Articles written by Craig Eisenbeis
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Sisters Bridge Club to offer free lessons
Every few years the Sisters Bridge Club gears up to offer free bridge lessons to anyone who is interested in learning or reacquainting themselves with the game. So, the club wants to get the... — Updated 1/9/2024 Full story
Be safe while exploring our winter wonderland
Although the winter snow pack has only just begun to settle onto the mountains of Sisters Country, winter sports enthusiasts are already starting to venture out into the developing winter wonderlands. Accordingly, it is never too early to... — Updated 11/22/2022 Full story
Christmas tree hunting is a Sisters Country tradition
For most of us, last year’s Christmas season was a significantly subdued one due to the shadow cast by COVID-19. To our continuing dismay, the virus is still with us; but, thanks to v... — Updated 11/30/2021 Full story
Sisters bridge players are back in action
After a year-and-a-half pause brought on by the pandemic, the Sisters Bridge Club is up and running again. Organizers want to get the word out and are interested in recruiting — and... — Updated 10/12/2021 Full story
Sisters Tie Trail is STA’s backyard secret
The Sisters Tie Trail is a frequently overlooked all-season outdoor opportunity that actually begins right in town. This trail is not at all wild, especially at the eastern, in-town end.... — Updated 12/15/2020 Full story
Christmas tree hunting in a COVID world
Like most everything in 2020, Christmas is looking to be a bit different this year. For many who heeded COVID warnings, Thanksgiving already fell victim to the rampaging virus, with... — Updated 12/1/2020 Full story
Thanksgiving traditions and turkey
Nothing evokes the image of Thanksgiving more dramatically than a turkey. So, when a flock of 18 wild turkeys wandered through my yard the other day, I saw it as an appropriate harbinger of... — Updated 11/24/2020 Full story
STA carves out new trail
Last week the Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) announced that they had just completed a new trail and invited me to check it out. This trail is so new that I could still see, in the fallen pine... — Updated 11/17/2020 Full story
Irrigation project brings changes to trail
Most local hikers know that the popular Whychus Creek Trail has a temporary trailhead and parking lot because of the ongoing construction project associated with the Plainview Dam removal... — Updated 11/17/2020 Full story
Proxy Falls is an excellent fall hike
As we wait to see if the predicted La Niña actually comes to pass, I feel like the mountains are crying “Last Call” for hiking. So, we decided to take one last (maybe) trip over McK... — Updated 11/3/2020 Full story
Robinson Lake is a little-known jewel on the edge of wilderness
A few years ago, a reader contacted me and suggested that I feature Robinson Lake in one of my columns. It is a special place, he said, and he wanted others to be able to share the unique... — Updated 10/27/2020 Full story
Exploring Scott Lake
Highway 242 over McKenzie Pass has reopened. So, now is the time to take advantage of the wonders of the McKenzie Highway before it closes again for the winter. Our visit to Scott Lake actual... — Updated 10/20/2020 Full story
A fall visit to Clear Lake is a must
As soon as the calendar flips over to October, I start thinking about a visit to Clear Lake. Just over Santiam Pass, and only about a half hour away, there’s no better place to see fall c... — Updated 10/6/2020 Full story
Little Three Creek Lake is a nice family hike
Last week, we had planned to hike on the west side of McKenzie Pass, but since all the roads were closed due to the fires, we had to come up with a different plan. My hiking buddy, who was... — Updated 9/16/2020 Full story
Cooler high country recreation at Big Lake
Big Lake and I have a relationship that goes back more than 60 years. So, on one of our recent 90+ degree days, when my hiking buddy suggested water sports at Big Lake, rather than a hot,... — Updated 8/18/2020 Full story
Santiam Lodge restoration continues
Eighty years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) completed construction of a new recreational ski lodge at the summit of Santiam Pass. The unique architecture is characteristic of six... — Updated 8/18/2020 Full story
Whychus Overlook Trail a cure for pandemic cabin fever
The Whychus Creek Scenic Overlook Trail is an ideal destination for pandemic shut-ins yearning for a pleasant escape into an outdoor experience. The overlook and adjacent trail were... — Updated 8/11/2020 Full story
Dwarf mistletoe a problem in forests
Dwarf mistletoe continues to pose a threat to Sisters Country forests. Dwarf mistletoe falls into the broad definition of a pathogen and is a parasite that infects coniferous trees such as... — Updated 8/11/2020 Full story
Visiting Cuba is an eye-opener
International relations are always something of a puzzle, but none seems so peculiar as the relationship between the United States and Cuba. These two close neighbor nations, with quite a... — Updated 7/22/2020 Full story
Cavorting with penguins in the Falkland Islands
A Facebook item spotted by my wife, Kathi, noted the posting person’s most useless purchase of the year: “my 2020 planner.” The collapse of the travel industry in the wake of the novel coron... — Updated 7/7/2020 Full story
Oregon’s history steeped in racism
Many Oregonians have the impression that racism is not an issue in Oregon, and there are reasons for that. Oregon ranks 42nd among the states in its percentage of Black population, with only 2 to 3 percent. Many Oregonians, especially in... — Updated 6/30/2020 Full story
Valuing Black lives in Sisters
The Black Lives Matter movement has become visible in Sisters. By now, most Sisters-area residents have observed the sometimes lonely vigil kept by Elizabeth Fisher and others at the corner... — Updated 6/30/2020 Full story
A visit to historic Glaze Meadow
In keeping with our current emphasis on shorter, close-to-home hikes, my hiking buddy suggested that we visit the trails along the eastern edge of Glaze Meadow. I checked my files to see... — Updated 6/9/2020 Full story
Hanoi, a half century later
On our coronavirus-truncated Asian cruise tour, the final stop in Vietnam was at Halong Bay, gateway to Hanoi and home to the giant, picturesque, monolithic rocks frequently seen in travel... — Updated 6/9/2020 Full story
Travels in 21st century Vietnam
Vietnam. For many, it’s more than just a place; it’s an era. Vietnam affected the lives of an entire generation. Although I never actually set foot in the country until earlier this yea... — Updated 5/26/2020 Full story
