Halloween will be a little less frightening this year when GAH co-hosts the first ever Calgary Outdoor Festival from October 30-31, 2010. The idea is simple.  Bring together outdoor enthusiasts, guides, service providers, retailers, and product manufacturers in an interactive, vibrant, entertaining and informative setting. 

This consumer oriented event is a partnership with Outdoor Approach Ltd. a highly successful adventure oriented company in downtown Calgary. The Expo will include two trade show pavilions, ‘open air’ on site demos, new product showcase, events and a large outdoor gear swap. The event is conveniently located at a highly visible and easily accessible site just north of McMahon Stadium within 2 pavilions with more than 40,000 sq. ft. of space

We are now taking registration for the "Selkirk Classic" scheduled December 4th, 2010. Ticket price for the event is only $275 per person and includes the helicopter flights, lodging, food and prizes

Following the race our Alpine Touring Season kicks into gear. December is generally one of the most stable months with a typical snow pack of 2.0 meters or more settled snow

December is also the busiest month for most folks so new for this upcoming ski season we will be offering 3 and 4 day shorter ski trips. This way you get to play in the early season pow and still get your X-Mas shopping done!

Saturdays Race was presented by Marmot and in it's 10th year, the conditions were challenging and spring like but made for interesting watching while participants climbed and skied 7850':

See the results here.

Visit the site here.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is excited to partner with the Golden Ski Mountaineer Club and the Alpine Club of Canada to present the second annual Dogtooth Dash on Saturday April 3^rd2010.

The Dogtooth Dash course has been proven as one of the most challenging ski mountaineering events hosted in a controlled recreation area.  The course uses all three alpine bowls and ridge lines at Kicking Horse Moutain Resort,. The custom clover leaf style course will challenge athleres to ski/skin/hike their way around with 1,302m / 4,272ft of climbing /descending on the competitive course, and 692m / 2,270ft of climbing / descending on the Recreational poker run course.

With registration all participants receive the following:

• Dinner at the pre-race meeting on Friday April 2^nd
• Entry to the Dogtooth Dash race on Saturday April 3^rd
• Lift access
• A unique apres experience and Awards ceremony at the Eagle's Eye Restaurant on Saturday

Online registration at Karelo.com is now open.  Sign-up early and save time and money.  Online race registration is $70 for both course options.

Last years event Video:

YES! VertFest 2010 is happening! …and we need your participation to pull it off!

The fourth annual VertFest will be held at Alpental on Saturday, March 6th 2010. We truly appreciate Crystal Mountain and all their efforts and energy in previous years. We’ve had to scale the event back this year due to some budget restraints and truly hope that everyone pulls together in support ofFriends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center and a love for uphill/downhill adventures.

We have set up pre-registration at Brown Paper Ticketshttp://www.brownpapertickets.c.....vent/98044

Registration will also be available the day of the event via cash or check.

Outdoor Research, Alpental ski area, Pro Guiding Service, Osprey Packs, SOL Sunguard, Clif Bar, Nikwax, Petzl and a host of other supporters are stepping up to make this event happen.

The tradition continues with this winter celebration of backcountry culture and a chance to test your stamina in a fun uphill /downhill ski race. The beer (and RAFFLE PRIZES !) will be flowing after racers cross the finish line, so come join in the festivities and catch up with your friends even if you don’t tape on a bib number. There will also be a companion rescue clinic offered by John Stimberis to build your snow-safety know-how. All proceeds from the day will benefit the Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. While there is only one Vertfest this year, mark your calendars! It’s going to be a good one!

Please let me know should you have any questions. Thank you for supporting Friends of the Avalanche Center and the backcountry community!

more info.

The Mountaineer in Keene Valley, NY will host the eighth annual Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival the weekend of March 6 & 7, 2010. The Backcountry Skifest celebrates the ski experience both here in our own backcountry and in the greater ranges of the world. Backcountry skiing means skiing on natural snow in natural terrain, and combines all of the elements of touring, climbing and downhill skiing into a real winter mountaineering experience.

Local backcountry gurus and Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides in Keene Valley will lead guided tours for all ability levels on Saturday and Sunday. Backcountry Magazine will host a dinner at the Keene Valley Lodge and two or three backcountry ski films after dinner at the Mountaineer on Saturday night.

Demos and mini clinics will again be held at Otis Mountain in Elizabethtown on Saturday. Otis is a private ski area that offers a great venue for testing out the latest skis and boots as well as clinics on skinning, beacon search and more. Mini-clinics and demos will be free of charge!

‘We are incredibly lucky to have such a great group of local and guest guides for this event who are willing to come out and share their depth of experience and knowledge with other skiers,’ says the Mountaineer’s Vinny McClelland. Intermediate nordic skiers can traverse the High Peaks through Avalanche Pass with David Thomas-Train and Tony Goodwin, while intermediate downhill skiers will head for a favorite glade or backcountry trail with Colin Loher and Bill Dodd or Emilie Drinkwater and Jim Sausville. Experienced backcountry skiers can join a tour of one of the High Peaks’ challenging slides with Jesse Williams and Jeremy Haas.

Major sponsors for this year’s event include Primaloft and Backcountry magazine. Garmont, Scarpa, Voile, Dynafit, Black Diamond and Karhu have generously provided the latest demo equipment for event participants. Additional sponsors include Mammut, G3, Ortovox and Marmot. The Skifest is a benefit event, with proceeds supporting the New York State Ski Education Foundation’s Nordic racing programs and the Adirondack Ski Touring Council, stewards of the Adirondack Park’s backcountry ski trail system, including the famous Jackrabbit Trail.

Register here.