PURGATORY ANNOUNCES PACKED LINEUP OF WINTERFEST EVENTS

Presented by Backcountry Experience, Winterfest provides hands-on winter sports education

 

Durango, CO – Ever wanted to try ice climbing? Or dog sledding? Or how about snowshoeing? Nordic skiing, perhaps? If so, you won’t want to miss Winterfest, to be held Sat., Jan. 16 and Sun., Jan. 17 at Durango Mountain Resort. Created by the winter-fun experts at Backcountry Experience, Winterfest is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to try these and many other winter sports and activities at low or no cost. Sign-up for all Winterfest events will be held at Backcountry Experience in the Purgatory Village plaza, and more information on Winterfest is available by calling BCE at (970) 385-2261.

 

Here is the complete lineup of Winterfest and other events happening at Purgatory this weekend:

 

Saturday, January 16:

• Winterfest Dog Sledding, 10 am – 4 pm. Take a ride on a scenic, 15-minute loop with the dogs and guides from the Durango Dog Ranch. $25 per person, includes a complimentary insulated mug of hot chocolate. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 759-1691 for info.
• Winterfest Ice Climbing Demos, 9-11 am, 11 am – 1 pm, 1-3 pm. Beginners will learn to scale the ice in Cascade Canyon. Free clinics include equipment and transportation between the resort and Cascade Canyon. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Winterfest Sledding, 11 am – 2 pm, Snowcoaster Tubing Hill. Take a ride on an elegant sled from Mountain Boy Sledworks in Silverton, or experience the thrill of an Airboard inflatable sled. Free. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Winterfest Snowshoe Tours. Free, one-hour guided tours depart Backcountry Experience at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm and 1 pm. Includes equipment and lift access. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Winterfest Telemark Demos, 9 am – 3 pm. Free demos of the latest telemark gear from Backcountry Experience. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Winterfest Snow Cave Exhibit, 9 am – 4 pm, in the plaza. Check out our authentic snow caves, plus all the latest equipment for snow camping. Free.
• Burton Snowboard Demo, in the base area. Free demos of the latest equipment from Burton.
• Town Downhill Training Day, Upper Hades. For skiers ages 4 and above, all ability levels. Race-day registration is Sunday, Jan. 17 from 7:45-9 am at Hoody’s. $10 per racer, per event under age 12, and $20 per racer, per event ages 12 and up. $25 lift tickets available for racers. Call the Ski and Ride School at (970) 385-2149 for info.
• Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Display, 6:30 pm. Watch as the instructors from the Ski and Ride School carry lit torches down the mountain to the plaza, where a spectacular fireworks display will explode overhead.
• Winterfest Nordic Skiing. Ride the free shuttle to the Durango Nordic Center, which offers 18 km of groomed trails for skate and classic skiing. $12 admission and rentals with DMR lift ticket or season pass. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Horse-drawn sleigh rides depart the base area at 5 pm. For reservations, call (970) 385-2110.
• Aladocious plays live at Purgy’s, 2-5 pm
• Cosmic Accident plays live at Creekside, 6-11 pm
• Winterfest Film Night, 7:30 pm in the Community Center. A free, all-ages showing of two films from the Durango Independent Film Festival, Matt Mulligan’s “Lucid Dreams,” followed by “The Edge of Telluride.”
• Lisa Mackey Photography Exhibit. View the work of Durango photographer Lisa Mackey, on display in Backcountry Experience and the Durango Mountain Club.

 

Sunday, Jan. 17:

• Winterfest Snowshoe Tours. Free, one-hour guided tours depart Backcountry Experience at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm and 1 pm. Includes equipment and lift access. Sign up at Backcountry Experience in the plaza, or call (970) 385-2261 for info.
• Winterfest Snow Cave Exhibit, 9 am – 4 pm, in the plaza. Check out our authentic snow caves, plus all the latest equipment for snow camping. Free.
• Town Downhill Race Day, Upper Hades. For skiers ages 4 and above, all ability levels. Race-day registration is Sunday, 1/17 from 7:45-9 am at Hoody’s. $10 per racer, per event under age 12, and $20 per racer, per event ages 12 and up. $25 lift tickets available for racers. Call the Ski and Ride School at (970) 385-2149 for info.
• Rocky Mountain Division Junior Olympic Qualifier Races at the Durango Nordic Center. Come watch some of the United States’ best young skate skiers pursue their Olympic dreams. Racing starts at 9 am. Call the Nordic Center at (970) 385-2114 for info.
• Horse-drawn sleigh rides depart the base area at 5, 6 and 7 pm. For reservations, call (970) 385-2110.
• Winterfest Film Night, 7:30 pm in the Community Center. A free, all-ages showing of two films from the Durango Independent Film Festival, TGR’s “Re:Session” and Ryan Jameson’s “Continuum.”
• Aladocious plays live at Purgy’s, 2-5 pm
• Sports on the 42-inch flat-screen TVs at Creekside