"Ullr has smiled upon us," proclaimed Vinny Mcclelland to a crowd packed into the Keene Valley, NY Elementary School "Beaverdome." "It's been a fairly dry winter, but he's blessed us with snow," the owner of The Mountaineer gear shop added. Mcclelland welcomed all the Adirondack Backcountry SkiFest attendees before introducing the keynote speaker of the night, Glen Plake.
For the tenth year, skiers from through the Northeast traveled to Keene Valley in early March for the annual Adirondack Backcountry SkiFest. Novices and advanced backcountry skiers alike gathered for instructional clinics, gear demos and tours to some of the Adirondack's classic or newly formed slides. Here are some photos from the event.
Local legend Ron Konowitz keeping things on schedule. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
The demo and instructional clinics were held at a rope tow at The North Country School in Lake Placid. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
The two stage rope tow is powered by an old truck, and every few hours, the engine was turned off to cool, so skiers skinned up the hill instead. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
Ron Konowitz instructing kick-turn technique. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
Glen Plake is a master of kick turns. His ski ballet experience probably helps. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
Ski ballet and backcountry go hand in hand. Right? [Photo] Tyler Cohen
The crowd gathered for the demo and clinics at the rope tow. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
Plake hamming it up for the camera. [Photo] Tyler Cohen
Adirondack local Mike Kazmierczak buttering some corn. [Photo] Tyler Cohen