Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival returns to La Grande and Anthony Lakes

The 14th Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival will bring a three-day slate of education, competition and fundraising to Union County Jan. 30-Feb. 1, centered in La Grande and Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort. Organizers say the event raises funds for the Wallowa Avalanche Center while offering free and low-cost opportunities for ski, splitboard and snow-travel communities to improve safety and skills.

The weekend opens Friday with a film night and fundraiser in La Grande. Saturday shifts to Anthony Lakes for a backcountry race, free snow-safety clinics and live music at the lodge. On Sunday Wallowa Avalanche Center forecasters will lead guided backcountry tours, offering hands-on exposure to route-finding and avalanche terrain awareness. Auction and raffle items, race registration and clinic sign-ups are available through links on the Eastern Oregon University Outdoor Adventure Program page; many activities are free or have limited-space registration.

For local residents, the festival mixes public safety training with community fundraising. The Wallowa Avalanche Center provides regional forecasts and education; revenue from this event supports those operations and outreach. Free snow-safety clinics and guided tours aim to expand basic avalanche awareness among recreational users and complement county and search-and-rescue resources by promoting safer decision-making in backcountry travel.

The festival also functions as a civic touchpoint for outdoor recreation in Union County. It mobilizes volunteers, draws visitors to La Grande and Anthony Lakes, and directs community donations directly toward a locally focused safety institution. That local funding model means participation and donations have a visible effect on the services available to residents and visitors who recreate in the Wallowa-Union backcountry.

Logistics matter: many clinics and the Sunday guided tours are limited in capacity, so early registration is advised. Race registration and auction participation provide direct financial support; attendees should plan for variable mountain conditions at Anthony Lakes and follow posted guidance from organizers and forecasters.

The event is a practical opportunity to improve skills, support a regional safety service and connect with the backcountry community. The takeaway? Sign up early for clinics, show up prepared for winter mountain conditions, and consider supporting the Wallowa Avalanche Center so local forecasts and education stay funded and effective.