Finally, the next forecast is predicting about a foot more snow in the Tahoe area. Hallelujah! It looks like those snow dances and prayers worked. This might be your best time to get up into the mountains for some Sochi-inspired extreme winter sports. If you're already an experienced skier or snowboarder, you know what to do, but what if you're new to mountain snow sports?

Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City will be holding a two-week winter sport festival February 14 - March 2 which will feature clinics, classes, natural history lessons and backcountry ski and snowshoe tours at various locations around North Lake Tahoe including Squaw Valley, Page Meadows, Ward Canyon, Emerald Bay and Homewood. Each event is geared toward aspiring beginner and intermediate winter sport enthusiasts who want to get more exercise in the high mountains.

Alpenglow has teamed up with Nature's Bakery to offer most of the events for free, but participants are encouraged to register online in advance to ensure they get a spot in their desired clinic or tour. You can also register for some great giveaways. The events will include guided snowshoe, backcountry and nordic ski tours, cross country skills and wax clinics, AIARE certified field and classroom avalanche safety clinics, and full moon skiing.

Other events will include the Great Ski Race at Tahoe Cross Country, the Wine, Women and Wax clinic, presentations by Mammut athlete Todd Offenbacher and Alpenglow Sports experts on backcountry skiing and avalanche conditions, and a natural history tour with Will Richardson of the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.