The Wasatch Powderkeg has been happening at Brighton for years now, but the whole shebang got a lot bigger with the addition of the 1st annual Vertfest Backcountry Celebration. According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the Vertfest has been a yearly shindig in the Northwest for 10 years, but will be coming to Utah for the first time this year. Expect to see gear demos, a series of backcountry skills clinics, free beacon clinics, a party featuring the band Salem, and a gear raffle.
Vertfest organizers say the event is a multi-stop mountain festival dedicated to raising the level of snow safety education and stoke for backcountry enthusiasts, and supporting the efforts of avalanches centers everywhere.
Each stop of the tour features on-snow clinics taught by industry pros for enthusiasts of all ability levels in the ski/ride community, with topics from Introduction to Splitboarding, to Backcountry Beacon Safety, to Steep Skiing, to Mountain Photography and more. There are also races both up and down the mountain with a $2,000 cash prize. Overall it seems like a great time to learn and ski with world class racers and local backcountry skiers, check out new gear, discover new backcountry skills, win gear, and just kick back and enjoy the party. Of course it wouldn’t be kosher if it wasn’t a benefit event to support the Utah Avalanche Center. All events will be based out of the Millicent base and will be in and around Brighton.
While there, visit the Vendor Village and demo gear from La Sportiva, Scarpa, Osprey, Voile, Mammut, and Outdoor Research from 9 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday. You can sign up for demos at the Utah Avalanche Center desk.
That same weekend, the 11th annual Wasatch Powderkeg Ski Mountaineering Race happens. The Wasatch Powderkeg will feature a Friday sprint race, a Saturday Individual race, and a Sunday technical teams race.
It’s going to be a big backcountry weekend at Brighton, so check out the event list below so you can make your game plan.
Schedule
Vertfest and Wasatch Powderkeg Schedule:
Friday, March 7
4:00 – 5:30 pm: Ski Mountaineering Sprint Race
Saturday March 8
7:30 – Noon: Wasatch Powderkeg Individual North American Championship and International Ski Mountaineering Federation Ski Mountaineering race
9:00 – 4:00 pm: Free Gear Demos and beacon clinics
Noon: Wasatch Powderkeg awards Ceremony
1:00 – 4:00 pm: Skills Clinic: Avalanche Choices – Choosing Terrain based on Conditions, brought to you by American Avalanche Institute and Mammut.
1:00 – 4:00 pm: Skills Clinic: Efficient Backcounty Skiing – Faster, Lighter, More Fun, brought to you by La Sportiva. Go here for more information and to sign up.
1:00 – 4:00 pm: Skills Clinic: Mountaineering for backcountry riders – Alpinist techniques for to Skiers and Snowboarders, brought to you by Outdoor Research.
1:00-2:30pm: Skills Clinic: FREE Beacon Clinic, brought to you by Mammut.
3:00 – 5:00 pm: Listen to the live music of Salem and enjoy the party with refreshments and food.
4:30 pm: Great raffle featuring great gear donated by our sponsors with all proceeds going to the Utah Avalanche Center.
Sunday, March 9
7:30 am – Noon: Wasatch Powderkeg Technical Teams North American Championship and International Ski Mountaineering Federation Ski Mountaineering race
9:00 – 4:00 pm: Free Gear Demos and beacon clinics
9:00 am – Noon: Skills Clinic: Ski Videography, brought to you by Osprey Packs.
9:00 am – Noon: Skills Clinic For Women Only: Avalanche Choices – Choosing Terrain based on Conditions, brought to you by American Avalanche Institute and Mammut.
9:30 am – 3:00 pm: Skills Clinic: Introduction to Splitboarding, brought to you by Voile.
10:00am-11:45am: Skills Clinic: FREE Beacon Clinic, brought to you by Mammut.
1:00 pm – 4:00pm: Skills Clinic: Steep Skiing – Techniques and Tips for Skiing Steep, Committing Lines, brought to you by Osprey Packs.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Skills Clinic For Women Only: Steep Skiing – Techniques and Tips for Skiing Steep, Committing Lines, brought to you by Osprey Packs.
1:00pm – 4:00 pm: Skills Clinic: Avalanche Rescue Scenario – Doing the Right Things When Your Day Goes Bad, brought to you by Brighton Resort Patrol and Life Flight.
2:00pm-3:45pm: Skills Clinic: FREE Beacon Clinic, brought to you by Mammut.