What activities and events does the club have?

First and foremost, we like to cross-country ski. We have “official” day tours that are announced via the Day Tours forum (are you subscribed?). These take place anywhere locally where there’s snow, such as Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, or Mt. Adams. It’s all styles of Nordic skiing and varying abilities, depending on the focus and who goes. We’re always looking for new tour leaders too; it’s a good way to earn some free benefits, like reimbursement for a Sno-park permit or safety clases; just ask the Day Tours Committee if you’re interested.

Do you snowshoe? We need some snowshoe ambassadors too.

We also have more “casual” or impromptu day tours. People will post on the Members Connection for someone to ski with, or they might post about conditions they found.

Perhaps our biggest “claim to fame” are the overnight trips with requisite potluck meals. The destinations can be anything from a few hours drive for a few days of play, to a couple of weeks overseas; each year is a different mix of destinations with some old favorites and new and exciting places. We typically stay in rented houses or other lodging with kitchen facilities where we can all pitch in and put together the memorable meals. Less often, we’re in hotels. Look for announcements in the fall and online sign up beginning in early October.

Our club was instrumental in the restoration and is still involved in the maintenance of the Tilly Jane Cabins through a special use permit with the Forest Service. Members can earn a free nights stay by volunteering for an annual wood haul in October, or on other special projects. Check out the web pages for TJ, as its affectionately known, or have a look at this video for a better perspective about the cabins.

We have a monthly member meeting with a social time followed by a presentation on some outdoor or travel topic. These are usually the first or second Tuesday of the month around 7 pm, running from Sept. through May. Keep an eye on the Club Announcements forum or the newsletter for details. We’re always looking for new speakers too –Have you gone anywhere or done anything interesting? COVID-19 has necessitated the meetings be virtual via Zoom, maybe soon we can meet face-to-face once again. Oh, and if you’re a new member, please introduce yourself, you’ll find us a friendly bunch.

In the summer, of course we can’t ski, but we certainly are not dormant. It’s the time to do some maintenance on local ski trails. We work with the Forest Service and go out for a day or sometimes a weekend to trim the growth back. This is how the trails stay in shape for the next winter, so please join and volunteer.

Summer also is a time for some casual hikes and bike rides; gotta stay in shape for the winter, eh? We also round out the summer with a picnic at a local park, a nice time to catch up with friends new and old.

Besides our involvement with the Forest Service for TJ and trail work, we support advocacy in helping to preserve the outdoor spaces for skiing and recreation. This involves research and reporting on “Nordic Issues”. We are always looking for people to, what else, volunteer a few hours to help. Your effort can go a long way to make our recreating more enjoyable and long lasting for everyone. Please see the FAQ on volunteering and pitch in. We need you!

That about sums it up, so please join in for any and all things that catch your fancy. If you’re not a member you can join our club or renew your membership, just click here.