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TIER 3 · Independent · United States

Cascade Crest

Fifty kilometers through the high Cascades of Oregon — a spring ski marathon at the foot of Mt Bachelor where the season ends on a summit note.

50 KMCLASSIC & SKATEAPRILOREGON, USA
59 Lab Score TIER 3
GREEN · -15° AND BELOW
BLUE · -15° TO -8°
VIOLET · -8° TO -2°
RED · -2° AND ABOVE
▲ RACE DAY · -2° TO 8°C TYPICAL
01

The Wax Bench rating

Two views of the same race: what the course demands, and what the event delivers. Select any criterion for the profile evidence.

Course & conditions verdict

Loops through the Mt Bachelor Nordic trail system and surrounding volcanic terrain.[1]

Course & conditions ratings. Select a score point for its explanation. DISTANCE3/5ELEVATION3/5ALTITUDE5/5TECHNICALITY3/5SNOW RELIABILITY3/5GROOMING3/5SCENERY4/5 24 /35
02

What the score means

Race vitalsDistance, date, field, and formatCourseTerrain, grooming, and technical demandsRace weekTechnique, wax, and start-line protocolConditionsTemperature and snow variablesHeritageWhy this race matters

Rating into action

A score tells you what Cascade Crest demands. A plan prepares you for it.

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Race prep guide

Technique, pacing, fueling, and wax fundamentals to use while you evaluate your next step.

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03

Race vitals

Distance
50 km
Elevation
700 m
Altitude
1920 m
Field Size
120
Founded
2010
Technique
Classic & Skate
Format
Loop
Date
April
Distances
50km | 25km
Location
Oregon, USA
04

Course overview

Format
Loop
Surface
Machine-groomed trails on volcanic terrain, some sections through open meadows above treeline
Technical Rating
3 / 5
Grooming
Good grooming maintained by Mt Bachelor Nordic Center, though spring conditions can be variable

Loops through the Mt Bachelor Nordic trail system and surrounding volcanic terrain. The high Cascades landscape features volcanic ridges, old-growth forest, and views of the Central Oregon peaks. Technical descents through forested sections test handling skills.

  • High-altitude course on the flanks of Mt Bachelor (2,764m)
  • Views of Broken Top, South Sister, and the Central Oregon Cascades
  • Spring skiing with long daylight hours
  • Volcanic terrain creates unique rolling topography
  • One of the latest-season Nordic marathons in the US
05

Race week

1

Check the week

Use the 2026: April 4 timing as the anchor. Confirm travel, bib pickup, and the latest organizer notices before you adjust training.

2

Tune the sessions

Keep the final intensity short and specific to classic and skate options. The goal is readiness, not added fitness.

3

Set race morning

Pack layers, food, and wax options for Cascade Crest before the last evening. Leave only weather checks for the morning.

Wax call

06

Weather and conditions

Typical: -2 to 8

A late-season race at nearly 2,000 meters altitude. April brings longer days and strong sun, but the high elevation maintains snow quality. Temperatures range from -5°C to 10°C. Corn snow and spring crust are common, with mornings firm and afternoons soft.

  • Strong spring sun causes rapid snow softening by midday
  • UV exposure at nearly 2,000m requires sunscreen and eye protection
  • Klister wax conditions common in warm years
  • Morning crust can be icy and fast on descents
  • Altitude effects for lowland skiers
07

History and heritage

Founded around 2010, the Cascade Crest ski marathon takes advantage of the deep snowpack and late-season conditions at Mt Bachelor in central Oregon. The race grew out of the region's vibrant Nordic community centered around Bend, Oregon. Mt Bachelor's Nordic center, operated by the Mt Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, provides the trail infrastructure. The event celebrates the end of the ski season with a spring marathon through one of the most scenic volcanic landscapes in the American West.

  • One of the latest-season Nordic marathons in the United States
  • Mt Bachelor receives an average of 460 inches (11.7 meters) of snow annually
  • The volcanic terrain of the Central Oregon Cascades creates unique course topography
  • Bend, Oregon is one of the fastest-growing Nordic skiing communities in the US
  • The race often coincides with the final weeks of the Mt Bachelor Nordic season
08

Similar races

Great Nordeen T3 · 50/100
Oregon, USA Race of the Methow T3 · 51/100
Washington, USA Methow Valley Ski Marathon T3 · 59/100
Washington, USA Ski to the Sun T3 · 57/100
Washington, USA Tahoe Rim Tour T3 · 53/100
California, USA Sun Valley Nordic Festival T3 · 57/100
Idaho, USA
09

Sources

  1. Official race website
  2. Community Connection — KOHD9TV
  3. The Truth About Expensive Winter Gear — MyLifeOutdoors
  4. Dual in the Desert Bend, Oregon — mtbachelorrotary
  5. Danny Macaskill: The Ridge — Cut Media
  6. Hoisted from Hell (Full Episode) | Extreme Rescues — National Geographic
  7. The SCAM Outdoor Brands Don't Want You To Know — MyLifeOutdoors
  8. Epic Mountain Biking in Oakridge: Trans Cascadia — Oregon
  9. Classic Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started || REI — REI
  10. Seal spotted visiting Cape Elizabeth, Maine three times Monday — CBS Chicago
  11. 2014 Cascade Crest Classic 100 — Snow Troopers
  12. Cascade Crest 100 Endruance Run 2013 Teaser 720V — Snow Troopers

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