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Winter is Coming

A snow lovers guide to staying busy this winter

Oregon Trail of Dreams

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Happenings

Oregon Trail of Dreams Sled Dog Rides

Bundle up, sit back, and let the dogs do the work. Oregon Trail of Dreams offers sled dog rides from the base of Mt. Bachelor to Elk Lake Lodge complimented by views of Broken Top and Three Sisters. Sleds hold four people and trips run about an hour long, but an extended, half-day trip is also offered—the marathon 26-mile loop complete with lunch at the lodge. The owners are a father-daughter team and three-time competitors in the Iditarod, the epic 1,200-mile race across Alaska.

Hut to Hut Travel Extended

Three Sisters Backcountry has recently built two new ski huts connecting a 22-mile Nordic course over rolling ungroomed terrain—sometimes skier packed, sometimes powder—along the eastern boundary of Three Sisters Wilderness. The Metolius Windigo Trail travels via Dutchman Flat through Happy Valley, ending at Upper Three Creeks Sno Park near Sisters, and reaches 6,500 feet in elevation. All the comforts of home are available at the huts. threesistersbackcountry.com

Know Before You Go

Central Oregon Avalanche Association offers free, basic avalanche awareness courses once a month through winter. The course includes discussion on the basics of avalanche terrain and instability, safe travel protocol, rescue equipment and procedures, current conditions and product testing. Second Tuesdays each month through the winter season, 6 pm at the Broken Top Bottle Shop, Free.

Elk Lake Resort in Winter

Surrounded by the peaks of South Sister, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor, Elk Lake Resort in winter is a haven for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing—but you'll have to take a snowcat or snowmobile in. Elk Lake Resort opens Thanksgiving weekend for the winter season beginning with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and acoustic music at the lodge.

VertFest

Three tiers of ski mountaineering are being offered this winter at Mt. Bachelor's classic uphill race that offers a 4,000- and 2,000-foot climb, and for the recreationalist, the Cone Lap. The event is presented by Outdoor Research, hosted at Mt. Bachelor and supported by the Central Oregon Avalanche Association. Feb. 7 & 8 at Mt. Bachelor-West Village, $35.

Snowbusters Drag Races

Procaliber and Central Oregon Snowbusters present Snowmobile Drag Races at Wanoga Sno-Park. This two-day event divides sledheads into classes for trophies and cash, in stock and improved categories. Snowbusters was formed in 2009 to maintain and groom more than 250 miles of snowmobile trails abutting Mt. Bachelor. And it wouldn't be a snowmobile competition without the Outlaw Class that encourages snowmobilers to "Run What Ya Brung—Winner Takes All." Races start at 10:30 am, Feb. 8 & 9, Wanoga Sno-Park

WinterFest

Oregon WinterFest hosts three days of events including rail jams, music, arts, ice climbing, 5K and 10K runs, and a wine walk. All day, Feb. 13-15, Old Mill District.

Films

Matchstick Productions presents Days of My Youth

A cinematic perspective on skiing as a way of life and the introspection it lends skiers, shooting the best of the best in ski terrain including Norway, Peru and Alaska. 7 pm, Nov. 1 at Volcanic Theatre Pub, $15.

Boondockers, 509 Films, Schooled Films, Thunderstruck, Alpine Assassins and others present Sledfilm14

Chronicling pro riders, this snowmobile film event presents a different show and different films each night. And as the producers say, "You will want to go to both." Nov. 7 at 7 pm, Nov. 8 at 6 pm at the Tower Theatre, $8.

Warren Miller's No Turning Back

Sixty-five years and counting, the film is the latest in this classic ski film tradition, spanning the globe's best ski terrain including Japan, Europe and the U.S. with athletes including Ingrid Backstrom, Seth Morrion, Julian Carr, Tyler Ceccanti and others. 6 & 8:30 pm, Nov. 13-15 at The Old Stone Church, $17.

Powderhound Preview

Pine Mountain Sports presents its annual local ski film festival while enticing local winter sports enthusiasts with pow footage, both on film and slides, and in an outdoor gear raffle and schwag giveaway to benefit the Central Oregon Trail Alliance and Deschutes County Search and Rescue. Nov. 19, 6 pm at the Tower Theatre, film entries welcome, $10/club members, $14/door.

Nordic

Nordic Season Start

Meissner Nordic hosts its season opener and celebration, 6-7:30 pm, Dec. 1, Broken Top Bottle Shop.

Tour for the Heart

Get your skis waxed. Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center and The Center & Therapeutic Associates is hosting the fourth annual Tour for the Heart. A 5K cross-country ski or snowshoe race is a benefit for the American Heart Association with a focus on women's heart disease education and research. Jan. 25, Mt. Bachelor.

Luminaria

Luminaria, an annual Meissner Nordic club fundraiser and tradition skiing by light of luminarias, 5:30-9 pm, Feb.14, Meissner Shelter.