FALL is here and it's almost time for 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 9th and 10th. Some folks, including me, will arrive the afternoon of Friday the 8th, to get settled in. Organized runs will be on Friday, 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 good news is that we did not lose the meadow staging area!!!! It is actually a little bigger than before. That is a huge bonus as that is the IDEAL setting for accommodating our large number of rigs and teams.

This event is a dirt run, so plan on carts, quads, bikes and scooters. We will be hoping for damp trails and cool temps, but no snow. 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 are 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.

The event has the use of the meeting hall on Thursday, 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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons at about 1 pm; other meals will be informal potluck at the participants' discretion.. We never lack for enough good food! Since the cost per day of the meeting hall went up to $75, I will be asking for donations to help defray the $300 cost.

This year, several of our mid/long distance mushers have agreed to give a talk on Saturday afternoon, after the potluck. They will share with us their experiences in training, conditioning, trail & checkpoint routines, keeping the dogs healthy and happy during a training and racing, etc. This will be an informal, interactive session with questions from the audience welcome.

Campsites at La Pine State Park are suitable for tents or R.V.'s; all have electrical hookups and water. We will be located in the South Loop. Campsites are first-come-first-served; no reservations are taken this time of year. There are plenty of spots and the State Park will open the adjacent Loop if needed. Bathrooms with shower facilities (included in camping fee) are in our immediate area; bring your own towels and toiletries.

(All cabins are taken at this point. If there are cancellations, I will put that information out on the lists. If you have a cabin reserved and are not able to come, please get that info to me to see if someone else can speak for it without cancelling the reservation.) 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). There are no dogs allowed in the cabins. THIS IS IMPORTANT DUE TO FUTURE CAMPERS WHO MIGHT HAVE ALLERGIES.

The La Pine State Park staff is expecting us and are excited to have our event at their park once again! (I went to high school with the camp ranger….. pays to be local!!! )

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.

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.

For Questions, please post to the list or e-mail me directly at tumnatki@earthlink.net.

Please cross-post, include in your club newsletters and pass along to anyone who would be interested.

Karen Yeargain
541-410-8475
Tumnatki Siberians
Redpaw Dog Food
Diggler Dog Scooters
TAIGA harnesses/collars
K-Collars
Prineville, OR
www.tumnatkisiberians.com