Most Oregonians know that Brookings, on the south coast, is much warmer than the rest of the state. But climatologists know of other “banana belt” areas and this article exposes them.
Archive | Outdoors
Unsung Splash Fest on the Middle Fork
Upstream Adventures co-owner Quin Slocumb loves showing people the view from a river, and thanks to a lack of guides running through Oakridge, a 6-mile section of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River is an undiscovered gem.
Wonderful Waterfalls to the West
It’s no surprise that the Cascade Range, to the east of Eugene, is full of dramatic, splashy waterfalls. But heading out west, to the Coast Range, reveals some hikes that are not as steep but just as scenic as their Cascadian cousins.
On the Watch for Whales
About 20,000 gray whales pass by the Oregon Coast beginning in early March on their way to northern feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas. They turn around in October, returning to breed in Mexico’s warm lagoons, so the chances of seeing whales along the coast are good to great, particularly during the peak […]
Exposing Lane County’s Geology
By Vanessa on March 5, 2015 in Boomer and Senior News, History, Outdoors, Retirement, Science and Technology, Seniors
Most fossils are hidden. They are buried under our homes and roads, embedded in the stony hills around us. Some fossils, however, are right out in the open, where we can walk past them every day. One of those is Metasequoia glyptostroboides, a tree known as the Dawn Redwood. One of these trees thrives at […]
Volunteer Forest Trail Maintenance
It’s nice to imagine that a hiking trail, once cleared, stays cleared. But in fact, publicly accessible hiking trails in wilderness areas require regular, ongoing maintenance in order to stay usable. It’s also nice to imagine that the United States Forest Service has a well-paid crew to take care of these repairs, but again, that’s […]
Hit the Bull’s Eye With Archery
Does the thought of archery conjure images of Robin Hood’s classic longbow? High-tech carbon fiber compound bows for the modern hunter? The recurve bow, for Olympic-style target shooting? In Eugene, the answer can be all of the above, as options for many different types of archery programs abound here
Wildflowers in Oregon
This time of year, nature shakes off its cloak of winter and color comes back into the world. Our meadows and hillsides are ablaze with bright yellow, red, pink and blue of seasonal wildflower displays.
83 Days of Freedom – Summer Fun for Kids of All Ages
From the beginning of the Eugene 4J school district summer holiday June 17 to the first day of school September 7, you get 12 weekends–24 Saturdays and Sundays. Or if you’re counting in sum: 83 days of freedom (if you’re a kid). What are you gonna do with those days?
Taking Root – The Town That Trees Built
Is a tree more useful to us in a forest, or cut and used as a product? Whether we like it or not, the answer is yes. There’s no disputing the environmental importance of trees, but tree products are also used in unexpected places. Oregon trees find themselves in cellulose film for movies and photographs. […]