The Proxy Falls Hike is located west of McKenzie Pass, on Oregon’2 Highway 242.  The drive to Proxy Falls from our dear city of Bend is an event in an of itself.  The rise through ponderosa forests near the city of Sisters, climaxing at  the the volcanic summit of McKenzie Pass and the Dee Wright Observatory is at worst, sublime.  

The Proxy Falls Hike commences at an obvious pullout, off of highway 242( on the left side of the road if you are coming from the city of Sisters).  Their are toilets near the trailhead which is obviously marked.  The Proxy Falls Trail quickly enters into the Three sisters Wilderness Area and in spring, after the snow gates on 242 open, the hike is decorated with Rhododendron blooms like the ones seen below.

Wild Oregon Rhododendrons

Hiking the trail counter clockwise, takes one through a moss covered lava flow.  In more open areas of the lava flow, direct sunlight turns vine maple trees vibrant colors in autumn.

Proxy Falls Trail

After about 3/4 mile the proxy trail enters into an impressive old growth forest, filled with enormous Douglas Fir and ancient cedar trees.  A fork in the trail leads off to Lower Proxy Falls.  Take this fork!  Lower Proxy Falls is the larger and more stunning of the two waterfalls on this short 2 mile hike. Once your begin hearing Proxy’s roar, you are close to the waterfall viewpoint seen below.

Proxy Falls Viewpoint

This spot offers a view of almost all 226 ft of Proxy Falls’ vertical drop as well as some stunning braided flow patterns, but the best lies beyond.  The trail up to this point in the hike is well maintained and suitable for hikers of almost any level.  To experience the best that Proxy Falls has to offer, one must drop down to the right via a rugged, muddy  and unmarked trail.  This unmarked trail descends to the shores of the remarkably small Proxy Creek.  From here, explore to your hearts content.  The shapes,forms and textures of Proxy Falls and its surrounding flora are simply unmatched.  To see a beautiful photograph of Proxy Falls, visit Mike Putnam’s Fine Art site by visiting the following link.  Bend Oregon Landscape Photographer.

After exploring the wonders of Lower Proxy Falls, make the short trek back to the main loop trail and continue counter clockwise.  The next intersection leads to the smaller yet still attractive Upper Proxy Falls, seen below.

Upper Proxy Falls

Upper Proxy falls is not as stunning as Lower Proxy but it has its own elegance and offers a very relaxing poolside picnic spot.  In the heat of summer, the pool at the base of Upper Proxy is also a wonderful wading opportunity.  From here, the trail back to the trail head and parking area is but a pleasant stroll.  In spring time, the trail has some attractive beargrass and trillium specimens, as well as rhododendrons.

In all, this is a stunning day hike that is mostly suitable for all skill levels.  If you are returning to Bend after the hike, we recommend a stop at either the Depot Cafe, or the Three Creeks Brewery , both in the town of Sisters.  If you have any questions or comments about the Proxy Falls Hike, please leave them in the comments section below.

Hike On!

Bend Wild

Sage Fight IPA from Bend's Deschutes Brewery

With a thorough olfactory inspection, one can definitely detect aromas of sage and juniper.  Initially this beer is aromatic and attractive but one needs to long for a resinous chewy beer or this big IPA is a bit too much.    Get a taster and contemplate a full pint of this flavor forward and filling monster of a beer!  If you are interested, hurry down to the Deschutes Bond Street pub as it is only available there.

Cheers,

Bend Wild

Bend Brewing Company

In a series of comments just released on facebook, her status was clarified but only moderately.

Tonya Cornett:

“As most of you have learned, I have accepted a position with 10 Barrel Brewing. I will however oversee the daily opperation and quality control for Bend Brewing. It is important for all of you to know that I have vested interest as well as a strong committment to my BBC family. This decision will have no impact onthe quality of the beer that Bend Brewing is known for. Please join us on Feb. 4th for the bottle release party for Lovely Cherry Baltic. It is the beer I am most proud of!”

10 barrel brewing company

This is, in our small minds a win-win situation.  The BBC retains the brewmaster that help put them on the national brewing map while 10 Barrel gets the services of one of the best minds in the brewing world.  As our interest set here at Bend Wild is the constant improvement of the Bend Beer scene, we are cautiously optimistic.  Will Cornett have enough time to do everything well?  Will all of the participants in this beer triangle play nice together?  What happens after the 10 Barrel bottling line is up and running? We’ll have to wait and see.  In the short term, everybody wins and Bend gets more great beer and that makes us very happy!

Cheers,

Bend Wild

Bend, Oregon Freedom Ride

Oregon's Three Sisters at Sunrise

Bend Oregon Cyclocross 2010

Ryan Trebon of Bend, Oregon riding in the 2010 Cyclocross National Championships

With the furious support of an enormous local crowd, Trebon eventually ground his lanky legs to a 2nd place finish in the Men’s elite race.  Second in the nation.  Not Bad!   Because the 2010 National competitors have been well covered elsewhere, we’d like to acknowledge how important the crowd is in the Cyclocross world.  Cyclocross would be diminished to another muddy ride without the wonderfully bizarre crowd that is drawn to this amazing event.  The following image is perfectly suited to illustrate the importance of the cyclocross crowd.  Look at all of the oddities to be found!  Shirtless, masked men in tighties, a half dozen Santas, and Gumby, all cheering while competitors slog through mud and haul their bikes up a flight of stairs.  Outstanding!

Bend Oregon Cyclocross 2010

The pure absurd awesomeness of this scene makes the 2010 Cyclocross Nationals one of our favorite local events for the year of 2010.  This athletic, outdoor weirdness is exactly what we are about here at Bend Wild!  The next image reminds us to shout out a big “Bravo” to the crew at Visit Bend, who helped bring this great event to Central Oregon.  This hill climb complete with walk under to the beer garden area is one of the details that really drew this event together.  Kudos to Doug, Lynnette, and the rest of the Visit Bend Staff!  Keep up the great work!

Hill climb at the 2010 Cyclocross Nationals

Below is yet another photo of what made Cyclocross Nationals an exceptional Bend event.  Crazed fans!  Bare chested with hunting hats.  Why not?

Outdoor exertion, lunacy, mud, sweat, cowbells, we want more cyclocross in Bend!  If anyone would like to announce a local cyclocross event during the coming year please let us know and we’ll publicize it here on the web at Bend Wild.

If you would like to see an exceptional collection of photos from the 2010 Cyclocross National Championships, visit the guys at Pacific Crest Stock by visiting this link, Cyclocross Nationals 2010.

Get Dirty,

Bend Wild

Hop Trip fresh hop ale from Deschutes Brewery

Nose/Appearance- Clear with amber and garnet hues, this fresh hop beer pours with a tightly laced snowy white head.  Perhaps not as citrusy as its label description might suggest, hints of pine, dried fruits, and suggestions of unlikely wood aging are present.

Body/Flavor- Excellent on both counts.  For a beer of only 5.5% alcohol, Hop Trip has excellent complexity and flavor.  A sweet malty backbone flirts with the ample signature of chewy and resinous fresh hops.  Far more palatable and sessionable than your standard northwest fresh hop beer.  Wonderfully balanced and intricate throughout the tasting process.

Finish/Mouthfeel- Occasional sips can hint at an excessive dryness which dominated last year’s version of Hop Trip are adroitly buried beneath layers of malty entanglement and fresh wet hop flavors.

Drinkability- 10,10,10.  This low alcohol, flavorful beer is becoming a staple in the Bend Wild Compound.

Beer Likeness- Think of a lighter, hoppier Boont Amber from Anderson Valley, or an old Cinder cone Red from Deschutes, but with better mouthfeel and finish.

Paver walkway in Pioneer Park, Downtown Bend, Oregon

An appropriate place to start descriptions of Pioneer Park is at the new handicapped accessible ramp near the Portland street bridge on the south end of the park.  The ramp pictured below is very tastefully done with a lava rock facing and very sturdy and timeless iron railing.

New Handicap accessible ramp in Downtown Bend's Pioneer Park

There is a pedestrian crossing underway so that walkers and runners can cross Portland avenue with some level of safety.  There is also work going on in Pacific Park on the other side of Portland Avenue.  A graded, handicap ramp is in place there as well, but it currently doesn’t really connect with anything, except a goose poop laden wood chip path.  A Bend parks and Rec employee I spoke with said that it was his understanding that a path through Pacific Park would be eventually be completed, thereby connecting to the core of downtown Bend with Pioneer park through the ever developing Bend River Trail system.  Back to Pioneer Park and its lovely new paver walkways.  Walking north along the gently flowing Deschutes River, along the freshly minted walkway is one of the more underrated views in Bend.  Awbrey Butte seen over the placid waters of the Deschutes River is an impressive scene.

View of Awbrey Butte and the placid Deschutes River from Bend's Pioneer Park

Beyond this point is where the real benefit of this renovation start to shine through.  The path ambles through large ponderosa trees, rimrock lava formations, and along the banks of the Deschutes.  I’ve been to Pioneer Park many times before as it is close to the Bend Wild compound and this is where the trail used to get a little creepy.  Makeshift homeless camps  with lots of garbage could regularly be found in this area of Pioneer Park. Well, not any more.  The beautifying of the trails and parks via this renovation have brought in more walkers,runners, and foot traffic, thereby driving out the homeless individuals who were intimidating to the rest of Bend’s park users.  This is actually a good example of increased traffic through an urban trail system making he trails much safer and more beautiful.  With these wonderful improvements, this area of Pioneer Park really does have a magical feel, which is an immense improvement.

Walkway through ponderosa trees in Pioneer park

Continuing north beyond the rimrock area, travelers come upon an apartment building located along the river’s banks.  I’m certain that the city of Bend had to do some serious negotiating to get access through this property and it is well worthwhile for everyone involved.  Having this elegant walkway is a phenomenal resource for all the citizens of Bend, and it adds value to the apartments which are located nearby.  The path and amenities are top notch in this area with low maintenance and long lasting concrete fences and black iron safety fences.  During the constructions process I noticed the men form Mike’s Fence Company working on the concrete fencing.  Well done guys!

Deschutes river trail coursing behind apartments near the damn above the First Street rapids

Adjacent to the apartments, is the dam which holds back the Deschutes River.  Below the dam, the Deschutes river takes on a much more rugged personality.  This, incidentally is where the “First Street Rapids” area of Bend is located.the dam which makes the water under the Portland avenue bridge so placid.  Downstream from this dam, the Deschutes River takes on a much more rugged personality.

First Street Rapids dam as seen from the Pioneer Park walkway

Slightly downstream from the dam is a “put-in” spot for whitewater kayakers.  Foot access is available from Pioneer Park.  The “put in ramp” is safe looking and lined with fine gravel.

White water "put in" on the east side of Bend's First Street rapids

Please head the ominous warning sign at the white water “put-in’ area which is seen below.

Whitewater warning sign

Believe it or not, this piece of the Pioneer Park walkway offers a little bit of history as well.  As long ago as 1927, there used to be a community pool located in this area of Bend.  Below is a plaque dedicated to th “Kirtsis Swim Tank”

Historical plaque about the "Kirtsis swim tank"

Shortly beyond this point, the pavered path unceremoniously ends.  There are trails criss crossing this area but it is definitely undeveloped.  This temporary ending point of the Pioneer Park walkway is on City owned property and it is the proposed area for a pedestrian bridge across the Deschutes River.

Temporary end of the Pioneer Park walkway, which is located across the Deschutes River from First Street Rapids Park.

With a short stroll, you will find the famed First Street Rapids and a couple of wading pools along the banks of the Deschutes River.

First Street Rapids. Bend, Oregon.

While the improvements to Pioneer are excellent, they are nothing compared to the benefit that the residents and visitors to Bend will enjoy once the First Street Rapids bridge is completed, thereby connecting Pioneer Park with the First Street Rapids parks and the Deschutes River Trail on the west side of the River.  The length of the River Trail will be much more accessible with the completion of the proposed bridge, and many walker and runner friendly loops will be possible with the bridge intact.  We can envision a few standardized and easy to follow loops clearly marked for enjoyment of visitors and residents alike.  It would be a beautiful and simple activity for everyone on the downtown Bend area.  Alas, we will have to wait for funding, but when it does happen , Downtown Bend will have another brilliant and natural calling card.  This is truly the type of infrastructure that would help pull Bend out of its current economic doldrums.

Because a loop walk is not currently available on this area of downtown Bend, an out an back is the only option.  On the way back to Pioneer Park there are some more beautiful views including the following view of the First Street Rapids dam.  If you look closely, you can even see a fish ladder that will hopefully someday allow passage for salmon and steelhead to pass upstream to Mirror Pond and eventually the Upper Deschutes River.  For more information about the “back to home waters” initiative, being spearheaded by the good people at the Deschutes Land Trust, follow this link, “Back to Home Waters”.  How cool would it be to see and know that anadromous fish were passing through and spawning in Downtown Bend.  Just another thing that could make our favorite city even better!

First street rapids dam in downtown Bend, Oregon

Upstream from the First Street Rapids dam is another idyllic view that was made possible by the renovation of Pioneer Park.

Path in Pioneer Park, Bend, OR.

While the renovations of Pioneer Park are great, the park did have a lot to offer before the recent improvements.  The picnic shelter seen below is often utilized for weddings and other organized get togethers.  It is an attractive facility with great views, and an awesome location.

Picnic shelter in Pioneer Park, Bend Oregon

Pioneer park also has an attractive garden area above the rimrock on the northern end of the park.  This particular area is dedicated to Percy Drost, who developed and built Bend’s water system and several of its parks during his tenure with the Bend Parks department.

Dedication to Percy Drost

Some bullet points that are worth pondering in regards to Bend Oregon’s Pioneer Park:

-Awesome new renovation!  kudos to the Bend Parks department and all the contractors involved.

-Pioneer Park is much safer and Happier now.

-Pioneer Park is now handicap accessible

-Someday, the park may include a bridge that connects Pioneer park with the First Street rapids area.  This will be HUGE for the city of Bend!

-Someday you may see salmon and steelhead swimming through this area of the Deschutes River.  How cool would that be?

That’s all for now!  Go check out the new renovations at Pioneer Park.  You won’t regret it!

Thanks for Reading,

Bend Wild

Stone Brewing 14th anniversary Emperial IPA

Nose/Appearance-Although we don’t normally assign too many bonus points for appearance, this beer is rather unique.  It shines in the glass with a luminous, golden color and exhibits a fine, gauzy haze and puckering head that is rarely found in today’s craft beer industry.  The initially effervescent nose settles over time to reveal subtle notes of grapefruit peal,apricot puree,dry fruity, and dry orange peal all laid up against a background of muscular european hops.

Body/Flavor-The artful brewing behind this beer provides a dry, but flavorful body that effectively shrouds the 8.9% ABV.  While we hold no passion for english hops here in the Bend Wild Tasting Compound, perhaps this is a case of more is better.  The hop flavor is aggressive, unique, and palatable.  This big IPA can not be confused with a barleywine.  It is an IPA through and through.  Bountiful additions of what are allegedly English hops generate a earthy late flavor that finishes of dry citrus rinds.

Finish/Mouthfeel- A distinctively arid hop finish balances out this high alcohol IPA.  Resinous pine notes reverberate against a dry lupulin dominated finish.

Overall/Drinkability- We’re going 10/10 for an unpredictable appeal and a strong beer “strange” factor.  This very attractive beer is reminiscent of other great Imperial IPA’s that have washed over the Bend Wild palates, such as Bridgeport Brewery’s remarkable Hop Czar.

Beer Likeness- This is a tough one as this beer is so unique.  As it has noticeable Stone background qualities, we’ll toss Stone’s Ruination into the ring, but imagine it has an English hop profile, and perhaps bad teeth!