ONGOING

Denali winter hiking: 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Murie Science and Learning Center, Mile 1.3 Parks Road, Denali National Park and Preserve. Park rangers invite the public to join them in exploring the park on weekend hikes this winter. The hikes will be on snowshoes when snow conditions are favorable. A limited number of snowshoes are available but it's best to bring your own. The hikes will last 2-3 hours. Bring lunch or snacks. Hikes will not take place if temperatures are colder than 10 below. $10 per person, good for seven days. Ages 15 or younger are free. (www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/winter-activities.htm, 907-683-9532)

2012 Yukon River Quest: Registration is now being accepted for the Yukon River Quest, to be held June 27-July 1. The 438-mile wilderness adventure paddling race is held on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada's Yukon Territory. Entry forms are available at YukonRiverQuest.com. The entry fee is $850 for tandem canoes and kayaks, $475 for solo canoes and kayaks and $250 per person for voyageur canoe teams of six or more paddlers. Entry deadline is May 15. Teams are encouraged to register early. Limit of 100 canoe and kayak teams, including a limit of 30 solo teams.

Ski chariots available for loan: The Mat-Su Ski Club has four cross-country ski chariots to loan out to Mat-Su Valley parents with small children so families can go skiing together. The club has two single-passenger chariots and two, two-passenger chariots. The chariots have skis, seat belts, a pole system and waistband for the parent to hook into. Made possible through a grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. (745-4190, glynn@mtaonline.net)

Cross-country ski training: Alaska Nordic Racing offers lessons for all abilities. Programs range from middle and high school to adult master ski programs, taking place at the Beach Lake Trails in Eagle River and Kincaid and Service in Anchorage. Sessions also include waxing, technique, training and equipment selection. (376-2169, AlaskaNordicRacing.org)

MOA cross-country ski lessons: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Kincaid Outdoor Center, 9401 Raspberry Road. Learn to cross-country ski in a group lesson. Lessons are offered in both skate and classic techniques for children and adults. Lessons are held at Kincaid Park and Russian Jack Springs Park on a weekly basis. Preregistration is required. (343-4217, muni.org/parks)

TODAY

BCA Moscow to Mongolia: A bike in a suitcase, the trans-Siberian railroad and a 1,000-kilometer cycling adventure, 6:30-9 p.m., BP Energy Center, 900 E. Benson Blvd. More than beautiful landscapes and intimate portraits -- you will learn about adventure cycling, how to ride the Russian rails, and why you might want full suspension and a GPS in Mongolia. $10 donation or free for new-renewing members: $35 individual, $50 family, $150 business sponsor. (720-3580, www.bicycleanchorage.org)

THURSDAY

Alaska outdoors weekly hiking, 6:30 p.m., Basher Trailhead, Basher Drive. Join other outdoor enthusiasts for a challenging hike. Meeting location changes each week. $1 for non-members. (770-0440, www.alaska-outdoors.org)

SATURDAY

Speed skating, 8:45 -10:15 a.m., McDonald Center, 13701 Harry McDonald Road. A fast, fun, family activity. Great cross-training for hockey players, cross-country skiers and bikers. All ages and abilities welcome. First time free. $15 thereafter. (522-2838, alaskaspeedskating.com)

Alaska Sports Car Lions Club Ice Racing Championship, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., ASCLC Ice Racing Track, Big Lake South State Recreation Site. Any street legal car can join in and race. Go online for rules. $60. (www.aksportscarclub.org)

Alaska Water Wise, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Atwood Building, Room 602, 550 W. Seventh Ave. A boating course designed for Alaskans and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, the course satisfies most states' boating safety education requirements and may even qualify boaters for boat insurance discounts. Pre-registration is encouraged. Free. (269-8704, www.alaskaboatingsafety.org)

Poker run snowmachine ride, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Alpine Inn, Mile 61 Glenn Highway, Sutton. The ride from Alpine to Fishhook and back is approximately 40 miles. (355-8848)

Avalanche rescue workshop, 10 a.m., Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca St. An opportunity for skiers, boarders, snowmachiners, climbers, and other backcountry enthusiasts to refresh their skills and effectively locate and rescue backcountry travelers who have been caught in an avalanche. $110. (345-0878, www.alaskaavalanche.org)

Children's cross-country ski lessons, 12:30 and 2 p.m., Selkregg Chalet-Russian Jack Springs Park, 1600 Lidia Selkregg Lane. Learn to ski at Russian Jack Springs. Park. Ages 6-8 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and ages 9-12 from 2-3 p.m. Youths will learn gliding, climb hills, turning and using ski poles. Call to register. $7.50. (343-6397, muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/Skiing.aspx)

Westchester Lagoon family skate, 1-3 p.m., Westchester Lagoon, U St. and W. 15th Ave. Strap on your skates and join the Pirates of Port Anchorage. Free hot chocolate, music and games. Free. (343-4495, www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/WestchesterLagoonFamilySkate.aspx)

Life under the snow, 2 p.m., Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Junior naturalists will learn about how snow helps plants and animals survive the cold, then take a hike along the Rodak Trail to look for signs of life beneath the snow. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694-2108, www.ernc.org)

SUNDAY

Avalanche awareness field training, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Alpenglow Lodge, Arctic Valley Ski Area, Arctic Valley Road. Free training on identifying and assessing avalanche terrain, trip planning and route selection, introduction to use of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes, emergency response. (376-2898, www.naoiak.org)

VaMoose20 Mountain Bike Race & Tour, Check in at 11 a.m. Race starts at noon, Willow Community Center. The course crosses a variety of terrain around the lakes and through a series of connecting trails that are groomed by the Willow Trails Committee. Arctic Cycles is offering a special rate of $50 for a fat tire bike, delivered to Willow, pogies, and a guide. Bikes must be reserved in advance. Online pre-registration is $27.50 (race division) and $7.50 (touring division). Volunteers are needed for all aspects of the race. Same day registration is $30 and $10. (trailhead@vmbah.org, www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2006264; ArcticCycles@hotmail.com)

MONDAY

Alaska outdoors weekly hiking, 6:30 p.m., Hillside Park, Abbott Road. Monday outings are for beginners and families. Meeting location changes each week. $1 for non-members. (770-0440, www.alaska-outdoors.org)

Cross-country ski lessons, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, Kincaid Park or Russian Jack. Sign up for classic ski class with Anchorage Parks and Recreation and learn all the basic skills to enjoy the snow season. $40 per class. (343-6992, 343-6397; www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/Skiing.aspx)

COMING UP

SnowFilm Series: Warren Miller's Like There's No Tomorrow, 7-10 p.m. Feb 1, Sitzmark Bar & Grill, 100 Olympic Circle. An adrenaline-fueled dance with gravity with Chris Davenport, Daron Rahlves, Colby West, Seth Wescott, Julia Mancuso, and more. All ages show, under 21 must be accompanied by parent. $5. (754-2275, AlyeskaResort.com)

Wax for women, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 4, West High School, 1700 Hillcrest. Get skis waxed for the Alaska Ski for Women, held Feb. 5. West will glide wax your skate skis and/or the tips and tails of your classic skis. $10. (www.anchoragenordicski.com/skiforwomen/waxing.html)

To submit an event, go to events.adn.com and click on "add to our listings." To view a full listing of all available events, go to events.adn.com.