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Interview with Alyce Pearce on Cross Country Skiing
Alyce Pearce lives in Bend, Oregon and she is a cross country skiing enthusiast. Her passion for skiing was borne from the gnarled foothills of the Adirondacks in the early 1970s, and continues today. From her start just down the road at her one-rope-tow community area, Indian Hill, to mom-and-pop ski areas all the way to the Rockies, nordic, alpine and telemark skiing have been the thread that tied her life experiences together. A writer, teacher and entrepreneur, she now revels in the sweet reward of getting to chase her own two teen boys on the trails. Alyce joined the podcast to tell all on cross country skiing in Bend, Oregon at Virginia Meissner Sno-park.
Where is Meissner Sno Park?
Virginia Meissner Sno Park is 13 miles SW of Bend on the right side of Century Drive. If you are headed to Mt. Bachelor from Bend, it’s on your right before you get to Bachelor. You need a sno-park pass to park there which is available through the Oregon DMV and various outdoor stores around Bend. Virginia Meissner sno park is one of the best places to go cross country skiing in Central Oregon because of its vastness of groomed trails and you don’t need an expensive ski resort pass to go there. That said, it’s recommended to donate to the sno park as they depend on donations for grooming.
If the parking is full at Virginia Meissner, you can also access Meissner cross country trails at Swampy Lakes Sno Park. They are encouraging people to park responsibly and to use both parking areas.
Map of Virginia Meissner Cross Country Ski Trails (Near Bend)
There are some really wonderful loops you can tie together from the Meissner Shelter that don’t require too much commitment if you’re a newer skier, and offer some tranquil, gentle skiing…Mushroom Trails and Mistletoe for beginners.
If you’re an expert skier, head out to the Shooting Star shelter. It’s not for the faint of heart as there is a significant climb and descent.
A Favorite Memory of Alyce Pearce Cross Country Skiing at Meissner
It’s another brisk morning Alyce managed to get out nordic skiing alone. Rhythms of her breath meeting the cadence of her strides as she glided over soft, silky smooth snow. She always made sure to look around in these moments of snowy solitude. The ponderosa limbs and needles sagging under the weight of new snow. Glints of sunlight as it refracts through the branches. Alyce turned off onto her favorite outer loop, savoring the gentle descent that comes before the long hill climb that she loves to hate.
When she came around a curve, Alyce caught a glimpse of a petite fox whose fur radiated with shades of amber. The fox glanced back at her as he rounded the corner further ahead. Alyce considered herself lucky, then she rounded the next curve, and there he was trotting along the trail, still glancing back, seemingly not concerned, nor disappearing as she expected. For the next half mile, they silently shared the forest and solitude. It became a game. Will he be around the next corner, she wondered? Finally, at the bottom of the hill, he cast one last look her way before weightlessly drifting over the snowbank and out of sight.
This is one of Alyce’s favorite recent memory because it embodies what she feels the true nordic experience is about. The synergy of embracing the natural beauty of winter and the woods while moving your body and breathing hard. Alyce grew up in the adirondacks where this was the norm. It was about community, simplicity, and adventure.
Skills Needed for Cross Country Skiing
Alyce has been a cross country skiing instructor over the years and her motto is, if you can walk, you can ski. If you have balance and some coordination, you should be able to balance with poles to propel yourself on skis through the snow.
Adaptive Cross Country Skiing
If you lack balance and have limited mobility, there are adaptive cross country skiing options available like cross country sit skis. Oregon Adaptive Sports has a few skit skis available and they provide lessons at Mt. Bachelor.
Classic Cross Country Skiing Vs. Skate Skiing
“Classic” skiing is what one would think of when someone mentions cross-country skiing. This is the original style, used with or without trails. By using a natural stride you would use walking, grip on the bottom of the skis allows you to “kick” (step off of) and glide forward onto the next ski. Taken to an elite level. this extremely rigorous technique explodes: a skier almost appears to hop from one ski to maximize glide on the next, moving in a distinct, powerful rhythm.
Skate Skiing evolved in the late 70s/early 80s, often associated with the first American cross country skier to make the Winter Olympics podium – Bill Koch. Koch demonstrated a revolutionary technique called the “diagonal skate”, where he took one ski out of the “classic” track and used that ski to push out and propel him. There was a time racers and coaches grappled with how to allow skating in races that had only been using the same classic technique.
When skating hit the scene, those who chose to skate in a race gained a significant advantage over classic skiers. Within a few years, skate skiing became its own racing category. It requires specific skis designed for gliding only (no kick) and longer poles. Several different variations of technique: V1, V2, V2 alternate depending on terrain.
Gear Needed for Cross Country Skiing
- Warm Gloves (not bulky)
- Wind Layer
- Vest
- Thermal Layer
- Waterproof Pants
- Remember to stay away from cotton
Best Places to Rent or Buy Cross Country Skis in Bend, Oregon?
Sunnyside Sports offers cross country skis for sale, and in non-pandemic times they rent cross country skis. Sunnyside Sports and many shops are not renting gear due to Covid, but a few that are are Pine Mountain Sports and Powder House.
Cross Country Skiing Etiquette
There are some time-honored “codes” of conduct on the trails when it comes to cross-country skiing. With the unprecedented number of new skiers hitting the trails, think it’s important to know before you go to optimize all skiers’ experiences.
- No walking on trails. If it seems like it’s too challenging, maybe pick an easier trail or ask a local before you head out. If you need to take off your skis, walk well to the side of the trail and not in the tracks.
- Passing on the trail etiquette: Downhill has the right of way. When stopping, do so well to the side or off of the trail to allow others to pass. All people in one party go to one side. Don’t split into two sides of the trail.
- Skate skiers take precedent in the wide groomed lanes. If classic skiing, use the tracks so skaters or faster skiers can come by.
- No dogs on the north side of Century Drive – all winter season. Bring your dogs to Wanoga instead.
Cross Country Skiing is a Family Friendly Sport
Cross country skiing brings in all of the ingredients for family bonding. It provides connection, laughter, adventure, healthy activity, and community. On typical years, there are many events at Meissner to celebrate the joy of fresh air and snow. If you head out to Meissner, you may see many moms and dads pack in their kids on backpacks or tuck their little ones into Chariots as they pull their kids as they cross country ski. Now that’s a way to nap!
The Meissner shelter/hut is very popular, there’s a great view there and in past years they would do a Luminaria. Check out Meissner’s page for upcoming events to check out.
If you want to sign your child up for cross country ski lessons in Bend, then Mt. Bachelor is where you should go.
Best Time to Ski Virginia Meissner?
Conditions are always in flux, but there is a new Meissner Nordic Conditions Facebook page where skiers share information about conditions throughout the day. The Meissner Nordic Facebook page and Instagram feature daily posts from our grooming crew who will mention what the snow is like and what trails have been groomed, and you can also check out Meissner’s website on current conditions. They start grooming at Meissner on December 1st and many people ski there through April depending on conditions.