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 .

Wilderness First Aid course with the EOU Outdoor Program

This past weekend (April 14 & 15) the Wilderness Medical Associates instructed a first-class Wilderness First Aid course at Eastern Oregon University, with many of the Outdoor Program staff taking part. WMA instructor Gary Holt ran a great course, with numerous scenarios (including "disaster make-up), and the high quality curriculum that WMA is known for. Below are a few photos from the weekend. See more photos on our Facebook page.



Beginning Rock Climbing PES180 - April 6-8

A few photos from last weekend's Beginning Rock Climbing course. More photos on our Facebook page (search Eastern Oregon University Outdoor Prorgam). 

What do you do?

BioLite Camp Stove - coming to EOU?

Check out this incredible product video. BioLite Camp Stove is a camp stove (obviously!) and highly portable energy producer. This companies other products are similar, though on a larger scale and have the possibility to positively affect the lives of millions of people around the world.

If we purchased one or more of these stoves for use on our courses and trips, as well as for FREE student rental, would you use it?

Send us your feedback at gisaak@eou.edu or stop by the Outdoor Program and let us know what you think.