Mt Bachelor/Bend, Oregon
December 6-10, 2026

We've made several changes to our Camp set-up this year. See notes below for known details as of Summer 2026. Some details are subject to change before mid-fall. 

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Select any combination of 1-3 days you wish within our planned Camp period!  
Recognized since 2001 by skiers around the world as one of the very best ski education events for adult skiers you'll find in the entire XC ski world.

The Oregon Fall Camp is specifically designed for "intermediate” up to expert skiers. If you are a true beginner skier or still struggling with fundamental skills over easier trails, we recommend that you first take private or group lessons at a groomed Nordic ski area and spend some time developing your fundamentals before joining us for future Oregon Camps. Please also note that we need every Fall Camper to have a baseline fitness level and general health profile capable of skiing multiple kilometers over several hours on trails of various difficulty levels — all at an elevation of 6300 feet.  If you are in doubt about your technical abilities or fitness level, please see notes below ("Is this Camp right for my skill/fitness level" and/or send us a note and we’ll help you figure it out.

Email: jd at xcoregon dot org with any questions.

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Information For Registered Campers 

Pre-Camp General Information

Daily Stuff Page 

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Fall Camp Registration Here

Before you process any registration, please see Camp Updates below and also notes on the Registration Page!

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LATEST CAMP NEWS
Last Update: Friday, July 24 (2:00pm PST)

We are (finally) in the process of updating the website for the 2026 Fall Camp.

We've made several changes to many Camp elements this year and are almost done updating the website info below.

Once the website is fully-updated, a new XC Oregon mid-summer e-News will go out letting the world know the 2026 Camp is ready to rock n' roll with the pre-registration process.

If you scroll down, please note that a few sections still show info from 2025 and have not yet been updated for 2026. 

Please also note that our 2027 Oregon Spring Camp will take place over four days in the first half of April. We will announce the exact long weekend before the end of January 2026.

Train smart, stay healthy, and have fun outside everyone!

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NOAA forecast for Mt. Bachelor trail system.

NOAA forecast for Meissner Sno Park elevation.

Mt. Bachelor Nordic weather/snow conditions (winter AM updates only).

Mt. Bachelor Alpine weather/snow conditions (more webcams).

Mt. Bachelor Nordic Facebook page

Meissner Nordic home page with grooming reports at Meissner elevation

Pictures from the 2005 Oregon Fall Camp provided by camper Neil Hunt.

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For specific questions or more camp info: Email: [ jd at xcoregon dot org ].

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2026 Camp Layout Basics -- EXCITING NEW STUFF!!!!!. 

The 2026 Fall Camp now offers two different formats for skiers to select between:

Option 1.) Check-up Camp (roughly half a morning)
This format offers a half morning highly-focused session specifically-designed for experienced skiers that have attended past XC Oregon Camps and/or higher level skiers that are new-to-XCO-Camps. The essential concept is a check-up of how your skiing progressing rather than a full chapter/verse. Every Fall Camp day will have two Check-up Camp sessions — one in the early morning and one in the late morning. The roughly half morning format will give you time to ski on your own each morning. XC Oregon Coach/Director JD Downing will personally lead the two primary Check-up sessions each day. Based on demand, we may assign other coaches to this format as well. Notable: It is not necessary to pre-select a technique with the Check-up Camp format. Check-up sessions can blend both classic & skate skiers.

Option 2.) Full Morning Camp
This format is our traditional Fall Camp full morning (roughly 2:45-3 hours) covering a broad range of technique and skill topics based on input from the group, ski conditions, and discretion of the group coach. This is the better option for Campers that have never attended the Fall Camp before and/or feel you will benefit from a wider analysis and review of ski skills, sub-techniques, etc.. When registering for the Full Morning format, Campers will need to designate a technique for each Camp day or let the Camp assign you a technique each day based on a ratio you provide (example: 2 days skate/1 day classic).

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Daily Schedules:

Barring rare adjustments for weather, roads, or other factors daily schedules will follow the following rough schedule (subject to change or small tweaks, but we tend to stay on schedule):

-> Check-up Camp early morning sessions: Meet on-snow, ready-to-ski in the Mt Bachelor Nordic Bowl at 8:45am. Wrapped up roughly by 10:15am.

-> Check-up Camp late morning sessions: Meet on-snow, ready-to-ski in the Mt Bachelor Nordic Bowl at 10:30am. Wrapped up roughly by 12pm.

-> Full morning Camp sessions: Meet on-snow, ready-to-ski in the Mt Bachelor Nordic Bowl at 8:45am. Wrapped up roughly by 11:30-45pm.

Both Camp formats will offer daily video review (conditions permitting).

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Other important stuff to know….

-> Campers are able to sign up for one, two, or three Camp days.

-> Campers are also welcome to sign up for non-consecutive days if you prefer days in between your Camp mornings.

-> Yes, you can mix-and-match days using the Check-Up format for a morning or two and the Full Morning format for a morning or two (although there will be a special payment system if you do this). Also please note that the Check-Up format is intended for skiers that have previously attended XC Oregon Camps and/or higher level new-to-XCO skiers. 

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Background About The Fall Camp For New Campers

The Oregon Fall Camp offers high intermediate to expert adult XC skiers an opportunity to take part in an affordable world-class ski education experience tailored to the specific needs and realities of master skiers. Our camp is designed to be much smaller and far more personalized than other camp/clinic programs you can find out there.

Over the years, hundreds of adult skiers from "intermediate" to elite master have been sold on the Oregon Fall Camp's proven formula for delivering exactly what you are looking for in a fun and time-efficient design. We take great pride in saying that you will absolutely not find a better masters camp format in the entire XC ski world!

Camp participants since 2001 have raved about the innovative format and specific attention to their individual needs. For high performance types, past Camp attendees have gone on to record personal best results including top placings at major ski marathons and Masters World Cup events around the world. For folks that already know the basics, but want to ski more efficiently, campers have told us for over two decades that they learn more in a few days with the Oregon Fall Camp than several years worth of clinics elsewhere!

Mt Bachelor Nordic sits at a high point of 6,300 feet and historically reliable early December snow conditions with 30+km of trails usually available within a week or two after Thanksgiving.

The Most Flexible Schedule Anywhere!
When you are ready to sign up, you should choose whichever combination and number of dates that suit your schedule (1, 2 or 3 days, the choice is yours) -- plus your preference on technique for each day.

What About A Choice Of Techniques?
We have found that 2/3rds of our typical campers only or mostly want to skate and thus we offer skate-only groups on nearly every Camp day. Demand from Campers determines when we will offer full classic groups. If you only classic ski, you are welcome to attend any camp day -- but there is a chance you'll be working with a coach split between classic and skate technique skiers. We have found that we often have a bigger technical gap with different levels of classic skiers so your understanding is appreciated when we have no choice but to mix experience levels and/or techniques.

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Camp Staff

The Camp Director and Founder is J.D. Downing, the founding Coach/Director of the XC Oregon non-profit, ski program based in Bend since 1998. J.D. is also the National Director of the American XC Skiers (U.S. masters association); the President of the World Masters XC Ski Association (international master association); founder/editor of xcskiworld.com website; and annually coaches with two high school distance running teams.

Various local/regional coaches and athletes with extraordinary ski credentials are enlisted to help with rounding out our coaching roster each morning. Every year our campers tell us how pleased they were with the great coaches, the fun/welcoming atmosphere, and consistent help they received at the Fall Camp.

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What Happens At The Camp?

Full mornings of on-snow sessions at the Mt Bachelor Nordic Center are supplemented by off mountain video review and other programs. Each on-snow ski session uses a mix of group and individual feedback with video footage review included as often as is practical.

Widest time range for our on-snow sessions is typically from 8:45-noon. The time window typically includes a mid-session restroom and refreshment (on your own). Note that the exact on-snow session time each day is subject to change.

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2026 Camp Fees

IMPORTANT NOTES: The prices below do NOT include the cost of daily or seasonal Mt Bachelor Nordic trail fees. Camp price also does not include meals, lodging or transportation. All camp package reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

2026 Full Morning Camp (any one, two or three days you choose)
-> Three Days Full Morning Camp package — $245.00 

-> Two Days Full Morning Camp package — $170.00  

2026 Check-up Camp (roughly half morning) (any one, two or three days you choose)
-> Three Days Check-up Camp package — $125.00 

-> Two Days Check-up Camp package — $90.00 

-> One Day Check-up Camp — $50.00  

* TERMS & CONDITIONS: See the full terms on the Registration Payment/Waiver Page once your Pre-Registration is approved.

Current members of the American Cross Country Skiers may deduct $10 from any registration price. A link to the special AXCS member Registration Page is found on the regular reg page.

For more camp information:  

Email: [ jd at xcoregon dot org ] or call (541) 317-0217.

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Even More Info About Various Camp Topics

Our camp structure allows most skiers to operate at their own pace 99% of the time, thus eliminating pressure for skiers to either "keep up with the top guys/gals" or waste time waiting for other folks to catch up (both common complaints at other camps/clinics you can find out there). We promise to keep you moving as much as possible while also maintaining the information flow -- specific to your needs -- in every session. We attempt to use video footage review in most on-snow sessions (weather and logistics permitting).

All on-snow sessions concentrate on application of specific technical elements combined with real world modeling of world-class skiers. Individual technical feedback is a huge part of the process at all times. Past participants will tell you that you'll come away with as much or more good (and applicable) information from the Oregon Fall Camp than any other XC ski camp you can find.

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Is This Camp Right For My Skill and Fitness Level?
Fall Camp participants need to be in at least reasonable fitness and have at least upper intermediate technical abilities. You don't have to look great doing any of the fundamental skills to be a good fit for our camp, but we do need all campers to have at least gotten past the development of beginner and low intermediate fundamental skillsets to really benefit from what our program excels at delivering. At the other end of the spectrum, if you do happen to be a super fit, fast and/or motivated racer type -- you simply are not going to find a better opportunity in the entire XC ski world to take your skiing to another level than the Oregon Fall Camp.

For those concerned about your fitting our target minimum level, a good base line description we have used over the decades is to ask the following of potential campers to make sure our program is a good fit for their fitness and/or current technical skills:

a. Can you climb medium/large size hills on intermediate-rated XC ski trails without needing to regularly stop and can you descend downhills on intermediate trails with at least basic levels of safety & control?

b. If you want to do skate sessions, have you developed fundamental edge-and-glide skills vs. feeling like you are constantly "slipping out" to the side on non-icy conditions without much (or any) forward power? Once again, there is a huge difference between a skate skier that struggles to simply move themselves a few hundred meters as opposed to a skater that can easily ski kilometers at a stretch without pausing, but knows they have inefficiencies. The “struggle-to-move skier” is a better fit for a beginner or private lesson. The latter example of a “I can skate OK, but I know I could improve” is likely a great fit for our Camp.

c. If you want to do classic sessions, do you have a basic grasp of the diagonal stride, double pole, and herringbone techniques? 

d. Do you have a fitness level that will allow you to ski several kilometers at a time at over 6000 feet elevation without stopping and without exhaustion? Remember that our Camp sessions are on snow for several hours each morning.

If you answer "yes" to all of the above that apply to you -- Fall Camp is very likely a great fit for your needs!

On the other hand, if you feel like you are still a beginner skier in either technique or your current fitness just isn't going to match the above criteria -- we still have a recommendation for you! We advise these folks take advantage of daily group or private lessons with Mt Bachelor Nordic Center. The Camp reserves the right to decide if you are unable to meet our necessary minimum skill levels and switch you to lessons with Mt Bachelor Nordic Center on your behalf using a portion of your camp fees.

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Additional Stuff To Know

THE SETTING
The outdoor recreation capital of the Pacific Northwest...Bend is located on the east side of the Cascade mountain range in very nearly the center of Oregon. The mountains above Bend, Oregon typically offer one of the earliest, longest, and most consistent ski seasons in North America with Mt. Bachelor's Nordic Center typically opening the week before Thanksgiving weekend. During the Camp we can have up to 30-40 kilometers of trails available at Mt. Bachelor, groomed daily by snowcat for both classic and skating at the 5,900-6,300ft. elevation. When we have good early December snow at lower elevations, our community system at Meissner Sno-Park https://meissnernordic.org can offer additional skiing 8 minutes closer to town if you want to vary your ski days while visiting. If you do ski at Meissner, please make sure to donate your fair share each day and a daily Oregon Sno-Park permit is required for your car (available at local ski shops).

Within a few hours of Bend are many other popular visitor destinations including Smith Rocks, Crater Lake National Park, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, the Columbia River Gorge, Steens Mountain, and the Oregon Coast.

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GETTING TO THE CAMP
Please Note: Transportation is not included in the camp package.

Flight options to Bend/Mt Bachelor:  Redmond/Bend Airport (RDM) is located 25 minutes all-weather drive from downtown Bend and serves Central Oregon with daily direct connections from a variety of cities -- Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle to name a few -- and with multiple airlines...American, Delta, United, Alaska, plus others. You can get to Redmond/Bend in as little as two flights nationwide and in as little as a half day of travel time. RDM is a reliable regional airport with weather rarely impacting local flights. Short periods of winter fog are the only rare problem which, worst case, require a last-second ground shuttle up to Portland. Multiple car rental companies have offices in the Redmond/Bend airport. Given the Fall Camp often sees snowy roads, snow tires, chains and/or all-wheel drive is a serious consideration with any car rental.

What about flying into Portland?
The Portland (PDX) airport has loads of daily connections from throughout North America and is a 3+ hour drive from Bend. Flights can be cheaper into PDX or not much different than Redmond/Bend -- it just depends on when you buy and the airline. Portland is very reliable with winter weather for flying. However, the drive time plus driving conditions is something you need to keep in mind as you must cross one of two different 4,000ft+ mountain passes on the 3+ hour drive to get to Bend. Given the Fall Camp often sees snowy roads, snow tires, chains and/or all-wheel drive is a serious consideration with any car rental.

What about driving to Bend?
Mileage Chart - Driving Distances to Bend
175 miles or 282km SE of Portland, Oregon
130 miles or 209km SE Salem, Oregon
121 miles or 195km NE of Eugene, Oregon
500 miles or 805km NE of San Francisco, California
330 miles or 531km W of Boise, Idaho
343 miles or 552km SE of Seattle, Washington
394 miles or 245km N of Reno, Nevada

Getting to skiing from Bend
Drive time from westside Bend lodging locations to skiing will generally vary from 25-40 minutes -- one way -- depending on where you stay and road conditions/traffic. Although Mt Bachelor does offer a low cost daily ski bus service from a westside Bend portal, it may or may not be the most convenient option for most campers given our schedule. The Fall Camp does not provide ground transportation. The schedule for all on-snow sessions are always subject to change due to weather and snow conditions.

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LODGING
Lodging is not included in the camp package

The west side of Bend features several lodging options to suit any budget.

A ton of lodging options plus loads of other visitor info for the Bend area can be found on the Visit Bend website.

For more camp information:
Email: [ jd at xcoregon dot org ] or call (541) 317-0217.