Central Oregon Nordic Club upcoming events

Sunday Hike: Whychus Canyon Preserve (15 Nov 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Description: Explore the Whychus Canyon post-2025 Flat Fire. It is reported that although much of the upper bench was completely burned, much of the creekside canyon was fully preserved! So we will see both worlds.

Distance: 5 mile loop. Plan to spend 4-5 hours on this trip including drive time.

Elevation gain/loss: 400 feet of gain

What to bring: Ten essentials, water, snack/lunch, and proper footwear (no tennis shoes or sandals). Weather is predicted to be cold (mid-40s) and wet (60% chance), avoid cotton clothing (including blue jeans). Wear fabrics that stay warm even when wet (polyester and merino wool-based fabrics). Dogs are not allowed on this hike.

Difficulty level: Easy-Intermediate.

Number of hikers: 10 hikers including hike leader.

Carpooling: Carpooling can be arranged at the meeting place. Be prepared to leave by 10:00 am sharp from The Grove. If you ride with someone, please donate to their gas fund.

Meeting place: The Grove in NW Crossing: 921 NW Mount Washington Drive, Bend. We'll grab a table in the general seating area, near Thump. Come early to grab a coffee and chat with others before we arrange carpools.

Contact: Eric Ness: 971-708-3404

Snowshoe New Sign Day!- Swampy Loop (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Swampy Loop Sign Install

Tuesday, November 17th

8:00 to 3:00

We have 4 new signs to install on the swampy loop. We will also be installing several new trail crossing markers.

We will hike the swampy loop for the new signs/markers. So even though we may be doing this in the snow it is relatively short hike! This day will involve carrying the signs, a ladder and pole saws.

Plans

Tuesday, November 17th
(Current Forecast) . Partly sunny, with a high in the 40’s
Meet at Bend Parks & Recreation District Office Lot at 799 SW Columbia St (where the kayaks are in the roundabout) at 8:00 AM
We will park in the the parking spots closest to the river

Group up. Drive to Swampy Lakes Sno-Park
Long-sleeve shirts, glasses, gloves and hard hats. Wear good sturdy shoes. Spikes might be useful if you have them, but there should be no or very little snow on the trail but we might have some new snow! We might even get snowed on! Dress accordingly please.
I will have a couple of extra hard hats.
Bring katanaboy or silky hand saws if you have one if you wish. I will bring two pole saws.
Expect to return to town by 3:00PM

Please either sign-up on the

CONC website

or email me at tmossinger@me.com to let me know if you are if you are interested in helping.

Questions, email me or give me a call at 925-683-2969

Thanks for your support of the trails!!

Tom Mossinger

Winter in Yellowstone, 2027 Trip A (3 Jan 2027)

Sun, 03 Jan 2027 08:00:00 GMT

Winter in Yellowstone 2027

Absaroka Lodge, Gardiner, Montana

Trip A: Sunday, January 3 to Friday, January 08, 2027 (5 Nights and 4 Ski Days)

Trip B: Monday, January 11 to Saturday, January 16, 2027 (5 Nights and 4 Ski Days)

Come join your CONC members this January to ski and view wildlife at Yellowstone! The price for this trip includes five (5) nights lodging, a shuttle from Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel to the Indian Creek Cross Country Ski Area to ski surrounded by the spectacular mountain scenery on Swan Lake Flats, and other ski destinations selected by your guide where wildlife will be the focus. While not yet confirmed, plans are also underway to travel by snowcoach to ski along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We are fortunate to have CONC member George Wuerthner, a Montana native and former Yellowstone guide, returning to lead our ski tours of this magnificent area.

Weather and group interest will dictate the daily ski outings, with hiking and soaking in the hot springs also an option. Daily 4–6-mile ski tours will be on rolling terrain in forests and meadows in and out of Yellowstone National Park. We will stay at the Absaroka Lodge where each of the rooms has two Queen beds and views of Electric Peak. You will be responsible for all meals including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. All rooms have a small refrigerator and a microwave.

The trip will require a minimum of 6 and be limited to a maximum of 9 intermediate or higher skiers. You must be comfortable skiing off groomed trails with equipment and clothing that can handle terrain and the potentially cold and windy winter weather. Backcountry skis will be needed. While much of the terrain is gentle, some hills occasionally require the ability to slow down and/or climb. If you are comfortable with your ability to ski the loop to Swampy Shelter or the trail to Todd Lake under all conditions, then this trip is for you!

Getting to Gardiner by car will take approximately two days so expect to spend a night in Kellogg, ID or Missoula, MT. You can also fly to Bozeman, MT and take a rental car to Gardiner. You may wish to add some additional days to your trip for other activities, such as skiing at Harriman State Park or Big Sky.

Registration instructions: Registration will open on Monday, November 16, 2026 at precisely 8am (not earlier!) by emailing your request directly to Char Newman. Since there are two Yellowstone trips offered this season, be sure to indicate which trip you are requesting. (Trip B is Jan 11 to 16.) Be sure to include your roommate’s name if you want to signup for two people. Once your spot is confirmed, each participant will be invoiced for a $250 deposit ($100 non-refundable) to be paid by 11/17/2026 to secure your space. You will also need to complete the required CONC Overnight Trip Waiver Application. Final invoices will be emailed to you just a week later on November 23, 2025. Final payment will be due by December 3, 2026.

Standard Double Occupancy $955.00

Standard Single Occupancy $1,315.00

Like all CONC trips, this is powered by volunteers. We will ski as a group, and the role of ski sweep will be shared amongst the group over the week. If your strength is more in logistics, you can help by doing things such as calling for group dinner reservations. If you are willing to help in these ways, please let me know!

Please note this trip covers moderate distances during each day's ski activities. The group stays together on each outing and there are no additional opportunities to ski on your own. Consider adding on additional days if you are eager to ski longer distances in this beautiful setting. You must also be a current CONC member to register for this winter wonderland adventure!

Winter in Yellowstone, 2027 Trip B (11 Jan 2027)

Mon, 11 Jan 2027 08:00:00 GMT

Winter in Yellowstone 2027

Absaroka Lodge, Gardiner, Montana

Trip A: Sunday, January 3 to Friday, January 08, 2027 (5 Nights and 4 Ski Days)

Trip B: Monday, January 11 to Saturday, January 16, 2027 (5 Nights and 4 Ski Days)

Registration instructions: Registration will open on Monday, November 16, 2026 at precisely 8am (not earlier!) by emailing your request directly to Char Newman. Since there are two Yellowstone trips offered this season, be sure to indicate which trip you are requesting. (Trip A is Jan 3 to 8.) Be sure to include your roommate’s name if you want to signup for two people. Once your spot is confirmed, each participant will be invoiced for a $250 deposit ($100 non-refundable) to be paid by 11/17/2026 to secure your space. You will also need to complete the required CONC Overnight Trip Waiver Application. Final invoices will be emailed to you just a week later on November 23, 2025. Final payment will be due by December 3, 2026.

Standard Double Occupancy $955.00

Standard Single Occupancy $1,315.00

Kitchen Double Occupancy $1,020.00 (Only 1 Kitchen Unit available on Trip B)

Kitchen Single Occupancy $1,440.00 (Only 1 Kitchen Unit available on Trip B)

Sun Valley 2027 (31 Jan 2027)

Sun, 31 Jan 2027 23:00:00 GMT

Sun Valley

January 31-February 5, 2027

An Invitation to Adventure, Connection, and Unforgettable Memories

We are thrilled to announce CONC is returning to the breathtaking landscapes of Sun Valley, Idaho!

About Sun Valley

Nestled in the heart of Idaho’s majestic Sawtooth Mountains, Sun Valley is a legendary destination renowned for its world-class skiing, stunning scenery, and rich history.

Trip Details

Dates: January 31-February 5, 2027 (Five Nights)
Location: Sun Valley, Idaho
Duration: 6 days and 5 nights
Group size: Approximately 16 participants

With nearly 200 kilometers of cross-country tracks our ski days will cover the Galena Lodge Trails, the Sun Valley Resort Trails, the Wood River Valley Trails, and the ski trails over Galena Summit in the Sawtooth Valley. Evenings will be spent enjoying our resort amenities, such as the pool or hot tub, dining in the many excellent restaurants in Ketchum, and strolling through the town’s eclectic shops and galleries. Consider adding days pre or post CONC trip dates. The Boulder Mountain Tour will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2027 and you may want to stay longer to cheer on fellow cross-country skiers at this highly attended annual event!

Ski Details

Ketchum, Idaho is a great cross-country ski town. Click here for a full guide with links to maps and other information.

Blaine County Recreational District (BCRD) grooms more than 200 km of XC ski trails including the Galena Nordic Lodge 25 miles north of Ketchum. BCRD maintains a large fleet of grooming machines to keep all their trails expertly groomed throughout the ski season.

BCRD offers a variety of XC ski terrain from easy to challenging. The Harriman Trail connects 30 km of easy and intermediate BCRD trails between Ketchum and Galena. This 30 km stretch has many trailheads with parking, and the trails are mostly easy green and intermediate blue. The more challenging black ski trails are found at the Galena Nordic Ski Park, Sun Valley Nordic in town, and the Lake Creek Trail System.

Ketchum, ID is 5,853 feet in elevation with the XC ski trails ranging from 6,000 to 6,800 ft. The BCRD Winter Trail System and the Sun Valley Nordic Center trails are best for track and skate skis, not metal-edged skis, as this entire XC ski area is beautifully groomed most days of the week in winter. Depending on weather conditions we may have the opportunity to drive over scenic Galena Summit to ski Alturas Lake where back-country skis will be preferred.

The BCRD requires ski passes which can be purchased online. The ski ticket prices are reasonable, approximately $25 a day, with a discounted multi-day pass available.

Accommodations

We will stay at the Best Western Plus Kentwood Lodge located conveniently in the center of Ketchum and within walking distance of the shops and restaurants. The address is 180 S. Main Street, Direct # 208-726-4114.

A block of nine rooms has been reserved under CONC. Participants will have the option to select from a room with two queens (6 available) or one king (3 available).

CONC Group Room Rates are as follows:

Queen Queen Room @ $237.49 plus tax per night
King Room @ $227.99 plus tax per night

In addition to the above, please add room tax @ 11%. Rates are double occupancy.

Reservations will be made individually starting as early as today. Participants will make payment directly to the hotel. The hotel has a 45-day cancellation policy with each participant responsible for all fees. Any remaining unreserved rooms will be released from the room block by December 15, 2026.

All costs for accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, ski trail passes, and transportation will be paid for individually.

Evening Dining

To foster connection and camaraderie, we’ll gather for group dinners featuring regional cuisine each evening. Reservations will be made whenever possible. However, the famous Pioneer Saloon does not take reservations, but we can always take our chances and break up into smaller groups. You may choose to dine on your own.

Getting There

Participants may choose to either drive their own vehicle or carpool to Sun Valley, to fly to Boise Airport (BOI) and share a rental car from there or fly to Hailey/Ketchum Airport (SUN).

Actions Steps

1. To secure your spot call the Best Western Plus Kentwood Lodge, 208-726-4114, to book your reservation beginning September 30, 2026. When making your reservation, indicate you would like to book a room under the CONC group reservation. Trip dates are January 31-February 5, 2027.
2. *Email Char Newman to add your name to the CONC Trip Registration List. This is imperative for trip updates and daily ski plans!

Contact Trip Coordinator Char Newman with any questions.

Hope to see you in Sun Valley!

Practice Event (1 Apr 2027)

Thu, 01 Apr 2027 17:00:00 GMT

This event exists solely for people to practice registering for and cancelling from an event, either through the website or the apps.