The Obsidian Trail is Available Only by Paid PermitWe had heard about the Obsidian Trail for years, and how hard it is to reserve a time to hike it. Located in the Willamette National Forest off Hwy 242 (McKenzie Pass), access to the Obsidian Trail is limited - first due to Hwy 242's annual closure from October through the middle of June - and second due to demand for the hard to get passes which limit use to 30 day hikers and 40 overnight visitors. We reserved our time 2 months in advance, hoping the weather and wildfires would cooperate with our hike.  The Green Ridge Fire and the Lions Gate Fire were both burning On September 5, 2020 when we took our hike, but neither had yet exploded into the heavy wildfires that burned much of McKenzie Canyon and caused the choking smoke that is st... 09/22/2020

The Friendship Foundation for International Students homestay program matches University of Oregon international students with local community volunteers for a short-term homestay when the student first arrives in Lane County. Volunteers open their hearts and home to young adults far from home, helping them to get oriented and settled. Homestay families have created many fond memories for the students that they’ve hosted.This fall 57 students stayed with 45 host families.  FFIS surveys the families after the homestay ends.  One question asks families to share ideas and suggestions new families can use when they begin hosting.If you could share your experience with a new FFIS host, what tip would you offer? Cooking meals together is a fun way to get to know each other. We have some conve... 10/18/2019

Western Oregon is known for its "liquid sunshine", bringing moisture that turns the countryside an emerald green in the spring.  Residents perpetuate that image in the hopes that people are disuaded from moving here.  Their hopes continue to be dashed as Oregon continues to have one of the largest annual in-migrations of new residents in the country.  Those newcomers discover that it doesn't rain nearly as much as they were told and there are plenty of things to do that don't cost any money.  Here are a few suggestions:1)  Walk, jog, or hike the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System.  The cover photo shows a stretch of a wide concrete path that lines both banks of the Willamette River near downtown Eugene.  You'll see all ages of people walking, jogging, biking, skateboarding, dog walking, ... 01/23/2019

Eugene, Oregon is a great base from which to enjoy the outdoors. Drive in any direction and you can experience beautiful scenery.  Residents and visitors are an hour's drive west to the Oregon Coast or an hour's drive east to the Cascade Mountains.  Rivers, waterfalls, old-growth forests, covered bridges, wineries, craft breweries and distilleries, plentiful campgrounds, many organic farms, fresh air, clean water, friendly people ... What more could you want? Whenever my wife and I want to enjoy a day trip in or around Eugene, here are a few places we like to visit: Orchard Point County Park on the north end of Fern Ridge ReservoirHeceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic ViewpointDelta Ponds near Valley River CenterCoyote Creek Covered BridgeHiking Spencer ButteCleawox Lake at Honeyman State... 01/19/2019

International students aren’t the only ones who are nervous about traveling so far from their familiar home and culture to study at the University of Oregon.  Their parents also worry, since they are too distant to be able to quickly lend help and support should their child encounter difficulties.The Friendship Foundation for International Students (FFIS) home stay program is much more than simply hosting incoming international students for a few days to help them acclimate to America, Eugene/Springfield, and the University.   FFIS volunteers usually become interim parents, offering ongoing advice and assistance for the student they’ve hosted.That warm welcome and hospitality alleviates not only the students’ fears, but also those of their parents back home.  This letter to the FFIS Ste... 12/30/2018

The FFIS Homestay Program matches University of Oregon international students with local community volunteers for a short-term homestay when the student first arrives in Lane County, Oregon. Volunteers open their hearts and home to young adults far from home, helping them to get oriented and settled. The friendships built during that brief period often last well beyond when the student has returned to their native country. Homestay families have created many fond memories for the students that they’ve hosted.Read what this student from New Zealand had to say about her FFIS homestay experience:Patricia was the most wonderful host I could ever have wished for. She went above and beyond what might have been expected as a host mom. It wasn’t long after she first picked me up from the train ... 10/22/2018

The Friendship Foundation for International Students (FFIS) Homestay Program matches University of Oregon international students with local community volunteers for a short-term homestay when the student first arrives in Lane County. Volunteers open their hearts and homes to young adults far from home, helping them to get oriented and settled. The friendships built during that brief period often last well beyond when the student has returned to their native country. Homestay families have created many fond memories for the students that they’ve hosted.FFIS families hosted 95 incoming international students prior to the start of the 2018 fall term.  This is what some of the students had to say about their host family and their experiences in the Homestay Program:What was the most rewardi... 09/21/2018

The Friendship Foundation for International Students (FFIS) provides short-term homestay programs at the beginning of the fall, winter, and spring terms.  Incoming University of Oregon international students stay in a local community member’s home for 3-5 days.  They then move to permanent housing in an apartment or dormitory. This is what a Mexican student wrote about her FFIS homestay experience: A host family to me means having a second family away from home, and also feeling safe and loved among nice people. Experiencing a new culture, settling down in a new country, and discovering the astonishing natural beauty of Oregon would not have been possible without my host family. I have to start off by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH PETE and VINNIE!! Not only did we spend incredible times tog... 07/09/2018

The Friendship Foundation for International Students (FFIS) provides short-term homestay programs at the beginning of the fall, winter, and spring terms.  Incoming University of Oregon international students stay in a local community member’s home for 3-5 days.  They then move to permanent housing in an apartment or dormitory.This is what a Japanese student wrote about her FFIS homestay experience:I really appreciate this Friendship Foundation program which gives me an opportunity to meet such a great host family. When I first arrived here, I did not know anything about the city, university and how to start my new life.But they helped by showing me around the city, going shopping, and acclimating myself to life here. After the university started and I moved to the residence hall, they o... 06/27/2018

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint is a popular place to stop for locals and visitors alike.  It is located on the central Oregon Coast north of Florence and the Sea Lion Caves in Lane County.Picnic tables and restrooms are available.  It's a short hike up to the lighthouse keeper's former home (pictured above) and the lighthouse itself (shown below).  The lighthouse is reputed to be one of the most photographed on the west coast.  The home serves as a bed & breakfast and is a popular place for weddings in the summer.Even on days when the parking lot is full, the beach seems uncrowded.  Several years ago I was fortunate to watch a Native American wedding ceremony here.  Oregonians never say that they're going to "the ocean."  It's always "the coast." 06/27/2018

The Friendship Foundation for International Students Homestay Program matches University of Oregon international students with local community volunteers for a short-term homestay when the student first arrives in Eugene and Lane County.Volunteers open their hearts and home to young adults far from home, helping them to get oriented and settled. The friendships built during that brief period often last well beyond when the student has returned to their native country. Homestay families have created many fond memories for the students that they’ve hosted.FFIS surveys the students after their stay. This is what some of them had to say about their host family and the Homestay Program: What was the most rewarding part of staying with a host family?My transition to a new country couldn’t hav... 06/14/2018

Be Aware - Bears and cougars are native to this area!This is the sign that greets me as I begin my hike in Wild Iris Ridge Park.  The trail is the newest link in the Ridgeline Trail System, located in the south hills of Eugene, Oregon.The trailhead is wihin easy walking distance from my home and I live in the third most populous city in the state.  Do I need to be worried about this walk in nearby nature?I live on a 1/3 acre corner lot well within the city's borders.  I have seen raccoon, opossum, deer, turkey, and smaller wild animals making themselves temporarily at home in my backyard.  But bears and cougars are another matter! Wild Iris Ridge ParkThis 250+ acre park is mostly unimproved with upland prairie and oak habitat and sweeping views in places to the west, south, and east.  I... 03/09/2018

Lane County, Oregon residents have many choices for water recreation in the verdant Pacific Northwest.  Before Fern Ridge Reservoir was completed in 1941, Triangle Lake was the most popular local spot for enjoying the water. Triangle LakeThis 293-acre lake was originally known as Loon Lake, Lake of the Woods, and Echo Lake, before it became officially known as Triangle Lake in the early 1900s.  The unincorporated town of Triangle Lake sprung up on its shores. Locals and visitors alike gravitate to the water on bright, warm, sunny summer days.  Triangle Lake County Park provides public access, picnic tables, restrooms, and a boat ramp.  Fishermen try their skill at catching largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, brown bullhead, kokanee and cutthroat trout.  The lake is still beautiful ... 02/25/2018

A Night Out Ends In A Life Lost It was a warm August Saturday night like most others in Eugene, Oregon.  Jessica Tutt, Andrew Michael Rosborough, and Kelly Ann Hover were enjoying friendship and a few drinks at Taboo, a downtown Eugene nightclub, with employees of KNRQ Rock 97.9 FM, owned by Cumulus Broadcasting.Twenty-one year-old Tutt worked as a receptionist at Cumulus Broadcasting and studied graphic design at Lane Community College.  Rosborough, 22, was "Icky" on KNRQ's morning radio show, "Vinnie & Icky."  Hover, 21, worked at El Torito Mexican Restaurant as a waitress.Around 3:00 am on Sunday, August 13, 2006, the three friends headed home after a fun night out.  Tutt drove her pickup truck.  Rosborough and Hover rode in the truck bed behind.  The truck headed for southwest Eugen... 02/25/2018

Willamette RiverThe Willamette River flows north from the Cascade Mountains in western Oregon, through Eugene, on its way to Portland where it joins the mighty Columbia River.  Its 187-mile journey provides ample opportunity for water recreation for nearby residents.Marshall Island Boat RampMarshall Island is a small island in the Willamette River south of Junction City.  It lends its name to an Oregon State Parks boat ramp east of River Road and north of Eugene., part of the Willamette River Greenway system. It's used mainly by fishermen and I've never found it to be very crowded.If my wife and I are in the area to purchase fresh produce at Thistledown Farm or Lone Pine Farms, we'll frequently spend a relaxing few hours sitting near the boat ramp watching the water flow by, observing w... 02/21/2018

Willamette National ForestThe Willamette National Forest in western Oregon has over 1.5 million acres of nature to enjoy and explore.  It has eight wilderness areas and numerous backpacking and day hiking opportunities.  A favorite day hike near the McKenzie River is the Delta Old Growth Nature Trail.Delta Old Growth Nature TrailThe 1/2 mile Delta Old Growth Nature Trail is wheelchair accessible.  It loops through a diverse forest ecosystem where 650-year-old Douglas firs share space with hemlocks, cedars, and a rich undergrowth of shrubs and ground covers.Side channels and streams weave their way through the river delta, providing excellent habitat for juvenile trout, salmon, and steelhead.  Nearby archaeological sites indicate that Indians visited here almost 7,000 years ago. This eas... 02/20/2018

Vaclav Hajek (1997 - 2007)On a sunny late August day in 2007, a 10-year-old boy prepared to walk his bike across a crosswalk after tending to the family's community garden plot.  A car stopped to let the boy cross the street.  Behind the car, an impatient teenager in a pickup truck swerved around the vehicle and sped toward the crosswalk.  The sound of squealing tires that I heard in my backyard over a quarter mile away foreshadowed the impending tragedy.  Two families' lives were forever changed on that fateful August 27 day.In late September, Eugene police arrested the 16-year-old student who was reportedly traveling 65 miles per hour in the 35 mph school zone.  The driver was later charged with criminally negligent homicide, served a short time in juvenile detention, put on probation... 02/19/2018

The Oregon Coast is justly famous for its scenic vistas, attracting people from around the world to its shores.  Oregonians refer to their ocean border as "the Coast".  Say "We're going to the ocean" and you'll mark yourself as a visitor to this Pacific Northwest state.No matter whether you live here or not, there are many places to visit and discover along the Pacific Coast Highway from the southern Washington state line to the northern California border.For Eugene residents like my wife and me, the central Oregon Coast is an hour's drive away, making it a great destination for a day trip or weekend stay.  We can drive north or south along the Coast as far as time permits and have unique experiences virtually every mile along the way. Yachats Ocean Road State Natural SiteWe'll usually ... 02/18/2018

Oregon Covered Bridges Oregon has one of the largest concentrations of covered bridges in the United States, numbering more than fifty.  Lane County in western Oregon has 20+ covered bridges, giving it the distinction of having more covered bridges than any county west of the Mississippi River.Covered bridges were originally built for practical reasons.  The roof and sides kept the wooden decks and trusses from rotting too quickly in the rainy Pacific Northwest.  In the late 1800s and early 20th century, steel and concrete were hard to come by.  It was common for builders, using hand tools like the adz, broadax, and auger, to cut nearby trees and construct the framework by hand on the riverbank.Wildcat Covered Bridge Travelers between Eugene and Florence can see Wildcat Covered Bridge a... 02/16/2018

It's a beautiful morning in Eugene, Oregon and I'm anxious to get outdoors for some fresh air and exercise.  Fortunately I don't have to drive far to enjoy seeing wildlife and verdant landscapes. Where should I go? Alton Baker ParkI could walk around Alton Baker Park, Eugene's largest park, with 373 city-owned acres to explore.  There are usually ducks, Canadian geese, and other birds to see.  A popular trail follows the bank of the Willamette River that flows through the city.There are large ramadas to have a picnic, a Nobel Peace Laureate Project to see, the famous Pre's Trail to run on, and the Whilamut Natural Area to wander through.  Last time I was there I even discovered a Mother's Against Drunk Driving Memorial Garden that I never knew existed. Delta PondsOr I could go to Delta ... 02/04/2018