Markus Beck, the owner and head guide of Alpine World Ascents gave an avalanche clinic on Wednesday night at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder. Markus started with the basics of avalanches: types (loose vs slab), features of slabs (weak layer, crown, bed surface, etc) and the factors of terrain, snowpack, weather and triggers. He said the [...]
Archive for November, 2008
Avalanche Clinic: Myths & Facts
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged avalanche, Markus Beck on November 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Snowstruck Review
Posted in books, tagged American Alpine Club Library, Jill Fredston, Snowstruck on November 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I just finished up a second book review for the American Alpine Club’s Library. I reviewed the book Snowstruck by Jill Fredston, a longtime avalanche instructor and forecaster in Alaska. Her book Snow Sense was required reading for the Avalanche Level 1 course I took at the beginning of the year. The review is available [...]
Adaptive Skiing Clinics
Posted in skiing, tagged Adaptive skiing, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center on November 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After Thursday’s Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center’s adaptive skiing clinics I had another full weekend of clinics to finish my volunteer requirements. Saturday morning I sat in on the first half of the full-day “Welcome Back Warm-Up” which was meant for returning volunteers. I had a good introduction to the bi- and mono- sit skis (especially [...]
Adaptive Skiing
Posted in skiing, tagged Adaptive skiing, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center on November 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This winter I plan to spend some days volunteering with the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center’s adaptive skiing program. Before I’m allowed to spend time with clients on the mountain, I have to attend several days worth of training sessions. The prior Saturday I’d sat in on two indoor sessions that oriented the group of new [...]
Vasquez Peak
Posted in hiking, tagged Colorado Mountain Club, hiking, Vasquez Peak on November 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
For my second LIT (Leader In Training) trip, I choose a hike up Vasquez Peak (12,947 feet) led by Dave Goldwater – one of the first CMC trip leaders I’d hiked with. We met up in Denver then picked up another hiker along the way and meet two more at the trailhead for a 14 [...]
Backcountry Bash
Posted in film, tagged Backcountry Bash, Backcountry Snowsports Alliance, The Pact on November 10, 2008 | 2 Comments »
The Backcountry Bash is an annual fundraiser for the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance, a group that promotes non-motorized winter recreation areas in Colorado. The evening started out with food and beer and the slow perusal of 3 separate silent auction tables. I started bidding on items as diverse as socks, ski poles and backcountry hut reservations. [...]
Boulder Adventure Film Festival
Posted in film, tagged Armed for the Challenge, Boulder Adventure Film Festival, Conflict Tiger, Ice Anarchy, Shaking the Bear, The Sharp End, Via Bearzi on November 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Boulder Adventure Film Festival opened Thursday night for a three day run of outdoor/adventure/adrenaline films. The content shares much with festivals like MountainFilm, Banff and Alpinist. The evening started at the Boulder Theater at 4pm with the latest film from Sender Films, Peter Mortimer’s production company. Mortimer has been responsible for an increase in [...]
McCurdy Creek loop
Posted in backpacking, hiking, Lord of Pain, tagged backpacking, Bison Peak, Lost Creek, Lost Creek Wilderness, McCurdy Creek on November 3, 2008 | 3 Comments »
The Lost Creek Wilderness was an area I wanted to get to know better, so when I saw a request for partners for a 2 day backpacking loop through the area that would be mostly off-trail and take in several unnamed peaks I quickly signed up. Dwight was the originator of the request and has [...]
Cathedral Spires
Posted in hiking, tagged Bishop Rock, Cathedral Spires, hiking on November 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After last week’s trip up The Castle, Pete and I again joined forces for some more Jefferson County summits. Our first objective was Cathedral Spires, a popular rock climbing area which had an easy scramble route to the summit. I’d wanted to do this one for a while, but a recent newsletter from the Colorado [...]
