Today is the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. The first day of summer, often referred to as the summer solstice, is a special solar event celebrated globally, marking the longest day of the year in terms of daylight. This usually occurs on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, and December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere. The term "solstice" comes from the Latin words 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to stand still), reflecting the sun aappears to pause in its path at this time. This pause gives us the most daylight of any day in the year, and symbolizes the switch from the waxing light of spring to the waning light leading into autumn.
So, enjoy the extended sunlight of the solstice, and get outdoors and enjoy a active, safe, and fun summer enjoying the warmth, forest, camping, wildflowers, exploring trails on foot and bike, swimming in lakes, and paddling rivers.
The Metolius River is a tributary of the Deschutes River in central Oregon. It's one of the largest spring-fed rivers in the United States.
