Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival

Festival organizer  Jerry Izaak will kick off activities with an avalanche awareness presentation on Friday, Feb. 14 followed by Winter Wildlands Alliance backcountry film festival at 7pm at the Bilbert Center at Eastern Oregon University.

On Saturday, events will move to the Ferguson Ridge Ski Area in Joseph with an Uphill/Downhill Race starting at 9 a.m. The race has a cowboy theme with prizes for the best dressed racing cowboy or cowgirl.

Backcountry related clinics follow at 10 a.m.

Later in the afternoon, events shift locations again to the Salt Creek Summit Sno-Park where participants will have the opportunity to practice rescue skills and learn from experienced avalanche educators at the Beacon Training Park.

On Sunday, skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to self-organize trips to the backcountry of the Eagle Cap Wilderness to explore the Wallowa Mountains in winter.

“We are looking forward to this year’s festival and hoping to raise money for the avalanche center, as well as provide a fun event for local and regional backcountry skiers and snowboarders,” Isaak said.

“All the events are free to attend and participate in,” Isaak explained. “We will be raising funds for the avalanche center through raffles, and we want people to know that even small donations can make a big difference to a local non-profit that serves the communities of northeastern Oregon.”

For more information contact Isaak at 541-910-2012 or gisaak@eou.edu. To learn about the Wallowa Avalanche Center visit www.wallowaavalanchecenter.org.