If you could only watch one cross-country meet in the season, go out to Heppner. It’s the ultimate, stripped-down version of what the sport is all about. Dust rises from the pack of runners. Weeds crunch under spikes as a handful of spectators look out under desolately beautiful blue skies.

It’s human nature to shy away from discomfort and disappointment- although you can learn so much more from a bad or a tough race than you can from a perfect one; it’s better to learn when there are still four weeks until Districts. Tough races are how we grow as runners- and as people.

Pretty has its place. So does grit. And it showed up with the TDHS Cross Country team on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Portland. Labored steps, flush cheeks and draining the tank were common themes as local harriers posted some personal bests.

Following the disappointing cancellation of a long awaited meet in the Wallowas, The Dalles High School Cross Country pulled together to set twenty-five personal bests at the Oregon City Invitational.

Follow Cole Goodwin and other local people as they prepare for this year’s challenge!

With mildly scorching temperatures, the teams’ times were just as hot for The Dalles, Henkle, Glenwood, and fellow Tri-Valley League team Estacada.

The Dalles High School Cross Country team went for a run in the mud last weekend in Tillamook. And today, Sept. 8, they host the Bridget Nelson Invitational for the first time at The Dalles Country Club. Races begin at 3 p.m.

Riverhawk Run on Saturday at Discovery Center provided a chance for students and the community to run together in what is a preview of times to come as cross-country track gets started this fall.

Walkers and runners, mark your calendar for Saturday, Aug. 27th as The Dalles Cross Country teams will host the Riverhawk Run/Walk at the Discovery Center at 8 a.m.

TDHS Grad Emily Peterson hits midpoint on Pacific Crest Trail on her way to the Canadian Terminus. 1,325 miles down. 1,325 miles to go. Trail magic, chocolate cake, and hope of seeing Oregon in August fuel hiker’s feet.

Leaving the Hook in Hood River, guests will launch on the Columbia River, paddling and exploring the landscape with guides from Hood River SUP and Kayak. Guides and educators will lead discussions on local birds and the cultural and ecological history of the area throughout the excursion. All kayaking gear and guides are included with the trip reservation.

District wildlife biologists will present proposed statewide and local changes to the 2023 hunting seasons, answer questions and ask for attendees’ feedback. A meeting is slated for Thursday, July 14 at 6 p.m. in The Dalles.

TD Grad Emily Peterson, AKA Zombie, has surpassed 950 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail but not without some major effort. These past 13 days, she has been through big elevation gains and losses covering 7 mountain passes in six days in just one stretch.

Shoes were poppin’ on the Fourth of July in The Dalles as runners lined up for the Rocket Run at Lewis Clark Festival Park at 7 a.m. Harriers put up some good numbers on a picture-perfect morning against the backdrop of the Columbia River along the Riverfront Trail.

Hattie Fletcher, experienced whitewater rafter shares her first column on whitewater rafting as recreation in the Columbia River Gorge.

Ryan LaDouceur, who was raised in The Dalles, is returning to The Dalles to take on the Principal position at The Dalles Middle School. He has more than 16 years of educational experience in schools spanning the globe with stints as an administrator in Japan, China, Germany, and South Korea. He was also a 4A champ while Wrestling with TDHS in 1999 and brings years of coaching experience in the sport.

Emily Peterson now stands at mile 788 on the Pacific Crest Trail and has run a gauntlet of sickness and exhaustion during the past 13 days. And equally so, the TDHS grad has gone from moments of wanting to throw in the towel to sublime peace while gazing at deep blue mountain lakes and the Sierra Mountains in California. Sometimes, you have to sit down and accept your existence.

On Monday June 13th, Mayor Rich Mays and The Dalles City Council honored six of the Riverhawk Track squad, in recognition of their high achievement at the State meet and their season- or two- of hard work.

“He told us he used to be the mascot for the Dodgers and he met celebrities Zach Efron, Larry David and Matthew McConaughey. He was this really tall dude in this Prius. And he had BadAss Billy’s Beef Jerky, and he would sell it to hikers while Ubering. He sold some to my hiking buddy.”

Taylor Morehouse ended his senior season literally on top, with a fifteen-foot and state championship-winning jump in the pole vault, a half-foot ahead of Silverton’s Joel Rush. With the entire stadium clapping, he barely missed his attempts at 15’9”, which would’ve broken The Dalles’ record. Still, he was pleased with his season- with an improvement of over a foot over the past few weeks.