Snow arrives in time for Day of Infamy snowshoe race

For 15 years the Day of Infamy Snowshoe race has been going strong and even turned out over 125 racers for last year's annual 8K trek through Babbish Gulch at Sunlight Mountain Resort.

Thanks to a hardy snowstorm, the 16th installment, which is scheduled for Sunday, is looking as strong as ever.

As of Friday afternoon, Sunlight had welcomed in 14 inches of power and it was still coming down. And that's not supposed to stop any time soon as the weather forecast calls for snow to continue throughout the weekend.

The new snowfall should make for a hardy base through the trail at Babbish Gulch, which will be groomed before the race starts at 10 a.m. Race organizer Lauren Chapman will set the course today, and went to Sunlight on Friday to check the snow.

"It was dumping snow," she said. "It was heavy snow. It looks good and the course should be in great shape."

As usual, in addition to honoring the servicemen who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the event will also raise money for animal shelters around Garfield and Pitkin Counties. Last year's race raised $2,500, which was divided between Colorado Animal Rescue, the Rifle Dog Pound and Mid-Valley Animal Rescue.

Michael Schneiter and Jenny Barsness won the men's and women's overall titles respectively last year. While 125 people participated last year, Chapman is hoping for even more this year.

"We are expecting 150, hopefully and the goodie bags are really nice this year," she said.

Preregistration will be accepted through today at Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs, at Independence Run and Hike in Carbondale or by printing one off from www.dayofinfamysnowshoerace.org. The cost of the race is $20 for preregisterers.

Race-day registration will be offered starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, and will cost $22. All entrants will receive a T-shirt and goodie bags "chucked full of all sorts of things," Chapman said. Breakfast will also offered on race day.

For those not racing competitively, dogs are welcome to join them on the course.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own snowshoes, but for those who don't have any, Tubbs Snowshoes will provide them.

There will be two divisions - 45 and older and under 45 - in both the men's and women's categories. Prizes will be awarded to winners and all participants will be eligible for a raffle.

Day of Infamy Snowshoe Race Date and time: Sunday at 10 a.m. at Sunlight Mountain Resort. Location: The race will be on an 8K course that winds through Babbish Gulch at the bottom of Sunlight. Cost: $20 preregistration at Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood or Independence Run and Hike in Carbondale. Race-day registration is $22 and begins at 9 a.m. at Sunlight's Day Lodge.