Keene Valley, NY – The 9th annual Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival is on the schedule this weekend in Keene Valley, in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains.nThe Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival celebrates backcountry skiing and the ultimate winter mountaineering experience the sport embodies. It’s presented by The Mountaineer, a specialty retailer in Keene Valley since 1975. Proceeds of the event will support the New York State Ski Education Foundation’s Nordic racing programs and the Adirondack Ski Touring Council.

“Our Adirondack Backcountry Ski Festival is a small, high quality, charity event that has gained in notoriety and popularity over its nine years of existence,” added Mountaineer owner, Vinny McClelland. “We accept full responsibility for introducing and luring many downhill and cross country skiers into the wonderful, exciting world of touring back country telemark and alpine touring skiing with this instructional adventure packed event.”

Special guest and pro-athlete Heather Paul, along with Keene Valley’s Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides, will lead guided tours for skiers of all ability levels on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, free gear demos and mini clinics will be held at Otis Mountain in nearby Elizabethtown, N.Y. on Saturday. Paul will also speak at the Keene Valley Fire Hall on Saturday evening.

Visit The Mountaineer’s website at www.mountaineer.com for a complete schedule of events, attendee registration and for a checklist of necessary equipment and other helpful tips.