BEND, Ore. — Walking my curious, people-loving, 11-month-old Alaskan Husky mix means I often get wrapped up in conversations with strangers. On a recent Sunday afternoon, one such conversation played out in a neighborhood park between another dog owner and me.
He was an employee of Bend Park & Recreation District. As he threw the ball for his Labrador retriever, the conversation turned to work, and thus the local parks. He was brimming with knowledge about the layout of the city and the nearby trails.
I asked him about the best place for dog walking this time of year. His answer was to take the Deschutes River Trail from Sawyer Park to the northernmost point of the trail system at Kirkaldy Court off Putnam Road. The views on this section of the trail are one of a kind, he said.
So, recently, with the city blanketed in a thick layer of snow, I followed his advice. My dog, Juno, and I stepped out of our vehicle and into the monochromatic winter wonderland that was Sawyer Park. Trees bowed under the weight of the heavy, wet snow, providing a stark contrast in the whiteout conditions.