1.
Who is the Tumalo Langlauf Club?
2.
Who grooms the ski trails at Meissner Sno-Park?
3.
Who uses the Meissner Sno-Park?
4.
What are the strengths of Meissner Sno-Park?
5.
What are the main tenets guiding the proposed development at Meissner Sno-Park?
6.
Why are developments proposed for Meissner Sno-Park?
7.
Why expand the Meissner ski trail system? Isn't the current trail system sufficient?
8.
Why expand the parking area at Meissner Sno-Park?
9.
If the parking area is increased in size will this change the experience at Meissner Sno-Park?
10.
Why lighted trails at Meissner? Will lights disturb wildlife or create unnecessary light pollution?
11.
Why is there a need to build a warming shelter and how will it look?
12.
How will the Meissner Project be funded?
-
Answers -
Q: Who is the Tumalo Langlauf Club?
A: The Tumalo Langlauf Club, started in 1996, is one of 12 chapters of the Oregon Nordic Club and is a non-profit organization with 501 c (3) status. The focus of the club is to provide groomed ski trails at Meissner Sno-Park for community use, facilitate access to the sport of cross-country skiing, and conduct social and skiing activities for club members.
Q: Who grooms the ski trails at Meissner Sno-Park?
A: The Tumalo Langlauf Club grooms 30 kilometers of cross country ski trails for classic and skating four days per week from December 1 - March 31. The grooming schedule is generally Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. From 1997-2004 the club groomed the ski trails using snowmobiles. In 2004, TLC purchased a Pisten Bully 130 snowcat with a generous grant from the Mt. Hood Nordic Ski Foundation. This has enabled the club to provide consistent grooming, regardless of the snow conditions.
Q: Who uses the Meissner Sno-Park?
A: In addition to the general public, seven different clubs and organizations use the area on a frequent basis. Each organization uses the area because of its strengths. This regular and high use by many different clubs and organizations demonstrates a need for a community ski area that will provide affordable skiing for skiers of all interests and abilities.
Major Stakeholders include:
- Tumalo Langlauf Club members
- U.S. Forest Service - Deschutes National Forest, Bend/Fort Rock District
- Bend Metro Park and Recreation District ski classes and programs
- Central Oregon Community College
- Central Oregon High School Ski Teams (Bend H.S., Crook County H.S., Mountain View H.S, Redmond H.S and Summit H.S.)
- Central Oregon Nordic Club
- Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation
- XC Oregon
Q: What are the strengths of Meissner Sno-Park?
A:
- Close proximity to town
- Abundant terrain for beginning and intermediate skiers
- Affordable for users (volunteer donations)
- Consistent grooming four days per week
Q: What are the main tenets guiding the proposed development at Meissner Sno-Park?
A: A key tenet of the Meissner Project is that it will be a community ski area, non-commercial, and dedicated to expanding opportunities for all individuals to enjoy the out of doors. We envision a community ski area at Meissner Sno-Park that would meet the needs of all skiing organizations and skiers in the community and would abound with activity. Visitors to the area would include families, children, beginning skiers, recreational skiers, high school ski racers, world-class competitive racers and students in COCC and BMPRD ski classes. A second important tenet is that the project is envisioned to be collaborative as experience shows that a coalition of multiple interested partners more easily enables a successful project.
We envision members from the Central Oregon ski community will provide annual gifts in order to provide sustainable operating funds for grooming and volunteer labor for building and maintaining facilities. Our concept of a community ski area is based on the needs of all skiers from all ages and abilities and is supported by those who benefit from it.
Q: Why are developments proposed for Meissner Sno-Park?
A: There has been a history of groomed trails at Meissner Sno-Park for the last 17 years. Since 1989, volunteers from the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District and the Central Oregon Nordic Club have groomed the Meissner Sno-Park infrequently. Since 1997, the Tumalo Langlauf Club has regularly groomed approximately 20 kilometers of ski trail three days per week from December 1 - March 31.
Q: Why expand the Meissner ski trail system? Isn't the current trail system sufficient?
A: We are seeking these changes for several reasons. First, our goal is for skiers of all abilities to experience a wide range of ski techniques on well-designed trails over rolling terrain that evoke a sense of rhythm and movement. This is the essence of cross country skiing. The current trail system uses roads, which have long straight sections that are undesirable for skiing.
Second, we want to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all skiers to the Meissner Area. For instance, the large downhill on Tangent from the Manzanita junction down to the Pinedrops junction, nicknamed "Crybaby Hill," can create unsafe conditions for those descending or for those gathering at the bottom of the hill. We propose modifying existing trails or constructing new trails to create a safe and enjoyable experience.
Third, we want to provide a greater variety in the number and type of ski trails. We propose approximately 20 kilometers of new trails with approximately 50 percent listed as EASIEST and 40 percent listed as MORE DIFFICULT and 10 percent listed at MOST DIFFICULT. We are interested in providing beginning skiers with trails that provide challenge and enjoyment at their level. Conversely, we seek to provide the same to expert skiers.
Q: Why expand the parking area at Meissner Sno-Park?
A: Current capacity of the parking area is approximately 60 vehicles. On a busy weekend day the parking area may fill by 10:00 am. There are many stakeholders and user groups who would like to hold instructional and competitive events, but are prevented from doing so because they would monopolize the parking area. We are proposing a tripling of the parking area from 60 vehicles to 180 vehicles. This expanded size would meet current use and the needs of the area in five to ten years.
Q: If the parking area is increased in size will this change the experience at Meissner Sno-Park?
A: A more primitive and less commercial feel than a for-profit cross country ski center characterizes the Meissner experience. More people will change the experience, however the proposal seeks to preserve the Meissner experience by providing access to SIX groomed trails at the trailhead (currently there are two groomed trails that can be accessed from the trailhead). This will have the effect of dispersing skiers throughout the Meissner trail system. The vast majority of trails we are proposing are within a two-kilometer (1.2 miles) radius of the trailhead. In addition, some trails will be designated and groomed for skating and classic and some classic only. The need exists to provide more trails and facilities. Further, current group activities at the Meissner area such as instructional and competitive events with COCC, BMPRD and Central Oregon High School Ski Teams will remain non-profit in nature with the goal of facilitating access to the sport and providing the best experience for the participant. All of these things will have the effect of preserving the area so skiers of all ages and abilities can have a quality experience.
Q: Why lighted trails at Meissner? Will lights disturb wildlife or create unnecessary light pollution?
A: We are proposing lighted trails for several reasons. There are many people who ski the trails from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. This includes high school skiers and those who ski after a traditional workday. Lighted trails would provide more access to the trail system and a safer and more enjoyable experience. We propose using the latest solar energy technology (photovoltaic) to initially light three kilometers of ski trail. The lights would be 10-15 feet off the snow with light fixtures directing light downward and along the ski trail, thus minimizing light pollution and disturbance to wildlife. We proposed to light trails for three to four hours for four to five nights a week.
Q: Why is there a need to build a warming shelter and how will it look?
A: There are other examples of warming shelters that have preceded the proposed Meissner shelter and these include Teacup Cabin at Mt. Hood (Teacup Nordic Club) and the snowmobile shelter at Wanoga Sno-Park. In addition, the USFS is proposing a shelter of 2700 square feet at the at the Wanoga snow play area.
Cross country skiers need a place to get together, get warm and socialize. The Meissner warming shelter will be 2500-3000 square feet in size and located in the southeast part of the staging area. It will be built using northwest style lodge architecture and natural materials of wood and stone. Features of the building will include a great room with fireplace, changing rooms, small kitchen, and storage area and waxing rooms. Pit toilets will be located nearby the warming shelter. The warming shelter will provide a gathering place for large instructional and competitive events such as the Bend Kids Ski League or a high school race. The shelter will be non-commercial in nature - no food service or rentals will be offered.
Q: How will the Meissner Project be funded?
A: The club intends to pay for the proposed improvements with grants and the sweat equity of volunteers from the Central Oregon ski community. The club has identified several granting sources from the federal and state government, non-profit organizations and private individuals.
