The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: R is for ROCK CLIMBING

Photo by Andreas Fidler.

Here in Central Oregon we can't get enough of outdoor adventure. While you can say there is an almost endless list of outdoor sports to participate in, rock climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular. Climbers are attracted to Central Oregon for good reasons, one of them being Smith Rock State Park. This park is a major part of the history of rock climbing in the United States, due to the incredible features and a group of dedicated individuals who pushed boundaries and had a passion for the sport. Bend loves rock climbers just as much as rock climbers love Bend. Boasting a rock climbing gym, countless stores to get your gear fix, a rock climbing school, and even a museum exhibit, Bend is a bucket-list town for climbers.

Smith Rock State Park. Photo by Jeff Finley.

HISTORY

While rock climbing has always been a part of mountaineering, it became a sport of its own in the late 1800s. In the early twentieth century, climbers began travelling to meccas, such as Yosemite National Park in California to practice Traditional, or Trad, Climbing.The sixties is when climbing began to grow from its underground state.  These climbers often lived out of their vans or cars, totally devoting themselves to the sport. Chris Sharma and Lynn Hill are just two of the big names that came on, with countless others creating not only a sport, but a way of life. 

Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. Photo by Chaney Swiney. 

SMITH ROCK STATE PARK

As the popularity of the sport sky-rocketed, climbers were looking to develop new areas and put their name down in history under 'Fist Ascent'. This is where our own Smith Rock joins the story. Although the 650-acre area was named a state park in 1960, dedicated local climbers had been developing the area long before that. Allan Watts, the son of one of those first climbers to make their way up the cliffs of Smith Rock, changed the game forever. Watts created a new way of climbing, now referred to as Sport Climbing. A very controversial method at the time, Sport Climbing opened the door to routes previous considered too dangerous to climb, creating some of the hardest routes in the world. This put Smith Rock State Park on the map, and let climbers chose which style is best for them in their pursuit. Smith Rock is home to many world-famous routes such as Monkey Face and Mesa Verde Wall. 

Smith Rock Sunrise. Photo by Mike Putnam.

CLIMBING IN BEND

The fun doesn't stop at Smith Rock. Here in Bend, we have the Bend Rock Gym. If you're looking for a great place to learn or hone your climbing skills, this is the place to go. With bouldering problems, climbing routes, crack climbing, exercise equipment, and more, the gym helps maintain the climbing culture here in Central Oregon. Add the countless stores where you can buy gear, get your gear fixed, and meet other climbers to head out with, and you've got a climber's paradise!

For those looking for a little help getting into the sport, Smith Rock Climbing School offers guides to set new climbers in the right direction.  SRCS has been a part of the climbing scene here since 1983, and have dedicated staff who love what they do, and want to help others discover a new passion.

If this doesn't prove how much Oregonians love climbing, we have had a museum exhibit on the sport. From now until September, the High Desert Museum will have their exhibit, Ascent: Climbing Explored on display, where visitors can enjoy the interactive exhibit and see how climbing has changed over the years.

Photo by Riccardo Bresciani.

GLOSSARY

Rock Climbing uses a lot of specific terms, we've outlined some of the basics here so you'll sound like a pro next time you're at the crag!

Crag: The spot or rock face where the climbing is taking place.

Bouldering: Short, challenging problems on natural boulders or in a gym. Done without a rope over a bouldering or crash pad to prevent injury

Traditional Climbing: Also referred to as Trad Climbing. Climbers place removable equipment as they ascend in case of a fall. This leaves no equipment on the wall after the climbers leave. 

Sport Climbing: Invented in Smith Rock State Park by Allan Watts. This method involves placing permanent bolts or anchors into the rock, opening up routes that had no place for removable equipment and requires less gear.

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Guest post by Naturalist Guide Phenix! Check out her adventure blog here. 

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The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: Q is for QUILTS

From the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

This week we're talking about QUILTS! Central Oregon is crazy for quilts, and the area is rife with ultra talented fiber artists and delightful fabric shops. 

Photos from Mount Bachelor's Quilter's Guild

Photo by Russell Lee

History of Quilt-making in Oregon

Quilting in Central Oregon is largely linked to our pioneer history and the early western settlements. As more and more European-American settlers made the long journey across the country, quilting was a way for pioneer women to provide art, connection, and warmth for their families and friends. 

The pieces reflected a variety of themes: the landscapes around them, the stories of their local heroes, and stories of their own lives. These functional objects often became an opportunity for expression. 

If you want to read more about the history of quilting in Oregon, definitely check out the book Quilts of the Oregon Trail by Mary Bywater Cross.

THE SISTERS OUTDOOR QUILT SHOW

Did you know that the largest quilt show in the world happens in Sisters every year during the second week in July? It's an amazing event, and thousands of quilt-enthusiasts and casual admirers alike travel from all over the world to attend! 

The mission of the SOQS is "to educate the public about the art, skill, and heritage of traditional and contemporary quilts and fiber arts, while enhancing the cultural vitality of the community of Sisters and Central Oregon."

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) started in 1975, and became a non-profit organization in 2005. The Quilt Show Day is always on the second Saturday in July, and people hang their quilts from fences and walls all over town. This event has always been free, and Quilt Show Day attracts roughly 12,500 visitors. Since the normal population for Sisters is only about 2,500, this is quite a big day for this little town!

The nonprofit associated with this event organizes classes and workshops to be taught the week before the Quilt Show Day. Check out their 2018 lineup here, and keep an eye out for information about the 2019 SOQS!

Photos from the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

On Quilt Show Day, hundreds of quilts are displayed from all over the world. These "show-and-tell" exhibits are from first-time and amateur quilters, displayed at various sites throughout the town of Sisters. The exhibitors range from age 10 to age 92!

Many of the quilts on display can be purchased with a portion of the proceeds supporting SOQS, a 501(c)3 non profit organization which produces the annual, free, Quilt Show and fiber arts activities year-round. 

The A-to-Zs of Central Oregon: P is for the PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

One of the best-known, most-romanticized west coast hiking routes is the Pacific Crest Trail. Well, did you know that the PCT runs right through Central Oregon? 

THE ROUTE

The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the entire span of the west coast in the United States, with starting points at both the Canadian and Mexican borders. It passes through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Hikers are welcome to hike smaller portions of the trail on day-hikes, but there are thousands of hikers that make the full 2,650-mile-long journey. The trail features some of the best features of the western landscape: gorgeous desert, the glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, deep forests, and the breathtaking views and volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range. 

Mount Hood, from the Pacific Crest Trail

THE START OF THE PCT

Catherine Montgomery, the "Mother of the Pacific Crest Trail" 

Clinton Clarke surveying the early trail

In August of 1920, Fred Cleator wrote "I am beginning to think that a Skyline Trail the full length of the Cascades in Washington & Oregon joining a similar trail in the Sierras of California would be a great tourist advertisement.  For that matter it might be continued thru British Columbia and up the Alaska highlands.  This is a future work but it would be fine to plan upon."

Fred went on to map the route of the "Oregon Skyline Trail," which would be the first iteration of the PCT. 

In 1926, Catherine Brown (an avid hiker and one of the founding faculty members of Western Washington University) was the first to propose a hiking trail running through California, Oregon, and Washington. Washington State Forest preserve and with it they built the Catherine Montgomery Nature Interpretive Center. 

If Catherine Montgomery is the mother of the PCT, then Clinton Clarke is definitely the father. This private, reserved man took up the cause of the PCT in 1932 at the ripe old age of 59-- that was pretty darn old back then! He was responsible for the first physical maps related to the PCT's route. He planned and executed the trail's meandering path through peaks, valleys, desert, forests, and plains.

Throughout the next decade, the PCT was fully routed and explored. In 1935, Clarke planned and executed the first Pacific Crest Trail System Conference in order to both plan the trail, and to lobby the federal government to protect the trail.

After years of lobbying, physical toil towards the trail, and with lots of interruptions due to war and economic strife, the Pacific Crest Trail was designated at a National Scenic Trail in 1968. 

THE PCT IN CENTRAL OREGON

Three-Fingered Jack

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

The Central Oregon stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail is often a favorite for thru-hikers. We actually have the Pacific Crest Trail to thank for two of our guides: Courtney and Jason! These two Naturalist Guides loved the Central Oregon stretch of the PCT so much, they decided to move to Bend solely based on the beauty of the landscape. If you join them on a tour, be sure to ask them about their hiking experience! 

There are some pretty amazing trails running through the wilderness of Jefferson Park, and along the striking features of Three Fingered Jack (fun fact: it's a shield volcano!). There are definitely some amazing options for day hikes in the area. In fact, we just lead a custom hike for a group that wanted to hike a portion of the PCT near Odell Lake!

If you think you might be interested in incorporating the PCT into one of your adventures, definitely reach out to Courtney-- who happens to also be our group tour coordinator!