Because of insufficient snowfall and unseasonably warm temperatures, all activities surrounding Saturday’s scheduled Mesa Verde Winter Festival have been canceled, the national park said in a news release Monday.
Winter trails will continue to be groomed and maintained for skiing and snowshoeing throughout the winter as conditions permit, the National Park Service said.
The status of the Full Moon Ski and Snowshoe event, set for Feb. 1, will be determined at a later date. Check the Mesa Verde National Park website (www.nps.gov/meve) or contact the park at 529-4461 for updates.
The park is touting its Full Moon Ski and Snowshoe, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 1, as a unique opportunity to explore Mesa Verde’s Morefield Campground and Meadow Bliss trails in the moonlight. The trails will be lined with glow sticks, and glow-stick jewelry will be provided. Complimentary hot beverages and cookies also will be available.
A park ranger will host Native American Star Stories and telescope viewing (conditions permitting) from 7:30-8:30 p.m. that evening near the Morefield Campground Store.
Parking will be at the winter activities parking lot in the Morefield Campground Village, just four miles past the park’s entrance station.
A limited number of adult and child snowshoes will be available for checkout during the event.
A drawing will be held for prizes donated by local businesses and organizations such as Osprey, Kokopelli, Slavens and the Mesa Verde Museum Association.
johnp@durangoherald.com
