Discover Your Forest, in collaboration with the Deschutes National Forest and Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, will begin their annual interpretive snow tours in the next few weeks.
Beginning December 19, 2015 visitors to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area can go on a snowshoe tour with a ranger, ski or snowboard Mt. Bachelor slopes with a ranger, or chat with a roving ranger around Mt. Bachelor. All interpretive programs focus on the ecology, geology and wildlife of the Cascades.
Snow conditions permitting, snowshoe programs will start Saturday, December 19, 2015 and run through Saturday, March 26, 2016. Interested participants will meet at the Forest Service snowshoeing hut located at Mt. Bachelor’s West Village at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on weekends and school break week days with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day. Tours last 90 minutes and snowshoes are provided for the tour. No prior experience is needed. Participants must be 10 years or older and should dress appropriately for cold weather.
On weekends beginning Saturday, December 26, 2015 and running through Saturday, March 26, 2016 an interpretive ski and snowboard tour will be offered on Mt. Bachelor’s groomed runs. The tour, which lasts an hour, begins at the top of the Pine Marten lift at 2 p.m. Participants are responsible for having lift tickets and appropriate equipment, as well as, basic riding skills. In addition, skiers and snowboarders will find interpretive rangers roving between Outback and Sunrise Express lifts ready to answer questions.
While both programs are free, a donation of $5 is suggested to help non-profit Discover Your Forest continue to provide educational programing and volunteer support to the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland.
Reservations are not required for individual participants. Group tours for schools, youth or other organizations may be scheduled for weekdays.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Gentry, Discover Your Forest’s director of education at (541)383-4771 or check the Snowshoe/Ski with a Ranger Hotline at (541) 383-4055 for up-to-date tour information.
