To get an event listed in the weekly calendar, send your information to OEcalendar@denverpost.com or fax 303-866-9004 (attention Outdoor Extremes). Please be sure to include a contact number for verification.
AVALANCHE AWARENESS
Today-Wednesday
Avalanche Awareness classes at REI stores; learn the basics; by the National Ski Patrol, Alpine Rescue, Diamond Patrol/Ortovox, or the Crested Butte Mountain Guides experts in avalanche awareness and mountain travel; all classes 7 p.m; today at Colorado Springs, Denver and Fort Collins; Wednesday at Boulder, CU Recreational Center. rei.com
Wednesday, Saturday-Sunday
CAIC Avalanche Safety Seminar; expert instructors from the CAIC and snow science community in an interactive avalanche seminar; course includes one three-hour classroom session and one nine-hour field session; classroom session Wednesday 6-9 p.m.; field session A, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; field session B, Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; $60; at the Mountain Shop of Fort Collins, 970-493-5720. themountainshop.com
Thursday-Sunday
Avalanche 2 class; topics include avalanche formation and release mechanisms, snowpack formation and metamorphism; prerequisites: completion of Alpine World Ascents Avalanche 1 course or equivalent, strong intermediate skiing/riding skills, and the ability to travel in the winter backcountry for at least six hours; $350; at Boulder/Berthoud Pass. alpineworldascents.com
Friday-Sunday; Feb. 3-5
Level I avalanche course; two-day, one-evening course; introduction and review of avalanche phenomena, travel techniques, decision-making strategies and avalanche rescue; classroom and mountain-based sessions; Friday, 7-9:30 p.m., all day Saturday and Sunday; $195; Friday-Sunday class at Estes Park, Feb. 3-5 class at Winter Park. cmsschool.com/home.asp
Feb. 3-5; Feb. 10-12
Avalanche 1 class for snowboarders only; topics include recognizing avalanche terrain, go/no-go decision- making and rescue techniques; for those new to travel in avalanche terrain or those in need of a skills tuneup; skills required are intermediate skiing/riding skills, or travel on snowshoes, and the ability to travel in the winter backcountry for at least four hours; $220; Feb. 3-5 at Boulder/Berthoud Pass, Feb. 10-12 (snowshoers only) at Boulder/Indian Peaks. alpineworldascents.com
CLIMBING
Saturday-Sunday
Basic tree-climbing course; by Tree Climbers International; covers basics needed to begin recreational/technical tree climbing, including rope setting and placement, knotcraft, doubled rope climbing techniques, double rope end climbing, equipment, hazards, tree selection and tree climbing ethics; training equipment provided; 16-18 hours; $450; Evergreen. 303-526-2904, treeclimbingco.com or harv@treeclimbingco.com
CYCLING
Mountain and road
Ongoing
Road rides each weekend in south metro area hosted by the Highlands Ranch Cycling Club; intermediate to advanced; two to five hours; helmet required; free. highlandsranchcycling.com
Gunnison Valley Mountain Biking instruction and tours; private, groups, ladies only, half day, full day or custom; fees vary; Gunnison/Crested Butte. 970-275-0485
Saturday-Sunday
Rocky Mountain Cycling Club road ride, in the north and south metro area; 30 to 60 miles; intermediate to advanced fitness levels; helmets required. rmccrides.com
RUNNING
Ongoing
Niketown Running Club, meets in front of downtown Denver store Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., year-round rain or shine. Includes stretches and runs or walks from 3 to 7 miles. Your choice, your pace. 303-623-6453 or nikerunning.com
Saturday
Best Cross Country Race on the Planet; 4-mile cross country road race; men’s and women’s races, ages 15 and older; ages 5 to 14, 2K race; ages 4 and younger, 200-meter dash; a three-loop course, all grass with hard surfaces; 10 a.m.; $5 to $20; at Harlow Platt Park/South Boulder Rec Center, 1360 Gillespie Road, Boulder. bestxcrace.com
27th Winter Series Race No. 2; 4- or 8-mile race on gravel, paved roads and packed trails, may be snow- packed, icy or muddy; up to 7,500 feet in elevation; at El Pomar Youth Sports Center, 2815 National Place, Colorado Springs; $5 to $10. pprrun.org
Sunday
Polar Bear Run 5K; by the University of Denver Winter Carnival Program; benefit for the Bridge Project; 10 a.m.; at Washington Park, 1700 East Louisiana Ave., Denver; $15 to $20. bkbltd.com
Feb. 4
YMCA of Pueblo Frostbite Five; assisted by the Southern Colorado Runner’s Club; a loop course that begins near the City Park Pavilion; 10 a.m.; Pueblo City Park Pavilion, 800 Goodnight Ave., Pueblo; $20 to $30. puebloymca.org
Feb. 5
Frozen Foot 5K; flat race on campus, hosted by the CU triathlon team, 10-time collegiate national champion; at University of Colorado-Boulder campus; 9 a.m.; $18 to $20. colorado.edu/StudentGroups/triteam
Feb. 11
Valentine’s Massacre 3-mile Beverage Prediction run; 10 a.m.; entry fee is two cans or bottles of something to drink – redistributed to prediction winners; at bottom of Little Park area of Grand Junction. 970-256-9000
SAILING
Feb. 8
Winter Racing Seminar at Brooklyn’s; program to be announced; free; 7-9 p.m.; at 2644 West Colfax Ave., in Denver. rmsail.org/educatio.htm or simpson@cattle-fax.org.
Feb. 11
Junior Chalk-Talk; for young sailors interested in racing; program and location to be announced; free; 1-3:30 p.m. rmsail.org/educatio.htm or rtaylor@informationtools.com
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING
Ongoing
Over the Hill Gang guided skiing days; through April; for intermediate or better downhill skiers and riders 50 years and older; Mondays at Vail, meet at Bailey’s Coffee House in the Adventure Ridge Building in Eagles Nest at the top of the Gondola, 9 a.m.; Mondays at Arapahoe Basin, meet inside the base lodge at 8:45 a.m.; Tuesdays at Breckenridge, meet at the Bergenhof on Peak 8 at 9 a.m.; Tuesdays at Snowmass, meet at the Ullerhof Restaurant, 10 a.m.; Wednesdays at Winter Park, meet inside the Balcony House at 8:45 a.m.; Thursdays at Keystone, meet at the Summit House at 9:10 a.m.; Friday’s at Loveland, meet at Loveland Basin cafeteria, 9 a.m.; Sundays through Fridays at Steamboat, meet at the ski school, 9 a.m.; $50 membership. othgi.com, 719-389-0022 or info@othgi.com
Friday
Copper Biz League; a long-standing tradition, gives teams from businesses throughout Summit County a chance to compete; open to skiers and riders; at Copper Mountain Resort. coppercolorado.com
Saturday-Sunday
Copper Mountain Snowboard Series; the longest-running amateur snowboard series in North America, largest in the nation; home of the USASA Nationals; sanctioned series; competition 10 a.m. start; Saturday, boardercross; Sunday, boardercross. copperseries.com or 866-841-2519
Monday-Feb. 5
Women’s Adventure Summit; week-long ski program for women, featuring female instructors; includes telemark lessons and a backcountry skills workshop; for novice through advanced skiers; at Peak 8, Breckenridge Ski Resort. 970-496-7534 or breckenridge.snow.com
Feb. 5
RMD Slalom Race; 9 a.m.; the U.S. Ski Association’s sanctioned slalom race event; race will cover the Rocky Mountain division; Monarch Mountain. skimonarch.com
Feb. 11-12
Inaugural 24 Hours of Sunlight; endurance race for all ages and abilities, hike/skin up Sunlight Mountain Resort and ski or board down for a 24-hour period; teams and solo divisions; benefits the Heuga Center for MS; Sunlight Mountain Resort, Glenwood Springs. 24hoursofsunlight.com
SNOWSHOEING/CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Ongoing
Steamboat Ski Touring Center Masters Program, Wednesdays through Feb. 22; sessions focus on training, technique, ski prep, nutrition, fluid intake, goal setting and tips; Silver Master Program, $60; Gold Master Program for $200; 5:30-7 p.m; at Steamboat Ski Touring Center, Steamboat Ski Resort. steamboat.com, nordicski.net or 970-879-8180
Guided snowshoe tours through the forest and meadows of Granby Ranch; weekends; hike duration and endurance varies based on participant interest and ability. granbyranch.com or 888-850-4615
Saturday
Gold Run Loppet 15K and 30K cross country ski races; freestyle technique citizens race of 15K or 30K; fifth of the Colorado Cup Race Series; adult 30K, $30; adult 15K, $20; ages 19 and younger, 15K or 30K, $15; 10 a.m.; at Gold Run Nordic Center, 200 Clubhouse Drive, Breckenridge. goldrunnordic.com or 970-547-7889
Cordillera Snowshoe Race; 1K kids race, 5K fun run/walk, 10K competitive run; 11 a.m.; at Cordillera Nordic Center, Squaw Creek Road, Edwards; $25, kids race is free. altituderacing.com
Sunday
Fifth annual AARP Redfeather Snowshoe Festival; designed for all ages and abilities; includes complimentary snowshoes for loan; free and open to the public; 10 a.m.; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash. aarp.org/state/co or devilsthumbranch.com
Feb. 4
Guided Back Country Ski Tour; learn to ski with your dog; 10 a.m.; $25 to $75; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash. 970-726-8231 or devilsthumbranch.com
10th annual One from the Heart Charity Uphill Race and Walk-up-athon; 1,800 feet of vertical gain, course record (snowshoes) 26 minutes, 6 seconds; may use snowshoes, telemark skis, skinny skis or heavy metal; 7:30 a.m.; $30; at Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen. aspenrecreation.com
Feb. 4-5
Colorado Biathlon State Championships; 3K sprint for kids 12 and younger; Feb. 4, sprint format: 10K men and boys, 7.5K women and girls, 3K boys and girls ages 13 to 16; Feb. 5, pursuit format: 12.5K men and boys, 10K women and girls, 5K boys and girls ages 13 to 16; at Snow Mountain Ranch/YMCA of the Rockies Nordic Center, Winter Park; $5 to $15; 9 a.m. starts. coloradobiathlon.org
Feb. 5
36th Salomon Frisco Gold Rush; “Colorado’s oldest and largest cross country event;” nordic and snowshoe races; 5K/10K classic, skate and snowshoe and 20K skate; at Frisco Nordic Center, Frisco; $15 to $20. emgcolorado.com
Feb. 11
Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series; a 5K run/walk and a 10K competitive event; 11 a.m.; $20 to $25; five-event series; at McCoy Park in Beaver Creek. bcsnowshoe.com
Feb. 12
Caribou-to-Bald Mountain Snowshoe Hike; by the Indian Peaks Group and the Sierra Club; through the historic silver mining district; begins at Caribou, climbs 1,500 feet to Bald Mountain; 5-mile route. 720-837-0074 or bill.campbell@rmc.sierraclub.org
Feb. 25
Second annual Full Circle Family Fun nordic ski races; 2.5K children, 5K and 10K open; all races on groomed trails at Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, near Ski Cooper, 8 miles north of Leadville; giveaways and silent auction; benefits Full Circle of Lake County Youth and Family Services; 10 a.m.; $8 to $20. mineralbelttrail.com or 719-486-2400
Feb. 26
Third annual Leadville Loppet; 22K and 44K skate and classic nordic races on Mineral Belt Trail, through historic Leadville Mining District; 10 a.m.; start at Colorado Mountain College soccer field; $25 to $50. mineralbelttrail.com or active.com
SKYDIVING
Ongoing
Mile-Hi Skydiving Center; open for all skydiving operations, Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. through sunset; tandem jump prices, $189; accelerated free-fall, $279; experienced skydives jump prices, $23 up to 12,500 feet, and $16 to 4,000 feet. 303-702-9911 or info@milehiskydiving.com
LECTURES, CLASSES
Ongoing
Maps, Compasses & Orienteering class; a U.S. Geological Survey-hosted map, compass and orienteering class; expert instruction for orienteering skills; free; 1 p.m. Friday at REI Denver flagship store, 1416 Platte St. rei.com
Saturday
Alison Dunlap, world champion mountain biker, speech at Smoky Hill High School; covers her athletic career from Smoky Hill grad to world champion and Olympian; a benefit for the band programs at the school; 7 p.m.; $5 to $12. 303-877-4211
Feb. 7
Culinary Cycling Circus through Italy discussion; with chef Jay Witlen of Jay’s American Bistro; topics cover a bicycling and culinary tour of Italy; 7 p.m.; at 415 North Mason Court, in Fort Collins; free. ExperiencePlus.com
MISCELLANEOUS
Saturday-Jan. 31
Volunteers needed for ESPN Winter X Games 10; seeking full-day volunteers, including: hospitality, crowd control, ushering, access control and credential checking; also looking for people to volunteer every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday-Jan. 31; must be 18 years old. xgamesvolunteers.com
Jan. 31
Writer Lindsay Yaw’s Winter Adventures; stories and photos from around the world in a multimedia presentation of ski traversing in Norway, backcountry skiing in Canada and expedition climbing in Chile and Nepal; 7 p.m., free; 1133 Pearl St., Boulder. 303-449-DIVA or outdoordivas.com
