Annual 12 Hours of Penitence gearing up
DEL NORTE— Registration for the third annual 12 Hours of Penitence is live as people who have the need to prove their mountain biking abilities ready themselves for the grueling race.
Located in the Penitente Canyon near La Garita, the race offers a wide range of obstacles meant for only those who are a skilled in the mountain biking world. The beautiful scenery, camping opportunities and trails that wind through glorious rock canyons and steep hillsides offer a mountain biker’s wildest dream come true. The race was kicked off three years ago as a means to bring awareness to the epic trails that the San Luis Valley had to offer and has since grown into a successful fundraising event.
This year the race proceeds will be donated to the newly formed Rio Grande Composite Mountain Biking Team which is a youth-based mountain bike team that is adding a new edge to mountain biking in the San Luis Valley. Dubbed as the Rio Grande Rattlers, who made headlines throughout the summer as they competed in races throughout Colorado as well as participated in a summer training camp for high school level mountain bikers. The group is one of a kind in the region and has brought a whole new take on enjoying the trails around the Del Norte area.
The 12 Hours of Penitence race is a 17-mile lap that, according to the description of the route, gains 2,000 feet of elevation each lap. Coordinators of the race keep the actual route a secret until one week before the race that will take place on Oct. 14. The weekend is full of activities throughout the Valley that participants of the race are encouraged to partake in. The website promoting the event includes a list of local sites and historical towns like Del Norte and Saguache within the Valley to help spread the economic boost the race will bring.
In partnership with the BLM and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado there are some trails included in the race that are normally closed to the public for use and open only to racers on race day. A map on the website is provided for racers who want to come early to practice and test their endurance. Racers are asked to use the same bike throughout the entire race, respect other racers and members of the public who attend to watch the race as it unfolds and spend the remainder of the event on the last day cleaning up the campsites in order to leave the Penitente Canyon as they found it.
The race begins Saturday morning and continues for the next 12 hours. Contestants have to come prepared for some evening riding as they finish out the course later in the day. A full map, list of rules, camping and area information are available for potential participants. The race is limited to only 150 riders who sign up for the event in advance.
This year there is also a new local brew made especially for the event by Three Barrel Brewery out of Del Norte. The brew is titled “12 Hop” and will be served after the event.
The website thanks all sponsors for helping with the event as well as all the volunteers it takes to make the race possible. “Twelve Hours of Penitence is not only the toughest 12-hour race in the state, it is also an economic development project and a fundraiser for local non-profits in the San Luis Valley.
Our amazing sponsors are local businesses and individuals invested in helping the communities of the San Luis Valley become more than just a tiny spot on a big map. We strive to see sustainable (and awesome) trails built, to see others invest in local organizations, to see tourism grow and businesses flourish, to share our wonderful and wild Valley with others in a responsible way.”
Mark the calendars for Oct. 14 and come out to cheer on the participants as they race through the La Garita Mountains.

Oktoberfest bigger and better this year
DEL NORTE— Summer has finally come to a close and in celebration of the cooler months ahead, Del Norte is gearing up for some fall fun. As the busy season slowly fades into the slower time of year, the local chamber has cooked up something fun to get the locals and last of the summer visitors out and about to enjoy the last lazy days of warmth. Del Norte has a tradition of celebrating the annual Oktoberfest and will be adding to the fun this year by making the event a more family-friendly function for everyone to enjoy.
Oktoberfest has its origins in Germany as part of the country’s celebration of fall and the coming winter months. Usually celebrated with delicious food accompanied by beer drinking and fun, the cultural experience has traveled the world over and is celebrated likewise in many US communities. Del Norte wanted in on the fun and decided to host their own event which turned into a very successful fall celebration that is in the midst of becoming something even more with the help of the High Valley Community Center (HVCC).
The event will kick off on the evening of Sept. 22 on Columbia Ave in Del Norte and will feature live entertainment, local brews from Three Barrel Brewing and delicious food from area restaurants and venders. In addition to the already-packed schedule, HVCC will be cooking up local Gosar sausage and offering a wide range of activities for the entire family to enjoy. Everything from a life-sized connect four game, to obstacle courses and more, the event will be a great place to bring the entire family.
Adriana Mora with HVCC stated that the center is focused on helping the Oktoberfest in Del Norte become a more family-friendly event by opening their doors and offering family-based activities that everyone could enjoy while including the regular activities that usually include adult beverages and food. According to Mora, the center plans to host a barbeque and activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family and help promote the festival. “We want to get families out and about during the festivities, so we decided to step in and have something that entire families can enjoy,” finished Mora.
In addition to the Oktoberfest, the chamber recently released a notice for the coming Scarecrow Bash. According to the announcement, “Summer is all but over… school is back in session; the temperatures are dropping, and the days are getting shorter! Brighten up our autumn days by participating in the Scarecrow Bash! Everyone and anyone is invited to be involved; make a scarecrow and join the bash! Create your scarecrow or scarecrows; register to make sure you make it on the map (and in the judging!) and voila! The business with the best scarecrow will win $100 and the three best residential scarecrows will win prizes as well! You can win a $100, $50 or $25 gift card to one of your favorite places in Del Norte! When you register, we’ll know where to go for judging and we’ll have a map available for people who want to make sure they don’t miss any scarecrows — no names, just addresses! The Scarecrow Bash is sponsored by the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce, the Columbine, Boogies Restaurant, Kathy’s Fabric and the Tucker-McDermott Foundation.”
For more information on either event or to sign up, contact Adrienne Atencio at HVCC by calling the chamber at 719-657-9081 or register online at www.DelNorteChamber.org.