Coopers Rock WinterFest 2022
The Coopers Rock Foundation will hold their tenth Coopers Rock WinterFest on Saturday, February 12th, from 10-4. The event will be based out of the Day Use Parking Lot only ¼ mile from the Interstate 68 Coopers Rock Exit.
Several events and activities are featured during the day – participation is free!
WinterFest Event Schedule:
Try Out Cross-Country Skiing – Open House, 10-4
Snowball Target Range – Open House, 10-4
Snowman Zone – Open House, 10-4
Sledding Runs – Open House, 10-4
Try Out Disc Golf – 10-1
New Entryway Dedication Ceremony – 12:00
Winter Tree ID Hike – 1:30
Mass-Start Downhill Dash cross-country ski race – 2:00
Women’s Frying Pan Toss – 3:00
“Winter at Coopers Rock means cross-country skiing to a lot of people, and this event is the only one in the area to provide the opportunity to try out cross-country skiing for free,” said Adam Polinski, WinterFest Organizer for the Coopers Rock Foundation. “We’re grateful to WVU’s Outdoor Recreation Center for providing to our event several sets of skis for attendees to use.” Some instruction will be provided along with use of skis.
Classic winter activities are represented at the festival – visit the unique Snowball Target Range and get creative at the Snowman Zone. “We’re hoping for some huge snow giants to be built, but that depends on how many kids pitch in,” said Dave Hopkinson, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. There will also be two small Sledding Runs stocked with sleds.
A Winter Tree ID Hike – a one-mile loop — will depart from the Information Table at 1:30 p.m. “We’re going to an area that’s a microcosm of Coopers Rock, complete with a rocky maze, big trees, and rhododendron” David Blackley, the hike leader, said.
Try Out Disc Golf will be available 10:00-1:00, just below the parking lot, on a small section of the work-in-progress 18-basket disc golf course.
Two competitions are once again scheduled for the Coopers Rock event, the Mass-Start Downhill Dash cross-country skiing race, at 2:00, and the Women’s Frying Pan Toss, at 3:00. The cross-country ski race is on a long, wide, open downhill course. “We’re hoping for at least 30 skiers to enter. The course is easy. And every finisher gets a piece of candy!” said CRF’s Polinski. The Women’s Frying Pan Toss is an event borrowed from a winter festival in Saranac Lake, NY. The Coopers Rock version of the event always draws a throng, and the current record toss of the 5-pound pan is nearly 70’. The winner gets a one-of-a-kind frying pan trophy.
Unique for this tenth year of the event will be a brief ceremony to dedicate the brand new entryway that was erected over the State Forest’s road in December, 2021. This modern replica of the historic entryway from the 1940s was brought into being through efforts and funding by the Coopers Rock Foundation with assistance and support by the WV DNR and WV DOF. CRF President Dave Hopkinson will make a few remarks and dedicate the structure, at the entryway, at noon.
WinterFest is a fundraiser for the non-profit Coopers Rock Foundation, and funds raised at the event will go toward infrastructure improvement such as new trail bridges. Please patronize the Coopers Rock Cafe’, at the warming fire in the center of the Day Use Parking Lot. Hot chocolate, coffee, and tea will be available, along with chili (vegetarian and beef both available) and baked goods. All profits from the Café’ and donations will stay at Coopers Rock and benefit future users of the trail network.
If there is no snow the event will occur anyway, minus the events requiring snow. “Our warming fire and Coopers Rock Café’ will be open regardless of the weather,” added Hopkinson. “And for the Snowball Target Range, we’ll substitute beanbags for snowballs.”
