GET OUTTA HERE!

Chill out at Ouray’s 17th annual Ice Festival

The Ouray Ice Park and the San Juan Mountain Guides invite you to “get your axe in gear” and catch the thrills Thursday through Jan. 8 as ice climbers make their way on the ice-encrusted walls and waterfalls at the park during the 17th Annual Ouray Ice Festival.

The Ouray Ice Park, which started as a few accidental leaks in a pipeline hanging over a gorge, now boasts 200 climbs. The ice is formed by tapping into the pipe that holds the overflow from Ouray’s reservoir tank. Nozzles in the pipe allow a steady stream of water to cascade into the gorge, forming the ice falls. The festival, which draws top ice climbers from around the world, features competitions and beginner clinics.

You’ll find roughly 75 short-format clinics and long-format seminars covering beginning and advanced ice climbing, anchor systems and mixed climbing, exhibition climbing, slide shows, gear demos and free clinics. These clinics offer a unique opportunity to pair vendors and their sponsored athletes with amateur climbers.

And don’t forget the Kids Climbing College. Kids of any age can try their hand at swinging the tools and kicking the ice. They’ll learn about ice climbing in a safe and fun environment at the kids’ area, which includes nine spectacular routes designed with young climbers in mind. It’s free, and all equipment is provided. Prizes are awarded to every kid who climbs.

For information and a complete schedule of the Ouray Ice Festival, call 1-970-325-4288 or visit www.ourayicepark.com.

Koshares share winter-season spiritual dances

Just as January comes only once a year, so does the opportunity to see the Koshare Indian Dancers performing their Winter Ceremonials at the Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta.

It is fitting that the Koshare Dancers close out their 61st year with the beauty and tradition of the Winter Ceremonials, which were started to focus on the dances that were taught to the Koshares by the Pueblos of the Southwest. Most of these dances are performed by the Koshares only during the winter months and are never performed outside their Kiva.

These authentic Pueblo dances are among the most spiritual of all the dances performed in the Kiva. The Koshares perform 16 dances in their repertoire, including the Animal Maiden, the Turkey and the Corn. Catch performances at 2 p.m. today and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 8.

The Winter Ceremonials are performed in the great round room of the Koshare Indian Kiva of the Koshare Indian Museum, 115 W. 18th St., on the campus of Otero Junior College. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Admission includes a visit to the museum, and tickets may be purchased in the Koshare gift shop, open noon-5 p.m.

While at the museum, view the amazing collections and the work of featured artists. And check out the offerings at the Trading Post, where you’ll find authentic Southwestern art, pottery, jewelry, books and children’s items. Local items are featured, as well, including F&J Foods, family cookbooks, original art, bookmarks and baskets.

Museum hours are noon-5 p.m. daily, with extended hours until 10 p.m. on show dates. For information, call the museum at 1-719-384-4411 or visit www.kosharehistory.org.

Stagecoach State Park hosts dog sledding, skijoring

Stagecoach State Park, in the Yampa Valley by Steamboat Springs, will host a new dog sled race on Saturday and Jan. 8. About 20 dog sled and skijoring teams will be racing an 8-mile or 4-mile track around the reservoir.

The race will be a family-friendly event with a sledding hill, snowbike demos and a 1 1/2-mile snowshoe race. The Knights of Columbus will be serving breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and the Friends of Stagecoach State Park will serve the meals on Jan. 8 as fundraising events for the Friends’ group.

Fishing access from the marina boat ramp will not be available on those days. You’ll need a valid $7 daily or $70 annual parks pass displayed on your vehicle to enter the park. Visit www.parks.state .co.us/parks/stagecoach or call 1-970-736-2436 for more race information.

JOY HARPER, THE GAZETTEjoy harper, the gazette