Mt Bachelor/Bend, Oregon
Early December 2023

Select any combination of 1-4 days you like within our planned dates!

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.

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Fall Camp Registration (opens late summer)

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Links Below For Registered Campers 

Pre-Camp General Information Camp

Daily Stuff For Campers

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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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LATEST CAMP NEWS
Last Update: Wednesday, January 4 (11:00am PST)

The 2022 Oregon Fall Camp is in the books with nearly 100 very happy campers.

Many thanks to our wonderful guest coaches and the most excellent staff at Mt Bachelor Nordic Center for all their help.

Dates for the 2023 Oregon Fall Camp will be finalized by May with registration opening in the mid/late summer. For 2023 we are already planning to tweak some of our Camp groups to incorporate a new "check-up Camp" format for skiers that have attended several past Camps and now only desire an annual "check-up" rather than a more in-depth approach. 

Also please note that our Oregon Spring Camp will take place over four days in the first half of April. We will pin down the exact long weekend before the end of January.

Stay healthy and have fun outside everyone!

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

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Camp Schedule

Camp 2023 Note: XC Oregon is considering some modifications to our traditional Camp plan for 2023. So all notes below are specific to the 2022 event and subject to change into early fall 2023.

For 2022 our plan is to offer On-Snow Coaching Sessions every morning from Thursday, December 1 until Friday, December 9. Yes, that is not a typo. The Camp will end on a Friday.

Our typical on-snow session times are usually from 8:45-11:45am (the schedule may vary up to 30-60 minutes on severe weather days). Remember: With our camp YOU select the days you want to attend as long as space is available! Yes, you can schedule non-consecutive days.

Our traditional Video Review Socials will again be entirely virtual or extraordinarily spaced (and outdoor) for 2022. What started as a COVID-safety change proved to be more convenient campers and more efficient for XC Oregon. 

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Basics About The Camp

The Oregon Fall Camp offers 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 idesigned to be much smaller and far more personalized than other camp/clinic programs you can find. 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 not find a better masters camp format in the XC 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, Masters World Cup, and the National Masters. Many other campers -- most with less racing-oriented goals -- have told us that they learned more in a few days with the Oregon Fall Camp than several years worth of clinics elsewhere.

Note: For beginner skiers (skate or classic), the Oregon Fall Camp is happy to refer you to the excellent staff at the Mt Bachelor Nordic Center. Both private and group lessons are held daily (often at the same time the Camp is on the same trail system) making beginner lessons at the Center a great option for a spouse, child, or friend of a Fall Camp participant.

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Camp Staff

The Camp Director and Founder is J.D. Downing, Coach/Director of the XC Oregon non-profit, ski program based in Bend -- also the National Director of the American XC Skiers (U.S. masters association) -- and founder/editor of xcskiworld.com website. Various local coaches and athletes (including many special guests with extraordinary ski credentials as well as elite XC Oregon athletes) are enlisted to help with coaching on different workouts. Every year our campers tell us how pleased they were with the 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 on-snow session time is subject to change based on weather and other factors.

Mt Bachelor Nordic sits at a high point of 6,300 feet and offers very reliable early December snow conditions with 30+km of trails historically open the Thanksgiving week (and the snowpack lasting until June most years!).

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 (1-4 days, the choice is yours) -- plus your preference on technique for each day. If you sign up by end of October, there will usually be no problem on availability of camp space -- but waiting longer may result in some days not being available.

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 day we are skiing. Specific days will be determined by the early fall for 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 Fees
Pricing below only applied to the 2022 Fall Camp. Prices for 2023 will be posted by late summer.

IMPORTANT NOTES: The prices below do NOT include the cost of daily or seasonal 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.

FOUR DAY CAMP Package (any four days you choose)
$265.00US (basic camp fee, see note above regarding extra cost of trail fees)

THREE DAY CAMP Package (any three days you choose)
$210.00US (basic camp fee, see note above regarding extra cost of trail fees)

ONE OR TWO DAY CAMPS
$75.00US per day (basic camp fee, see note above regarding extra cost of trail fees)

* TERMS & CONDITIONS: See the full terms on the Registration Page.

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 Level?
All participants will need to be in at least reasonable fitness and have at least average (at minimum low intermediate) technical abilities. You don't have to look great doing any of the fundamental skills to be a perfect fit for our camp, but we do need all campers to have at least gotten past the development of beginner fundamental skillsets to really benefit from where our program excels. At the other end of the spectrum, if you do happen to be a super fit, fast and/or motivated racer type -- you simply aren't going to find a better opportunity in the XC ski world to take your skiing to another level than the Oregon Fall Camp.

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 small/medium size hills on intermediate-rated trails without needing to stop and can you descend downhills on beginner/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?

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?

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 to take advantage of daily group or private lessons with Mt Bachelor Nordic Center instead. 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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Evening and Afternoon Programs

SEE UPDATES ABOVE FOR NOTES ON VIRTUAL OR OUTDOOR AND HIGHLY-SPACED MODIFICATIONS ON ANY OFF-SNOW CAMP PROGRAMS FOR 2022. THIS WILL CONTINUED TO BE UPDATED TO ACTUAL CAMP DATES.

Evening and afternoon programs will be held on Bend's westside. These programs are specifically designed to help adult skiers with jobs, kids, limited snowtime, etc. juggle all the challenges in your life and still get outstanding results out of your skiing.

The Fall Camp also organizes wax clinics on designated afternoons. When a local ski race meshes with the Camp schedule we try and build the wax clinic into race prep for campers wishing to race.

We also schedule no-host social events at westside Bend establishments to interact socially with campers often bringing along special video footage to view at the same time.

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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. We anticipate up to 30-40 kilometers of trails will be available at Mt. Bachelor, groomed daily by snowcat for both classic and skating at the 5,900-6,300ft. elevation.

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.

What about flying to the camp?: The Redmond/Bend Airport (RDM) is located 20-25 minutes from downtown Bend and serves Central Oregon with daily direct connections from Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle with four airlines...American, Delta, United, and Horizon/Alaska Airlines. Folks from the northeast and midwest can get to Redmond/Bend in as little as two flights and in as little as a half day of travel time. Returning home takes a bit longer on the clock due to losing 1-3 hours due to various time zones. 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. Car rental companies Budget, Hertz, National, and Avis all have offices in the Redmond/Bend airport.

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 from whom. 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 will have to cross a 4,000ft+ mountain pass on a 3+ hour drive to get to Bend. Given the timing of the Fall Camp, chains or all-wheel drive is a 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

What about getting to skiing?
Drive time from westside Bend lodging locations to skiing will vary from 15-30 minutes, one way, depending on where you stay. Although Mt Bachelor does offer a low cost daily ski bus service from a westside Bend portal, it may not be the most convenient option for most campers. Having a car or carpool with other campers is pretty much a necessity. 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. NOTE: If researching your own lodging options not shown here, be aware that the shortest access to skiing is via the west side of Bend and all our PM in-town sessions are located in downtown or the westside of Bend. Make sure to ask any lodging option not featured on this list exactly how long it takes to drive to Mt. Bachelor.

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

TownePlace Suites Marriott is located at the Century Drive (14th Street) and Colorado roundabout. Kitchenettes are available with two major grocery stores a short walk away. Breakfast is complimentary each morning, along with a 24 hour fitness room and complimentary Wi-Fi. (Note: This property has been quite popular with past campers, but it's also popular with other Bend visitors so we as yet do not have a special Fall Camp rate this year.)

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott This newly renovated hotel is very close to the north side of downtown Bend so an additional 5-10 minutes drive than the Townplace up to the mountain (the trade-off being easy walking distance into downtown). Breakfast is complimentary each morning, along with a 24 hour fitness room and complimentary Wi-Fi. Call 541-318-1747 for Hotel Front Desk Reservations.

Springhill Suites Bend ... Our hotel is located in the heart of the Old Mill District and is adjacent to the Les Schwab Amphitheater. One of Marriott’s premier hotels in Bend we are a quick drive from the many activities on the Cascade Mountains, including Mount Bachelor.

Hampton Inn Mill District located across the river from the Mill District retail/dining/entertainment area. Easy walking to tons of shops, a half dozen eating locations, and a movie complex. About a mile to a grocery store. Quick access to mountain highway. Breakfast is complimentary.

Best Western Premier Peppertree Inn at Bend... 541-389-8800 ... a brand new large hotel located at the last west Bend roundabout (Mt Washington Drive) before you head up to Mt Bachelor. Short drive or walking distance from grocery, restaurants, Mill District entertainment.

Hilton Garden Inn... 541-617-6111 ...very nice hotel overlooking the popular Mill District retail/dining/entertainment area in Bend along the river just south of the downtown core. Easy walking to tons of shops, a half dozen eating locations, and a movie complex. About a mile to a grocery store. Quick access to mountain highway.

The Oxford Hotel ... (877) 440-8436 ...located in the heart of downtown Bend Oregon. Bend's only boutique hotel, offering amenities and luxuries you simply won't find anywhere else in town. Easy walking to loads of shopping, restaurants, brew pubs, art galleries.

DoubleTree by Hilton ... 541-317-9292...located in the heart of downtown Bend Oregon. All-suite hotel offers a complimentary breakfast buffet & complimentary wireless internet access throughout the Hotel. Easy walking to loads of shopping, restaurants, brew pubs, art galleries.

The Seventh Mountain Resort... 541-306-7433...closest location to skiing, located roughly 4 miles from the main edge of westside Bend up the Cascade Lakes Highway; various sizes of suites and condos; on-site resaurant; the trade-off is the location requires a 5-10 minute drive into town for grocery trips, downtown fun, evening sessions, etc..

Loge Entrada ... 541.382.4080...clean, quiet, totally remodeled lodge and hostel located one mile from Bend's western edge on the way up to Mt. Bachelor (cuts a few minutes off your drive up/down); 5 minute drive to grocery store or Mill District, 8 mins to downtown Bend

A Stone's Throw Bungalow Vacation Rentals ... 541-241-6676 ... Features a mix of modern and historic homes of all sizes in downtown and westside Bend. All homes are within 10 blocks of downtown. Great last minute rates. email: [email protected]

Bend Vacation Rentals... 541-385-9492... features great deals on rental homes for several skiers traveling together and all of our rentals are on the West Side of Bend with one house on the SE side.
email: [email protected]
website: bendvacationrentals.com

Lavabelles Vacation Rentals... 541.497.3242 or 888.820.5084...features a unique collection of historic homes located in Downtown Bend, across from McMenamins, and the near Westside.
email: [email protected]
website: lavabelles.com

Vacation Rentals in Bend Oregon… 541-306-7433…Condominiums located at the Seventh Mountain Resort the closest resort to Mount Bachelor. The Seventh Mountain Resort, formally called The Inn of the Seventh Mountain has swimming pools, hot tubs, sauna, skating rink, restaurants, conference center, business center, and many other activities. Participants in this event receive 10% off our advertised price when you mention this "ad".

Mt. Bachelor Village Resort ... condos and suites (all sizes), 800.452.9846... located above Deschutes River on Bend's west side... quick access to Bend Athletic Club, Mill District, grocery stores.

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