Time flies...
Karen Yeargain of Tumnatki Siberians in Prineville, OR has just announced the dates for the annual La Pine Mushing Weekend at La Pine State Park in Oregon:
Once again, it’s time to announce our yearly “fun-for-all” mushing weekend at La Pine State Park, in La Pine, Oregon.
This year’s event is scheduled for the second weekend of November, which falls on the 10th,11th & 12th (Saturday - Monday). Some of us will arrive the afternoon of Friday the 9th, to get settled in.
We will be hoping for damp trails and cool temps, but no snow. This event is a dirt run, so plan on carts, quads, bikes and scooters. Runs will be arranged to provide a variety of training opportunities, including passing (from behind and head on), team weaving, directional command training, hills, etc. There is quite a variety of nice dirt trails to choose from. The event is open to anyone regardless of mushing style and experience (or lack thereof); bikejoring and scootering teams are welcome. Trails are suitable for all functions unless we get a surprise dump of snow that makes them dangerous for bikes or scooters.
Organized runs will be on Saturday and Sunday mornings; meet for breakfast at the conference lodge at 6:30 am or at the meadow about 7:30. (This is subject to change if the weather looks to be on the warm side.) The staging area is in the big meadow about 1/8th mile before South Loop of the campground.
The event has the use of the meeting hall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (until 1 pm on Monday). It has a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink with hot/cold running water, tables and a heater.
We will have a potluck meal on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at about 2 pm; other meals will be informal potluck at the participants’ discretion…. We never lack for enough good food!
I will again be asking for donations to help defray the $235 cost of the meeting hall.
Campsites at La Pine State Park are suitable for tents or R.V.’s; all have electrical hookups and water (if the weather hasn’t gotten too cold and the Park has shut off the water at the sites). Bathrooms with shower facilities (included in camping fee) are in our immediate area; bring your own towels and toiletries. Campsites are first-come-first-served; there are plenty of spots and the State Park will open the adjacent Loop if needed.
There are five “rustic” cabins (two double futons, a table, electricity and heat) and five “deluxe” cabins (two double futons in separate rooms, toilet/shower, heat, running water, microwave, fridge, barbecue). (All of the deluxe cabins and some of the rustic ones have already been booked by returning mushers who are getting savvy to my scheduling…. J ) There are no dogs allowed in the cabins unless designated as pet friendly. THIS IS IMPORTANT DUE TO FUTURE CAMPERS WHO MIGHT HAVE ALLERGIES.
Nearby motels are the Timbercrest Inn (541-536-17370) and the Newberry Station/Best Western (541-536-5130). There are a couple of other smaller motels, but the parking lots are tiny and border the Hwy.
Remember that there may be non-dog campers at the Park, so manage your teams to have them reasonably quiet. Be sure to pick up your site and fill in your holes before you leave at the end of the weekend.
Please let me know if you are planning to attend so that I may organize the event well and be able to provide updates as we get closer to November.
Please cross-post and pass along to person or list that would be interested.
Karen Yeargain
541-410-8475
