KEENE VALLEY, N.Y. -  The Mountaineer and Adirondack Rock & River have teamed up to host the 16th annual Adirondack International Mountaineering Festival which is fast approaching on Martin Luther King weekend (January 13th through 15th). This year's event will kick off with a slide show by Zoe Hart on Friday night at the Keene Central School in Keene Valley at 8pm. Zoe lives in Chamonix, France and is one of the finest Alpinists in the world—she will entertain the crowd with stories from her most recent climbing expeditions.

Saturday's presentation by renowned guides and mountaineers Matt McCormick and Bayard Russel will be preceded by raffles and tomfoolery. This show will also be at the KCS and begins at 7:30. The Keene Valley Fire Department and the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery will be hosting an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner at the nearby fire hall starting at 5:30.

Sunday's entertainment will be the Adirondack's own Emilie Drinkwater who will be presenting at 7:30 at the Keene Valley Fire Hall.

Demo climbing gear will be available for testing on Saturday and Sunday at Rock & River on Alstead Hill Road from 9 to 11. There will be instructional clinics on ice climbing, mountaineering, snowshoeing and avalanche awareness on Saturday and Sunday. There are limited openings in the Saturday Avalanche, and a few openings in Sunday's clinics.

The Mountainfest is charity event that supports local and regional non-profits every year. This year the event hopes to make a significant contribution to the Flood Relief Funds in Keene and Jay.

Call The Mountaineer at 518 576 2281 or visit their website for more information. 

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