Oregon Caves has officially joined the ranks of an elite group of places worldwide, earning certification as an International Dark Sky Park from DarkSky International. It is the second such designated location in Oregon; the other is Prineville Reservoir State Park, and the nearby Oregon Outback holds the prestigious title of International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

This achievement marks the culmination of a multi-year effort by park staff to restore and enhance the natural darkness of the region, reflecting a broader commitment to conservation and the holistic stewardship of the Siskiyou Mountains’ unique ecosystem.

The History of Oregon Caves

Oregon Caves held significance for Native American tribes long before its establishment as a national monument. The cave system and surrounding lands were part of the ancestral territories of various Indigenous peoples, including the Takelma and Shasta tribes. While the caves themselves were not extensively used for habitation, the region’s natural features – including the caves, nearby rivers, and forests – were vital for cultural, spiritual, and practical purposes.

“Discovered” in 1859 by Elijah Davidson, a local prospector, the caves quickly became a geological curiosity, drawing visitors and sparking interest in their preservation. The monument designation in 1909, signed by President William Howard Taft, was a pivotal moment in the early conservation movement, setting aside the caves as a protected area under the National Park Service. In 2014, the park’s designation was expanded to include the surrounding National Preserve, a move aimed at preserving the area’s rich biodiversity and ecological significance.

Today, Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve spans 4,554 acres of diverse landscapes, including old-growth forests, alpine meadows, and rugged rock gardens. The preserve not only protects rare plant and animal species but also safeguards critical hydrological features like snow-fed streams that flow into the park’s subterranean cave system. These waters feed the River Styx, the nation’s only subterranean Wild and Scenic River.

Becoming a Dark Sky Park

The path to Dark Sky certification required significant effort and collaboration across multiple park divisions; a key component of this initiative was a comprehensive lighting assessment, which aimed to reduce light pollution without compromising the park’s historical integrity. This effort included modernizing lighting fixtures within the Historic District while preserving the park’s cultural landmarks. Simultaneously, the park established its first night sky monitoring program, tracking the conditions of the night sky over a three-year period.

The results, which reveal a remarkably pristine environment for stargazing, have positioned Oregon Caves as an unparalleled destination for night sky enthusiasts. “We are thrilled to join the Dark Sky community and play a role in preserving Oregon’s natural nightscapes,” said park superintendent Jeremy Curtis. “This certification reflects our dedication to ensuring that visitors can experience not only the natural wonders below ground but the celestial beauty above it.”

The night skies at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve have long been a hidden gem, offering a dazzling celestial spectacle free from the interference of urban light pollution. “The vast brilliance of the night sky above the park offers an incredibly immersive experience,” said Dr. Joshua Zimmt, who led the park’s application for Dark Sky status. “Even in small clearings throughout the forest, the stars are so vivid they create a breathtaking, almost otherworldly experience.”

Looking ahead, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve plans to continue its commitment to preserving the region’s natural darkness, both above and below ground. Future infrastructure improvements will adhere to DarkSky International’s best practices, ensuring that all updates support the park’s conservation goals while enhancing the visitor experience.

“This achievement is a testament to the power of conservation and community engagement,” said Amber Harrison, International Dark Sky Places Program Manager. “Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is the 46th site administered by the National Park Service to be inducted into the Dark Sky program, and its success offers a model for other parks aiming to protect natural and celestial resources alike.”

The certification as an International Dark Sky Park provides Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve with the opportunity to inspire visitors not only through its rich geological and ecological history but also by offering a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience, deeply rooted in the commitment to preserving the natural environment for generations to come.

The David Taylor Era at Oklahoma State has started off with a bang.  The Cowboys opened the season with a dominating performance on the road against Utah Valley.  The 38-6 victory in the season opener was Taylor’s first career team win as the skipper of the Oklahoma State program.

The No. 3 Cowboys took their perfect 1-0 record on the once again to take on the No. 24 Oregon State Beavers who are coached by three-time Oklahoma State All-American Chris Pendleton.  And for the second straight match this season, the Cowboys dominated.  Oklahoma State made it a clean weekend sweep as they dismantled the Beavers by a score of 36-3.

The dual kicked off at 125 pounds between a pair of ranked wrestlers.  No. 6 Troy Spratley of the Pokes and No. 24 Maximo Renteria of the Beavers.  The match went to overtime where Spratley was able to gain control of both ankles to secure the takedown and the 7-4 overtime decision.

No. 33 Cael Hughes took care of business against Damion Elliot of Oregon State to put the Cowboys on top early 6-0.  No. 14 ranked Tagen Jamison put Oklahoma State on top 10-0 when he took down Nash Singleton.

No. 18 Carter Young hit the mat at 141 and controlled the match racking up 2:03 seconds of riding time to come away with the 14-4 major decision. No. 5 ranked Cameron Amine was looking to avenge his loss against Utah Valley and did so in commanding fashion against Kekana Fourier.  Amine’s 13-3 victory put the Cowboys on top 18-3.

No. 5 Dean Hamiti Jr. defeated No. 33 ranked Sean Harman to push the Cowboys advantage to 23-3.  Oklahoma State’s Dustin Plott took his No. 3 ranking into the 184-pound match against Oregon State’s T.J. McDonnell.  McDonnell got an early takedown, but Plott settled down and went on a scoring spree.  He wrapped up the match with a 24-8 win.

The match of night rest on the shoulders of O-State’s Luke Surber who drew 7th ranked Trey Munoz in the 197-pound division.  Munoz is the son of former Oklahoma State All-American and NCAA champion Mark Munoz.  Surber weathered an early barrage by Munoz and jumped out to a 4-0 lead. When the dust settled on the match, Surber moved to 2-0 on the season with the 5-0 victory.

Oklahoma sent out one of the most athletic and dominant heavy weight wrestlers in No. 2 ranked Wyatt Hendrickson to close out duel.  Hendrickson left no doubts on the table with a 16-1 win and a 36-3 team victory.  The Cowboys have now scored over 30 points in both matches this season.

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With only a few games remaining in the college football season, the race for the Heisman Trophy is heating up. After a tough 16-13 win against the Wisconsin Badgers on the road, it appears that the No. 1 Oregon Ducks’ quarterback Dillon Gabriel is falling behind the other three Heisman candidates.

Gabriel’s betting odds to win the Heisman Trophy average from +2200 to +2500. Ahead of Gabriel is Miami senior quarterback Cam Ward (+1400), junior running back from Boise State Ashton Jeanty (+350), and Colorado’s junior cornerback and wide receiver double-threat Travis Hunter (+100). Hunter is favored by every available betting odds website to win the Heisman entering Week 12.

Gabriel falling behind in the Heisman race can be directly attributed to Oregon’s game against the Badgers, which was Gabriel’s worst performance of the season. For the first time this season, Gabriel did not throw for a passing touchdown. Gabriel completed 22-31 passes for 218 yards and an interception. He also struggled with mid to deep ball targets, only hitting 43% of targets over 15-yards. 

Typically known for his legs, Gabriel’s rushing attempts fell flat due to the Badgers’ defense. Gabriel picked up seven yards on 11 rushing attempts, with his last four rushing plays of the game all picking up negative yards.

 “I thought we moved the ball really well early,” Gabriel said in his post game press conference. “Thought we had some good things going early. And getting the first first [down], and moving it that way, but just struggled sometimes in third downs and then taking negatives on my end. So all that doesn’t help in playing efficient. But I think you look at certain drives when we needed it, I thought we played really well.”

Where the Oregon offense and Gabriel really struggled was converting third downs. Oregon was 5-15 on third downs, with three of those failed attempts coming on incompletions from Gabriel. Though the third down conversion problem can also be traced to the shut-down of the run game by the Badgers, those three incompletions were crucial.

However, there were still some amazing plays made by the Heisman hopeful this game. Entering the fourth quarter, the Ducks were on a fourth down on Wisconsin’s 41-yard line. Instead of punting, coach Dan Lanning trusted Gabriel to convert on a fourth down.

Gabriel scrambled left to find a target, sent a pass flying through three different Wisconsin defenders, and landed it right in the hands of tight end Terrance Ferguson for a 15-yard first down. This conversion directly set up a Jordan James 11-yard rushing touchdown three plays later, the Ducks’ only touchdown drive of the game.

“Find a way,” Gabriel said during the postgame broadcast on FOX. “Whatever it takes. We had a bunch of unselfish players that want to win. It didn’t look the way maybe people thought it would, but that ‘W’ on the scoreboard is all that matters.”

The Wisconsin game was Gabriel’s 60th career start, the most amongst current FBS quarterbacks. He also broke the NCAA total touchdown record against Maryland with 179 touchdowns. 

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