Mar 23, 2025 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado, Education, Ski Mountineering
This spring in Colorado there was a pattern with the kinds of avalanches people were getting involved with: dry snow avalanches in a spring context. There are a couple nuances with this specific setup that can help us operate more effectively in the...
Jan 15, 2025 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Colorado, Guided, Rocky Mountain National Park, Ski Mountineering
Skiing big terrain in winter in Colorado during considerable avalanche danger!?!? What can we make of skiers ripping big lines in winter during moderate or considerable danger when we have persistence on the problem list? First thing is to keep in mind that you...
Nov 5, 2024 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Education, Ski Mountineering
Colorado is known for big scary avalanches. But some seasons are worse than others. How do we tell if a season is going to be a scary one or a moderate one. A good way to understand it is through the idea of snow climates. Colorado’s mountains tend to follow the...
Oct 28, 2024 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado, Education, Educational Program, Guided
Here’s some thoughts I frequently find myself giving to people asking how to get into the backcountry. The first thing is to understand it can be a long, complicated journey depending on your goals. It’s important to be realistic about your ability to commit the time,...
Oct 10, 2024 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado, Education, Educational Program, Guided, Rocky Mountain National Park, Ski Mountineering
I’m really excited about getting this program running this winter. This is a program that I really think will provide the best bang for your buck as far as winter backcountry readiness is concerned. Many students I work with in avalanche safety courses don’t...
Oct 9, 2024 | AIARE Avalanche Education, Backcountry Skiing, Colorado
When it comes to avalanche education, I only use the curriculum developed by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). The main reason for this is the curriculum support and instructor standards created by the non profit structure. Non...
