John Craig Ski event set for April 1

The annual John Craig Memorial Wilderness Ski Event is set for Saturday, April 1, on the McKenzie Pass.

The event, sponsored by the Oregon Nordic Club, includes races and tours for all ages.

The key event is the 30-kilometer “Mail Carry” which starts on the west side of the Old McKenzie Highway, crosses the summit and finishes about nine miles west of Sisters.

The “Mail Carry” honors Craig, who died on a winter trip in December 1877 while attempting to carry mail over the pass for the U.S. Postal Service on skis. He apparently encountered blizzard conditions and didn’t survive the freezing conditions.

The first commemorative race honoring Craig took place in 1934 and races have taken place off and on since that time. It has run continuously since 1972.

Skiers can also participate in either the 10 or 20 kilometer races or the 3 or 5 kilometer kids’ races that will follow. A tour event up to the Dee Wright Observatory and back (20 kilometers) is also an option. Tourers can actually go any distance they want to, according to race officials.

The “Mail Carry” starts at 6:30 a.m. A bus will transport skiers to the start and pre-registration is required.

The 10K and 20K races begin in a mass start at 10 a.m. approximately nine miles from Sisters. Day-of-event registration is available, but pre-registration is encouraged.

A post-race awards lunch is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. at Three Sisters Fellowship at 442 Trinity Way. A later celebration for the Mail Carry participants will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge.

Registration information is available on the Tumalo Langlauf Club’s Web site at http://www.tumalolanglauf.com/events/john_craig_memorial.html.