Second-annual Burning Dog fest-goers pray for snow

Editor’s note: No real dogs will be burned or harmed in any way during the festival.

Though the connection between a flaming dog, prayer and powder might seem far-fetched, all three will be involved this weekend at one of Missoula’s unique festivals.
In its second year, Friday night’s Burning Dog Pray for Snow Party promises to provide an evening of good times for a good cause. Featuring live music, ski movies, gear giveaways and the torching of a 40-foot-tall wooden “powder hound,” the eclectic event will raise money for local avalanche forecasting and research.
“It’s beer, a bonfire and a ski movie. If that doesn’t do it for you, I don’t know what to tell you,” said Trinda Heaton, sales and events coordinator at Big Sky Brewing Company. The brewery will play host to the festivities. 

Heaton hopes this year’s event will build off its previous success in terms of both attendance and money raised. Last year more than 800 people made it out to the brewery’s amphitheatre for the production, which serves as a major fundraiser for http://www.missoulaavalanche.org, a Web site providing safety information about backcountry snow conditions in the mountains around Missoula.
The prayers for powder that echoed at the festival last fall seemed to pay off when significantly above-average snowfall accumulated across the West throughout the season. Though making for some great recreation, the winter also reminded many in the Rockies of a valuable lesson: with great powder comes great responsibility.
Large volumes of snow typically increase avalanche danger, evidenced by the West Central Montana Avalanche Center issuing four high-avalanche risk warnings on top of their normal weekly snow pack stability evaluations and forecasts last winter, according to Dudley Improta, assistant director of Campus Recreation at UM and a part-time forecaster for the center. A valuable resource for winter sport enthusiasts frequenting the mountains around Missoula, WCMAC will be doubling the number of weekly advisories it issues thanks largely to funding increases provided by donors and benefits like Burning Dog.
Improta said he thought the increased advisory frequency would be an asset to the outdoors community.
“I think two days a week is going to work pretty good,” he said.
Friday night will feature music from local funk outfit Reverend Slanky along with the Montana premier of Powderwhore Production’s new ski film “The Pact.” Admission will be $11 at the door and willqualify partygoers for a wide variety of raffle prizes, including a pair of Atomic Snoop Daddy skis, lift tickets from various resorts, Cloudveil outerwear and assorted Big Sky Brewing schwag. The ball is set to start rolling at 6 p.m.
Heaton encourages students to dress in their seasonal best for the outdoor party. “We’re looking for the tightest ski pants and the most obnoxious colors you can find,” she said before emphasizing a final point on the festivities.
“If you’re 22 and single you’d be an idiot not to go, and you can quote me on that,” she said.
william.freihofer@umontana.edu