Ahh! Bend, Oregon! What a place! Just east of the Cascade Mts. at about 3600 ft. This is called the "High Desert". Out east, a giant Juniper forest, more east, not many trees, but a very interesting desert. Mountains and canyons, and big skies. Just west of Bend, the Cascade mountains, North, Middle and South "sisters", Broken Top, Tumalo Mountain, and the now famous Mount Bachelor, where you can downhill ski from 9,300 ft. down to three lodges. We used to walk to the top before there was a lift all the way up. This dry country produces powder snow. There is also great cross-country skiing too! In the summer, we hike and camp at some remote lakes and eat rainbow and brook trout. You can drive to and camp at tons of places within 30 min. to an hours' drive from Bend. In the center of town the Deschutes River winds through Drake Park and Pioneer Park. ~ Some very interesting musicians are hidden away here in Central Oregon, and you'll probably find some articles here featuring them soon.