemporary code and livability.
Rebuilt Step by Step
With four levels and 6,890 square feet, the home was built for another era. Formal rooms were for entertaining, with practicalities—including servants’ quarters—hidden behind doors or on the upper levels of the home. During the renovation, the footprint of the home was preserved as were many of the rooms.
“I love different spaces that hold the different parts of your life, like a formal parlor or dining room,” Melissa said.
Architects Kvapil and Stroup helped open up areas, such as the kitchen, to be more usable for a busy family, which includes daughter Maya, 21, son, Kai, 15 and puppy, Oakley. The kitchen was originally anchored by a wood stove and a three-story chimney that extended from the basement to the third floor, previously an unheated servants’ quarters.
The renovation’s design removed the chimney, extending the kitchen through a new breezeway to the garage, added central heat to the upper floor, and finished the lower level of the home. From the top floor down, details were attended to one by one: A clawfoot tub was removed, refurbished and reinstated with period fixtures including paint color and wallpapers to match the era while reflecting the Barnes Dholakias’ more contemporary style.
Rokosh helped bridge the centuries, nodding to the past in places such as the living room where bold-patterned wallpapers evoke the Chinoiserie popular in the early 1900s. Appointments are from many local artists, such as Sheila Dunn, Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer, Shelli Walters and Valerie Winterholler. A centerpiece of the home is a Palladian window at the main staircase landing which is visible when first stepping into the home. A signature feature from architect Lewis, the window was important to preserve as the historic heart of the home. Its weight-and-pulley system and single-paned glass, complete with marbled imperfections, are visible reminders of its age. The motif of Palladian arches continues through interior doorways of the first floor and wallpaper selections throughout the house. Less obvious to an onlooker is the meticulous restoration and replication of pristine, first-growth woodwork throughout the house.
To remain true to historic standards, Wilhite and his team examined boards one by one to replace them with highly specialized wood products consistent with wood products of the original construction and not commonly found in wood mills today, even if the boards were to be painted over. “The level of detail in the restoration was that important,” said Melissa.
Designs from the Past and for the Future
The main footprint of the house remained, as did the geometric Chippendale pattern found on the portico, with an 18th-century design that proved to be a challenge to meet both preservation and current safety code. The Barnes Dholakias and Landmarks Commission worked through a careful process to deem the Chippendale pattern significant enough to the project that it remains and is echoed in design in other areas of the home, such as its garden fence.
Sanjay, Melissa, Kai, Maya, Oakley & the late Jesse.
A breezeway was added to seamlessly link the main house with a garage for cars and sports equipment, and also an activity bay for the 1948 Ford tractor Melissa bought at auction from her family’s legacy farm in Missouri.
For the Barnes Dholakia family, history is important but so is the ability to play sports on the front lawn, walk a few blocks to downtown Bend and to be part of a bustling family neighborhood. The renovation of the McCann House has created a legacy for the community.
“Many families have grown up here,” said Melissa. “Everyone has a story about the house. It was an opportunity to keep a piece of history for Bend and bring it back to life. We feel fortunate to be the current stewards.”
Nestled in the bluffs at the Old Mill District is The Eight by Arrowood Development. This collection of eight distinctive townhomes invites clients to live in a design-forward home that celebrates Bend’s future as well as its heritage.
Set near the Deschutes River and the urban energy of Bend’s “second downtown,” The Eight at the Old Mill is a model for contemporary living and an innovative way of designing for urban density, connection and client lifestyle. A quiet U-shaped street creates a micro-community for owners that is both welcoming and energizing. With four 2024 Central Oregon Builder Association Tour of Home awards, including ones for Best of Show, Architecture, Design Feature and Interior Finish, The Eight delivers customizable urban spaces created to adapt to each client’s desires and lifestyle.
Q&A with Femke van Velzen
Femke van Velzen, brand and design director for Arrowood Development
How do projects such as The Eight fill a need to both fit into an environment and also stand out?
We appreciate that the Old Mill District has done such a good job of preserving its vision for this area of Bend. Our goal as developers is to fill a place within that vision while upholding its high standards, which benefits the greater community as well as end users.
Through the site design and the creation of The Eight, we are providing a luxury townhome product that fits the environment and offers clients a unique, elevated living experience. What makes this neighborhood even more special is its overnight rental zoning. Whether clients choose to rent the entire space or just the first-floor lockout ADU, it’s a very attractive investment opportunity in one of Bend’s most sought-after markets.
How did you use elevated design to set The Eight apart?
We like the challenge that pushes the boundaries of how to use materials in exciting ways, but keeps it accessible for people with different tastes and styles. The color palettes in The Eight layer neutrals and textures with a mix of hard and soft materials that create an ideal backdrop for a wide range of furnishing styles. Taupe, warm white and beige tones are combined with “colors of the moment” that deliver an imaginative, memorable visual impact.
We are mindful that, first and foremost, these are spaces where people will live. Our goal is to offer a mix of materials that is really user-friendly and easy to maintain, while creating visual landing spots that evoke an emotion when you step inside.
Tell us more about visual landing spots.
Good design should offer opportunities that spark a conversation. The Eight delivers those moments with features such as handmade Brazilian light fixtures in the main spaces as well as bursts of color and texture delivered through paint and wallpaper. We reimagined how to utilize glass panes, leveraging frosted glass to obscure laundry areas, provide privacy in exterior spaces and skirt interior staircases. We also viewed the exterior as an extension of each home’s floorplan and created four decks that offer year-round covered dining and a place to enjoy the Old Mill’s vibrant environment.
How do site design and selection of materials create a custom space within the environment?
The building envelope offered plenty of space to create eight townhomes laid out in a way that creates its own welcoming destination neighborhood with a distinct look and feel. That atmosphere is supported with ample landscaping for privacy and beauty along with natural stone, wood and iron elements that recall this area’s important place in Bend’s history.
The Eight is intentionally close to the Old Mill District, but residents can choose what they want to let in, mentally. We embraced this mindset by designing indoor-outdoor spaces to maximize their views and experiences. Incorporating multiple decks offers space to relax with the sounds of a concert right outside your door, while large-format windows let in abundant natural light and provide beautiful views indoors as well. Inside and out, our goal was to create a special place that embraces urban living, celebrates the stunning natural surroundings and answers our clients’ desire to realize the ultimate carefree lifestyle.
Arrowood Development 250 NW Franklin Ave. #403, Bend arrowooddev.com
The first homes at Black Butte Ranch have good bones — think midcentury elements such as exposed roof beams and cedar ceilings, but many need updating, and the spaces are tight by today’s standards. A desire for more space led the couple who owned a 1971 cabin, a vacation refuge for their family of four since 2015, on a significant renovation in 2021 to maintain a rustic cabin feel.
“They also wanted to bring it up to date, making it more functional and stylish, while still unique to them,” said architect Brandon Olin who took the house on the Big Meadow Golf Course down to the studs, expanding the footprint to add a primary bedroom, which allowed them to enlarge the living and kitchen areas.
One of Black Butte Ranch’s original homes gets a colorful and personality-filled renovation
The home was refinished inside and out. Olin suggested creating a detached garage and turning the existing garage into more living space. He added on to the front of the house to make the primary bedroom suite. He removed the loft in the main living area to create a great room that isn’t much bigger than the original footprint but feels larger due to a 16-foot-high vaulted ceiling and transom windows showcasing views of trees, the golf course and Black Butte beyond.
The homeowners entrusted designer Allison Clouser of Clouz Houz with interiors from concept to completion. Inspired by the color palette found in Black Butte and Sisters, from chartreuse yellows to deep greens, she worked closely with them to select everything from finishes to artwork and create interiors infused with warmth and personality.
Practical Yet Polished
It’s hard to believe the home’s kitchen was once a tiny galley kitchen with low ceilings. An extension of the main living room, the kitchen has painted cabinets and a large island clad with reclaimed planks in a dark stain and topped with durable quartz. The comfortable Denver Modern bar stools are the family’s preferred place to sit and dine when not entertaining. The green Bedrosians tile catches the light behind the range, which is surrounded by a butcher block countertop, bringing in warmth and rustic vibes. A small but mighty pantry conceals food and small appliances.
The living room furniture is comfortable and functional, a necessity with kids and family members coming in and out of the home. Clouser chose a performance-grade fabric for the sofa and covered the Kravet chairs in durable Pendleton wool. “It doesn’t feel too precious,” said Clouser.
When standing in the room, the eye can’t help but go to the blackened steel fireplace with a built-in shelf for stacking firewood and to the “candelier” above the dining table, a cascading light fixture designed by GLGR (Gallagher) out of Portland and made from beer cans the homeowners collected.
“They love pops of unexpected and whimsy, and they don’t want anything too serious, too stuffy,” said Clouser.
Grown-up Spaces
Olin kept the ceilings high even in the powder bath, which feels elevated yet cabinlike with a classic marble hex pattern floor and western-themed wallpaper by designer Max Humphrey. The primary suite has oak floors by Duchateau, a cedar ceiling to match the original ceilings in the home, black and white photography by Bend photographer Zack Fagin and a sliding glass door opening onto a hot tub and wrap-around patio.
Pops of color can be found throughout, such as the retro orange table lamps from Etsy in the guest bedroom. Beyond a sleek and stylish mud room, in what used to be the garage, lies a bunk room with an elegant built-in bunk bed.
A collaboration among the owners, Clouser and Olin ensured that adults are as comfortable sleeping in the bunkroom as children. It has four queen beds, sconces for reading and outlets for charging devices. Built-in cubbies offer a convenient place for guests to stash clothes and other items. The only room in the house that is carpeted, the bunk room can be a cozy kid area, a family suite or another guest bedroom. Comfortable cubes by BOBO Intriguing Objects add flair.
“We thought through every room. I’m proud that it lives really well,” said Clouser. It may not be the largest home in Black Butte Ranch, but every inch of the modern cabin in the woods is thought out and utilized.
With a knack for rejuvenating interior spaces, Instagram digital creator Mackenzie Craven of Craven Haven and her husband, Kenny, remodeled the primary bedroom of their 1990-built southeast Bend home with a thoughtful, unhurried approach. They purchased the property in 2022, complete with the original carpet still in place—even in the bathroom. “The carpet really grossed us out, so we didn’t actually use the bathroom at first,” she said, laughing. For a year and a half, they focused on updating other rooms in their home until they were ready to tackle the bathroom.
For her 103,000 Instagram followers, Craven shares her renovation journeys—including the primary bath, engaging them with wit and practical advice. She describes herself as a “fast-paced mom chasing slow living plus curated charm that’s part bougie, part budget and 100% real on a 5-acre ‘90s fixer.” She blogs about everything from design trends and shopping finds to cost-saving tips and mood boards.
A Thoughtful Remodel of a 1990s Primary Bath
In the bathroom, the couple focused first on layout and plumbing. “We looked at leveraging the existing footprint while still making it a nice, modern space,” she said. “If you can find a layout that works without moving plumbing, you avoid the expense of paying electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists to relocate ducts, pipes and other elements.” They removed the old fixtures but kept the existing drainage systems for a new water closet, vanity sink and expanded shower.
They also took a DIY approach throughout the remodel. “I did a ton of the work myself to bring costs down,” she said. “People can always choose to paint or lay tile themselves, which limits how many experts they need to bring in and lets them reserve the budget for hiring specialists where they’re really needed.”
One specialist Craven needed was her friend and interior designer, Kate Hector of Kate Hector Interior Design in Seattle, who helped her rework the layout and maximize the footprint, along with architectural renderings. “Collaborating with Kate on this bathroom really helped me elevate it to something outside our norms,” Craven said. Craven offers what she calls “interior design light” consultations to take some of the stress out of picking elements, “without it being a sign-your-life-away sort of experience hiring a designer.”
The layout involved removing a bulky tub, window and door along one wall—essential to creating a major focal point. Now, a gleaming white freestanding tub draws a person into the space and guides the eye toward the picture window which frames serene views of the family’s pastoral backyard.
In keeping with the home’s mountain modern farmhouse style, Craven strove for consistency with the rest of the home’s aesthetic. For example, a signature of Craven-owned homes is black and white—a design motif found in the children’s bathrooms and other home parts. In the bathroom, it appears on the striped tile floor, a pattern she created. A waterproof plaster known as Concretta lines the shower and walls, echoing the finish of the living room fireplace.
The Cravens also wanted to incorporate natural elements, choosing a wood-clad ceiling for the bathroom to complement the black-and-white tilework. “It’s our way of introducing a natural material we can use in other parts of the house,” she said of their ongoing renovations in other rooms.
Craven wanted the primary bathroom to feel a bit more luxe than the rest of the house, so she mixed materials and finishes, such as aged brass and polished nickel. “I love mixing metals,” she noted. She also upgraded the water closet with moody, floral wallpaper and a sleek black toilet. “These tones appear throughout my home, but this floral pattern feels more grown-up.”
The primary bath continues a process that started with the home’s purchase, merging Craven’s practical, cost-saving approach with a design that creates a harmonious retreat for the couple to enjoy for years to come. See more over at cravenhaven.com or @craven_haven.
In a cozy neighborhood above Bend’s First Street Rapids Park, a 3,300-square-foot family home is tucked in, oriented to take advantage of river views and Central Oregon sunshine. Dubbed the River House by its designers, this family home overlooks the Deschutes River, which can be seen and heard from the living room when the sliding floor-to-ceiling glass walls are opened.
Inside a Peaceful, Functional Family Home on the Deschutes River
The design process kicked off in 2020 for the homeowners, who first selected Rea Company Homes as builders, and then began interviewing architects for the project. Central Oregon architect Jim Rozewski was a perfect fit, having already designed a previous home for the exact lot about 20 years prior, when the parents of one of the current owners had considered building on the parcel. The parents planned a cottagelike home but ended up not building it.
“The vision of the current owners was to do something far more contemporary. With changes in building codes, a different design style and different room needs than the original plans, Rozewski started fresh. The plan would maximize space and the indoor-outdoor connection on this rare riverfront lot. “The thing about river home sites is that they aren’t making any more of them,” Rozewski said, “So having the opportunity to work on a project on the river is a real honor.”
Crafting a Home with Heart and Harmony
Rea Company Homes began to bring Rozewski’s plans to life, working closely with Iron Roots Design, which was hired for interior architecture and design. Principal Designer Celeste McGowan began to focus on the home’s interior, space planning for each room and choosing hard and soft finishes—everything from lighting, flooring, tile and cabinetry to furniture, textiles and paint colors. “We consider how each room is going to function,” McGowan said. “The architectural plan set us off on a great track, and then we were able to thoughtfully select materials and furniture pieces and design each unique detail throughout the home.”
Visitors enter the home from a side entrance and head down three stairs to the living room, which is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. Its wall is finished with a custom plaster using an ombre effect by Juanita Perdomo of WallsArt, Inc., whose work is featured throughout the home. Bend’s Cement Elegance crafted a floating hearth for fireside seating. The tile behind the built-in shelving carries over into the kitchen, matching the island seating, island countertop, sink and areas surrounding the upper cabinets. McGowan used the repetition of materials to create a cohesive, grounded feeling throughout the space.
The eight-seat family dining table is a custom live-edge solid wood piece designed by McGowan’s husband, Tim McGowan, her counterpart at Iron Roots Design, who offers both design and building services. Nearly two years after the project was completed and the family moved in, the dining room feels cozy and settled, ready for holiday celebrations.
Upstairs, the Pacific Northwest modern design continues, with light and airy spaces and organic, nature-inspired accents. The primary bedroom opens up into a spacious primary bath, with Art Deco-inspired flooring along with sconces and green watercolor tile in the oversized walk-in shower. Off the primary bedroom is a home office and a small deck area, the perfect spaces from which to watch the river flow year-round.
The harmony felt in the design throughout the home is the result of a cohesive interior design plan, something McGowan said comes from hiring an interior designer specifically, which isn’t something all homeowners do when embarking on a new build project. “Your home is one of your largest investments, which makes hiring an interior designer a smart move. It eliminates a lot of the confusion and stress you might otherwise feel during construction. We take care of countless back-end tasks for our clients so that they can actually enjoy the process.”
Back in the home more than 18 months after construction and design wrapped up, McGowan was able to reflect on the project and experience, and reconnect with the homeowners, who she’d worked closely with during the two-year project. “I spent many hours with this family to determine their lifestyle needs and plan their home accordingly,” McGowan said.
“It’s amazing to stay connected with the families we work with because you really get to be a part of their lives.”
A slight turn of the throttle thrusts the snowmobile forward. My muscles tense up in an effort to hold on tightly as I race across a snow field with childlike enthusiasm. Below me, a new 2024 Polaris XC 650 matches my adrenaline while the Cascade Range frames an adventure. The wind practically rips through me as I glide atop the snow trying to reach maximum speed before I slow down, shift my weight, and lean into the curve to execute a 180-degree turn and accelerate once again. The conditions place me in a state of Zen as one thought floats in and out of my brain: This is not my grandfather’s snow machine.
In 1959, Canadian entrepreneur Joseph-Armand Bombardier invented the iconic Ski-Doo, complete with wooden skis and a strut-type suspension. Over the next few decades, increased horsepower and improved suspension brought snowmobiles to a wider audience. By the late 1990s, four-stroke engines forged reliability and environmentally conscious practices through fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. But it was 21st-century technology that gave the sport the biggest bump in popularity. Advanced suspension systems improved ride comfort, stability and handling to expand the terrain and conditions that snow machines could safely travel. In addition, GPS navigation systems, Bluetooth connectivity and smart displays enhanced the experience and bring snowmobiles, or sleds, into the modern recreation vernacular.
The day touring the Newberry National Volcanic Monument began early with quick introductions and an important safety check. My tour group and I met at the winter headquarters of Octane Adventures, located at the 10-Mile Sno-Park parking area. The staff fitted us for helmets and checked for correct clothing inside its warm Mongolian Ger (aka yurt) before we headed out to the lined up snowmobiles. Our gang of seven listened intently to the enthusiastic guide, as he methodically spoke about the snowmobile’s workings, how to operate it safely and abide by the rules of the trail, and what we could expect on our four-hour tour.
Our guides began their day several hours earlier as they lit a fire in the yurt, checked the day’s weather report and discussed trail conditions. Next, they pulled out the snow machines, performed safety checks and linked the GPS units for their groups. Last season, Octane Adventures guided roughly 400 tours on trails in the around Paulina Peak.
“In our opinion, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument is one of the most scenic locations you can snowmobile in Central Oregon, or Oregon for that matter,” said Octane Adventures Owner Matt Miller.
Central Oregon’s Snowmobile Playground
Enthusiasts travel from across the world to hop on a snowmobile and experience Central Oregon snowfall on thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land. Some seek the unimproved backcountry while others hit the hundreds of miles of smooth corduroy on groomed trails, including the 150 miles circling Paulina Peak where we would ride that day.
Another popular venue for a winter’s outing is up Century Drive, which inevitably involves trailers and trucks filled with sleds on their way to adventure. For those with their own equipment, Kapka and Edison Butte sno-parks offer great trails on both sides of the highway. Easily accessible Wanoga Sno-Park includes a warming hut in the parking area for riders to discuss their plan for the day or boast about their day’s accomplishments on the more than 180 miles of groomed trails. Central Oregon Adventures leads tours out of Wanoga for those interested. The even more popular Dutchman Flat Sno-Park offers some of the best views in the state as snow riders weave in between the Three Sisters mountains. If you’re looking for an overnight lodge stay, ride the 11 miles down the Cascade Lakes Highway to Elk Lake Resort for accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to luxury mountain vacation home rentals.
The best day with incredible views thanks to our tour with Octane Adventures
Outside of the Bend area, the Three Creeks Sno-Park provides access to the backside of the Three Sisters Wilderness and Tam McArthur Rim.
“Whether you want to visit the frozen waterfalls or obsidian flows, play around in the pumice flats or take a ride to the top of Paulina Peak at nearly 8,000 feet, it offers something for everyone,” explained Miller.
Our crew followed our guide as we weaved in and out of his tracks and peppered snow behind us from bursts of acceleration. Though traveling together, each rider controlled their own destiny of speed and path taken.
Those enjoying the groomed trails can thank local snowmobile clubs that pay for most of the grooming through dues and fundraising events. Statewide, 30 clubs, including locally-based Moon Country Snowbusters and Lodgepole Dodgers Club, promote the sport of snowmobiling, the benefits of environmentalism, and staying safe in the backcountry.
Clubs promote camaraderie between snowmobilers and fellow recreationalists. I have been towed by into the backcountry by enthusiastic snowmobilers to ski both Tam McCarthur Rim and Broken Top Mountain. These local nonprofits also help the Deschutes County Search and Rescue Team find lost snow revelers.
Find cold beer, and fresh fish brought in from the Oregon Coast at Paulina Lake Lodge.
But this excursion was a revved-up opportunity to have fun on sleds. The day includes a dose of adrenaline along with nature’s spectacular beauty and sweeping views from 7,303 feet at the Cinder Hill Viewpoint.
Toward the end of our tour, our guides led us to Paulina Lake Lodge to take advantage of the diverse menu, including fish brought in almost daily from the Oregon Coast. We had a respite in the cozy wood-framed cafe, and took stock of our shared experience. That day proved snowmobiling is more than just 650cc of power on snow; it’s a connection to the wilderness and those who spend the day enjoying it with you.
It’s no secret that Bend’s summer and winter tourist seasons are big economic drivers; however, the holiday season (from Thanksgiving through the New Year) is a key period for the local economy. According to Visit Bend, Mastercard charges in Bend during the highest lodging occupancy months–July and August– total $37 million each; whereas December, when lodging occupancy rates are near their lowest, charges surpass the peak tourism season at $38 million.
Photo by Ely Roberts
”There’s evidence that local business sustains the economy during the holidays,” said Nicole Ramos, an economist at the Oregon Employment Department focused on regions east of the Cascades.
Ramos noted that employment numbers are highest in the third quarter (July through September), but that the numbers of business entities increase in the fourth quarter (October through December), as does the number of employees being paid; indicating that local businesses pop up around the holidays to meet demand, and wages are higher to compete for a reduced employee pool.
“We’re not just a tourist economy,” said Don Myll, the Bend area director for the nonprofit Economic Development of Central Oregon, known as EDCO. “The holiday season is a ‘tweener’ season (between the big summer and winter tourist seasons), and it’s central for our retailers.”
Over the past 10 years, Bend’s economy has diversified. Tourism numbers have remained relatively stable while the local population has increased, and other industries have taken root and grown. The bioscience, aviation and outdoor products industries, and small tech startups, are having significant economic impact. All the while, small businesses continue to be a Bend hallmark.
“The average number of employees for a Bend company is nine,” said Myll. “Bend has comparatively more small businesses because of its remoteness, but also because of the entrepreneurial spirit. The culture in Bend has lots of energy around encouraging local markets and local businesses.”
Schilling’s Makers Market
Shopping Local
The guiding principle of shopping local is never on display more than during the holiday season. Peruse local art, handmade crafts and artisan products during the magnificent flurry of holiday markets and fairs such as the Bend Moonlight Market, First Friday Market, Holiday Makers Market, Magical Markets of Merriment, Craft-O! Holiday Bazaar and Holiday Spirit Market. See our complete guide to the best holiday markets for 2024, here.
Joe and Melinda Nichols own Schilling’s Garden Market, a plant nursery located on 8.5 acres east of Tumalo. They have tapped into the holiday vibe, selling live holiday trees and locally foraged wreaths. Additionally, on the first weekend in December, they host the Schillling’s Makers Market, which is more of a destination market than an in-and-out affair.
“Families come out to spend the day on our land playing cornhole, listening to live music, compiling gift baskets from local artisans and drinking cider or spiked hot chocolates and boozy holiday cocktails,” said Melinda. “It’s a whole experience.”
The past couple of years, tickets for the market have sold out; they sell a limited amount of parking tickets, per car not per person. So carloads of people, whether it be families or friends looking to shop, fill up the outdoor patio decked with holiday lights, greenery and vendor stalls. “As we close the year and go into winter, our nursery business crawls to a halt,” said Joe Nichols. “The Makers Market is a good financial capstone that provides one last weekend of sales and gives us a way to offer our seasonal employees more work.”
Though pop-up markets abound, steady brick-and-mortar businesses also look to the holiday season to make their target earnings. It’s hard to get more local than Donner Flower Shop on NW Newport Avenue, which has been around since 1911 and is the third-oldest business operating in Bend. Owner Tanja Rodgers left her corporate job five years ago to take over the business from her mother, who ran it for 30 years.
“The holiday season is very important to us. It’s a key part of our annual income,” said Rodgers, who paused the conversation to momentarily help a customer who had shopped at Donner for three decades.
On the day after Halloween, the Donner staff transforms the shop into a whimsical winter wonderland. Over the season, people rely on them for a significant number of custom fresh floral arrangements, and they have a robust selection of high-end artificial trees, fresh wreaths and garlands, gifts and other holiday decor.
“None of us would exist without the locals,” said Joanne Sunnarborg, Downtown Bend Business Association board member and owner of Desperado, a downtown clothing boutique which has operated in Bend for 17 years. “Locals know how important they are to our economy; there is a strong culture of locals supporting locals. December is my best month and that has little to do with tourists. We love them, but they are just the icing on top.”
No passport is required to discover the sweet, rich world of Mexican desserts
Everyone knows Mexico’s savory dishes. Tacos, guacamole, burritos, enchiladas and others are firmly entrenched in the American culinary lexicon. Mexican cakes and pastries, however, remain lesser known, left to discover. Fortunately, Central Oregon’s Mexican bakeries are full of crunchy, flaky, creamy and sweet postres — desserts that transport your palate to a delicious place south of the border. At each of these bakeries, display cases teem with treats — rich, caramel custard and chocolate flan; elaborately decorated cakes, rows of cookies covered in sprinkles or colored pink-and-green to resemble watermelon slices and more. Embark on a sweet journey in Bend’s backyard. No suitcase or plane ticket needed.
Milhojas Thousand-Layer Cake
Colima Market, Bend & Chavez Market, Redmond
Defined by its countless paper-thin layers of flaky pastry with a creamy filling, at Colima Market, milhojas is made with a lemon cream-cheese filling, topped with whipped cream and adorned with intricate flower-shaped mosaics of sliced strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and other fruit. The pastry, with its satisfying crunch and rich cream, is an irresistible combination of flavor and texture, said Yamely Chávez Kennedy, CEO of the family-run market and bakery.
Popular for birthdays and other celebrations in Hispanic communities, the delectable pastry—not unlike a mille-feuille or Napoleon—is one that many Americans likely haven’t tasted, Chavez Kennedy said. It’s sold by the slice, which makes it easy to try, or order a full, rectangular sheet cake, decorated for birthdays or other celebrations.
During the Christmas holiday, tradition reigns with treats such as Rosca de Reyes, or three king’s bread, which celebrates the biblical story of the three kings who followed a star to find the newborn Jesus and bring him gifts. Baked within the sweet, wreath-shaped bread is a little plastic baby figurine symbolizing the Messiah. The desserts are made in the Colima Market bakery and are sold there and at their second location, Chavez Market, Redmond.
Colima Market
228 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend
Chavez Market
2498 S Hwy 97, Redmond
Tres Leches Cake
Panadería y Pastelería El Moy, Bend
This light and airy sponge cake is moist and delicious because it’s soaked overnight in a combination of three milks, or tres leches: evaporated milk, condensed milk and whole milk. It’s topped with piped rows of sweet whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce and crowned with a cherry. Baking it, allowing it to cool, adding the combined milks and decorating it is a 12-hour process, said Alejandra Reyes, co-owner of Panadería y Pastelería El Moy. The result is dessert that will captivate even those who don’t typically indulge in sweets.
As if this tempting confection couldn’t get any better, they make a mocha version too.
Tres leches cake helped Reyes and co-owner Moyses Maldonado start the Bend business, which had its grand opening in August. Reyes had been going door-to-door, selling the cakes and brought a tray of them to the restaurant Hola! The meeting led to inclusion in the first Central Oregon Taco Fest in May, which drew attention to the new endeavor, Reyes said. Stop in for an individual portion or order a full cake to be enjoyed tres times more than expected.
Panadería y Pastelería El Moy
1375 NE 2nd St., Bend
Conchas
La Frontera Bakery, Redmond
This colorful, soft and brioche-like sweet bread is made by scoring the top of the dough so that when baked, it opens into a seashell-shaped creation, hence the name. Concha means shell. At La Frontera Bakery, owner Andoreni Luna Hernandez offers pink, yellow, white and brown versions, perfect with coffee for breakfast or alongside hot chocolate after a day outside in the snow.
At the family-run La Frontera, as well as at each of these bakeries, conchas are sold alongside Mexican cookies and pastries adorned with colorful sprinkles, or puffy, softball-size pillows of brioche rolled in sugar and filled with luscious, fluffy whipped Bavarian cream.
Anton Yakushev fits in well at Dry Canyon Forge in Bend. His bear-like frame equals the size of hulking machines around him. Five-pound hammers sit at ease in his calloused hands, as do the tongs holding a glowing bar of steel just removed from a 2,300-degree forge. Yakushev does not hesitate as he pounds a shape on the anvil, yet his focused eyes make sure all is right before each strike. In steel sculpture, Yakushev’s braun and artistic grace alloy into finely balanced creative expression.
Neither the acquisition of blacksmithing skills nor his relocation to Bend were quick nor easy. Like one of his sculptures—entirely hand-forged, never cast—Yakushev’s success has relied on perseverance, dedication and long-term vision.
Forging Ahead
Originally from Kolomna, a historic city on the outskirts of Moscow, Yakushev pursued a fine arts degree in the early 2000s. In school, he excelled at drawing and knew he wanted to sculpt, but he hadn’t yet discovered the right medium. A visit to a friend’s forge ended the search. Seeing what could be done with steel, the equilibrium between weight and elegance, Yakushev decided to invest a decade of time learning the craft of blacksmithing so that one day he could make art.
Following a few years spent observing blacksmith artists, and eight more as an apprentice, Yakushev opened his own blacksmith studio in Kolomna. He built handrails and other architectural pieces as he honed his ability further. He started making sculptures, which led to shows in St. Petersburg and Moscow, and to teaching workshops across Europe.
“Star Horse”
In 2018, Yakushev and his wife, Kat, first visited Bend, invited by the Central Oregon Metal Arts Guild (COMAG) to give demonstrations and teach workshops. Yakushev felt appreciated here, not a common feeling he had in Russia, where he said art had to be made according to rules.
“When I was doing demonstrations in America, people who were watching kind of absorbed everything—they wanted to learn, and they were so grateful,” Yakushev said through Kat as interpreter. “And you sense that it’s a very important mission. It’s so wonderful that people are interested. I feel so welcome here.”
In February 2022, the Yakushevs arrived for another trip to the United States. Two days later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Anton, whose mother is Ukrainian, applied for political asylum here and the Yakushevs have been living in Bend ever since.
“The Owl”
Forging Ahead in Central Oregon
Central Oregon has given Yakushev a fresh perspective on life and art. “There’s just a different mood here—I feel safe, and that influences my art,” he said. “I would never make a lamp with a bird in Russia, but now I have several projects about nature. Here, I started to feel more life, and that’s why I’m able to enjoy nature around me, and to show it through my art.”
The Central Oregon and North American metal arts community also benefits from Yakushev’s presence. He’s a member of COMAG, and he continues to teach and share his knowledge. Friend and fellow blacksmith, Joe Elliott, remains impressed by the skills and techniques Yakushev has brought to Bend.
“It’s a new skill set of how to make proportionally correct sculptures out of multiple pieces using traditional joinery,” Elliott said. “That wasn’t here beforehand.”
Elliott owns Dry Canyon Forge and rents space to Yakushev. The two have collaborated with others on projects including a life-size bald eagle, covered with 400 hand-forged feathers, that Yakushev designed for the High Desert Museum. Elliott marvels at Yakushev’s innate ability to capture movement, something often missing in sculptural work.
“1.5” from The Leaves Cover the War Project
“Anton’s work is unique, not only in terms of design but in terms of how he puts things together,” Elliott said. “He uses traditional joinery with contemporary design. It’s a very unusual technique using rivets and collars, as opposed to just welding or casting, and I don’t know of anybody else really doing that.”
Currently, Yakushev is working on a life-size horse that, like his eagle, will require the help of other blacksmiths. He has also taken to jewelry, a testing field for the sculptor. As Yakushev learns to work with silver and gold, and to set stones, he expands his own experience as a metal artist.
“I believe if you like what you’re doing, challenges can help you develop and grow,” Yakushev said. I like [the part] during the process when I say, ‘Okay, this is a challenge, so how can I do it?’ Then, I just keep working.”
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the perfect excuse to indulge in some local shopping. Central Oregon’s holiday markets are the place to get into the spirit, offering everything from one-of-a-kind gifts to warm, seasonal drinks vibes and community cheer. Whether you’re hunting for that one-of-a-kind find or just soaking up the festive atmosphere, these markets are the ideal place to make your season even brighter. Ready to shop? Let’s go! (Photo above of Schillings Garden Market)
Nancy P’s 11th Annual Makers Market
November 30th | Nancy P’s Bakery, Bend, Oregon
Kick off the holiday season with a trip to Nancy P’s 11th Annual Makers Market. This Small Business Saturday event brings together local artisans selling everything from jewelry to ceramics—plus, there are plenty of delicious bakery treats to fuel your shopping spree. It’s the perfect way to knock out your shopping list and enjoy some holiday cheer all in one.
Bend Moonlight Market
November 30th | Open Space Event Studios
If you like your markets with a side of eclectic fun, Bend Moonlight Market is the place to head to. With free entry and a lively mix of local vendors, food, live music, and even flash tattoos, this is the place to pick up gifts that are as unique as you are. Perfect for a festive night out with friends—and don’t forget to stop by the food carts for a bite while you’re at it.
Somewhere That’s Green Magical Markets of Merriment
Nov 30/Dec 1, Dec 7/8, Dec 14/15, Dec 21/22| Somewhere That’s Green
If you’ve ever wanted to shop in a winter wonderland, Somewhere That’s Green is making it happen. With dates spread throughout the season, these Magical Markets of Merriment offer cookies, hot cocoa, butterbeer and a chance to meet Santa. It’s the perfect place to find something special, all while soaking in the pure holiday magic that this market serves up in spades.
Get ready to shop some serious leather goodness and stunning handmade jewelry at Maya Moon Designs’ Holiday Pop-Up Shop. This mobile boutique is bringing fresh seasonal styles for women and teens, plus studio ceramics and other unique gifts. Whether you’re shopping for someone else (or yourself), you’ll find something special here.
Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards Holiday Market
November 30th & December 1st | Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards
Set against the stunning Three Sisters, Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards is offering the ultimate holiday market experience. Enjoy award-winning wine, wood-fired pizzas and locally-made gifts all under one roof. With a heated tent and festive vibes, you’ll find yourself lingering longer than you planned.
Oregon Spirit Distillers Holiday Market
December 7th | Oregon Spirit Distillers
Nothing pairs better with holiday shopping than a cocktail, and Oregon Spirit Distillers is offering just that at their Women-Owned Holiday Market. Sip on festive drinks while browsing local vendors and supporting women-owned businesses. Bonus: Bring a toy for the toy drive, and you’ll be entered to win a prize basket. Who said holiday shopping can’t be fun?
Schilling’s Garden Market Holiday Makers Market
December 7th & 8th | Schilling’s Garden Market
Get ready for a holiday market full of everything—from handmade wreaths to artisanal food and live music. Schilling’s Holiday Makers Market is the place to be for festive fun, with a portion of parking proceeds benefiting the Family Access Network. Plus, who doesn’t love a visit from Santa?
Bevel Holiday Market
December 14th & 15th | Bevel Beer
Bevel’s Holiday Market is bringing all the festive vibes. With 15 local vendors each day, tasty food carts and free photos with Santa, it’s the perfect opportunity to check off all the things on your holiday list. Plus, donations to Toys for Tots will make you feel extra good about your purchases. Don’t forget to grab a seasonal beer while you shop—it’s the holiday spirit we all need.
The Workhouse: 14th Annual Craft-O!
December 14th & 15th | The Workhouse
Craft-O! is Bend’s go-to holiday market for all things handmade. From ceramics and jewelry to candles and soaps, you’ll find all the locally crafted goods your heart desires. The relaxed vibe, live music and warm drinks make it the perfect spot for a day of stress-free holiday shopping.
Craft-O | Photo by Arian Stevens
Holiday Spirit Market at Groove Yoga
December 21st | Groove Yoga
For those seeking gifts with a little extra heart, the Holiday Spirit Market at Groove Yoga is the place to shop. Curated by Justicia Healing and Groove Yoga, this market brings together locally made treasures—from artisan jewelry to natural skincare—with a focus on intention and mindfulness. It is perfect for anyone who wants to shop gifts that truly resonate with the spirit of the season.
With festive food, local artisans, and the joy of supporting small businesses, these markets are the ultimate way to embrace the season. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or just want to soak up the holiday cheer, make sure to carve out time for these local gems. Happy shopping!
Artist Maija Kellner-Rode Paints Natural Flora Guided by Intuition
In her Gathered Wares studio of Bend’s historic Old Iron Works Art District, artist Maija Kellner-Rode engages in somatic and instinctive artmaking. She channels her reverence for the natural world through colorful and textured paintings, offering captivating imagery that is also a testament to the healing process of life as an artist.
“I live in a world where I’m always surrounding myself with art and art inspiration,” Kellner-Rode said, her world extending beyond studio walls and into the landscapes of Central Oregon. Kellner-Rode is a fine art painter who works with acrylics, oil pastels and graphite to achieve layered, colorful compositions. Her artworks depict rich, leafy botanicals, color-blocked landscapes and abstract interpretations inspired by the outdoors. Based in Bend, Kellner-Rode is the owner and designer of Maija Rebecca Hand Drawn, a local paper goods and design company. In 2023, Scalehouse Gallery’s Patricia Clark Studio residency program provided her with a six-month creative sanctuary where she had the opportunity to play and explore her art.
“The Warmth That Carries Me”
Kellner-Rode’s creativity is in her blood. “I come from a deep line of artists,” she said. Her aunts, Rachel Binah and Bonnie Ora Sherk, have been influential role models to her throughout her life, blending art with activism and environmental stewardship. Kellner-Rode’s family has been immersed in the Bend community for 17 years and has continued their legacy of creativity and civic engagement. Her brother, David, operates Boundless Farmstead, one of the largest vegetable producers in Central Oregon. Three years ago, she relocated from Portland to Bend to be near her family and continue the legacy of art and community contribution.
The nuanced world of shadows is a well of inspiration for Kellner-Rode’s work. A lot of her current pieces can be interpreted as shadows of nature’s flora. “When you look at a plant, there’s this very specific dimensionality, but once it becomes a shadow, it flattens and the shape can become something different entirely… I find shadows to be really mysterious and beautiful,” she said.
“Self Energy”
Intuition guides Kellner-Rode’s process. Sometimes, she inscribes words directly onto the canvas, akin to a journal entry, allowing them to peek through or disappear behind veiling layers of paint. “I don’t plan anything out beforehand. It’s all very of the moment,” Kellner-Rode said. Unwilling to let wet paint interrupt her momentum, she may even employ a hairdryer to prepare a piece for its next layer. Her approach oscillates between diluted pigment for watercolor-like washes and bold, opaque applications to form color blocks, investigating the possibilities of texture and hue in her medium. “It’s like being a kid, going back and allowing myself to play, not having rules and seeing what happens,” she said.
A photo of Kellner-Rode as a toddler hangs in her studio. For her, childhood healing is an undertaking she can permeate with her art–an introspective approach that allows her to explore her personal evolution. When Kellner-Rode channels various stages of her adolescence while creating, as she often does, she becomes her own muse.
Pulling on 13 years of experience mentoring youth—from Portland’s p:ear center for houseless youth to Central Oregon’s Caldera Arts program—she’s now devoting her passion for art to a new venture: the Open Arts Center. This nonprofit, co-founded with Claire Brislin, aims to provide a safe space for middle- and high-school aged youth to explore creativity. “The creative arts are a really powerful tool to engage awareness and understanding,” Kellner-Rode said. The center will offer after-school programming, self-directed learning and community-sourced mentorship opportunities, embodying Kellner-Rode’s vision of art as a catalyst for personal and community wellbeing.
Kellner-Rode’s studio in the Old Iron Works Art District is an intimate, public-facing workspace that she is grateful to call home for her artwork. Synthesizing personal development, social connection and nature’s wisdom, Kellner-Rode is both a student and teacher of art’s capacity for healing. See maijakellnerrode.com, @maijakellnerrode.
There’s a distinguished group of people who don’t need the word “super” in front of “hero,” because their feats of heroism are real. Their origin stories are also more humbling. This heroic group is honored each Veterans Day, a federal holiday on November 11 recognizing United States Armed Forces military veterans.
While all veterans deserve recognition, there are organizations, volunteers, and veterans across the country and in Central Oregon working to honor more military women who have historically received less acknowledgment.
In March 2024, Central Oregon Community College (COCC)hosted“I Am Not Invisible,” a campaign started in 2017 by the U.S. Center for Women Veterans (CWV) to recognize some of the more than two million female veterans who make up 10% of the military population. To date, the CWV project has crossed 50 states to capture more than 3,200 portraits of female veterans, including women of Oregon who shared their stories — especially about lack of recognition and barriers they face to access health care and additional resources.
Meet Local Female Veterans
Inspired by the exhibit, local veterans Debbie Restivo, Kristi Russ and Anita Sergeant audio-recorded their military stories with the Library of Congress Veteran History Project, a program of COCC. The project uses trained volunteers to interview veterans, thereby preserving their stories for an online public audio library.
In their words, Restivo, Russ and Sergeant share their stories.
Debbie Restivo
U.S. Marine, Communication Operator (1990-1994)
“Cherry Point, North Carolina, was my first duty station. Barely a year in, I was sexually assaulted by members of my unit. I felt ruined; there was no command support, not even therapy. I loved serving; I felt a part of something special as a com-operator. The assault and lack of support led to my military departure. Now, I’m a veteran peer support specialist in Bend; I influence all veterans to speak out about sexual assaults and how to find health resources. Providing the support I didn’t have to every veteran brings me solace.”
Kristi Russ
U.S. Coast Guard (2002-2006)
“I was stationed in Alameda, California, and assigned to a drug interdiction ship crew. My unit seized tons of cocaine and detained smugglers attempting U.S. entry, towing or destroying their boats. We had 110 crew members, 10 of whom were females. Our crew was like family, but our expectations from leaders were unequal. When men make mistakes, they were viewed as an individual’s flaw. For females, mistakes were usually seen as a collective gender flaw. I would do it all again. It was an honor serving alongside both men and women who deserve equal recognition.”
Anita Sergeant
U.S. Navy, Aviation Supply Operator (1990-1995)
“I was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. At only 21, I managed millions of dollars working in administration. During the audits, I was responsible for balancing the budget for mission success and couldn’t be a penny off. Being an African American female adds to the pressure. All female service members were judged as a collective. However, supervisors frequently reminded me that my performance would reflect my gender and race. I’m part of the first generation in my family to serve, and it’s an honor. Every gender and race contributed to our nation’s military legacy.”
Creating a Sophisticated Space for Family, Entertaining and Art
The remodel of a home in Broken Top began in 2020 with a straightforward need: a place to park the owners’ camper van. “It morphed from there,” said Michelle Wilson of Lightfoot Architecture & Design. She first met with the clients in the fall of 2020, and what began as a simple project quickly expanded into a major remodel. Three years later, the structure had undergone a highly customized metamorphosis, emerging as a sophisticated home tailored for comfort, entertaining family and friends while showcasing a life’s worth of collected art.
Builder Katie Pendleton, owner of The Fort construction company, said her team initially approached this project “thinking it would be putting lipstick on an already beautiful home in an established neighborhood. [But] we ended up taking out the entire center section of the house.”Over the gutted space, they erected a gable roof at a 90-degree turn from the original roof’s direction. This redesign flooded the space with natural light, enhanced views of the golf course and Mount Bachelor, and established a new heart of the home.
The initial idea to build space for the camper van led to a complete teardown of the garage, which was reconstructed with space for the van, cars and a second story to replace space lost in the rebuilt central part of the home. In the end, nearly every surface of the 5,600-square-foot residence had been touched and improved, including installing new insulation and drywall, updated electrical and lighting controls, plumbing fixtures and a modern HVAC system.
First Impressions: Nailing the “Wow” Factor
The homeowners wanted to create a memorable first impression when guests entered the home, garnering advice from Wilson, Pendleton and interior designer Anne Mastalir, owner of Design Bar. Today, visitors are greeted by a dramatic three-sided fireplace between two vaulted rooms. “They wanted it to feel like Bend, so we incorporated burnt wood, steel and lava rock materials commonly found in the area’s older homes,” Wilson noted.
The entry introduces visitors to the first of many commissioned and collected pieces of art thoughtfully placed throughout the home, including a life-size black and white drawing of the owner’s grandfather’s saddle hanging in the entry. To accommodate lighting for art throughout the house, the clients brought in a lighting designer, Chris Ferguson, founder of Part & Process LLC.
The cohesive design theme continues as the charred wood (also called shou sugi ban) on the dwelling’s outside siding extends into the interior along a wall that conceals a powder room only discovered by pulling a discreet door handle. The wood then wraps around a corner to the wet bar and a wine cellar designed by Vieng Oudom of Sommi Wine Cellars in Portland, with a custom racking system to create the illusion that the 800 bottles are floating in the temperature- and humidity-controlled room. The charred wood continues into the kitchen where Harvest Moon Woodworks built and installed black, handleless cabinets for a sleek, complementary look.
The Kitchen Details
Revolving around the homeowners’ love of cooking, the kitchen layout includes a large island made of two different stones that visually mark areas: one for sitting and chatting and another for food prep and cooking. It merges with the large, open living room, facilitating conversation and camaraderie among people hanging out, gathered around the fireplace or having a cup of coffee.
The extensive use of exposed steel in the remodel–replacing traditional wood beams and supporting the fireplace, island stones, staircase and railings—imbues the home with a distinctive industrial aesthetic. This steel framework contrasts with the walls of glass in the open area. Sliding glass doors lead to a patio with an outdoor kitchen where the owner enjoys making breakfast for guests who appreciate the seamless blend of indoor and outdoor living.
From the patio, it’s possible to reach an in-ground hot tub and private entrance to the primary bedroom suite. The indoor shower opens via a glass door to an outside shower in a unique design. The owners said figuring out how to blend the two and provide privacy challenged the entire design and construction team.
Photo by Ryan Flood
Creative Solutions: Maximize Space and Comfort Upstairs
Over the staircase, five Foscarini Spokes pendant lights guide the way to the second level. An open-railing catwalk offers views of the great room below, keeping residents connected to activity downstairs. The catwalk also leads to a small office with direct views of Mount Bachelor and, in the other direction, to the garage wing.
One notable architectural challenge was maximizing guest sleeping areas upstairs. The corner where two nonmatching roof lines converge and the central house angles toward the garage wing presented both a challenge and an opportunity. To address this, a collaborative effort among the homeowners and the design and build team resulted in two small rooms on either side of the corner, each featuring full-size bunk beds.
“The best design is when you go through the process and create something new and unique,” said Mastalir.
A long hallway greets guests as they approach the space affectionately dubbed “The Big Ass Fun Room.” It is lined with family photos, an unexpected sauna on one side and a series of windows overlooking the driveway on the other. The room is a vibrant blend of sports and travel memorabilia, entertainment platforms and a cleverly concealed gear storage area, making it a quintessential family gathering spot.
In collaboration with a rare, all-female core team, the owners crafted a home that “facilitates connection, love and warmth,” said Mastalir. She noted that the interior space planning led to “one of the only projects I’ve done that looked even better after the clients moved in. They have spectacular taste.” It is a one-of-a-kind space that’s both new and distinctively tailored to the owners, honoring the Broken Top neighborhood and Central Oregon while serving as a welcoming gathering place for all.
Get Hooked on a Sport Where Excitement and Teamwork Create Community
Jason Gockel felt the alarm bells ringing in his head. It was early October 2023, and the teacher from Bend Forest School stood atop a bridge in La Pine State Park, peering 30 feet down into the Deschutes River as it slipped past, cool and green. This was his first adventure race—a multisport, human-powered contest that involves navigating between checkpoints often by foot, bike and boat—and the 37 year old had already spent the morning hiking off trail, cycling roads and using only a map and compass to orient his way through the park. Now, to complete a checkpoint, he and his partner, Matthias Ambert, had to rappel off the bridge into the water. But something wasn’t right. The rope was much too short. He’d have to free-fall the last few feet right into the drink.
“I’ve done a lot of climbing, and rappelling off the end of a rope is something you never, ever want to do,” Gockel said. “But that’s what you had to do.”
Photo by Darren Steinbach
Gockel felt the end of the rope eerily slip through his harness as he plunged into the river with all of his clothes on. It took only a few seconds to swim to shore but something far more enduring had washed over him. This first-timer had caught the adventure-racing bug, bad.
“I was totally hooked,” he said. “It was one of the most fun days of my life.”
Since then, in less than a year, Gockel has competed in no fewer than four adventure races, most of them in Central Oregon, which is an excellent venue thanks to an abundance of wild and varied terrain. On October 5 and 6, the La Pine Loop race—the same race that got Gockel started—will unfold for the seventh time. That race also includes a family-friendly version with checkpoints where kids gather materials to make something fun they can keep, for example, charms for a necklace. Other races throughout the year include the Technical Endurance Challenge near Redmond and Smith Rock in April and Sunriver Scramble, a six- to eight-hour race taking place in June.
Photo by Darren Steinbach
In September, some of the best teams in the world compete in Expedition Oregon, a whopping six-day contest that has racers tackling class III rapids, exploring caves, climbing cliffs and mountain biking single-track trails. “We call it America’s Toughest Race,” said Bend resident Jason Magness, who along with his wife, Chelsea, organizes, directs and competes in adventure races throughout Oregon and the world. Together they also manage and participate in their own professional team called Bend Racing, one of the best adventure racing teams on the planet.
Photo by Tim Crowley
Magness and Bend Racing may sound familiar. The team featured prominently in Amazon Prime Video’s 2020 reboot of the highly popular Eco-Challenge series that put adventure racing on the North American map in the 1990s. That new television series, which was hosted by Bear Grylls, saw Magness and three other teammates battle their way across the jungles of Fiji, where they built a make-shift raft out of bamboo to float down a river, sailed a traditional boat between islands and ran and biked for days on end through stifling heat and torrential rain. Mark Burnett, the series producer who also created shows like “The Apprentice,” likened the race to “an expedition with a stop-watch.”
Photo courtesy of BendRacing Media
For newcomers to the sport, such an undertaking would feel like cruel and unusual punishment, but the bite-size races are a great way to give the sport a try in a format that really ups the fun. Magness says adventure racing’s appeal at pretty much any level typically boils down to a person’s willingness to embrace the unknown. You might make a wrong turn. Maybe your bike gets a flat. Perhaps everything goes far more smoothly than ever before and no one even gets a blister.
“No two races are ever alike,” Magness said. “There aren’t a lot of endurance sports out there where you really don’t know what’s ahead.”
Photo courtesy of BendRacing Media
That element of surprise certainly appeals to Gockel but his new hobby taps into something bigger, too—a sense of community. “I love being part of a team and how you can all work together to problem solve while running through the woods or paddling down a river,” he said. “If you want to be competitive, you can be competitive, and if you want to just have fun you can do that, too. Everyone who crosses that finish line has a smile on their face.”
Photo by Tim Crowley
What is an Adventure Race?
Adventure racing takes racers off the road and into the unknown. Think triathlon, but make it wild. Instead of a swim, bike and run, the sports vary race-to-race and adapt to the natural landscape of each event. Teams of two to four athletes navigate miles of wilderness on mountain bikes, in kayaks, on ropes and by foot with no marked course. They work together and reach checkpoints along the way with the help of compasses and maps. For amateur teams, the only prerequisite is a sense of adventure. But to go pro, Bend Racing lists team requirements needs as: navigator, medic, bike mechanic, a captain to make big decisions, a pace counter to keep the team on track and “a stoker” to keep morale high.
Photo by Darren Steinbach
Where to Find a Race:
April 20-21: Technical Endurance Challenge, Redmond and Smith Rock | Features: Day one is an advanced adventure race, but a kid and family- friendly race takes place on day two.
June 1: Sunriver Scramble, Sunriver | Features: Technical sections are suited for professional racers, but there are options to shorten the course and avoid difficult segments.
September 6-14: Expedition Oregon, Columbia River Gorge | Features: A world championship qualifier for experienced teams, this event is for experienced teams and spans six days with extremely technical sections for advanced racers.
October 5-6: La Pine Loop, La Pine State Park | Features: The seven-hour event is for intermediate and experienced endurance athletes. A four-hour course is less technical and best for kids and families.
Words and Photos Bring the Lives of Oregon Athletes into Clear Focus
Some of Ben Kitching’s favorite childhood memories are from camping and road trips to national parks. It was in those places he became enthralled with stories of adventure. He poured through pages of Backpacker Magazine and watched videos of climbing, and got his first taste of the backcountry on a whitewater canoe expedition to Alaska as a Boy Scout. “There were endless possibilities around each turn of the river. I’d never felt more alive in my life,” he said. Exchanging experiences as a collegiate athlete and admission to a prestigious medical school program for his camera, Kitching works as a professional photographer in Central Oregon. His Oregon Outdoor Athlete Project, a multiyear pursuit to create 100 athlete profiles, is a way to find an intersection between his love for the outdoors and his livelihood.
Using stacked images, he uses negative spaces of his photographs to help emphasize the action in a secondary image, resulting in visual storytelling that conveys more about a subject than a traditional environmental portrait. In interviews with his subjects, athletes share their personal stories. “Sports bring out emotion and nature adds another dimension,” Kitching said. “There are so many stories to tell, and I love telling them.”
Learn More about the Oregon Outdoor Athlete Project
The following interviews have been edited from their original format for clarity. Visit oregonoutdoorathleteproject.com to discover more athletes and read their full interviews with Ben Kitching.
Listen to Adam Short’s interview with Ben Kitching on The Circling Podcast at BendMagazine.com/podcast.
From a Few of the Athletes
JT Hartman: Whitewater Kayaker
“The whitewater community is incredibly tight-knit just by the nature of what we do. The bonds that you form with these people, even on an easy chill day on the water, are different. There’s a certain amount of inherent connection and trust that you have to have with somebody to put yourself in these situations and feel ok about the potential outcomes. Struggle really bonds people…[on the river] that point of commitment, realizing that your only option is to continue downstream is in my mind one of the most peaceful moments…Realizing whether you’re afraid or not, you know what needs to happen. You have to put trust in yourself that you’re going to know how to handle the situation and continue. There’s a lot of beauty in that, that comfort with the point of no return. It’s humbling, continuously. You’re not going to win against the river.”
Erica Raggio: Ultrarunner, Climber and Skier
“I still remember the first time I ever ran three miles. I thought it was the greatest thing I could ever accomplish. Then, I just kept running farther and farther. Running became this thing that made me feel independent and powerful. It made me feel strong. It made me love who I was. For a while, I thought a 50k was the hardest thing in the world. It was brutal. It was so hard but, your body adapts if you just keep pushing it. My latest race was a 100 miler I did this year. I felt like I was able to almost unlock a new part of my brain where I was able to acknowledge the pain I was experiencing but not let the pain control me. I think the idea is that you always have more to give than you think you do, whether it be emotionally or physically or mentally. I think your biggest competitor ends up being yourself.”
Wyatt Pace: Waterfall Hunter
“People say, ‘Don’t go chasing waterfalls,’ and they are wrong. For me, it’s all about the adventure and the journey to get there…a whole day of strenuous adventure. It feels like modern day exploration, going to places that don’t exist on your apps, on your maps. There is data out there that suggests there are crazy amounts of falls that haven’t been mapped out yet. There are probably more off-trail waterfalls than the trailed ones. I would say more than half of them aren’t known to the public. The crazy part is discovering and exploring those places. The first couple of steps are always the hardest, looking back [asking] ‘What shenanigans am I about to get into? Is it worth it?’ [But] this is almost my spirituality at this point…being out here, soaking in some negative ions is the closest I come to a higher power.”
Ann Hazelnutt: Climber
“When I found climbing, I was about 16 years old. There is this grit and tenacity that comes with trying something that maybe seems impossible. I think that mentality really transfers to the rest of my life. I think climbing has given me so much confidence. I want to be outside, hearing the birds, just being outside all day. There’s something really special about that. The connection and getting dirty. Understanding that we’re just animals on our own quest. It really puts a lot of the climbing experience into perspective. I just feel like a superhero when I’m climbing slab. I love how creative you can be on it. On top of that, it’s just a mental challenge. It’s scary, that moment where I feel like I believe in myself and something’s possible, it’s just a fun way to learn. It’s just puzzles and it’s your body and it’s playing. It’s being a kid again.”
Anna Soens: Mountain Biker, Skier and Boater
“Skiing has been the most empowering adaptive sport that I found. I can ski anything on this mountain that anyone else can so it’s kind of liberating that way. I can go fast. I can cruise around. I don’t feel disabled when I’m skiing.It’s a challenge. It’s rejuvenating. It’s being able to disconnect and kind of reset. It reminds me to be in the present. I think slowing down is a big piece of it. The non-negotiables that nature gives you are always changing and dynamic. I think that’s what keeps it interesting. You never know how it’s going to go. I’m always pushing myself and trying to find steeper skiing, more technical terrain, and I think there are always ways to push yourself. You value and cherish every time you are out there.”
There’s a lot to love about the crisp, clean air of fall in Central Oregon. But the slow demise of the brightly colored plants and flowers in decorative pots can sting a bit. Instead of dwelling on the loss, rejoice in the changing season and replant those big pots and containers with something seasonally appropriate.
Pick a container: Select a container to reflect or complement your design aesthetic.
The orange, green and brown colors of pumpkins and squash are synonymous with fall, so you can incorporate those colors with seasonal plant selections. For starters, there’s the tried-and-true potted mum. This will add a burst of fall color, and the hardy plant blooms throughout the fall in Central Oregon. Or fill a pot with ornamental cabbage, kale or ornamental grasses. These pretty plants add a pop of deep purple and dark green and can typically survive the high desert’s cool fall days.
TIP: Move plants away from wind to protect them from drying out. | Photo of Schilling’s Garden Market
If you’re looking to step away from planting this fall, access your artistic side by collecting found objects from the garden or hiking trail and arranging them in your pots—whether curly willow branches, moss-covered sticks, dried flowers, lavender or the corn stalks that didn’t thrive in this year’s garden. Whatever you choose, embracing the changing of the seasons will give a fresh look to your front porch or entryway.
Dry-Land Training Minimizes Injury and Maximizes Fun on the Slopes
As the summer heat wanes and the first hints of autumn appear, athletes in Bend are already gearing up for the winter sports season. The shoulder season, that transitional period before the snow blankets the slopes, is a crucial time for both competitive and recreational athletes alike to hone their skills, build strength and stay sharp. Whether you’re a lift junkie while downhill skiing or snowboarding, love to earn your turns in the backcountry, or prefer the endurance element of Nordic skiing, with a little thought, prep and foresight, you can make the most of this off-season and be ready for opening day.
According to Mandon Welch, a physical therapist at MW Physical Therapy and Sports Performance in Bend, core stability and hip strength are paramount for all winter sports disciplines. “You can’t shoot a cannon off of a canoe,” Welch said, highlighting the importance of a stable core. “Exercises focusing on trunk strength, axial stability and hip strength form the foundation of effective dry-land training. These areas are crucial for generating the force needed in sports like snowboarding and alpine skiing.”
Shevlin Park area | Photo by Arian Stevens
Welch also noted that flexibility, power and plyometric strength are integral components of winter sports conditioning. “Doing exercises that closely mimic the specific demands of each sport without actual snow is key,” he said. “If you can go into the season at a higher fitness level, it will significantly shorten the curve to be ready, making the transition from dry-land to snow that much easier.”
A good pre-season regime also helps to reduce injury among older athletes. “The most common ski injury is ACL ruptures,” he said, while Nordic tends to be mostly overuse injuries. “Keeping good strength across those foundational areas will help reduce that risk,” he added.
Mixing Up in the Off Season
In addition to focused gym workouts and training, US Ski Team athlete and three-time Olympian Tommy Ford says he likes to mix it up in the off-season to keep training both interesting and fun. “I’m always trying to find different cross training opportunities that are helpful,” said Ford. Rock climbing increases core strength and mobility, plus climbing is great for mental focus, explained Ford. “It pushes your limits. You’re tired, you might be exposed high up on a wall—it forces you to stay calm and keep focus to get to the top,” he said.
Smith Rock State Park | Photo by Ben Kitching
Former Summit High School athlete and now U.S. Snowboard Rookie Halfpipe Team member Elijah Pyle mountain bikes to train. “Going fast downhill through the trees is similar to snowboarding in that it forces you to be focused and gets you into that flow state,” he said. Trampoline training is another key element of Pyle’s shoulder-season routine, allowing him to practice tricks in a safer environment. “Trampolining helps you visualize and perfect tricks without the risk of injury on hard snow,” he said.
For Bendite and Montana State University Nordic skier Delaney Jackson, the off-season is all about making gains. “Roller skiing is probably the most beneficial exercise as it closely mimics the movements and techniques used in cross-country skiing,” Jackson said. Using adapted roller skates and ski poles with different tips, roller skiing allows cross-country skiers to skate along roads and paths before the snow falls. “I try to use paved bike paths as much as possible,” said Jackson. “Skyliners is classic for roller skiers, but I try to do a lot in the Tree Farm neighborhood because it’s great for interval training.”
How to Keep Motivated
For any winter sport athlete, another challenge can simply be staying motivated when conditions don’t allow them to practice their sport. Elijah Pyle explained that to keep his motivation high, he works out with fellow snowboarders and it helps everyone get better.
Mt. Bachelor Downhill Bike Park | Photo courtesy of MBSEF
Pyle also shared how he keeps himself inspired by focusing on the more artistic side of his sport. “Watching old snowboarding movies is a great way to get you inspired,” he said. “Or do some art or [make] music. Sometimes that creative spirit is just as important as the technical ability.”
While not everyone in Central Oregon is a professional athlete, preparation into the shoulder season can pay dividends when the snow begins to fall.
City Projects and Nonprofits Pave the Way for Urban Cycling
ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVI AUGUSTO, INSPIRED BY JOE KLINE PHOTOGRAPHY
As Bend’s summer wanes, residents and visitors look forward to the cooler temperatures on two wheels. Lycra-clad fitness enthusiasts ride scenic bikeways, kids look forward to riding to school and those simply looking for a calmer commute to work or the grocery store enjoy the less-crowded streets in their search for car-free freedom.
Luckily for cyclists, safety in active transportation has become a high priority for local government and cycling nonprofits during the past decade. Education, advocacy and a city council sympathetic to the needs of cyclists have helped remove many obstacles to urban cycling. Dangerous intersections have morphed into protected areas for all users, miles of new bike lanes have been added and plans to separate bikes from cars are in the works. In short, what has been a bike town based around world-class mountain biking is turning into a complete Oregon cycling mecca on the trails and in the streets.
Transportation Plans Map the Future
Building a safe and connected network of bike routes will mean more options, less congestion and less pollution for everyone—visitors and residents alike, explained Bend City Councilor Ariel Mendez. “Good alternatives to driving benefit even people who drive, because it means fewer cars on the road and less competition for scarce parking.”
After years of research, planning and legwork, 2020 saw the Bend City Council adopt the Transportation System Plan (TSP) to adapt to the community’s growing needs for the next two decades. By balancing the diverse needs of Bend’s differing modes of transportation, the TSP aims to uphold the community’s values and protect what makes the city such a desirable place to live. The Bend Bikeway, or one city-wide cycling network including safe east-west and north-south routes, has become a major aspect in achieving Bend’s transportation goals while prioritizing safety.
As a result of the city’s efforts, residents and visitors are seeing upgrades to city roadways. The Wilson Avenue Corridor Project includes painted and separated bike lanes on both sides of the road. Bend’s first protected intersections with physical barriers separating cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles are popping up around town. Safety advocates are happy to see one at the corner of NW Olney Avenue and NW Wall Street where a bicyclist was struck and killed by a turning FedEx driver in 2017.
Greenways and Nonprofits Lead the Way
Perhaps the first indicator that Bend was moving toward bicycle equity was born in 2019 with the creation of Neighborhood Greenways on NE 6th Street and NW 15th Street. The Neighborhood Greenway project is a national idea to describe a route more comfortable for cyclists and pedestrians than nearby busier streets. The roads are equipped with traffic-calming improvements including lower speed limits and speed bumps, traffic circles aiming to slow drivers and signage indicating increased usage by non-vehicular users. The City of Bend has further prioritized non-vehicular travel and discouraged automobile traffic on the 16 current greenways through the installation of traffic diverters.
Kicking off a movement that has helped shift public and political perceptions on non-car transportation, the 2016 Bend’s Open Streets event featured walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers and wheelchair users inhabiting a road blocked to cars. Local nonprofits Commute Options and Bend Bikes led the event and have continued to work toward safer roads for all. Among Bend Bikes’ current list of desired improvements are a complete bike network and map, and more Neighborhood Greenways and protected bike lanes, in an effort to achieve bike equity.
To bring attention to its goals, Bend Bikes held its Bend Bike Night, co-hosted by the City of Bend earlier this summer at The Grove at NorthWest Crossing. The block party started with a “bike bus” consisting of dozens of riders for “safety in numbers,” who pedaled from Larkspur Park in southeast Bend to The Grove where cycling enthusiasts found bike training, education and community. Included in the bike bus pack were Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler, Bend Mayor Pro-Tem Megan Perkins and Oregon Representative Emerson Levy.
Focusing more on education, Commute Options has been touting the advantages of active transportation since its inception in 1991, originally under the moniker Biking for a Better Community. A cornerstone of its programs lies in the state-sponsored Safe Routes To School (SRTS) program. As its name suggests, SRTS focuses on children being able to safely walk or roll to school, thus alleviating the need to be dropped off and picked up by their parents. Benefits to eliminating car travel include not only children’s health and well-being, but improved air quality and congestion around schools. For its efforts, Commute Options added six elementary schools to the program and saw a 50% increase in participation last year.
The Future of Safety
A path toward safe biking in Bend seems to be on an upward trend with progress on the Midtown Crossings Project along Greenwood Avenue. The Hawthorne Overcrossing project is also underway, with construction slated to begin in 2026. “A big opportunity will be in 2026 when the city updates its Transportation System Plan,” stated Councilor Mendez. “Biking is the priority of safety into transportation planning. [It] will mean more kids walking and biking to school, older adults living healthier, independent lives and a more efficient mobile workforce in Bend.”
For now, the City of Bend, transportation nonprofits and advocacy groups can enjoy their successes as they seek to inform the general public on how creating safer bicycle paths is a benefit to cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.
Central Oregon’s Beach Volleyball Scene Thrives Without a Beach
A couple of days each week during summer, Kendra Gulley and her friends gather before dawn at Bend’s Pine Nursery Park to get in a few touches on one of its five sand volleyball courts. Sure, they’re able to beat the heat by playing so early. But that isn’t the main reason for the pre-work sand sessions.
“If you’re not out there by 5:30 in the morning, you’re not getting a court,” Gulley said.
Other days, just before midnight on the other side of Bend, the group can be found wrapping up league night on the courts at Lifty’s Bar off Southwest Century Drive. Gulley isn’t alone. From sunup to well past sundown, where there’s a sand volleyball court in Central Oregon, players are bumping, setting and spiking.
“It’s a huge, growing sport here,” said Bob Trapnell, a leader of Bend’s adult sand volleyball scene, “and I love the camaraderie we all have.”
How This Differs From Traditional Volleyball
Those who frequent the sand courts say you get more touches on the ball compared to traditional, indoor 6v6 volleyball. And it’s a sport just about everyone can play. You don’t have to show up to the sand with a resume like Olympic sand volleyball teammates Kerri Walsh Jennings or Misty May-Treanor to have fun. (Although you likely will run into players with elite competitive backgrounds. Remember, this is Bend.)
Photo courtesy of Bend Parks and Recreation
Gulley’s immersion in the local sand volleyball scene has happened over the course of the past decade. She’d pop over to the Pine Nursery courts with her dad looking for a game and to meet some new people. “It’s a great community builder,” Gulley said. “I’ve met all my closest friends through the sport of volleyball. As you get older, it’s harder to meet new people. This is a great way to bring people together and stay active.”
How to Get Better at Volleyball
For those looking to sharpen their skills or simply learn the game, Trapnell and others host lesson clinics on Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. on the Pine Nursery Park courts. Roughly 150 people out of the 1,100 members of the Bend Beach Volleyball Facebook group regularly schedule games and hitting sessions there.
“The focus is on helping to deepen the talent pool in Bend over time,” Trapnell said. “I love giving back at this stage of my life. There’s so much to offer the different levels of players to enhance their game.”
With more local kids playing competitive beach volleyball, and the continued surge of new residents in the area, Gulley foresees the scene here continuing to grow.
Youth Indoor Volleyball
Youth indoor volleyball is a popular sport for students, beginning in third grade. High school teams and club volleyball programs feed the love for the sport, and sand volleyball is a natural extension. In 2024, boys volleyball was proposed as a new sport to be added to high school sports offerings. As the number of indoor players rises, the number of sand volleyball players follows, creating more opportunities to find competition.
Photo by Steve Heinrichs, courtesy of Visit Central Oregon
This summer, Central Oregon Volleyball Club will host numerous tournaments for its players as well as popular “Friday Night Lights” games on two courts located outside the Cascade Swim Center in Redmond.
The single court at Lifty’s in Bend, which can be reserved for $30 per hour, is booked from opening to closing most days during the summer. On “Free Play Fridays,” players fill the courts for 4v4 matches and Lifty’s hosts tournaments throughout the summer.
“There’s nothing like it in Central Oregon,” Lifty’s owner Chris Justema said, referring to both his bar’s sand court amenity and the sport itself.
“It’s a fun, engaging outdoor sport that’s perfect for all skill levels…it’s just an overall good, healthy outdoor activity.”
The crowd gathered early, anticipation building as they stood three rows deep to watch for the first cyclists to round the corner. An announcer called out the names of those leading the peloton as they streaked past in a blur of colors. Cheers of encouragement mingled with clanging bells as the athletes vanished for another circuit. Fans who remember the experience can look forward to the excitement again as the fast-paced Cascade Cycling Classic’s Criterium returns to Bend this August after a seven-year hiatus.
Photo Joe Kline
Started by former professional riders and Bend residents Megan and Chris Horner, the Horner Cycling Foundation has resurrected the most popular stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic. Spanning from the late 1970s to 2019, the event was one of the longest-running stage races in North America, drawing both professional and amateur cyclists to sprint across the scenic roads and streets of Central Oregon for multiple races across successive days. The foundation opted to condense the race from five days to a more manageable single-day race, also known as a criterium.
Ron Hayman, Gavin Chilcott and Tom Schuler, circa 1987. | Photo courtesy of Bob Woodward
Molly Cogswell-Kelley, race director and executive director of the Horner Cycling Foundation, explained that the multiday stage race had reached its natural conclusion before the pandemic hit. Additionally, Bend’s rapid growth posed logistical challenges for a summer race, contending with factors such as peak tourism season, ongoing road construction and the ever-present threat of wildfires.
“Bike racing has always been a big part of summers in Bend, especially with the Cascade Classic,” said Megan.
“In recent years, bike racing has been missing in Bend, and I think Bend has been missing bike racing.”
“Being able to bring back at least one great stage of the Cascade Classic feels like a huge step.” She added that the criterium was a personal favorite of both hers and Chris’s from their racing days. “We can’t wait to be there when the racing kicks off again.”
Photo Whit Bazemore
Chris rode professionally between 1996 and 2019, winning the Tour of Spain in 2013. He also competed in the Tour de France seven times and in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He has been a Tour de France commentator for NBC Sports and on his YouTube channel, The Butterfly Effect. Megan spent a decade bike racing in the U.S. and internationally. A former U.S. National Road Racing champion, she has been practicing law since 2011 and is the managing partner of Horner Law, LLP.
Photo Whit Bazemore
The mission of the Horner Foundation is to develop youth cycling in Central Oregon, create opportunities for kids to ride and race bikes, as well as develop a junior road cycling team that is both inclusive and socioeconomically accessible. With a focus on skill development and team building, the Horners hope to foster a life-long love of cycling.
Bikers passing by in Cascade Classic | Joe Kline
Scheduled for Saturday, August 10 from noon to 8 p.m., the criterium will offer 19 racing categories, from junior athletes to professionals. The event will serve as the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association’s Criterium State Championship for juniors (ages 10 to 17) and masters (ages 40 and up). Bonuses include a one-mile run and a kiddie bike race.
Photo Joe Kline
For the professionals, the day culminates with the much-anticipated men’s and women’s races. Riders will race as many laps as possible in a set time; race officials signify the last lap by ringing a loud bell. This year’s course still runs along downtown’s two major streets–Wall and Bond, but organizers added segments on Oregon, Minnesota, Lava and Franklin streets, making it a .7-mile loop.
Photo Whit BazemoreChris and Megan Horner | Photo by Ely Roberts
“The course from 2017 was a bit boring, so we added more turns which helps prevent bunching in the field,” Cogswell-Kelley said. She noted that riders with good technique will excel on the new course, and spectators will have lots of opportunities to see their skills showcased, especially in the elite races.
“People who remember the thrilling event know you don’t need to know anything about cycling to get the energy and rush of the event,” said Cogswell-Kelley. “You can’t describe the feeling when the peloton is going by at more than 40 miles per hour.”
An hour remains before sunrise. The city sleeps, but it’s time for “The Mayor” to get to work. Pulling on a wetsuit, booties and gloves, all still damp from an evening session the night before, Lled Smith heads to the Deschutes River as he does every morning. He has totaled more than 1,000 surf sessions and tracks water flow on his website Greenwave Surf Report. When the water is high enough, he’ll ride the ever-in-motion Green Wave, named for the color of a glassy face on the eternally unbroken crest of river water. Smith won’t be solo for long. With the sun comes the half-dozen before-work, early risers.
They give way to a mid-morning crew, then the brunch club before lunch-breakers arrive. The groms come in a steady stream. From pre-dawn until after dark, there’s constant motion at the lineup. You’re never alone at the Green Wave, and for the community of surfers that exists there, they say that’s a good thing.
Lled Smith
All Are Welcome
“There’s a term in Hawaiian, e komo mai meaning ‘all are welcome,’” said Dave Chun, surfboard shaper and owner of Bend Surf. “Here at our wave it’s, ‘Take your turn, be nice, be kind, surf with aloha‘… that’s the Bend way.”
Smith has been there since the early days. “At first it was a ‘Bro Pit,’ a few guys that had been surfing the ditch [canal] before,” Smith said. While a few came with experience surfing a river wave, most did not and that was just as well: Surfing a standing wave is unlike surfing an ocean wave, so years on a point break don’t translate directly, which creates a camaraderie of learning together.
“It’s easier for me to hold someone’s hand,” Smith said, “than to watch them flop.” There’s a democracy in the line up, too, as everyone tests their patience waiting for their 60 seconds to ride, and inevitably does a lot of swimming when they float downriver after a wipeout. A kind of clockwork and social structure exists, one grounded in equanimity.
A welcoming vibe may be attributed in part to availability. The river flows 365 days a year, and when the flow is up, so is the wave. “The water keeps flowing, and the wave keeps coming,” said Austin Fernand, age 22 (first image on this post and shown above) and a two-time member of the U.S. River Surfing Team. He has surfed on rivers all over the world and said the consistency at Bend’s wave is part of what makes it unique. Compare that availability to the ocean, where scarcity creates anxiety, said Chun. There’s also no hierarchy in the lineup; a surfer’s position or the number of years a person has surfed at a local break don’t matter here. “Even if you got flushed down the river, you know your spot and just get back in line,” noted Smith. At the Green Wave, locals are friendly and check their egos before stepping onto an island where the line to take turns recognizes civility and order.
Poppy Smith
Aaron Smith knows a different experience, having surfed in Santa Cruz—a reef break known for its consistent waves and its localism—since he was 8 years old. At Steamer Lane, enforcers were known to keep the lineup in check, sometimes with a dose of grit. Living in Bend for more than 30 years, and an accomplished professional ski racer and cyclist, he questioned whether to introduce his 12-year-old daughter, Poppy, to surfing at the wave. That was six years ago, and the welcoming encouragement from the river surf community for his daughter contributed to Poppy’s love of surfing: “It’s different here,” Aaron said. Poppy calls him, “the ultimate Surf Dad.” Instead of enforcers, the Green Wave has teachers. It’s not uncommon to see Mr. Pipeline himself, Gerry Lopez, humbly lending a hand or offering tips to newcomers.
The minute you put on a wetsuit, you’re welcome as a surfer at a place engineered by wave shaper Ryan Richard, a river recreation specialist for Bend Park & Recreation District.
Gerry Lopez at the Green Wave
Engineered Stoke
Resembling Jason Momoa, Richard is a different kind of Aqua Man. He controls water levels at the Bend Whitewater Park’s three sections—a still-water habitat, the whitewater channel, and a fish ladder, referred to by some as the“kicks and giggles” lane for floaters. With the touch of a screen, Richard molds the surf waves of the whitewater channel remotely from an iPad, adjusting a series of 26 ramps and bladders positioned beneath the flowing water. At the top of the channel, Eddy’s Wave is the most complicated, with an interconnected structure below and frothy chaos above. Richard likens it to a “kayak rodeo hole,” with only skilled whitewater kayakers able to hold on for no more than a few seconds. Next down the channel, the Green Wave is named for the color of a foamless, consistent face of surfable water. At Jason’s Wave, below it, find kayakers, SUP riders or surfers who paddle in and pop up on a board. Each wave is technically a fish ladder, and surfers spending enough time on the water may see a fish swimming below them. But for Richard, his sights are on another species: the Oregon spotted frog, king of the river.
Dave Chun
Richard is charged with keeping the water levels upstream of the Colorado Bridge optimal for the frogs to breed and rear their young. Once the levels are adjusted for the frogs, calls come in from the surfers describing a wave that may need to change: it might be foamy, crumbly or “boney”—a reference to lower water levels exposing ramp structure, a bed of stones or a particular chicken head-shaped rocky hazard below. Conversely, if the flow is strong enough, Richards may get a call to “put in the rib”—a combination of ramp angles that creates a spine in the wave and simulates a bowl.
With spotted frogs on one side of the equation and up to 250,000 floaters during peak summer months on the other, numbers on the Green Wave island can inflate on a summer day, too, with up to 20 surfers lining up for their water time.
A Tragic Turn
Yet, despite its welcoming name and increasing popularity, the Bend Whitewater Park is not without risk. Although masterfully engineered, the wave channel is still within a dynamic and unpredictable river. On April 30, 2022, the power of the water claimed the life of a beloved member of the surfing community. Ben Murphy, 17 years old, passed away while surfing the wave in an event that deeply affected the immediate and extended surf family. Some would never return to the sport, others paused for an extended time in reverence. A memorial on the surf island invokes his spirit, honors him and is seen by every passerby. Murphy’s life and memory bind the community in ways far beyond recreation.
Island Life
Mary Ann Kruz, age 72, has surfed most of her life and is a regular at the wave.
Mary Ann Kruz
“The Green Wave community,” she said, “is one without barriers of economics, race, age or size.” This ethos carries over into the range of boards under the arm or feet of each rider. From bright pink foamies to custom-made river boards, any board is acceptable here. While traditional lengths are four to five feet, Allie Hofmann brings down her 7’6″ board—a length approaching the span of the wave itself. “At the basic level, it’s more about the rider than the board,” said Chun.
Allie Hofmann
Riders start young. The newly founded Central Oregon Surf Team Association (COSTA) high school league will host its first competition at the wave August 17. Called “Grom Con,” it features not only traditional heats, but one designated for riders on anything not classified as a board. “It’s about having fun,” said Chip Conrad, founder of COSTA, explaining how the competition will draw students from Boise and Chelan to face off against Central Oregon surfers.
“Whatever state you’re in, this is the elixir,” said Hofmann. “You can’t help but be soothed by the molecules coming off the water. It’s calming. You have socializing, physical exertion and endorphins—it’s a recipe for joy,” she said. At the Green Wave, there’s always someone there to lend a hand, let you know where your board pops up, and of course to whoop and holler at your success. That’s community. “Having a good day? Surf,” she said. “Having a bad day? Surf. It makes everything better.”
Biophilic Design Blends Artistry and Nature in This Home on the River
Right in the heart of Bend, where the city hums with concerts in the park, popular restaurants, bars and food trucks, and paddlers haul their watercraft out of the Deschutes River, sits a home that exudes serenity amid the buzz. Ken Krueger and Cherisse Pazan purchased the original 1930s-era home in 2018, drawn to its prime river setting.
“The location is about as good as it gets in Bend,” said Simon Doss, project manager for Copperline Homes. “The old house was beyond repair, and when we dug out the site, it had unbuildable, unstable soils.” The builder razed the house and excavated down five feet, filling it with gravel to prep the site for a new structure.
The contemporary home Krueger and Pazan built testifies to the couple’s respect for the environment while aligning with the city’s goal to minimize urban sprawl by fitting new homes into existing lots. They complied with deep setbacks from the river to protect the riparian zone and wildlife from stormwater runoff, and honored Bend’s development focus on building vertically by creating livable space with a second story.
“The site embraces the river,” Krueger said.
“Living on the river is magical, as is being in a neighborhood where we can walk to restaurants and enjoy music in the park.”
A HOME BATHED IN LIGHT
“Quiet street side, the entry sequence allows for a sense of discovery,” said lead architect Al Tozer of Tozer Design. Visitors move through the front door and narrow hallway entry to emerge in the great room with its floor-to-ceiling glass walls to the river. “It is fun to observe guests traveling through the home, front-to-back, as they become increasingly drawn forward by the panoramic river view beyond,” he explained. The open area, encompassing the kitchen, dining and living rooms, is bathed in natural light.
“In our work, we treat natural light as another building material,”
Tozer said. “Bringing light into the residence is vital for both the architectural design and the performance of the home through the seasons.” In this home, for example, south-facing windows along the staircase boost natural light throughout the winter.
Tozer employed another architectural tenet called biophilic design, which involves connecting building occupants more closely to nature. When the glass accordion doors separating the kitchen from the covered patio are moved aside, the distinction between inside and outside space vanishes.
“Biophilic design guides our work and provides our clients health dividends and a sense of well-being,” Tozer said. The homeowners particularly enjoy the “golden hour” on the patio at sunset when, as they explained, “the light makes the trees and water pretty stunning.”
The seamless connection to the outdoors is further enhanced by a glass-walled partition between the patio and the adjacent living room. Both spaces are warmed by fire: the patio features a firepit for cool evenings when light bounces off Mirror Pond, and the living room has a fireplace for cozy winter evenings.
The fireplace is clad in tile that mimics the color and movement of the river. “Each individual tile was put in place by hand to make that pattern,” said interior designer Lisa Rhee Rokosh of Brass Tacks: Interior Products Planning & Design. Homeowner Pazan elaborated, adding that “the concrete ‘floating’ hearth looks simple and effortless, but was masterfully created by Cement Elegance.”
The kitchen features an unusual element known as “the cloud,” named by the builder because it serves as a second ceiling above the island, replacing a typical hanging vent. Joshua Wilhite, principal and co-founder of Copperline Homes, explained how his clients suggested the idea based on something they’d seen, and the builders found a way to incorporate lighting and an internal venting system while preserving the view. “It added some interest to an otherwise flat ceiling,” he said.
The quartzite island beneath the cloud “is the center of everything,” according to homeowner Krueger, who said they purposely didn’t want a sink in it. “We don’t want to look at dirty dishes.” Instead, the island keeps a sleek profile with an induction stove.
Another standout feature in the kitchen is the cabinetry, made from a combination of white oak and black laminate Fenix–an Italian-designed material made from 60% paper and thermally modified resins, creating an opaque, soft-to-the-touch surface that resists fingerprints.
In the dining room, the homeowners personalized the space by displaying their collection of handmade Glassybaby votive candle holders, a shelf with varied Fiestaware pitchers and a vintage Eames fiberglass shell chair from Krueger’s parents’ home.
The powder room features a back-lit, moonlike mirror on wallpaper–an element designer Rokosh wasn’t sure the homeowners would like, yet it turned into an unexpected and beloved jewel of the home.
PRIVACY WITH A VIEW IN BEND
As residents ascend to the second floor, they enter private quarters customized for sleeping, reading, relaxing, solving puzzles and practicing yoga. The primary suite is over the living room, with the same impressive river views. “Sunrises are spectacular,” said Pazan. The bonus room is appointed with a beverage bar and refrigerator, TV, a hanging wicker chair and a balcony with outdoor furniture facing the river, inviting connection to the outdoors. On the street-facing side of the home is a private, contemplative deck with a hot tub, a rare feature on the second floor. “Due to the small lot and the clients’ desire to maximize space and privacy, the second level provided the best location for a hot tub,” said Wilhite, noting that they were able to engineer the structure to support the extra weight.
The riverside home seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, offering a sanctuary that enhances both physical and mental well-being. From observing wildlife, such as beavers, osprey, herons and eagles, to watching people enjoying the river, Krueger and Pazan say the river is the soul of their home.
Under a towering Douglas fir on the edge of Dark Lake, tucked into the hills west of Sisters, a trio of fifth graders stare intently into a tub of murky lake water. Using a turkey baster and an ice cube tray, they examine tiny critters in the mud. “Leech!” one kid proclaims, and the others nod. It’s macroinvertebrate day at Camp Tamarack’s Outdoor School, where Central Oregon students learn ecology through hands-in-the-dirt experiences.
Along with learning about science, students gain confidence in nature, unplug from technology and have a lot of fun during their three-day stay. Whether they come for Outdoor School or for a summer camp experience, campers absorb a good dose of the Camp Tamarack spirit, captured by the motto that owners Charlie and Michele Anderson infuse into every part of camp: “Live more, every day.”
A Central Oregon Legacy
Camp Tamarack began in 1935, when two Oregonian women, Donna Gill and Lucille Murphy, realized their dream of a horse camp for girls. They leased the forested land around Dark Lake, next to Suttle Lake north of Sisters, and built a camp that revolved around horses and water skills. In an era when few such opportunities existed, Camp Tamarack allowed girls to adventure fearlessly and thrive outdoors.
Since those early years, the camp has stayed true to its core mission: To cultivate passion for the outdoors and confidence to try new adventures. As the newest owners, the Andersons recognized how Camp Tamarack sits at the heart of Central Oregon culture. “So many in our community were campers here. Their experiences shaped who they are—they still feel connected,” said Michele.
In 2013, the Andersons were seeking a location to grow the outdoor camps they’d created to honor the memory of Charlie’s brother, whose silhouette can be seen in the mountains of the Camp Tamarack logo. Tyler Anderson, an outdoor enthusiast and climbing guide, passed away in 2010 while climbing in Peru. “We felt the best way to carry on Ty’s legacy would be to nurture that spark of wonder and love of nature in kids. We started with a few small groups, and it grew from there,” said Charlie.
On their first visit to Camp Tamarack, the Andersons found the place empty and in need of renovation. Charlie and Michele focused on the camp’s potential as the permanent home of Tyler Anderson Youth Camp. Today, camp songs fill the air, campers splash along the lakeshore, and the legacy of adventure and learning continues.
Building a Local Outdoor School and Camp
With Charlie’s background in education and Michele’s experience in accounting and real estate, the Andersons shaped their programming around two guiding ideas. First, to make local outdoor experiences accessible to all kids and second, to create an environment where kids feel safe being themselves, away from technology and immersed in the natural world.
“We want to nurture curiosity, give a taste of adventure and the freedom of the outdoors. Campers might arrive with some anxieties, but a day unplugged in nature and those worries fall away. This camp has always been a place where everyone can be their best selves, learning and trying new things, away from the pressures of society,” said Charlie.
This approach is working. Each spring and fall, more than 2,000 fifth-grade students from 38 schools come for three days of outdoor school—to explore the forest and bond around the campfire. In summer, more than 1,200 campers descend upon Tamarack, choosing camp names for the week, swimming and paddling the lake, making crafts and creating memories. Throughout the year, hundreds of high school students gain leadership and mentoring experiences as volunteers.
As the camp grows, inclusion remains a top priority. The Andersons work with local business partners and organizations, such as Bend Park & Recreation District and The Bend Foundation among others, for grants and scholarships to ensure that outdoor experiences don’t depend on income. “I’m so grateful for the support that’s helped us get here, and now we’re able to give back through Camp Tamarack. This place belongs to the community, and we want every kid to be part of it,” Michele said.
For the Andersons, getting all kids outside is the best way to live more, every day.
The artists at this gallery will update throughout the year as new artists come into rotation.
Summer 2024 Issue:
Dao Hai Phong
Celebrated by Vietnam’s contemporary art scene, Dao Hai Phong is known for his evocative portrayal of Hanoi’s village landscapes. Since 1993, his exhibitions have attracted audiences with vibrant compositions of serene, verdant scenes. Through deliberate layering and texturing, Phong’s effervescent colors depict the tranquil world of his childhood, preserving the cultural geography of his youth amidst modernization. He encourages viewers to explore their own emotional landscapes, establishing a connection between artist and audience that transcends time and culture.
Chas Martin
Hailing from Portland, Chas Martin is guided by probing questions: What if? What else? Why not? These philosophical wonderings guide and infuse his creations. Through sculptures, masks and paintings, Martin delves into the world of dreams and symbols, employing a petroglyph-inspired style to illuminate universal narratives and characters. With innovation as a central pursuit, he continually reinvents his craft, challenging conventions and embracing the mantra, “If you’re not creating problems to solve, you’re not being very creative.” This fusion of playfulness and profundity renders Martin’s body of work a captivating exploration of the liminal space between reality and imagination.
Nguyen Thanh Binh
Nguyen Thanh Binh, a popular contemporary Vietnamese artist, showcases his paintings on a global scale. Drawing inspiration from Japanese Haiku poetry, Binh’s work possesses the poetic simplicity that belies its profound depth. Through the strategic use of negative space, a subdued palette and minimalistic detail, he invites viewers to imbue the canvas with their own narratives and interpretations. Harmonizing Western mediums with Eastern sensibilities, Binh infuses each stroke of oil on canvas with a wealth of memories, emotions and passion.
The artists at this gallery will update throughout the year as new artists come into rotation.
Summer 2024 Issue:
Donald Yatomi
An oil painter from Kalispell, Montana, Donald Yatomi brings the vibrancy of modern urban life to his canvases. With more than 30 years of experience, Yatomi creates work that reflects his fascination with the juxtaposition of bustling cityscapes and moments of serene introspection. Influenced by artists such as Chuck Close and Willem de Kooning, he captures the complexities of urban existence where viewers can contemplate the interplay of human connection and isolation within the urban landscape.
Shar Coulson
Shar Coulson finds her muse in the contrasts and movements of nature, capturing the dynamic relationships between wind and water, flora and fauna. Each of her paintings delves into the contrasting emotions of vulnerability and strength, depicting the delicate balance between fragility and resilience. Through intricate patterns and earthy tones, she creates layers of color which celebrate the connection between humanity and nature. Coulson’s art is a testament to her profound connection to the natural world.
The artists at this gallery will update throughout the year as new artists come into rotation.
Summer 2024 Issue:
Dan Chen
Impressively merging Eastern and Western artistic traditions, Dan Chen’s work reflects his journey from China to the Pacific Northwest. Born in China, his artistic exploration began under his father’s tutelage and blossomed through mentorship with master artists, later culminating in prestigious state exhibitions. Based in Eugene, Chen’s passion for wildlife inspires his paintings and sculptures, each crafted with meticulous detail.
When guests enter interior designer Sarah Westhusing’s West Bend home, they instantly feel at ease and, at the same time, transported.
While the clean lines and natural materials of Northwest regional style are present inside and out, there are also touches of Copenhagen coziness and playful accents—an abstract painting by Australian artist Shannon Heath and a cheetah print umbrella with tassels—that evoke the breeziness of a beach bungalow in Australia’s Byron Bay.
Visitors may also notice the lack of clutter, abundant glass, warm glow of flickering candles and earthy scent of palo santo sticks. The special touches and spaces are as thoughtfully considered as a boutique hotel, and that is by design.
“I want to create a life and a space I don’t need a vacation from,” said Westhusing.
Creative Calling
The daughter of a meticulous craftsman and contractor, Westhusing grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where she learned the importance of good design early on. She embarked on a career in product creation and global merchandising, working for companies such as KEEN and Nike.
In 2016, she moved to Bend with her husband and young daughter, Milo, namesake of her company House of Milo. Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to launch her full-service interior design studio in 2019.
House of Milo works with clients, often creatives with a unique point of view, to create functional interiors inspired by nature and the art of living well.
Hotels as Inspiration
Westhusing’s own home showcases her aesthetic and experiences. The great room, which includes the living room, kitchen with a marble island and dining, functions as the home’s “lobby” with a 15-foot-tall vaulted wood ceiling, a combination of Douglas fir and hemlock, a 1960s-inspired sectional made in Belgium and a warm gray and taupe brick fireplace flanked by window seats. Items collected during Westhusing’s travels and sourced from other countries, such as intricately patterned Moroccan rugs and decorative Oaxacan clay bowls, add personality to the room and the rest of the house. Oversized windows in the living room and full-pane glass French doors off the dining area amplify the views and connect the space to the outdoors.
Hotels are an endless source of inspiration for Westhusing. “There’s such a strong narrative that goes from the hotel room to the lobby, to the bathroom to the gym, and the story is multisensory: you smell the scent as soon as you walk in; you can feel the sheepskin rugs under your feet. It’s an experience. It’s not just about the look,” said Westhusing.
She believes hotels are the ultimate hosts, making guests feel welcome from the moment they arrive. They offer conveniences not typically found but possible in residences, such as the ability to operate multiple lights without leaving the bed and discreetly placed charging stations. They also have a distinct story to tell. Knowing someone’s favorite hotel really says alot about them.
Never afraid to challenge conventional thinking, Westhusing says builders cautioned her not to create such large windows because the home wouldn’t be private enough. She believes privacy can be overrated–she wants neighbors to feel like they can stop by–and would always opt to maximize the warmth of natural south—and west-facing light.
“I would rather see the entire height of a tree,” said Westhusing. “I think there’s something wonderful about a floor-to-ceiling window that allows you to see nature in its full scale,” she added.
Personality Over Conformity
Westhusing’s husband, PJ Jasienski, grew up in Southern California, so nods to surf and skateboard culture are an important theme. Two skateboards from his collection hang on the wall in the dining area, an intriguing contrast in shape and style with the Noguchi paper lantern light. In addition to family photos and art, the hallway gallery wall includes a mounted balsa wood handplane used to ride waves. There’s also a skate ramp in the yard.
From the main living space, a white slatted barn-style door leads to the rest of the single-story home on a third of an acre, which includes 8-year-old daughter Milo’s bedroom with handpainted wallpaper, a music room that doubles as a guest bedroom with a built-in Murphy bed and the primary bedroom. Westhusing’s sanctuary has woven rattan pendant light fixtures, a Mid-Century Modern sideboard, a speckled ceramic chain art piece by Portland-based Space Design, and a king-size bed with soft bamboo sheets and a patchwork comforter.
Like a luxury hotel room, glass doors lead to an elevated patio with a braided leather swing from Australia, a rectangular metal firepit and hot tub, and a standalone cold plunge.
Westhusing became interested in spa culture and wellness during a visit to Norway. People spend an estimated 87% of their lives inside buildings, and she believes well-designed spaces provide psychological benefits and happiness.
“I love this quote from designer Ilse Crawford, ‘Design is a tool to enhance our humanity. It is a frame for life.’ Design really affects how we feel and behave,” said Westhusing.
Westhusing enjoys creating human-centered spaces that are unpretentious, welcoming, meaningful and fun, just as she has done in her own residence.
“Your home should tell a story of who you are and be a collection of what you love.”
Hear from Sarah Westhusing on The Circling Podcast with Adam Short. Listen at BendMagazine.com/podcast.
It’s called the high desert for a reason. In Central Oregon, an average year of precipitation is between 12 inches and 20 inches, the majority of it in snow. It’s dry, it’s cool at night, and frankly, it’s not a place that’s particularly suited to a lush, green lawn.
That’s why so many people are getting on the xeriscaping bandwagon. Xeriscaping is growing in popularity in the dry climates of the American West, and the City of Bend is part of the movement. Earlier this year, Bend landowners were offered a Turf and Removal Rebate, consisting of $3 per square foot up to $3,000 for projects that replaced lawns with water-conserving xeriscaping. About 60 percent–4.5 billion gallons—of Bend’s water goes to landscape irrigation, most of which is residential.
According to Dan Denning, the city’s water conservation program manager, the funds for the rebate program were allocated within three weeks. “With more frequency of extreme drought and the variability of how we’re getting our precipitation–like these summer deluges where we’re getting a few inches an hour–and in the growth we’re experiencing, we’re seeing a shift in how much water we use and when we’re receiving the water,” he said. “So for us, it’s a strategy for trying to keep up with population growth.” Whether incentivized by a city rebate, or with water conservation in mind, xeriscaping can be accomplished with simple steps.
Where to Start
Homeowners may not know where to start a xeriscaping project or worry that their new landscaping will be a big pile of rocks. One of the biggest misconceptions, Denning said, is the idea that Bend will end up looking like a rockscape. He said plant material and mulch is vital to a good-looking xeriscape project. The lushness created by selecting the correct plants also has a cooling effect. A landscape of many rocks actually radiates heat, and the plants will require more water, he explained.
It doesn’t have to be all sagebrush, either. There are plenty of pretty, green native plants that bloom.
Denning understands the temptation of a lawn. “We continue to put grass down because it’s cheap, and it’s what we know,” he said. “We know how to mow a lawn and what it should look like. Xeriscaping is uncharted territory for some people.”
A Seven-Step Process
Xeriscaping is a seven-step process that starts with designing and planning out the space; ensuring efficient irrigation; analyzing the soil and making necessary improvements; picking out the right plants; selecting practical turf areas; using mulch; and then maintaining the space appropriately.
Xeriscaping just a small area of your yard can make a difference. Pick an underused area or a spot where your lawn is already looking a little shabby. Then, consider potential areas for use, maintenance goals and how much sun the area gets each day: does water already flow to that area of the yard? How will you irrigate it? Consider irrigation controllers that use sensors and adjust the amount of water used depending on the weather. Ensure your soil is healthy and rich in nutrients. Then it’s time for the fun stuff–deciding how much turf to keep and picking out the right plants for the new xeriscaped space.
Plants in the Xeriscape
The Oregon State University Extension Service offers an excellent guide to selecting plants for xeriscaping. Its recommendations include grouping plants that require similar amounts of water and sunlight together, and incorporating plants that provide different functions to create a diverse landscape. From ornamental chokecherry trees to fescues and phlox, there are plenty of plants that require little water but make a big impression. Bonus: The more diverse the plants in your landscape, the more varied the animals and insects attracted to them, making the environment even healthier.
And don’t forget the mulch. It prevents water from evaporating, counters erosion and cools the soil. An added bonus? Mulch will also cut down on your weeding time.
Start small. “You can do more than you think,” Denning said. Whatever you do will make a difference. Need more ideas on how to conserve water while creating a beautiful landscape? See waterwisetips.org.
Window treatments serve many purposes, from providing privacy and enhancing style to improving energy efficiencies and controlling the amount of light entering a room. Given their significance and potential investment, they shouldn’t be overlooked during home construction or renovation. After all, residents will likely live with them for a long time.
“The best time to consider window treatments is during the design phase of the home,” said Carrie Steele, lead design consultant and motorization expert at Classic Window Coverings and Shade on Demand in Bend. “Clients who have the highest level of satisfaction at the conclusion of their project are the ones we started working within the design stage, in partnership with the architect and designer.”
DESIGN FOR THE REGION
Big picture items that need to be considered when choosing how to enhance windows are: how much privacy or light is needed in a room; what window treatments would complement the overall style and decor of the home; how well window coverings block heat in summer and reduce heat loss in winter for comfort and energy efficiencies; ease of maintenance and care; and finally the price, which can vary widely depending on style.
For most homeowners, aesthetics are the main driver in determining the type of window treatment. “From an aesthetics perspective, natural tones and fibers remain popular in Central Oregon,” Steele said. “Homeowners tend to lean toward neutral tones which complement the natural views.”
Window treatments serve other purposes as well. Homeowners often have to balance the desire to take advantage of Central Oregon’s natural beauty with the unavoidable impacts of the high desert sun. For west-facing windows, it’s best to choose window treatments that can effectively control light and heat, while also helping to prevent the fading of furniture, wood, rugs and artwork.
INNOVATIVE PROTECTION
For the greatest energy efficiency, Steele suggests starting on the outside of the home to prevent the sun from penetrating windows.
Exterior roller screen shades are an effective solution. Mounted on the outside, they roll up and down on tracks, and are motorized to conveniently operate from inside the home. Fabrics have varying levels of “openness” or weave density, which directly impacts the shade’s opacity, affecting both outward visibility and the amount of sunlight permitted through. Steele says a density of 97% is popular in the high desert to retain clear visibility outside while also keeping a home significantly cooler and protecting belongings.
Retractable awnings are another good choice when seeking to block direct sunlight. When not in use, these awnings have minimal exterior visibility while offering the option to allow sun in when occupants wish. Adding tinted window film is another possibility.
SMART AND SAVVY
Inside a home, honeycomb cellular shades remain a top contender for the best protection against heat and insulation when it’s cold. They’ve come a long way since their introduction, and manufacturers now offer a wide selection of fabrics and textures. Honeycomb shades provide enough energy efficiency to qualify for federal tax energy credits as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2023. Applicants may qualify for a $1,200 tax credit annually for up to 10 years on certain products.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is active in keeping window coverings safe, especially for small children and pets, and manufacturers are starting to eliminate cords on many designs. However, there is a limit to how large a manually operated blind can be. According to Steele, this is one reason why more motorized options are hitting the market and gaining in popularity.
Window coverings are getting smarter, too. A wide variety of window treatments integrate with a third-party vendor, such as Alexa, to operate by voice command similar to the way a thermostat is adjusted. Additionally, manufacturers are developing their own apps to facilitate operating blinds when you’re away. This option provides increased home security by giving the appearance of someone raising and lowering shades from within the home.
LED lighting embedded within window shades is another advance in window coverings, Steele noted. “This backlighting can set the mood and illuminate a room.”
Window coverings are the ultimate combination of form and function. Ideally, the best window treatments marry beauty, energy efficiency, tailored functionality and cost-effectiveness. With today’s array of options, the possibilities are nearly endless.
The artists at this gallery will update throughout the year as new artists come into rotation.
Summer 2024 Issue:
Kelley Vernon
Kelley Vernon offers a poignant exploration of personal growth and resilience through her series, “The Snag.” As a recent college graduate at age 55, Vernon found herself ensnared in feelings of stagnation and irrelevance, echoing the weathered yet enduring presence of a snag tree she’d encounter on her regular walks. Through her paintings, Vernon navigates the evolving seasons of both nature and self, finding parallels, solace and companionship in the steadfastness of “The Snag.”
Don’t be fooled by National Solar’s name. It may have “national” in the title, but the company is based in Bend and has served the Oregon market for more than 15 years, making it one of the oldest and largest solar contractors in Oregon. The company has 20-plus local employees in NorthWest Crossing, and people may have seen its vehicles around town or its sponsorship recognized on the Mt.Bachelor Sports Education Foundation vans or as a key sponsor for several years of the Bend Marathon.
National Solar was founded in 2009 by Janelle and Justin Lancaster. Shortly after starting the company, the Lancasters brought John Harley into the ownership structure to build out its installation teams; he’s also involved in training future Licensed Renewable Technicians for the industry. National Solar’s own electricians and installation specialists have been on the roofs of more than 3,000 Oregon homes and businesses. The company focuses on high-quality solar panels, back-up generators and solar battery storage, creating custom clean energy solutions that work specifically for any building, not a one-size-fits-all approach. To help meet back-up power demand, National Solar partnered with Generac, a manufacturer of generators, now located in Bend.
Janelle Lancaster took time out of her busy schedule–complete with an April run in the Boston Marathon–to chat with Bend Home + Design.
Business Q&A
How did you get into the solar business?
In 2009, at the end of the recession, we had an exterior remodeling company and decided we didn’t want to continue in that realm anymore. We wanted to do something with a little more meaning, and something a little more exciting–something people wanted versus something people had to have. We’d been thinking about solar for a while and decided to give it a shot. Solar was just picking up here in Oregon, and it seemed like a great time to hop in. We knew a lot about construction and had the basic building blocks and team members.
We’ve surrounded ourselves with great employees who have helped us from a start-up to one of the largest solar installation companies in Oregon; our success and longevity are because of our employees. We’re a full-service company that stands behind our community. It’s been a fulfilling ride that I wake up to every day, proud to be part of an industry that is changing how we get power to our homes.
Why is Bend prime for solar?
We get a lot of sun here year-round and that makes the financial side of going solar very attractive. State of Oregon incentives and the 30% federal tax credit sweeten the deal, shortening the payback period. In addition to our sun, most people living in Bend are here because of the outdoor lifestyle. Solar and protection of this beautiful place go hand in hand. People here want to do something to protect that.
What’s the most common misconception you hear when talking with a potential client?
The most common misconception is that you’ll never pay it off; that it will never pencil out. That’s just not the case these days. Federal tax credits and state incentives make the payback pretty quick. With utilities raising rates by double digits, it just makes more sense to get a system to hedge yourself against the rising cost of power.
What makes a rooftop suitable for solar panels, and if it’s not ideal because of nearby trees or angles, are there other options?
Ideally, a south-facing roof is the most desirable placement. But here in Bend, we have many low-slope roofs that make solar possible from different angles. Installation of ground-mount systems is another option if someone has sufficient space on their property.
What’s the current state and availability of battery storage to power our homes at night, during weather events such as heavy snow and to feed solar energy back to the electrical grid?
As a partner with Generac, we offer a wide array of reliable back-up systems that have become more cost-effective and user-friendly in recent years. The Oregon Department of Energy and Energy Trust of Oregon also offer battery system incentives to help offset the cost, as well as the 30% federal tax credit. Battery and grid tie combinations are a feasible investment.
How feasible is it in Central Oregon to have enough solar arrays and generating options to be 100% off the grid?
The feasibility is not quite there yet, given the current cost of power, coupled with the cost of a large system, and the amount of energy needed to be produced daily year-round in most homes here in Central Oregon.
What makes National Solar different from other solar companies?
National Solar has been in business for more than 15 years. Today you see a lot of start-up companies from out of state coming into our communities, knocking on doors and offering complicated financing solutions and overpriced solar. It’s just not in a homeowner’s best financial interest. We are here as part of the community. Everyone on our team lives here, plays here and educates kids here. We’re here for the duration–it’s not a one-year gig for us. We’re invested in our employees, paying living wages and being a big part of their lives. What makes my job fun is doing the best I can for our employees and team.
Whether seen through an artist’s or angler’s eyes, Bill Amerongen’s one-of-a-kind fishing rods are breathtaking. Mesmerizing colors form intricate bands and diamonds around the aptly named rod “blank” from foregrip to tip, weaving a spell of beauty, anticipation and—over time—memory and appreciation. Intricately conceived, these beauties are not meant to hang above the mantelpiece. With half a century of fishing expertise under his belt, Amerongen creates rods engineered to ensure the big one doesn’t get away. “They are designed and built to be fished hard,” Amerongen said. He has shipped them to anglers around the world, even as far as to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Wrapped thread on the foregrip is the site of the most flash and personalization. Farther up the rod, colorful threads secure guides through which the line flows. Amerongen’s artistry was inspired by the work of the late Steve Paterson, a custom rod maker from Grants Pass, Oregon. “I knew I just had to learn how to do this,” he said. Paterson began teaching him how to create patterns, some of which may involve as many as 250 different threads. Amerongen taught himself the rest.
Everything about his rods is custom-designed through an in-depth interview. He asks questions to determine: Where and how does the client like to fish? What length of rod, in how many sections? What kind of reel? How should the grips feel and work? Amerongen works closely with each client to select the proper rod blank, which is itself an alchemy of strength, sensitivity, power, flexibility and speed. Then comes the choice of hand grip, whether carbon fiber or cork imported from Portugal. Next, the client selects the reel seat, a functional little sculpture of metal, figured woods and tough composites. Finally, thread samples are mailed to the client for precise hue selection. Barney Page owns six of Amerongen’s rods and is awaiting the arrival of a seventh for catching large rainbow trout in Alaska. “These are pieces of art,” said Page, “but number one to me is their performance.”
Amerongen made his first custom rod at age 14, but wasn’t always a full-time craftsman: He worked as a stockbroker, stay-at-home dad and his son’s baseball coach before transforming his rod-building hobby into a business about a dozen years ago. Each rod takes up to 80 hours to complete, so there is time to savor the creative process. Amerongen makes about 20 rods a year, they are often ordered to celebrate life’s milestones such as birthdays and retirements, and most owners hope to pass them on to the next generation.
While Amerongen creates salmon and steelhead rods, as well as fly, spey and traveling rods—saltwater rods are where the magic of custom rods first appeared for him. As a child, he’d fish with his father off the coast of Southern California and remembers the first custom rod he ever saw. During those early fishing days, he learned that “highliner” is a term to describe the most committed, experienced and respected commercial and recreational fisherman in the world. Amerongen’s work is a reflection of the highliner spirit. See highlinercustomrods.com.
Formula for Wellness: Manuka Mana’s Superfoods Blend Nature and Heart
A Conversation with Adam Short
In a pivotal life moment, Courtney Rebel and Josiah Alexander turned a brain injury into a life mission, one that led to the creation of their Bend-based startup Manuka Mana. A company dedicated to sharing the healing power of nature with the community, Manuka Mana produces functional supplements with two core power ingredients: Manuka honey from New Zealand and wild-harvested mushrooms grown in the Pacific Northwest. With an innovative approach to extraction, Manuka Mana’s elixirs, tinctures and honey offer healing properties based on tradition. Bend Magazine’s Adam Short spoke with Courtney about the origins of the family-owned business and how it captures the meaning of the Maori word mana—the energy that flows from the earth and is passed on from one to another. Here, read an abridged version of their conversation.
What fueled the creation of Manuka Mana?
Josiah suffered a mini-stroke caused by a few concussions he’d had when he was younger. We left his doctor’s appointment thinking, we have a two-month-old, Josiah is only 32, we cannot take their prognosis for an answer. He was a chef at the time, and I was working in the wellness industry. We decided to find something you can take every day that will help heal the brain, leading to a personal journey of discovery, reading as much as we could about the brain. We were particularly impressed with the research behind lion’s mane mushrooms.
Mushrooms seem to be at the forefront of wellness these days. Tell us about the benefits of lion’s mane and others in your products?
The National Institutes of Health alone has more than 1,000 published studies on the power of lion’s mane to regrow neurons and strengthen what is called the myelin sheath, the protective layer around the nerve cells. When you hit your head or even your tailbone, it can cause degradation of the myelin sheath. If not repaired, the damage can cause misfiring of the neurons. So, if you want brain power, lion’s mane is for you. If you need energy, go for cordyceps. And turkey tail, research has shown, helps people increase natural killer cells, even reducing side effects from chemotherapy and radiation. Reishi is a powerful anti-inflammatory which promotes healing, and chaga is packed with antioxidants which build your immune system.
That’s impressive. Can you share what makes Manuka honey different from other forms of honey?
Manuka honey has amazing healing components. Everyone in New Zealand has it in their medicine cabinets and uses it for everything, from eating straight off the spoon to putting it on a cut. It’s really good for healing the skin and wounds. In every hospital in New Zealand and Australia, Manuka honey is on all the Band-Aids. It has a factor called methylglyoxal (MGO), a similar compound to what’s found in hydrogen peroxide, making it a natural antibacterial, antifungal and giving it a digestive component since it kills bad bacteria in your gut. It is the world’s most powerful honey. Manuka is also an extremely clean honey. The New Zealand government carries out rigorous testing to protect the name and ensure it it is free of pesticides, herbicides, mold and heavy metals.
What is one of your favorite products?
The Reishi Defend tonic is an awesome one. It has a base of apple cider vinegar and Manuka honey blended with reishi mushroom, elderberry, propolis and a little bit of vanilla. Families love it because you can make mocktails–and kids love it! They’re getting a little treat, but also an amazing daily dose of immunity building. You can also pour it over warm water for tea or drink it straight as a little sipping shot to boost your immune system. Cycle it into your daily routine, and it’ll bring you joy.
Can you explain the mission behind Manuka Mana?
Josiah, who was born and raised in New Zealand, is our alchemist. He’s the kind of person who researches extraction late into the night and is always working on product development. We use ultrasound (soundwave) technology for our mushroom extracts to make them highly bioavailable, allowing people to actually feel the effects. Our mission is for people to know our products bring value to their lives, so we make sure they’re as potent as possible. Using Manuka honey, mushrooms and other healing ingredients from the earth, we formulate them into something life-enhancing and then pass them along. We harness the mana within the ingredients and share them with the community.
The Three Sisters Wilderness is a spectacular region of shimmering alpine lakes, old-growth forests and wildflower meadows, including a family of glacier-clad peaks: the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor (formerly, called Brother Jon). It is no wonder the wilderness trails are busy in summer.
In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service initiated a permit system to deal with overuse on the most popular Central Oregon trails. Obtaining an online permit to some of the region’s well-known destinations can be a challenge, especially for a spontaneous hike. So here are three options that don’t require advanced reservations. No planning required, just show up and go!
Matthieu Lake Trail | Photo Adam Mckibben
Scott’s Pass Trail
Named for cattleman Felix Scott who built a trail over the Cascades in 1862 to drive cattle from the Willamette Valley toward eastern Oregon, the Scott’s Pass trail climbs through coniferous forests to the namesake pass and connects to the Pacific Crest Trail near South Matthieu Lake, named for Oregon pioneer Francis Xavier Matthieu. Great views of North Sister await from the shoreline.
Trail detail: 6.8 mile out-and-back, 650 feet elevation gain | Scott’s Pass Trailhead: 14.5 miles west of Sisters off Highway 242
Matthieu Lake | Photo Christian Murillo
Six Lakes Trail
This trailhead provides access to far more than six lakes—it eventually connects to the Mink Lake Basin, home to numerous bodies of water. Nearly a mile from the parking area, the trail passes by Blow Lake, a deep glacially carved lake, visible through the woods. Another mile beyond Blow Lake, the trail passes by Doris Lake, also visible through the trees. On Doris Lake’s eastern shore, at the “day-use only, no camping” area, there is a swimming spot to take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day.
Blow Lake | Photo Richard Bacon
The trail past Doris Lake gradually climbs through old-growth hemlocks to a junction. Turn right and the trail leads toward Mink Lake and numerous other lakes. Continue straight and head for Senoj Lake (Jones spelled backwards), a shallow lake within a large meadow. It’s too shallow for a swim, but the muddy shoreline is often rich with signs of deer, elk and other Cascade critters.
Trail details: To Senoj Lake, 7.8 miles out-and-back, elevation gain 660 feet | Trailhead: Six Lakes Trailhead is two miles south of Elk Lake Resort on Century Drive.
Horse Lake Trail
From the Elk Lake Trailhead, just across Century Drive from Elk Lake Resort, this trail leads through lodgepole pine and old-growth mountain hemlock forests, crosses the Pacific Crest Trail, before almost reaching Horse Lake. The main trail does not lead to the lake, rather a “fisherman’s trail” skirts along the western edge of the shore. About halfway around, a prow of basalt juts out into the water making a fine lunch spot to share with the uber-cute golden-mantled ground squirrels.
On the return trip to the trailhead, watch for unmarked signs leading to two other lakes, Colt and Sunset. A detailed map is handy for navigating this trail.
Trail details: 8.9 mile loop, 600 feet elevation gain | Elk Lake Trailhead: 33 miles west of Bend, just across Century Drive from the Elk Lake Resort
Park Meadow Trail | Photo Christian Murillo
Central Cascade Wilderness Permits
Between June 15 and October 15, Wilderness permits are required for overnight and day use, however, no reservations are needed in advance. Permits, such as the Northwest Forest Pass or one of the Interagency Passes, are required for parking.
Ten of 44 trailheads in the Three Sisters Wilderness require an advanced reservation, with a nominal fee, through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 (TDD 877-833-6777), starting June 5. All other trailheads have free, self-issue wilderness permits at their register boxes.
The artists at this gallery will update throughout the year as new artists come into rotation.
Summer 2024 Issue:
Katherine Taylor
A classically trained artist, Katherine Taylor captures enigmatic parts of her subjects, exploring the unseen layers beneath their surface. Focusing on unraveling the mysteries inherent in people, animals, landscapes and even mundane objects such as a bowl of fruit, Taylor breaks away from the confines of realism to explore deeper meanings. Inspired by the insight of record producer Rick Rubin, who suggests artists reveal what they know but cannot see, Taylor’s collection is her attempt to paint the intangible.
Time of Year: Fall | Design Theme: Colorful & playful | Number of Guests: 115 | Wedding Party: 5
With family and friends traveling from all over the country, Laura and Eric wanted a venue where everyone could be together in one place for the entire wedding weekend. “We wanted to share the best of what Oregon had to offer for locals and traveling guests—tall trees, mountain lakes, and great food,” Eric said. Suttle Lodge holds a special place in the couple’s memory, with its relaxed, cozy vibe, delicious food and beautiful setting. “Between the food, the variety of different lodging, and a lake to cold plunge in on the wedding morning, the decision made itself,” Eric explained. “Even better, we get to look forward to future trips there and remember all the fun we had!”
Creating the Magic
As the exclusive wedding planner for Suttle Lodge in 2023, Events by Mint worked with Laura and Eric to make their wedding vision a reality. The floral arrangements were designed by Eliza Eaton, owner of Roots Wild Floral, a recommendation from their planner, and “they made our day shine,” Laura shared. “We’re total flower nerds, so getting to geek out with Eliza about flowers was a part of the planning process we really loved.” Katy Weaver recorded the festivities with masterful photography. “She captures micro-moments that happen in a flash but carry so much meaning,” Eric shared. DJ Cooky Parker brought the fun to the dance floor and VK Designs crafted their customized rings.
Laura drew illustrations of native wildflowers and Suttle Lodge buildings and incorporated them into all the printed materials. Taking their request for a disco ball to the next level, their planners “arranged a chandelier of different disco balls of varied sizes over the dance floor,” Eric said. In lieu of a wedding cake, the couple opted for donuts from Sisters Bakery to honor a nostalgic moment from when they first met. The whimsical alternative was a hit amongst their guests. To add to the festive flair, the couple hired the Bend VW Photo Bus. “Our guests loved it, there were so many fun props, and the photo strips we have are hilarious,” Laura shared. Ruth Furtado of Ruthless Beauty was selected for makeup and hair. “I’m so thankful to Ruth for making me feel glammed up, but at ease and totally myself,” Laura said.
Reflecting on their planning process, Laura shared how easy it was to get caught up in the overwhelm of all the details. “When we lost sight of the big picture, we reminded ourselves why we chose to have the wedding we were planning.” A lens into what she learned in the process, Laura offered words of wisdom, “Know yourselves, figure out what is most important to you both and ditch the rest. What you’ll remember the most is how it felt that day with your important people as witness.”
Highlight Moment
“We had a suitcase of wigs, costume pieces, and light-up jackets and gizmos
on the dance floor which was a blast. Seeing our parents and family dancing in wigs and light-up jackets was hilarious, and [photographer] Katy got some great shots to capture the memories,” Laura shared.
The Guest Experience
Guests gathered from Ohio, the East Coast and Portland to celebrate Laura and Eric’s special day. “Central Oregon has so much to offer,” Laura said. “Some of our guests went into Sisters, stayed and played at Black Butte, went for short hikes in the area and paddled on Suttle Lake. Others made the pilgrimage to the last Blockbuster in Bend and a bunch added trips to Smith Rock, Crater Lake, Portland or the Oregon Coast before or after the wedding as well.” With Suttle Lodge as the setting for all of the wedding festivities, Laura and Eric achieved their goal of maximizing time with their guests while being able to relax and be present to appreciate every special moment.
Laura and Eric’s Wedding Team
Venue: Suttle Lodge & Boathouse| Photographer: Katy Weaver | Planner:Events by Mint | Hair + Makeup:Ruthless Beauty | Florals: Roots Wild Floral | Rentals:Heirlooms & Co. + O’Brien Events + Elevation Tents and Events | Lighting:Illuminate Your Night | Dessert:Sisters Bakery | DJ: Cooky Parker, House of Cards Music | Graphic Designer:Studio Maura Lark | Fabric Backdrop: Jennifer W. Mark
Time of Year: Spring | Design Theme: Timeless & scenic | Number of Guests: 150 | Wedding Party: 6
With family in San Francisco and on the East Coast, Andrew and Jake wanted to find a location away from their Bay Area home and new to both sides of their families. “We fell in love with the relaxed vibe and natural beauty of Bend and Central Oregon,” they explained. On their visit, they hiked through Smith Rock State Park and were blown away by the scenery.
After consulting with a few wedding planners in Central Oregon, they knew Emily Gylling with Ponderosa Planning was the right fit for them. “Emily understood our vision for our wedding and immediately showed us that she was well organized and capable of executing our perfect day,” the couple shared. In fact, Gylling recommended the wedding venue at Ranch at the Canyons due to its stunning backdrop of Smith Rock. “We knew it was the only choice,” they said.
Creating the Magic
Being from out of state, Andrew and Jake relied on their wedding planner to help them curate the team of local vendors. “Ponderosa Planning provided us with recommendations and options,” the couple explained. “We took the time to evaluate each of them to see how they would line up with our wants and needs.”
Andrew and Jake’s vendor team added special touches to highlight the couple’s personality and capture the playful and “not too overly formal” vision they had for their wedding. Offering whimsy and fun for their guests, the Bend VW Photo Bus and Dippin’ Dots Truck enhanced the festive vibe of the celebration. A violinist from San Francisco named Kippy Marks was a big hit, playing violin versions of pop songs during the cocktail hour. “Our guests loved him!” the couple exclaimed.
Highlight Moments
“We knew an outdoor wedding could be risky, but right before dinner, we experienced that classic high-desert thunderstorm. We all ran into the stables for shelter and then we headed back under the tent for dinner as it rained around us. Our DJ played every rain-themed song you can imagine…Alanis Morisette, ‘It’s Raining Men,’ you name it. After the storm passed, we were left with the most amazing sunset and perfect golden-hour lighting for our first dance and mother-son dances. We moved to the grass near the pond since the dance floor was still wet. It was a truly beautiful and special moment we all shared together. The dance lessons we took really paid off!” said Andrew and Jake.
The Guest Experience
Family and friends from around the world traveled to the high desert to attend Andrew and Jake’s wedding weekend. “They all trekked their way to Central Oregon to celebrate with us,” the couple said, explaining how most of their guests had never been to the region before. The festivities took place in Bend and Terrebonne, with a rehearsal dinner at 900 Wall in downtown Bend on Friday evening, followed by welcome drinks and desserts at McMenamins Old St. Francis School Hotel. The wedding and reception took place at Ranch of the Canyons in Terrebonne the following evening, and a parent’s breakfast at the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend was the culmination of the festivities. “Central Oregon is a special place,” Andrew and Jake said, “It’s filled with amazing nature, plus great people and plenty of stuff to do. We’re sure a lot of our guests will be back someday.”
Andrew and Jake’s Wedding Team
Venue:Ranch at the Canyons | Photography:Victoria Carlson | Planning + Coordination:Ponderosa Planning | Florals:Posie Shoppe |Hair + Makeup:Central Oregon Bridal Beauty | Grooms’ Attire:Klein Epstein Parker |Rentals: O’Brien Events and Curated Event Rentals | Videography:Captivate Films |DJ:Flip Flop Sounds |Catering:Bleu Bite Catering | Cake:Market of Choice | Violin:Kippy Marks | Photo Booth:Bend VW Photo Bus
Time of Year:Summer | Design Theme: Natural & intimate | Number of Guests:75
Anna and Damian wanted to celebrate their wedding in the town they’ve chosen to live in, surrounded by their community of friends. Central Oregon’s weather factored into their decision as well. “My family is all on the east coast,” Anna explained, “but with 300 days of sunshine a year in Bend, it seemed silly to take the risk on weather in Vermont.”
After exploring options around Central Oregon, Anna and Damian found their perfect venue at the Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve. “I liked that the lodge at Pronghorn was brand new and beautifully designed and how they had multiple outside locations offerings,” shared Anna, who wanted her rehearsal, ceremony and reception to be in outdoor spaces that still felt private and secluded. Additionally, with the majority of their family traveling from out of town, choosing the resort community ensured that everyone who wanted to spend the night before or after their wedding could be easily accommodated.
Creating the Magic
Anna and Damian carefully assembled a collection of vendors to make their vision come to life. As Anna reflected, “The Pronghorn Club made much of this easy—they provided plates, tables, chairs, linens, silverware, and all the food and beverages.” The venue’s commitment to her vision extended to creating a special treat for guests. “I wanted frosé at our wedding, and they had just invested in a slushy machine, so they made it happen!”
Anna incorporated cherished childhood memories into the celebration. “I grew up eating Charlotte Cakes every year for my birthday,” she shared. Pronghorn’s pastry chef, Joanna Latham helped personalize the planning process by baking the traditional French dessert of ladyfingers and berries for Anna’s birthday three months before the wedding. A small Charlotte Cake was also prepared for the couple to take home on their wedding day. Anna’s family roots played a role in the festivities, “Growing up in Vermont, apple cider donuts are an iconic treat. Joanna made those for us, too. She was amazing!” Anna said. Anna and Damian utilized the shop at their company Mountain Modern Airstream to craft a bar, corn hole boards and a welcome sign. The collection of nostalgic details added extra charm to their celebration.
When it came to capturing the magic of the day, Anna meticulously selected her videographer, landing on Chris Mai from Goodco Studios whose work she’d seen before. “He was wonderful,” shared Anna. “His storytelling through his work is amazing.” Anna and Damian also reached out to their community to bring their special day to fruition. “The rest of the vendors were actually all friends,” explained Anna. The result was a beautifully orchestrated and personalized event.
Highlight Moment
“At the end of the rehearsal, we directed everyone to leave to one side of the lodge and head towards the parking lot where I surprised Damian with his dream car, a 1973 Fiat 500!” Anna shared.
The Guest Experience
The weather for their wedding was lovely, sunny with mild temperatures — the classic Central Oregon day. With most of their extended family visiting Central Oregon for the first time, Anna and Damian recalled how the high desert sunshine and scenery created the perfect introduction to the region for their guests. “The ghost trees at Pronghorn were something that caught everyone’s eyes,” said Anna.
Anna and Damien’s Wedding Team
Venue + Catering + Dessert: Pronghorn Club at Juniper Preserve| Photographer: Allison Harp | Florals:Jessica Laue | Makeup: Sasha Borax + Bri Berliner | Dress: Sarah Seven | Suit:Marios of Portland | Jewelry: Rackk & Ruin | Rentals: Curated Event Rentals | Videographer: Chris Mai, Goodco Studios | DJ: Jason Chung
For Riley Nonella, age 6, riding horses is as natural as breathing. She’s been riding as long as she can remember. Nonella spends days on her family’s ranch in Redmond, playing with baby goats, riding with little sister Reagan, age 4, and honing her roping skills. Best of all, she says, is time on her quarterhorse, Polly, practicing for the next rodeo.
Riley, Rodger and Reagan Nonella
Riley is already a top contender at PeeWee rodeos across Central Oregon, where contestants are ages 3 to 14. She’s among the youngest riders invited to the recent Crooked River Roundup’s Young Guns competition. On the Nonella Ranch, rodeo is a family legacy—Riley’s father, Roger, entered the professional rodeo world in 2007 and has won steer and tie-down roping championships on the Columbia River circuit and beyond. These days Nonella chooses rodeos closer to home, where he feels the heart of rodeo beats strongest. “Rodeo isn’t a hobby,” he said. ”It’s a way of life grounded in caring for livestock. Rodeo keeps the ranching community connected.”
The Rodeo Community
Ask any cowboy or cowgirl what they love most about rodeo and odds are good it won’t be the adrenaline or the prize money. It’s the people. Rodeo folks are like family; they stay connected through generations.
“The competition can be fierce, but we’re each other’s biggest fans,” said Sadie Bateman, 2023 Rodeo Queen for the Sisters Rodeo. Bateman knows rodeo spirit firsthand. A competitor since childhood, she won the 2019 state championship in breakaway roping. This year, she’s experiencing different thrills. “My favorite moment as queen is opening the rodeo. Galloping into the arena with the national anthem playing, carrying the flag—it’s such an honor,” she said.
Sadie Bateman, 2023 Rodeo Queen for the Sisters Rodeo, enters the arena.
Bateman’s primary role is to spark enthusiasm for rodeo among visitors and locals because it takes the whole village to make a rodeo happen. From livestock contractors to announcers to judges, hundreds of unsung heroes work behind the scenes.
Some of the riskiest work happens in the arena, alongside the action. When the bareback riding events begin, professional bullfighters, such as Logan Blasdell of Prineville, step in to keep the cowboys safe. Once the rider is off the horse or bull, Blasdell goes face-to-face with the animal to guide it away. Unlike rodeo clowns who entertain the crowd, bullfighters focus on protecting the cowboy.
“My job is a blast, but there’s a downside, too. I’ve had stitches, staples and broken bones, and the season is just getting started,” said Blasdell. Usually, he explained, the animals quiet down quickly after rides. “They’re not angry or mistreated,” he said. “Bucking is what they do by instinct. For me, keeping the cowboys safe is the best reward.”
A bullfighter, Logan Blasdell’s job is to guide bulls out of the arena and to keep riders safe.
The Next Generation of Rodeo
Adriene Steffen, age 17, will begin her college rodeo journey this fall after a stellar run in the high school circuit. She grew up on the Steffens’ ranch in Sisters, where she and her siblings were the family’s first generation of rodeo riders. Coming up through PeeWee rodeo, she participated in every event. Eventually, Steffen narrowed her focus to breakaway roping–a longstanding women’s rodeo event finally accepted into sanctioned professional rodeos in 2019.
“Adding breakaway roping as a pro event made a huge difference. It means more scholarships, more prize money [on the professional circuit]. Now women have a chance to make a living with their roping skills, just like men,” she said. “Rodeo is hard work every single day, but it’s taught me confidence, responsibility and especially how to start fresh after things don’t go the way I planned.”
A bullfighter, Logan Blasdell’s job is to guide bulls out of the arena and to keep riders safe.
For Wyatt Wood of Prineville, the love of rodeo, “started with mutton busting when I was a kid.” From sheep, he moved up to riding calves, steer and ponies. “I loved the challenge of staying on. Couldn’t get enough of it,” he said.
Outside the arena, he excelled in many sports—and credits wrestling for teaching him to never give up—but bareback bronc riding became his passion. Now 19, he competes on both the college and professional circuits.
A bronc rider’s mission is to stay on for eight seconds. Wood’s rodeo routine starts with a check of his glove and rigging, the only point of attachment with the bronc. Then he tapes his arm to protect the muscles. “Now my motor’s running a thousand miles an hour, but time slows down during the ride. Win or lose, I always learn how to do better next time,” said Wood.
It’s an individual sport, but as part of the Cal Poly Rodeo team, Wood is building his rodeo community. Of all the achievements during his freshman year at college, it’s these relationships that mean the most.
“I’ve met lifelong friends, people I can count on, all over the circuit,” he said. “That’s how it is with rodeo.”
From the youngest PeeWee riders to the mentors raising them up, the rodeo family thrives on tradition, community and a heritage rooted in a multitude of cowboy cultures. It’s a spirit that passes down through generations, along with a love for livestock and a good dose of grit. Rodeo celebrates the American West, past and present. And, as Riley Nonella would add, it’s a whole lot of fun.
The Rich History of Rodeo
Back when life on the range was lonely and hard, cattle roundups offered a rare chance for cowboys to show off their bronc riding and roping talents. By the early 1900s, these rowdy competitions evolved into the rodeo we know today, full of pageantry, cheering crowds, thundering hooves and moments of awe. Yet cowboy culture goes beyond typical stereotypes, with a complex history shaped by influences as wide and diverse as the West itself. These traditions elevated horsemanship into artistry, and are still evident across Oregon.
At the Pendleton Round-Up, American Indian heritage has been integral to the rodeo since its start in 1910. Members of the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes host a pageant and teepee village. The Indian Relay, a breathtaking event when riders leap from one galloping horse to another while racing bareback, spotlights the traditional Native mastery of bareback riding. The Warm Springs Ranch Rodeo Association established in 2022 helps recognize this heritage as well. Its Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days held each June in Warm Springs is a three-day rodeo event featuring a parade of traditional dress and a separate day to showcase young rodeo talent.
The 2023 debut of the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo in Portland lifted up another piece of cowboy history: the contribution of Black cowboys in the West. Often overlooked in the media, in reality, one-fourth of Western cowboys were Black. In recent years, the Black community has reclaimed its connection to horse culture, and Oregon’s newest rodeo is part of that renaissance.
Mexican vaqueros, the original buckaroos, added lassos, chaps and expert livestock management to the West’s roundups. Even the name for rodeo comes from the Spanish verb rodear, meaning to encircle. The vaqueros’ style and skills evolved into a type of rodeo called Charrería, now a Mexican national sport. Demonstrations by charros such as Tomas Garcilazo (shown above, right) continue to wow the crowds at rodeos throughout Oregon, including at “The Biggest Little Show on Earth”—the Sisters Rodeo.
