Edison Butte is the people’s sno-park.

Dogs seem to like it too.

Just about any winter’s day, you’ll encounter nordic skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers there, doing what they do and smiling a lot.

Edison differs from most other sno-parks in the Deschutes National Forest in that dogs are allowed and snowmobilers coexist with nordic skiers and snowshoers.

On this day, a Sunday, Edison most definitely lived up to its democratic reputation. The big parking lot was CRO – cruising room only. Its trails were crawling with cross-country skiers, hikers on snowshoes and dogs with weather-callused paws. On the north side, the motor jockeys were having big fun winding out on the butte’s snowmobile trails.

We skied to the Edison shelter and back, saw lots of two- and four-legged revelers and stopped to talk with more than a few (people and dogs). It was a slipping, sliding, hooting, hollering, sprawling-in-the-snow kind of party. Everyone was smiling and laughing.

It was a great day for a little free-falling fiesta – plenty of new snow with the chicken feathers flying. Map Guy was there along with his wife. So were the Quons – Mark, Linda, Presley and Owen James – ever-so-recent expatriates from the San Fernando Valley and big fans of their frosty new home turf.

Surrounded by the best of friends, we found the up-and-down trip to the shelter flew by in a gust of breathless conversation and appreciative nods. Light Bulb Loop was a cheery route, despite the leaden sky. Presley Quon, 9, and all of 56 inches tall, blew everyone away by skiing like a pro her first time out. Owen, 12, and full of adolescent exuberance, would sprint ahead and double back, covering more ground than the hounds that left their yellow marks at regular intervals. Even Map Guy put some positive English on the uneven terrain, embracing the downhills more than he complained about the concomitant climbs.

The shelter buzzed with activity. The big barrel stove roared, people engaged in interparty chatter and the dogs nosed each other with typical canine familiarity.

Most days, the shelters and trails of Edison Sno-park are far more serene, with plenty of solitude around every bend. The trails, which wind through some awesome stands of old-growth ponderosa pines, range from easy to more difficult and are nicely marked with blue diamonds and signs. Another shelter, AC/DC, makes for a 7- or 8-mile round trip out the Direct Current trail and back Alternate Current, which ties back into DC.

Throughout the park, trails tie to others, making for countless options. Pick up a map at the trailhead (when available) or at the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District office, 1230 N.E. 3rd St., Bend (383-4000).

To reach Edison Sno-park from Bend, take Cascade Lakes Highway and turn left on Road 45, east of Mount Bachelor. The sno-park is about four miles down the road on the right.

If you want to take up nordic skiing or snowshoeing, it’s probably best to try before you buy. Several Central Oregon outlets rent skinny skis, boots, poles and snowshoes. Look under ski equipment, rentals and sales in the yellow pages, and expect to pay $10 to $15 for the day.

You’ll also need an annual sno-park pass (one per vehicle) available at the Department of Motor Vehicles. It entitles you to park at the sno-parks and allows The Oregon Department of Transportation to keep the lots plowed and accessible.

Some people, Presley, for instance, take right to classic nordic skiing. Others can benefit from a lesson or two at the outset. Bend Metro Park and Recreation District, Central Oregon Community College and the Mount Bachelor Nordic Center all offer instruction.

The experienced skier/members of the local cross-country skiing clubs are also most helpful. Try the Central Oregon Nordic Club (382-8023) or the Tumalo Langlauf Club (389-3519). Veteran nordic buffs are a friendly lot and are almost always willing to lend a helping hand.

With twilight looming, we skied back to the lot from Edison Shelter and made our way back home. Slowly. It was bumper to bumper coming off the mountain, which left me a little nonplused. The Quons took it right in stride.

They all said they had fun. Even Map Guy allowed that, all in all, it hadn’t been a negative experience.