I've lived in Bend, Oregon for a very long time now. I've been around long enough to see it get below zero many times. It always makes laugh too. People are always so shocked how cold it is. Which, it really isn't that cold... due to the sun we get with it.The only time I consider our weather here in Central Oregon to be unbearable is when the wind is blowing with these cold temperatures. Then you are talking about the difference between maybe -8 degrees with no wind, and maybe -20 degrees. At least feels like that much of a gap.
The first Photograph in this post, was taken a few years ago. It is off of Highway 20, on the East side of Bend. The air was cold enough to freeze what little moisture resides in your nasal passage as you inhaled that night. You could feel a sharp, crisp, and almost refreshing tingle in your throat.
This next photo is from my mother's drive way. Also taken a few years ago, on the same night as the other. These are some Central Oregon Juniper Bushes, that lined her driveway at the time. These bushes probably stood about four feet tall, six in their longest areas. With this snow fall, they were weighed down to about two and half feet.When it gets into the lower temps like this, the snow loses a lot of its moisture qualities. It becomes dry, and crumbly. If you look at the photograph closely, you can see sparkles. This is very common when the snow reaches this consistency. It almost seems unreal.
I love Bend for all the seasons. The winter especially. The "snowbirds" (people who like the cold and winter activities Central Oregon has to offer) are always fun to hang out with this time of year. Mt. Bachelor always draws world famous skiers and snowboarders to Bend. It also produces them... With epic Bachelor runs like Old Skyliner, Red Chair (also a Deschutes Brewery IPA), Outback Express, Downunder West, West Village Getback and dozens more!
If you were to turn right on Cooley Road, you'd pass this old boarded up farm house. It's off to the right hand side of Cooley, almost immediately after you turn onto the street. The house is abandoned (possibly foreclosed...) and I though it'd be an interesting landscape style of photo to take. The trees helped to add some character to the photograph, or so I thought.
The camera didn't quite capture the mountain that appears to be at the end of Cooley Road, the way I had hoped it would. Now, there really isn't a mountain at the end of Cooley, but standing where I was, it was sort of an optical illusion that appeared to be so. Standing in middle of road on Cooley, the asphalt appears to run on into eternity. I had hoped to capture that feeling here, but the image just didn't quite get there.
This is the Welcoming sign to Bend Oregon as you come in to town from Sisters & Tumalo on Highway 20. According to the sign that stands today (August 25, 2009), Bend's population is 80,995. This sign is just off Cooley road, and the mall lies just off to the South East of here. 
This photo is taken of the left fork or the paved route. By following this you actually walk away, sort of, then hairpin back to road. This will keep you on the paved portion of the road to the top, rather than the dirt trail.
This image is on the decent. Rounding the first corner as you leave the viewing area, you met by a spiraling downward road. I thought this old snag was kind of interesting, so I snapped a picture of it.
As you round the old snag and walk down a couple feet, if you turn to your left, you can see all the way down 15th Street. It looks off to the South East. You can see by this photo it's kind of a smokey August summer.
This photo is of Pilot Butte Middle School's track. It kind of stick outs against a lot of the Central Oregon landscape. This is just off Neff Road, and one of several middle schools in Bend.
My final shot is of Highway 20 Eastward. You can see Smolich Motors, and Hertz in this photo. Follow this Highway East and you'll head toward Prineville, Burns, and Idaho.
These are photos of an old Chinese restaurant in Bend, called the Shanghai Garden. It was a well known place for years, but now is out of business. An empty building and for lease signs are now all that remain of this once busy restaurant...
This building was (for a long time) a local pool, spa, and stove place. I remember going here once or twice as a kid with my parents. A large pool was out front with a fountain and an over-sized kid's play floaty could often be seen covering the sidewalk most summers. Now... an empty building and lot.
