This year’s Skifest debuts a new venue for demo gear and free mini-clinics: Otis Mountain is a small, private ski hill with a rope tow and, more importantly, the freedom to skin up! It is the perfect place to try new equipment as well as to learn or refresh skills like skinning, beacon searches for avalanche rescue, and more. Otis will be happening all day Saturday beginning at 10am.
Another change in the works is the venue for Saturday night’s entertainment. A catered dinner and beer will be served at the Keene Valley Lodge after the clinics on Saturday ($20 pre-registration only), after which we will walk down to the Mountaineer to see Backcountry Magazine’s presentation of a couple excellent backcountry ski films ($10 at the door).
As always, the centerpiece of the Skifest is the great selection of clinics for all ability levels taught by local skiers and guides. This year we will offer four clinics on both Saturday and Sunday: the Karhu Traverse ($90), two intermediate Backcountry Tours ($150), and the advanced Slide Skiing Tour ($150). Pre-registration is required.
Check out www.mountaineer.com for more info on all the Skifest events, and call us to pre-register for clinics or the Saturday evening dinner.
Festival organizers are now taking registrations, so don’t wait too long to get your name in! We’re looking forward to a great Skifest weekend. We hope to see you there!