Snow was about a foot deep last weekend along cross-country ski trails near Fish Lake, as can be seen in this photograph taken by Klamath Falls photographer Gary W. Vequist, a retired National Parks ranger and member of the Southern Oregon Nordic Club.

Cross-country skiers have been out on the trails already this season, says Tom Dube, president of the Southern Oregon Nordic Club.

“We’ve barely gotten into our season,” he said Tuesday.

The club last year had about 110 members.

“Depending on the snow conditions this year, I’m anticipating we’ll have something like that this year,” he said.

About a foot of snow was on the ground last weekend at Fish Lake, near the base of Mount McLoughlin.

During the cold season, club members groom trails near Buck Prairie and East Hyatt Lake using an all-terrain vehicle that pulls a groomer provided by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

“We’ve been doing that, I’m going to say, at least 12, 13 years,” Dube said. “It’s definitely a commitment, but it’s been a good relationship the club has had with BLM. The BLM has always been very supportive of recreation.”

During the off-season, club members help remove debris from trails, including trails on Mount Ashland, near Grouse Gap and Bull Gap.

The club holds monthly meetings during ski season, with the next meeting set for 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Talent library, 101 Home St. For more information, go online to the club’s website, onc.org/sonc/, or send an email to southern.oregon.nordic@gmail.com.

Celebrate winter solstice on Thursday in Ashland

The winter solstice, which arrives Thursday with the shortest day and longest night of the year, will be celebrated with a 5 p.m. gathering that day at the downtown Ashland Plaza, followed by a lantern procession around the lower duck pond at Lithia Park.

“We want to celebrate the season,” said Cynthia Salbato, a board member with ScienceWorks, where people attending a Sunday workshop made about 35 lanterns.

The celebration has taken place for years in Ashland, even through the pandemic.

“We usually get about a hundred people coming to this,” Salbato said.

If you don’t have a lantern, no worries. Bring lights, flashlights or wands for the walk, which begins at the Plaza, where people may write down their solstice wishes and later hang them on a wishing tree.

“We’ll probably have the first taste of winter exlir,” Salbato said, referring to a beverage served in an acorn cup. “Basically it’s to involve all of the senses.”

There’s likely to be a bit of singing. Look for gnomes around the pond.

Thursday is the “shortest day” of the year, as measured by the time between sunrise and sunset, or daylength, which is 9 hours, four minutes and 48 seconds long on Thursday in Medford, according to timeanddate.com.

That’s, about three seconds shorter than daylength on Wednesday and about one second shorter than daylength on Friday. Sunrise on Thursday is 7:37 a.m., with sunset at 4:42 p.m.

The winter solstice occurs at the moment the earth’s tilt away from the sun is at a maximum, when it is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. In Medford, that’s at 7:27 p.m. Thursday.

Check out Central Point’s new recreation guide

The city of Central Point has put out its winter-spring recreation guide, which features classes, community events and programs. Check it out online at centralpointoregon.gov/parksrec.

Registration for classes is open to city residents and non-residents alike, on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 541-664-3321.

Get out for a walk in Gold Hill

Walks are held from noon to 1 p.m. every Wednesday, rain or shine, starting at the Gold Hill library, 202 Dardanelles St.

The neighborhood walks are for adults, 18 years and older, according to a library posting. Walkers take the path to the Gold Hill Sports Park, for exercise and socializing.

Call the library at 541-855-1994, for more information.

Reserve a spot for Shore Acres State Park holiday lights show

This year’s annual Holiday Lights show at Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay will again require visitors to make online reservations.

The show, a 30-year tradition, features hundreds of thousands of colored lights in the park’s formal garden area. The display runs 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31.

Reservation time slots are 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Cost per vehicle is $5.

To make a reservation, go to bit.ly/2023holidaylights (click on “tour list”) or call 800-452-5687.

Peak whale-watching season on the Oregon Coast is here

One of the best times of the year to view migrating gray whales off the Oregon Coast is happening now through mid-January, with thousands of gray whales migrating south to Mexico’s Baja California area.

To assist the public, Oregon State Parks supports whale watching week, with more than 300 volunteers stationed at 15 sites, including Harris State Park near Brookings, from Dec. 27-31. About 30 whales per hour pass by during peak periods.

Tips for whale watching include spotting a spout with the naked eye and then using binoculars to get a better view. Morning, with the sun to your back, is the best time for watching. Learn more online at orwhalewatch.org.