Forest Service offers tours to enjoy snow
Beginning this weekend, the Deschutes National Forest, Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, and Discover Your Forest will offer snowshoe tours and ski/snowboard tours at Mt. Bachelor. In addition to the tours, roving rangers will add to visitors’ enjoyment of the area.
As snow conditions allow on all weekends and school breaks, snowshoe tours will be offered from Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 to Sunday, March 30, 2014. Ski/Snowboard tours also are offered, but, unlike the snowshoe tours, do require a lift ticket and equipment.No reservations are required for individuals, but group tours do require a reservation.
Snowshoe Tours: Learn or practice snowshoe skills while experiencing the High Cascades’ ecology, geology, and wildlife. Two tours will be offered daily at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and week days during school breaks, except on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Tours will start at the Forest Service snowshoe hut in Mt. Bachelor’s West Village. Snowshoes are provided and no prior experience is necessary. Participants must be 10 years old or older, wear warm boots and clothing. Tours last about 90 minutes.
Ski/Snowboard Tours: While enjoying groomed runs on Mt. Bachelor learn more about the Cascades. Tours will be offered on Saturday and Sundayat 2 p.m. starting at the top of Pine Marten lift. Tours require a lift ticket and ski/snowboard equipment and last one hour. Basic skills and control are required.
For both the Snowshoe and Ski/Snowboard Tours there is a suggested donation of $10 per person to support Discover Your Forest programming. Discover Your Forest is a local non-profit supporting the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River Grassland.
Roving Rangers: Be on the lookout for Forest Service Interpretive Rangers roving between the Outback and Sunrise Express areas as well as the lodges. They will answer questions and give impromptu talks.
Group Tours: Group tours are available during the week and can be arranged for schools, youth and other organized groups. Reservations are required.
Contact: Call the Snowshoe/Ski with a Ranger Hotline (541) 383-4055 for up-to-date tour information. Contact Discover Your Forest Education Program Coordinator Karen Gentry at (541) 383-4771 or karen.gentry@discovernw.org for more detailed information or to schedule a group tour.
