THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 P3
Two books, one celebration to check out this month
BY ERICKA BRUNSON-
ROCHETTE
Community Librarian
There is a lot of book buzz
happening in April. Between
visits from the award-winning
author of “The Last Cuen-
tista” and a month-long series
of programs around “I Can
Make This Promise,” ending
with an opportunity for stu-
dents to have a conversation
with the author. These are two
books, and a whole lot of cel-
ebrating, that you definitely
don’t want to miss.
submitted photo
Ericka Brunson-Rochette
”The Last Cuentista” by
Donna Barba Higuera
Just like her abuelita, Pe-
tra Peña believes that stories
hold more than just the clues
to the past — they also have
the ability to shape the future.
There is nothing that Petra
needs more right now than
belief that the future will hold
the answers, because the pres-
ent, as she knows it, is about to
come to an end.
“The Last Cuentista” was
the 2022 recipient of the
Pura Belpré Award and was
awarded the 2022 John New-
berry Medal.
Deschutes Public Library is
honored to welcome author
Donna Barba Higuera at the
end of April for a number of
events celebrating El día de
los niños/El día de los libros
or “day of the child/day of the
book.”
Higuera will be at Hugh
Hartman Elementary, 2105 W
Antler Ave., from 6-8 p.m. on
Friday, April 29.
”I Can Make This Promise”
by Christine Day
Edie, 12, has very little to
question when it comes to her
fairly run of the mill family.
She has a doting father and
a caring mother, both who
adore her. Eddie knows that
her Native American mother
was adopted by a White fam-
ily when she was a baby, but
there isn’t much more in her
family’s history that is all that
out of the ordinary. Or is
there?
“I Can Make This Promise”
is Deschutes Public Library’s
2022 A Novel Idea Youth ti-
tle selection. Throughout
the month of April and early
May, there will be a variety of
events focused on this title,
including in-person author
events, all of which can be
found on DPL’s online events
calendar.
Art with a Dog is scheduled
for Tuesday, April 12; 4-5 p.m.
with supplies provided. Art
kits are available Saturday,
April 23. Supplies are de-
signed for ages 6-11, and are
limited.
Author Christine Day in
conversation with students is
set for Thursday, May 5 from
11 a.m. to noon.
An easy trek to Steelhead Falls
BY MARK MORICAL
For the Spokesman
A
fter all my jaunts
throughout Central
Oregon over the past
20 years, I still occasionally
venture to special spots that
are new to me — even well-
known locations.
Steelhead Falls is one such
area. For some reason, I had
yet to make the drive o the
stunning falls, located near
Crooked River Ranch along
the Middle Deschutes. It is lo-
cated about 10 miles north of
Redmond.
The area provided the per-
fect short hike for a quick
Sunday getaway with my son,
Mason, 14. Lately, I find that
hiking is the best outdoor ac-
tivity for conversation with my
kids, including daughter Mi-
ley, 12, and to catch up on the
details of their middle school
lives. Running, mountain bik-
ing and skiing are great, but
are not always the best for
communication.
The relatively easy hike near
Steelhead Falls offers a wel-
coming escape into nature
with family or friends.
The falls are just a half-mile
trek from the trailhead. The
trail follows a short downhill
section into the canyon carved
by the Deschutes.
The path flattens quickly
and follows the river along the
canyon to Steelhead Falls. Yel-
low wildflowers were just be-
ginning to bloom on our trip,
and will no doubt be more
spectacular later in the spring.
The trail includes several
areas to access the river for
rainbow and brown trout fish-
ing. This stretch of the river
is open to trout fishing year-
round, but restricted to artifi-
cial flies and lures.
Once the heat of summer
descends on the High Desert,
the 25-foot cliffs near the falls
are popular areas from which
to jump into the river for a
swim.
From Steelhead Falls, the
Deschutes River flows toward
the waters of Lake Billy Chi-
nook, where it connects with
the Crooked and Metolius
rivers.
After enjoying the scenic
falls, Mason and I continued
hiking farther downstream.
We scrambled over some
rocks and continued to where
the river turned west. Unique,
castle-like rock formations
lined the river canyon.
The trail transformed
from a rocky path to a grassy
meadow, and then to narrow,
cliffside singletrack.
After about 1½ miles of hik-
ing, we turned around to head
back the way we had come.
We ended up hiking about 3
miles in 90 minutes. It was just
enough time to enjoy our sur-
roundings while reconnecting
without the distractions of lap-
tops, phones and iPads.
Those who want to add
mileage to a hike in the Steel-
head Falls area can take the
Foley Waters trail off the south
end of the Steelhead Falls
parking area. Foley Waters is
also a popular fishing area.
Overnight camping is also
available near the Steelhead
Falls trailhead. Sites are first-
come, first-served.
The Steelhead Falls trail is
managed by the Bureau of
Land Management and main-
tained by volunteers of the
Friends and Neighbors of the
Deschutes River Canyon, oth-
erwise known as FANs.
█
Reporter: 541-383-0318,
mmorical@bendbulletin.com
Mark Morical/The Bulletin
ABOVE: Intriguing rock formations line the canyon along the
Deschutes River near Steelhead Falls. BELOW: Two hikers make their
way downstream from Steelhead Falls.
Steelhead Falls on the Middle
Deschutes near Crooked River
Ranch.
Steelhead Falls
Directions: From Redmond, head north on U.S. Highway 97 to Ter-
rebonne and turn west on N.E. Lower Bridge Way. Go 2 miles and
take a right on N.W. 43rd Street. Follow that 1.8 miles to Chinook
Drive. Go almost a mile and take a left onto Badger Road. Travel 1
mile and turn right on Quail Road. Follow Quail Road for .5 mile and
take a left on River Road. Take River Road downhill to the Steelhead
Falls Trailhead and campground.
From Bend, it’s about 35 miles and a 45-minute drive.
More information: www.blm.gov/visit/steelhead-falls-trail
Ways you
can support
Thelma’s Place:
• Vehicle donations
• Cash donations
• Sponsorships
• Volunteer
CHILD CARE
AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM
Your support makes a difference!
Redmond: 541-548-3049
Day Respite and Support Groups
www.thelmasplace.org
Mark Morical/The Bulletin