Fresh snow has blanketed Mount Bachelor all week, just in time for the annual celebration of backcountry skiing and snowboarding in Central Oregon.

The VertFest backcountry festival is set for Sunday at Mt. Bachelor ski area, featuring skimo races, demos and clinics. More than 35 inches of snow has fallen on the mountain in the last seven days.

VertFest started in 2012, and is organized by and a fundraiser for the Central Oregon Avalanche Center. COAC (coavalanche.org) provides avalanche forecasts for the Central Oregon Cascade Range, and is entirely community-funded.

“All the resources we’re spending to produce daily avalanche forecasts are coming from the community, so this (VertFest) is a big fundraiser for us,” said Bryce Kellogg, board president of COAC.

The skimo (ski mountaineering) races are uphill/downhill routes, and include categories for elite and recreational. The elite category includes 5.8 miles and 3,900 vertical feet.

In backcountry riding and in skimo races, skiers or snowboarders employ the use of alpine touring skis or splitboards, and climbing skins.

Skins are nylon material that sticks to the bottom of skis to provide traction on the way up the slope. Alpine touring skis allow skiers to have their heels free while skinning up the hills, and then lock their heels in for coming down the mountain. Splitboards split in two, allowing the boarder to apply skins for touring and then adjust the two sides into one board for riding down the slope.

Those interested can learn all about this equipment and other gear, including avalanche beacons, at clinics scheduled for VertFest on Sunday. Clinics include “Intro to Backcountry Ski and Splitboarding” (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and “Companion Rescue” (8:30 to 10:30 a.m.).

Kellogg said the skimo racers range from serious athletes to folks in costumes just out to have fun and do some laps with friends.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding has grown in popularity since the pandemic, according to Kellogg.

“I think it seems like there’s more and more people out,” Kellogg said. “There’s a lot of people who ski at the resort, but at least have backcountry equipment and might go out sometimes. It’s a pretty common form of recreation, especially in Bend, because it’s a great place to do it. A lot of people are geared up to do it.”

Kellogg noted that the current conditions in the Central Oregon Cascades — lots of new snow after an extended cold and dry period — can make for avalanche danger.

“The combination of having a really long, cold dry spell and then new snow is something we don’t see often in Central Oregon,” Kellogg said. “Our avalanche forecasts have included persistent slab problems over the last few days. That new snow on top of old snow is an interface where we can see avalanches happen. It could continue for a while because of the cold temperatures.”

Several on-site vendors will provide demos at VertFest. Registration and more information for the races and clinics is available at shop.coavalanche.org. Race fees range from $40 to $60, and clinics are $75. Both the races and clinics start at the base of Red Chair near West Village Lodge. Races start at 10 a.m. Registration and packet pickup is available at Crux in Bend on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.