Vertfest returns to Alpental March 27-28, 2027 for two days of ski-mountaineering racing organized by Snow Goat Skimo and listed on USA Skimo's current preliminary national calendar. Saturday's USA Skimo-sanctioned mass-start event offers a short one-loop course, a long two-loop course entering Alpental's backcountry, and the Rookie Rally: a 1,700-vertical-foot uphill-only category on Armstrong. Sunday's sprint begins with 20-second interval qualifiers and advances racers through six-person quarterfinal, semifinal and final heats on an approximately 100-meter course. Saturday also includes music, a vendor village, beer garden, gear raffle and 2:30 PM awards; Sunday awards are scheduled at 1:00 PM. Registration is explicitly marked Coming Soon, so entry is not represented as open or closed. Recreational long- and short-course categories do not require USA Skimo membership but are ineligible for points and podiums. Racers must be comfortable on double-black and off-piste terrain.

Snow Goat Skimo

Racers must be comfortable on double-black and off-piste terrain. USA Skimo age categories run from U14 through Masters 45+, and recreational categories are offered for long and short courses.

First place is awarded in each populated category. The organizer says categories with no entries two weeks before the race will not receive an award.

Results are expected for the sanctioned race categories, but no 2027 results or live-timing provider exists before the event.

Upcoming Vertfest Events

2027 Vertfest at Alpental