News Release: New Backcountry Incident Review Conference Scheduled

Contacts:              Ryan Ross

303-832-6296

mtnry@aol.com

Rachel Scott

303-996-2746

rachelscott@cmc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- FEBRUARY 2, 2011

NEW CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON CASE STUDIES OF BACKCOUNTRY INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS

GOLDEN, Colo.— The first statewide Backcountry Incident Review Conference, focusing on the lessons learned from trips that posed difficult challenges, is set for Saturday, April 23 at the American Mountaineering Center (AMC) in Golden.

The day-long conference will feature the leaders of trips on which things did not go according to plan discussing what happened and how they responded, so that they can share the lessons learned with anyone who leads trips or spends time in the backcountry.

“This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from trip leaders who struggled with difficult decisions about how they responded when something went wrong,” says Katie Blackett, CEO of the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC), who is sponsoring the conference. “By sharing their experiences, we can promote backcountry safety for everyone who spends time in the backcountry.”

Trips to be discussed will include one of which several participants had to be evacuated by helicopter, another when a trip participant became separated from the group and was found several canyons away, and one when a climber died while on a difficult glacial traverse.

  Chris Barnes of the High Mountain Institute in Leadville will be the keynote speaker.  The Institute, founded by Barnes, leads teenagers on semester-long expeditions in the backcountry. He’ll discuss why risk-taking is important and how to manage it.

There will also be a first-aid refresher, and lunch will be served.

Seating is limited and early registration is encouraged. The fee of $10 covers CMC’s costs in staging the conference and the cost of lunch. For online registration, visit www.cmc.org/BIRC.

About the Colorado Mountain Club

The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to adventure, education and preservation in Colorado. Established in 1912 by mountaineering enthusiasts, CMC now has more than 8,000 members statewide who explore and protect the wild areas of Colorado. CMC offers hundreds of events and classes for all ages and abilities. Throughout its history, the club has been instrumental in landmark achievements such as the designation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and the passage of the Wilderness Act. To become a member, visit www.cmc.org.

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