Travel: Bend is Oregon's winter wonderland

Near the heavily wooded high-desert town of Bend, Oregon, winter brings an abundance of sunshine, dry snow to the slopes of the Eastern Cascades, blanketing mountain peaks in piles of the powdery stuff ski dreams are made from.

For locals and visitors alike, Bend and its surrounding areas offer an irresistible mixture of Pacific Northwest snow fun: skiing and snowboarding on mighty Mount Bachelor, cross-country skiing on the region's extensive network of cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snow tubing, ice skating and even dog sledding.

Last winter, I took a direct flight from California to Central Oregon and landed on the charmingly low-key Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) – a half-hour drive north of Bend and 45 minutes from my overnight accommodation in the comfy hotel Lodge at Sunriverthe favored resort town nestled in a pine forest near the Deschutes River.

The next morning I met a naturalist snowshoe guide, Jose Olalde, a native Oregonian and lead guide of Wanderlust Tours, for a half-day, three-mile snowshoe tour at the favored Meissner Sno-Park, west of the town of Bend within the Deschutes National Forest. Nordic skiers and snowshoers flock here to explore the park's network of trails across rolling terrain stuffed with lodgepole pines and firs, a few of that are covered in vivid green lichen.

Guide Jose Olalde leads a snowshoe tour through the wooded surroundings of Meissner Sno-Park outside Bend, Oregon. (Photo by Ben Davidson)
Guide Jose Olalde leads a snowshoe tour through the wooded surroundings of Meissner Sno-Park outside Bend, Oregon. (Photo by Ben Davidson)

Our group had limited snowshoeing experience, but we soon mastered the strategy of snowshoeing. Wide and bulky-looking, snowshoes are extremely effective tools for climbing in otherwise inaccessible winter terrain. They not only offer an awesome workout, but additionally a superb opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and the unique atmosphere of the winter forest.

As we followed the winding trails of the Snopark, we saw delicate pine marten and fox tracks within the deep snow leading into the forest. A vivid sun solid sharp shadows on the trees and all the things was silent, as if the forest was having fun with an extended hibernation. Here and there our guide took us off-piste in untracked snow and at last reached our lunch stop: the distant Meissner Hut, an easy wood hut with a wood stove and benches inside.

Explore the forests and a warming hut at Meissner Sno-Park outside Bend on a guided snowshoe tour. (Photo by Ben Davidson)
Explore the forests and a warming hut at Meissner Sno-Park outside Bend on a guided snowshoe tour. (Photo by Ben Davidson)

Jose heated the iron stove with firewood he had collected from a big pile in front of the cabin and used it to heat the burritos and cocoa he carried in his backpack. Deep within the wintry forest, in the heat of the cabin, it was quiet and delightful and felt like an actual retreat into nature. I used to be grateful for my chunky snowshoes that gave me this unforgettable, soul-pampering snow adventure. Details: wanderlusttours.com

Excellent skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor Resort

A skier whizzes over the wide slopes on the Unterberg of Mt. Bachelor. (Photo by Ben Davidson)
A skier whizzes over the wide slopes on the Unterberg of Mt. Bachelor. (Photo by Ben Davidson)

Bend's famous ski hill, Mount Bachelor, is definitely a 9,068-foot dormant volcano. It rises like Mount Fuji over the Central Oregon landscape about 22 miles west of Bend. Built on the slopes of an ancient shield volcano, the understated Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort is the seventh-largest ski area in North America, offering 4,323 acres of terrain with 12 lifts that provide access to 101 trails for skiing in a season where this is feasible and snowboarding have lasted six months. Bachelor runs offer an elevation gain of three,365 feet, enough to place a giant smile on the face of any snow sports enthusiast.

It was rated as the highest intermediate terrain resort within the Northwest and was the right mountain for an intermediate skier and snowboarder like myself. I picked up some demo skis at Mountain Gateway's base village and spent an extended day exploring the lower mountain on cruiser slopes like Bluebird and Cliffhanger. The upper mountain was shrouded in thick clouds and closed the day I visited, but when open, the upper mountain offers breathtaking black and double black diamond runs, including the famous Cirque Bowl, a must-see for advanced skiers and snowboarders. For Nordic skiers, Bachelor also offers 56 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails. Details: mtbachelor.com

Paw powered snow adventure

A dog sledding adventure with the Oregon Trail of Dreams takes winter enthusiasts on a 26-mile paw-powered ride from Mt. Bachelor to Elk Lake Lodge and back. (Photo by Ben Davidson)
A dog sledding adventure with the Oregon Trail of Dreams takes winter enthusiasts on a 26-mile paw-powered ride from Mt. Bachelor to Elk Lake Lodge and back. (Photo by Ben Davidson)

We began a dog sledding adventure nearby Oregon Trail of DreamsOwned and operated by Rachael Scdoris (along along with her husband Nick and father Jerry Scdoris), a world-renowned athlete who finished first Iditarod in 2006. Riding with Rachael and her sporty dog ​​team was a novel, cool 26-mile journey with majestic views of snow-capped Broken Top, the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor on the strategy to the distant Elk Lake Lodge where we had a enjoyed a beautiful lunch. Details: mtbachelor.com

Holiday on ice

There's no higher strategy to enjoy winter than gliding across the sparkling surface of an ice rink, feeling the fresh air in your cheeks and the blades of your ice skates skimming across the surface. It's pure Snoopy-like joy.

Ice skating in Bend is a great family-friendly activity, and whether you're a seasoned pro or a shaky beginner, you'll find rinks perfect for all skill levels in Bend. Ice rinks are situated in downtown Bend, Sunriver Resort and Redmond. Lace up your skates and embark on a journey of ice fun. Details: visitbend.com

Cultural variety

There are loads of après-ski activities and attractions within the Bend area away from the snow: shops, restaurants, brewpubs, bookstores, art galleries and wine tasting spots.

A dog sledding adventure with the Oregon Trail of Dreams takes winter enthusiasts on a 26-mile paw-powered ride from Mt. Bachelor to Elk Lake Lodge and back. (Photo by Ben Davidson)
A docent on the High Desert Museum shows visitors a falcon, certainly one of several birds of prey that live on the museum. (Photo by Ben Davidson)

A must-see cultural spot is the High Desert Museum. Located south of Bend on 135 acres with greater than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, the museum features all the things from high desert animals like foxes, snakes, birds of prey and owls to living history actors re-enacting Central Oregon's pioneer days. A current exhibit (running through January 12) is “Sensing Sasquatch,” which explores the past, present and way forward for Sasquatch (also often known as Bigfoot) within the High Desert region through the eyes and legends of the indigenous people of the Northwest researched. Next up (February 1 – September 7) is Japanese immigrant and photographer Frank S. Matsura's visually arresting and nuanced work, Portraits from the Borderland, which features images of indigenous peoples within the early twentieth century. Details: highdesertmuseum.org

Where to remain

The Lodge at Sunriver

This popular lodge south of Bend offers luxurious rooms with fireplaces and patios, two excellent restaurants and the favored Owl's Nest pub, where I had a really entertaining trivia and taco night on Tuesday evening. Resort guests are offered round-trip transportation to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. Details: sunriverresort.com

WinterFest

The Bend WinterFest in mid-February is a preferred annual celebration featuring live music, ice sculptures, a winter carnival, and rides (Ferris wheel riding within the snow!) Details: oregonwinterfest.com

image credit : www.mercurynews.com