Cycle through Eastern Oregon

If you're interested in riding bikes (road bikes, mountain bikes, cyclocross, uni-cycle!), Eastern Oregon is the place to do it. Check out this great video series from www.pathlesspedaled.com. This couple has cycled thousands and thousandes of miles in locations throughout the USA and the world, and their favorite place is...Oregon! Their website and Vimeo channel are worth seeing for great cycle touring ideas throughout the state.

School starts soon, so does ski season!

The Fall term at EOU is about to begin and the weather is starting to cool (slightly) here in Eastern Oregon. Snow isn't too far away and the Anthony Lakes Ski Area season pass deals for EOU students are just as good as last year. Less than $300 to ski for a whole season at a great resort less than an hour away from the EOU campus. Last year, when other ski areas were struggling to open, Anthony Lakes had a solid base and consistently cold weather. This year we're hoping for an even better year full of powder days!

EOU and Anthony Lakes will again be partnering to offer skiing and snowboarding classes for EOU students. Ask your advisor or contact the EOU Outdoor Program for more information on registering for these classes.

Eastern Oregon University Outdoor Program - Rafting the Grande Ronde River

Thanks to Jeff Alexander for putting together this video of EOU Outdoor Program students rafting the Grande Ronde river on a sunny spring day.

Summer Equipment Rental Hours

The Spring Term is drawing to a close and we are preparing for a great summer here in northeastern Oregon. Our outdoor equipment rental program will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 12pm - 5pm, starting on Tuesday, June 19th and ending on Thursday, August16th.

If you need to contact the outdoor program outside of regular opening hours, please email outdoor@eou.edu.

Gunsight Couloir & Memorial Day Weekend

Winter is still hanging on in eastern Oregon, up above 7,000' anyway. Gunsight Couloir (photos) was in decent Spring conditions yesterday, May 23, 2012.

This Memorial Day Weekend our Rock Climbing Club is traveling to City of Rocks in Idaho for some hiking, camping and rock climbing. What's your adventure for Memorial Day?

EOU Outdoor Program - Spring 2012 Events

As sunny weather turns the corner here in eastern Oregon the EOU Outdoor Program has scheduled several events  this Spring to get you outside! Listed below are some of the events we have planned (scroll down for more detailed descriptions). In addition to the events listed below, we are in the process of planning: an overnight hiking trip up Bear Creek, a fly fishing clinic, a Hells Canyon camping trip, and an orienteering clinic on the EOU campus. Also, remember Fun Fridays, our weekly Friday afternoon events that leave from the Outdoor Program at 1pm. Check with OP staff regarding the weekly activity.

Please note that all events require participants to sign-up ahead of time, either in person in the Outdoor Program (Hoke 102) or via email response to gisaak@eou.edu.

Friday, May 18th - Ladd Marsh Exploration - (1pm - 5pm, Meet in Hoke 102)
Saturday, May 19th - Introduction to Horseback riding - (1pm - 5pm, Meet at the fairgrounds at 1pm)
May 20th - Rafting Day Trip (details TBA)
May 25-28 - City of Rocks (ID) Rock Climbing Club travel weekend (details TBA)
June 1-3 - Elgin to Troy overnight rafting trip (details TBA)

Friday, May 18th - Ladd Marsh Exploration - (1pm - 5pm, Meet in Hoke 102)

Join EOU Outdoor Program staff on an exploration of the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.The Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area is located in the southwest corner of the Grande Ronde Valley, about 7 miles south of La Grande, in Union County, Oregon.  Administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, it lies at about 2,800 feet in elevation and is just over 6,000 acres in size.  The wildlife area harbors some of the few remaining areas of undisturbed, native valley floor vegetation and constitutes a critical ecological enclave for biodiversity.

Saturday, May 19th - Dutch Oven Cooking Class & Demonstration (9am - 1pm, EOU Campus, Loso steps)

Do you want to learn how to cook with a Dutch Oven? Want to learn new recipes from competition cooks? Looking for a way to spice up your backcountry horse trips or car camping this summer?
The Outdoor Program will be partnering with dutch oven competition cooks John and Kathryn Shorts to host a Dutch Oven cooking class and demonstration. This event will be part of Spring Fling and participants will have an opportunity for hands-on learning (and tasting!). All interested individuals are welcome to participate in the class.

Saturday, May 19th - Introduction to Horseback riding - (1pm - 5pm, Meet at the fairgrounds at 1pm)

This afternoon clinic will take place at the Union County Fairgrounds in La Grande and is jointly presented with the EOU Polo Club. If you are new to horses and want to have the opportunity to learn from experienced riders this clinic is for you. Grooming, saddling and entry-level riding techniques will be presented. There is no cost for this event, but we are limited to 12 participants.

May 20th - Rafting Day Trip (details TBA)

This one-day raft trip will be hosted by EOU Outdoor Program staff and will take place on a local river (water level dependent). Come along and discover the incomparable beauty of eastern Oregon from a new perspective. Places are limited. Sign-up will be available in the Hoke 102 and at the Outdoor Program booth during Spring Fling (May 19th). Find us in front of the 15' bright yellow raft!

May 25-28 - City of Rocks (ID) Rock Climbing Club travel weekend (details TBA)

The EOU Rock Climbing Club is headed east over Memorial Day Weekend to camp and climb at the City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho. This trip is open to all students, whether you are a beginner or expert climber, or even if you prefer to come along and camp and hike or mountain bike. Talk with Outdoor Program staff or members of the Climbing Club for further details.

June 1-3 - Elgin to Troy overnight rafting trip (details TBA)

This overnight trip travels on the Minam River from Elgin to Troy, a journey of around 50 miles. The trip will be hosted by Outdoor Program staff but will require "hands-on" participation from all participants. The Minam River is designated as a national wild and scenic river, and is one of the classic rafting journeys in the Pacific Northwest.

See you outside!

Earth Day at EOU: Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time

In honor of Earth Day, please join us for a FREE screening of the film Green Fire on Monday, April 23, at 7:00 PM in Huber Auditorium in the Badgley Hall science building at Eastern Oregon University.  This screening is sponsored by the EOU Biology Club and the US Forest Service.  A short panel discussion will follow the film.

Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time is a production of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Center for Humans and Nature.  The film shares highlights from Leopold’s life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires today. Although probably best known as the author of the conservation classic A Sand County Almanac, Leopold is also renowned for his work as an educator, philosopher, forester, ecologist and wilderness advocate.

The film has being shown in community screenings like this one throughout 2011 and 2012 and will air on public television this spring.

Guests may park in the large lot on 6^th St. between L and K Avenues. Parking is free after 6:00 p.m. and permits are not required.

For more information, please contact Karen Antell at Eastern Oregon University (541) 962-3610 or Joani Bosworth, Public Affairs Officer, Umatilla National Forest (541) 278-3722.  Learn more about the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Green Fire movie at www.aldoleopold.org .