Backcountry Film Festival x Mt. Shasta Nordic

The Backcountry Film Festival celebrates human-powered, backcountry-inspired stories rooted in wild snowscapes, stewardship and stoke. Join the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center crew and your winter outdoor community to catch the epic films and help raise money towards a new snowcat groomer.

Doors open at 5:00pm, Presentation by Forrest Coots at 6:00pm, Screening begins at 6:30pm

The 18th Annual Backcountry Film Festival, presented by Winter Wildlands Alliance, will be screening a collage of short documentaries and ski movies about the pursuit of objectives and ideals in the mountains, artistic vision, friendship, and how the snowsports community is adapting to a changing environment. The total runtime for our 2022-23 season is 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Note: kids 12 and under are free!

Nancy Driscoll Foundation Donates $5,000

Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance is pleased to share that we have received a $5,000 donation from the Nancy Driscoll Foundation towards the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center's New Groomer Fund.

We are so thankful to the Nancy Driscoll Foundation for being gracious supporters of Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance's many programs over the years and can't wait to put this donation to good use.

In case you missed it, SORA is fundraising for a new snowcat groomer to ensure meticulous, consistent grooming at the Nordic Center for years to come. Consistent grooming is a crucial aspect to operating the Nordic Center for daily trail use by our community members, as well as for our important School Program.

Thank you again to the Nancy Driscoll Foundation!

'22-'23 Youth Programs

We're excited to offer two youth programs this season: beginner and advanced skate. These programs are for kids 17 and under.

Advanced Skate Program (Saturdays)

For kids who have already learned to skate and want to take their skills to the next level.

  • Dates: 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/18, 2/25

  • Time: 1:00-2:30pm

  • Advance your skate skiing skills in a positive group setting

  • Sports are limited

  • $65 for all five sessions

Beginner Program (Sundays)

An opportunity to learn the fun of both Nordic skiing styles: classic and skate skiing.

  • Dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/26

  • Time: 1:00-2:30pm

  • Learn the basics of classic and skate skiing in a positive setting

  • Spots are limited

  • $65 for all five sessions

Email director@mtshastanordic.org to learn more or reserve your child’s spot!

Mt. Shasta Nordic Ski Kits

We are absolutely thrilled to announce Mt. Shasta Nordic branded ski kits available to order soon! Many of our loyal skiers ask for branded gear to rep the Nordic Center and we can’t wait to see these kits around the trails!

Here’s everything you need to know.

We will be placing a group order from Jakroo. This means the more items ordered, the lower the prices will be. These are the available items and estimated cost per item:

  • Soft Shell Nordic Jacket:    $119 

  • Nordic Vest:                     $99

  • Neck Wrap:                    $16

  • Nordic Hat:                    $18

Please note: this is a special discounted price. Pricing will be higher for onsite purchased at the Nordic Center!

Jakroo has a wonderful sizing service, which you can learn about here.

The online store will be open from 11/18-12/9. You can place your order any time within those dates, then all orders will be shipped after the window closes. Items will be delivered to your home on 12/23–just in time for Christmas!

Give Back During Giving Tuesday | Party Details Here

Season Kick-Off + Giving Tuesday Party is November 29th!

Giving Tuesday is a unique opportunity for the public to learn about the difference non-profits make in our communities and a chance to say thank you by making a donation. Our Giving Tuesday Party is the perfect opportunity to connect with the Mt. Shasta ski community, cheers to the upcoming season, and give back.

Party Details

November 29th from 4:00-7:00pm

Deadwood Supply Co.

408 N Mt Shasta Blvd, Mt Shasta, CA 96067

The Season Kick-Off + Giving Tuesday Party is hosted by Friends of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center and Mt. Shasta Nordic Center.

Considering making a donation to Mt. Shasta Nordic? Here are a few reasons we think you should:

Capital Improvements Coming Soon

Mt. Shasta Nordic Center is on the cusp of great change. In case you missed the news, Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance was awarded a $1.1M California State Parks and Recreation/Regional Park Program grant (see details here) for the Nordic Center Facilities Upgrade & Connected Community Trails Project. Improvements to the Nordic Center will include a new guest services lodge, a double vault toilet, interpretive panels, and a maintenance area with two trailers (plus more Gateway trails!). We can't wait to implement these changes next summer!

Snowcat Groomer Fund

To complete our capital improvement vision for the Nordic Center, we are fundraising for a second snowcat groomer to lighten the load on Ms. Kitty and ensure consistent, meticulous grooming throughout each ski season. Last season was a stellar example of what focused grooming can inspire at a place like Mt. Shasta Nordic. We were able to stay open not only for our wonderful regulars and visitors, but for the children of Siskiyou, Shasta, and Jefferson counties during our School Program days.

A second groomer will ensure that if something goes awry with Ms. Kitty, we will always have a backup in place to guarantee consistent grooming for our trail users. Your donation towards the Snowcat Groomer Fund is a direct investment in the future of groomed trails at the Nordic Center for generations to come.

Staying Affordable

This season, the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center team has made the decision to keep pricing exactly the same over last season. With economic hardships seen across the country, and in Siskiyou County especially, we determined it was the best choice to keep the Nordic Center as affordable as possible for our community. We want to demonstrate to our passholders, casual visitors, and School Program groups alike that when they invest in us, we invest right back. Your donation helps us keep pricing as low as possible, which in turn gives even more people the opportunity to experience the joy of skiing and snowshoeing at the Nordic Center.

Will you get on board with the momentum by donating to Mt. Shasta Nordic Center?

A big thank you to North State Giving Tuesday.

$1.1M Grant Awarded for Nordic Center Facility Upgrades

Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance has been awarded a Regional Park Program Grant by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

SORA will receive $1,101,218 to improve Mt. Shasta Nordic Center by constructing a new guest services lodge with lighting, 5.06 miles of Gateway trails, an ADA double vault toilet, interpretive panels, and a maintenance area with two trailers. 

Justi Hansen, SORA Executive Director stated, “This grant award is a game changer for the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center. The new lodge and vault toilet will allow us to create a more user-friendly experience for the public and staff—and to better serve school groups, seniors, and people with physical disabilities”. 

Mt. Shasta Nordic Center Director, Mandy Burkholder noted, “We’re thrilled to utilize this grant to build upon the foundations of the Nordic Center, and to take this community asset into the next generation.” 

The new lodge design was guided by a comprehensive public input process. SORA worked closely with Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mt. Shasta Trail Association, and Trail Labs, Inc. on the project proposal. “This collaborative effort will have a positive impact on our local economy and public health for years to come” says Hansen. 

The guest lodge will be comprised of two 10-foot x 30-foot snow-load rated portable trailers joined together and solar powered. The trailers will house rental gear, a guest lounge, an entry station and a small retail area, and a private office for the staff.  

“We’re also thrilled that the project includes construction of 5.06 miles of new Gateway trail”, says Hansen. SORA will work closely with Mt. Shasta Trail Association to develop the new trails. MTSA President John Harch included, “This significant grant is a result of months of work by SORA, along with some technical input from the Mount Shasta Trail Association. It means that along with the new facilities that will make the Nordic Center more accessible to a diversity of skiers and snowshoers, we’ll be able to build another five miles of new trail in the Gateway Trail System. The board of MSTA is extremely excited because it brings us so much closer to having all 46 new miles of trail funded. This is truly a community effort!”

Mt. Shasta Mobility Final Draft: Leave Your Comments!

The City of Mt. Shasta is preparing a mobility plan called Walk Bike Ride Mt. Shasta. Through this effort, the City and partners developed strategies and transportation improvements to foster a vibrant, sustainable community with accessible connections between businesses, neighborhoods, schools, and our surrounding natural environment.

The draft is here, and we want your final thoughts before it’s complete.

We are excited to invite you to participate in the public comment phase of the Walk, Bike, Ride Mt Shasta Mobility Plan!

The Walk Bike Ride Mt. Shasta team is excited to share the full draft plan for public comment starting today, September 14. The comment period will end on October 9, 2022.

There are many ways you can leave a comment.

You can leave a comment directly on a page in the plan using the online tool (see video instruction below). Alternatively, you can provide feedback by sending an email to: info@WalkBikeRideMtShasta.com or leaving a voicemail message by dialing (530) 230-3220.

What are the next steps?

The plan will be presented to Mt. Shasta Planning Commission on September 20th and Mt. Shasta City Council on October 10th.

Thank you for participating in this process over the past 15 months! We hope that you see your ideas reflected in these pages. Please let us know of any final ideas to strengthen the plan.

US Forest Service (Shasta McCloud Management Unit) is HIRING!

The US Forest Service has begun a nation-wide hiring event and there are several open positions in the Shasta McCloud Management Unit. These positions are based out of the Mt. Shasta and McCloud Ranger Stations.

The hiring event runs through April 19th.

Here are a few quick tips directly from the USFS on creating the most successful application:

  1. Make sure that you follow ALL instructions in USAJOBs – do NOT deviate at all from what they are asking

  2. Make sure your resume includes ALL items that the description in USAJOBS says your resume MUST INCLUDE

  3. Upload ALL documentation that is required for applying for the position (i.e. Resume, SF-50s, Performance Rating, College Transcripts, Veteran paperwork, etc. etc.)

  4. You will not have an opportunity to put a location. If you make it on the cert list there should be a follow up email that asks what locations you are interested in.

  5. Do NOT wait until last minute if you’re seriously considering applying. With a quick look when I was capturing the direct link it does state the application cap (i.e. 800). Once that cap is reached the announcement will close.