CMC Leadville to Launch Avalanche Awareness Twitter Campaign #CMCAviAware

February 23, 2018

CMC Leadville to tweet backcountry tips and avalanche facts Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2018 Expert avalanche forecasters are describing current avalanche conditions in Colorado as dangerous, rare and risky. Colorado Mountain College, home to the Avalanche Science program based in Leadville and developed through a partnership with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), sees these precarious conditions as an opportunity to spread awareness. From February 25 – March 3, CMC Leadville will be tweeting avalanche safety facts and figures to spread awareness for backcountry safety, under the hashtag #CMCAviAware posted to the @cmcleadville Twitter account. CMC’s Avalanche Science program, launched in 2017, was created through a partnership between Colorado Mountain College and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The program has expanded educational opportunities for avalanche professionals, like ski patrol, rescue groups and outdoor leaders. Students observe and analyze snow pack conditions throughout the curriculum, including the exceptionally dangerous snow pack year that Colorado has experienced in the 2017/2018 season. “We have very tricky conditions right now,” says Ethan Greene, Director for the CAIC and faculty for CMC’s Avalanche Science program, “This thick, hard upper layer of snow makes it so we can ski, snowboard and snowmobile across it without much of an issue, but if you hit just the right spot, you will start an avalanche. And because there’s this thicker, harder layer on top, it ends up triggering much bigger and more destructive avalanches.” The unique conditions in large portions of the Central and Southern Mountains should cause alarm for backcountry users. Recent storms and new snow have exacerbated the risk for deadly Persistent Slab avalanches. North and east-facing slopes at higher elevations are most dangerous. “In the Sawatch Range,” says Brian Lazar, Deputy Director for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and an instructor for CMC’s Avalanche Science… Read more: CMC Leadville to Launch Avalanche Awareness Twitter Campaign #CMCAviAware

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CMC, Monarch Ski Patrol Provide Avalanche Safety Scholarships for Local High School Students

February 22, 2018

CMC and Friends of Monarch Ski Patrol partner to promote avalanche education for high school students. Thanks to a successful collaboration between Colorado Mountain College and Friends of Monarch Ski Patrol, two Chaffee County high school students were able to expand their backcountry skills and avalanche safety knowledge this winter. Keagon Cox (Salida High School) and Andy Limoncelli (Buena Vista High School) benefited from this unique partnership as CMC scholarship recipients. The scholarship, provided by Friends of Monarch Ski Patrol, allowed Keagon and Andy to enroll in CMC’s OUT-168 Level 1 Avalanche Safety Course that was conducted in Salida and on Monarch Pass over three days in late January. “The students had to submit a short application,” says Zach Moore, Director of Ski Patrol at Monarch Mountain, “with either an essay, drawing, or multi-media piece on why they want to learn more about avalanches and what they hope to do with that information. From those applicants, we chose the two award winners, Keagon and Andy.” Friends of Monarch Ski Patrol paid for the student’s tuition, Colorado Mountain College covered the course fees, and Salida Mountain Sports generously provided touring gear for the students. “It’s wonderful to provide new (and some experienced) backcountry users some real information that they can use,” says Roger Coit, avalanche faculty at Colorado Mountain College, “We provide a great model for recreational safety practices and trip planning that students can use for the rest of their backcountry travel career.” With more and more people seeking solitude and powder turns, avalanche education is becoming a critical resource for backcountry users. Colorado Mountain College provides a variety of avalanche safety courses, for recreational and professional applications. Courses typically cost between $200 – $600, and provide vital information to allow someone to travel and explore the backcountry in a safer… Read more: CMC, Monarch Ski Patrol Provide Avalanche Safety Scholarships for Local High School Students

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