Overview

Every winter backcountry traveler - skier, snowshoer, climber, and backpacker - should have basic knowledge of avalanche safety. The Denver Group and The Colorado Avalanche Information Center offer a basic avalanche course which will help you recognize when and where avalanche danger may exist and help you learn rescue techniques. For example, dangerous slopes are not always obvious: gentle, tree-covered slopes can be deadly avalanche areas.

The basic Avalanche Awareness School is offered twice a year. To receive CMC credit, you must attend two lectures and a field session. Students will have the choice of either Saturday or Sunday field sessions scheduled for the weekend following each class.

In addition to the School, two Advanced Avalanche Awareness Lectures will be offered in February for those who have completed the Avalanche Awareness School. The first Advanced Lecture will deal with terrain analysis and travel techniques, and the second will be about human factors in decision making.

All lectures will be at The American Mountaineering Center in Golden.
Watch the Mile High Mountaineer for more information. You must be a CMC member to register.