Are you looking for something to do on Friday night. Maybe something a little different and unique to #backyardbend.

Come enjoy an evening of cross-country skiing, good food, and lots of memories. Friday Jan 1oth at Elk Lake Resort. Register in advance. More INFO HERE. 

6PM – Group skis into Elk Lake Resort on freshly groomed trail
8PM – 3 course meal with one beverage included
9:30/10PM – Snowcat Ride back to Dutchman Flat SnoPark

Guests need to bring headlamp and change of clothes if needed.
Participants will be emailed prior to the event to choose their meal options.

A morning group lesson for beginning skate skiers led by our friends at MBSEF. Meet at Pine Mountain Sports by 9am. We’ll all ride up together in the MBSEF van to the Mt Bachelor Nordic Center, and our MBSEF instructor will guide us thru the basics of skate skiing. No skate ski experience is needed but we’ll expect that you’ve been on skis before. This lesson covers some good skate ski learning drills and contains useful tips for beginning/intermediate skate skiers as well. More INFO HERE.

Friday January 10th. Lesson length is approx 90 minutes, and we are usually back to town by around noon.

You’ll need to provide your own skate gear (which can be rented at Pine…

Thursday Jan 9th 630pm – 830pm at Crows Feet – A Mountain Collective.  More INFO HERE. 

For the past 20 years, owner of Crow’s Feet, David Marchi has been an international ski touring and high altitude mountaineering guide. Of all the places that he has been, the most inspiring and enriching experiences were based in Antarctica and Kashmir, India.
A dichotomy of environments between the two places are explained and embraced in his presentation that he is excited to share with our community. Antarctica for its pristine, remote and pure natural environment and Kashmir for its rich cultural and exquisite skiing opportunities.

The presentation will be photography based with an inspiring film from b4apres…

Oregon Wild will host a presentation on how and where to snowshoe in central Oregon! They will share tips and suggestions regarding everything from safety to gear to picking the most scenic trails. There will be some “Snowshoeing 101” for those new to the activity as well as some tips on locations that will be applicable to all ability levels. More INFO HERE.

Wednesday Jan 8th, 6pm – 730pm at Broken Top Bottle Shop.

The presentation will include:
– Photography of recommended scenic snowshoeing destinations in central Oregon
– The basics on learning to snowshoe
– Reference map
– What to bring
– How to be safe when snowshoeing
– Gear (snowshoes and…

Hosted by The High Desert Museum Monday Jan. 6th, 7pm. More INFO HERE.

Extraordinary Birds: Up Close & Personal
Join Elise Wolf, founder of Native Bird Care avian rescue in Sisters, for a unique multimedia presentation. Come see and hear about a few of the exceptional species Wolf has cared for over the past 10 years. Get a peek into the lives of these extraordinary birds as Wolf shares stories, photos and videos of their care and release. Why is rescue and rehabilitation so important, and how can we enjoy and support native birds?

Doors at 5:30 pm
Food and beverage sales in Father Luke’s Room help support this popular lecture series. Seating is limited…

Hosted by the Central Oregon Avalanche Center. Tuesday Jan. 7th at Immersion Brewing. More INFO HERE.

Know Before You Go is a FREE basic avalanche awareness presentation aimed at highlighting introductory concepts and tools for traveling in avalanche terrain.

Learn about the destructive power of avalanches, safety equipment, how people get in trouble, and the basics of how to avoid them. In line with COAC’s mission of increasing avalanche awareness and safety in Central Oregon, this presentation will provide a good foundation for learning about backcountry travel or is an excellent refresher for more experienced backcountry users.

This new citizen race and tour is something to take note of. We posted about it a few weeks ago and wanted to get a reminder out again for, what looks to be an annual classic here in Central Oregon.

Sunday Jan 5, 2020 at Meissner Sno Park. 9am start. More info HERE.

Mass Start Classic Nordic Citizen Race and Tour (1 loop) on the Meissner trails. The course covers 26.5 km including almost all of the groomed trails. Registration for Tour of Meissner is online at: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=191914

Join FootZone this winter for Resolution Runners, an incentive program to keep you running all winter long!

At FootZone, we firmly believe that running = reward, and that running with friends makes all the difference when you’ve got resolutions!

Anytime you attend an eligible run or event at FootZone, you’ll earn a point towards PRIZES that come all season long – cool things like FootZone hats, lights, gloves, and more!

Meet your fellow Resolution Runners at our kick-off party on Saturday, January 4th! We’ll meet at FootZone at 9am for a 3-5 mile run, and then reconvene at store for snacks, a New Year’s toast, and an opportunity to mingle with the folks you’ll be running with this winter!

Learn…

As we close out 2019 and send it into 2020 we want to thank you for being a part of the Backyard Bend Community Inspired.  We have supported concerts, events and the many non-profits doing amazing work in our community. We have shared your photos and videos of inspiring adventures and the wild and scenic places in Oregon. And, we have had fun along the way, giving away awesome gear and activities.

We wish you the very best New Year and let’s all make 2020 the best it can be. Thank you from all of us at Backyard Bend.

Colin Meagher is our current featured artist and is battling ALS. Colin is an Oregonian and professional photographer and we want to give another shout out to contribute to his fight by donating to help him and his family at https://www.gofundme.com/f/one-more-time-for-colin. 

His photos on the homepage banner are just a small sample of his work. Check out his website and consider purchasing an amazing photo. http://www.colinmeagherphoto.com/