Welcome to the second installment of a three part series meant to dial you in on this one-of-a-kind, two-week winter festival celebrating human-powered outdoor recreation in Lake Tahoe. It’s already February 7th and we’re just one week out until the beginning of the festival!
Over the course of two weeks, from February 14th-March 2nd, clinics, presentations, films and more will take place in North Lake Tahoe exploring some of the best activities our world class region has to offer. Participants will have the opportunity to Nordic ski, backcountry ski, snowshoe and enjoy natural history excursions. In that spirit, the festival has been designed to inspire participants to enjoy and explore North Lake Tahoe’s unique playground with friends and family celebrating the Sierra mountain lifestyle.
The Alpenglow Mountain Festival is geared toward beginner and intermediate winter recreation enthusiasts, but offers a range of activities for all interests and ability levels. While the majority of events are free, space is limited, and participants are encouraged to register online in advance to reserve a spot, as well as for the opportunity to win spectacular giveaways.
For this week, one lucky person has the opportunity to win a complete backcountry ski package that includes Black Diamond Equipment Ltd Skis, Dynafit Radical ST Bindings, a Nature’s Bakery Snack Pack, a Backcountry Access Ski Pack and Avalanche Tracker 2 Beacon! Total value of $1,600! Enter here!
Since there are so many festival highlights, for this edition we’ll focus on three offerings in the presentations being offered, the winter film series, and the Dynafit Nachtspektakel event.
For more information on the guided snowshoe offerings, backcountry and Nordic ski tours, cross country skills and waxing clinics, and the AIARE certified field and classroom avalanche safety skills clinics, please click here. A full events schedule, a map and additional details can easily be found online at AlpenglowSports.com.
Presentations by Leading Athletes, Historians and Recreational Enthusiasts
These festival offerings come in diverse packages meant to engage, teach and inspire participants. TO (seen above) will kick things off with his “Polar Zones” presentation on February 15th. On Monday, February 17th, local Squaw Valley hero Lel Tone will offer a presentation on avalanche safety. The following day on February 18th John Dittli will give a presentation on 40 years of skiing in the High Sierra. On Wednesday, February 19th Andy Anderson from the Sierra Avalanche Center will present on how to read an avalanche forecast, and on Friday, February 21st renowned Pacific Northwest writer Martin Volken will talk about skiing in Washington state.
There will also be three Nordic ski presentations, all taking place during the last week of the festival. Monday, February 24th will offer a presentation on how to prep your skis for the Great Ski Race, and that next day a presentation will be offered on how to finish the Great Ski Race. The final Nordic presentation is set for Friday, February 28th and will be a Nordic skiing 101 event for those wishing to get into the sport.
Alpenglow Winter Film Series with World-Renowned Big Mountain Climber Adrian Ballinger
There’s a plethora of amazing individuals that will be running many of the festival’s events this year, and world renown guide and athlete Adrian Ballinger is one of them. Adrian is not only a complete alpine monster, he’s also a great guy and calls Lake Tahoe home when he’s not traveling the world, literally climbing the tallest peaks on the planet.
Join Alpenglow as Adrian offers the fourth film in the winter series speaking to his pursuits above 8,000 meters. This offering will take place at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village on February 20th from 7-9pm.
The Third Annual Dynafit Nachtspektakel
A common practice in European ski countries, this family friendly event is one of the most fun evenings you’ll have on skis this season. It keeps getting better each year with great comradery skinning up Squaw Valley, followed by dinner, drinks, and one roller-coaster of run back down the mountain. Check out write-ups from year one and year two and make the call for yourself. If you have any inclination that this event might raise your fun meter, do it! You won’t regret anything other than missing the first two years. Meet at the base of the Squaw Valley Tram at 4pm sharp on February 22nd. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended.
We’re only two-thirds of the way through all the happenings from the festival! I’ll be back next week to highlight the festival’s remaining events such as the Grand Fondo Nordic Ski Event, the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, and the Nordic Ski Demo Event. Remember that a full events schedule, a map and additional details can easily be found online by visiting AlpenglowSports.com.
Established in 1979, Alpenglow Sports is Tahoe City’s original mountain shop. Specializing in Backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, backpacking, hiking, camping, and the mountain lifestyle apparel, Alpenglow is always psyched to offer premier user-based customer service.
