Teaching Youth Science and Safety through Avalanche Awareness

The CMC’s award winning Youth Education Program supports over 5000 Denver area youth annually.  This winter is a perfect time to learn about avalanche science and how to travel safely in the backcountry.  Participants in our Indoor Avalanche Science Class will simulate avalanches, measure slope angles, build snow packs and practice using rescue equipment. In addition, students can take their new knowledge even further by participating in an Avalanche Science Field Day.  They will assess avalanche terrain, dig a snow pit, examine snow crystals, and conduct a mock rescue in the snow. 

This class is perfect for school groups, scouts, and after-school clubs!

We provide classes at The American Mountaineering Center in Golden, schools, open space and parks, and community centers. 

If you are interested in scheduling a class with us, please contact Heidi Potter, YEP Program Manager at 303-996-2762 or heidipotter@cmc.org  Please visit our website for additional information: www.cmc.org/yep  

Feel free to pass this information along to anyone who may be interested in this engaging class!

Engage youth in math and the scientific method through an Avalanche Science class with The Colorado Mountain Club’s Youth Education Program!  Perfect for school groups and scout troops!

Avalanche Science Indoor Class:  Gain awareness of the powerful destructive forces of avalanches through hands-on activities. Students will simulate avalanches, measure slope angles, build snow packs and practice using rescue equipment. Class encourages teamwork and decision-making among participants. Additional 4 hour field class may be arranged at a nearby open space or mountain site.
Age: 4th-12th grade
Class length: 1-2 hours
Fee: varies based on location and time frame

Avalanche Science Field Day

Experience the mountains in the snow! Students will assess terrain and snow pack through hands-on application of the skills learning during the indoor Avalanche Science class. Dig a snow pit, examine snow crystals, and work together with your team to conduct a mock rescue in the snow. Avalanche Science 2-hour course at AMC is strongly recommended prior to taking a field course.
Age: 4th-12th grade
Class length: 4-5 hours
Fee: $15/person
Location: Outdoor site in the Arapaho National Forest

If you missed Howard Snyder's recap of McKinley, watch him here....

The Boulder CMC Group's 2010 Annual Dinner was an outstanding success, partly because of the attraction of keynote speaker, Howard Snyder, who led the 1967 Colorado McKinley Expedition.  The expedition, one of the most controversial in North American mountaineering history, was chronicled in the 2007 book Forever on the Mountain, and in Howard’s 1973 book, The Hall of the Mountain King. It was very poignant hearing Snyder credit CMC with giving him the skills he needed to learn mountaineering and likely to have helped save his team's lives, despite the loss of other lives on that fateful expedition. If you missed Snyder, check out the short clip below.

Howard Snyder, autographing his book, The Hall of the Mountain King (photo by Janine Fugere)

Howard Snyder showing a painting of his teammate, Paul Schlichter, setting off a flare at the Summit of McKinley  (photo by Jim Groh)

For more activities open to all members, join the Boulder Group at these next two events!

Boulder Group Holiday Party, 12/12, 6pm:  Every year the Boulder Group has a Holiday Party open to all members, which follows the 5:30pm December 12^th Council meeting. The party starts at 6pm. Consider yourself invited! (RSVP not necessary) The traditional Holiday Party will be held in the BCMC Clubroom, The format will be potluck, BYOB and strictly informal. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet your Council and State Board members, get familiar with them and ask any questions you might have.

Movie Night – Cliffhanger, 12/14, 7-9pm:  Come watch possibly the most ridiculous climbing film ever made! Sylvester Stallone stars as a daring climber/ranger, with truly dramatic scenery from the Italian Dolomites to the Rockies!   Rated R, released in 1993, we'll have fun pointing out all the technical errors in the outlandish climbing stunts.   No registration necessary; just come to the Clubroom. BYOB. Socializing 6:45-7pm.

Make your gift to the CMC go further today, on Colorado Gives Day

Today is Colorado Gives Day! Community First Foundation, a Denver-based organization, is partnering with nonprofits across Colorado, including the Colorado Mountain Club, to increase funding for the important work that we all do. The initiative is called Colorado Gives Day and is taking place during a 24-hour period TODAY. Donations will be accepted through GivingFirst.org, a site created by the Foundation, with an ambitious goal of raising $1 million in one day for Colorado non-profits. The CMC receives 100% of their donations received through GivingFirst.org  because the Foundation covers credit card and processing fees. Furthermore, a special incentive fund has been created to increase the value of donations received on Colorado Gives Day, so each and every dollar that is raised for the CMC results in an incentive gift from the Foundation and its partners. This is a great way to make your contribution go further. Thank you for your support of the Colorado Mountain Club!

 FOUR Easy Steps to Support the CMC through Colorado Gives Day

1. Visit www.givingfirst.org
2. In the Key Words or Charity Name section, type Colorado Mountain Club
3. Click the Donate Now button and select your donation amount
4. Click Add to Cart and proceed to checkout with your donation

Knot Tying School Graduates 38 Students

In third annual session, Knot Tying School graduated 38 students after completion of two consecutive instructional days. Not only did students learn to tie knots, they received a take-home book with different types of rope and webbing, one-on-one instructor time, an arduous knot tying scenario session to apply the knots they learned, and the satisfaction that they can safely tie over 20 knots...or some of them can. 

The third edition of the CMC Knot Tying School was a resounding success.  Nearly 40 students demonstrated a mastery of 6 basic knots, and then anywhere from 2 to 15 advanced knots of their choosing.  They also demonstrated a thorough knowledge of “what knot to tie when?” in grueling one on one discussion sessions known as “Knot Scenarios”. Renowned alpinist Gerry Roach lent his own particular flavor with an opening discussion on the importance of being able to tie a wide variety of knots.

Figure 8

 

 

Bowline

This years graduates are Jeffrey Albers, John Aldag, Michelle Altieri, Erika Andersen, Marland Billings, Marc Borai, Fred Caloggero, David Cassin, Karen Dean, Allen Folson, James Graham, Scott Hammond, Marc Hasfjord, Walt Hastings, Jay Hendrickson, Sylwia Hendrickson, Jason Kolaczkowski, Kim LaLiberte, Melanie Layton, Warren May, Ryan Mays, Lucas McCain, Bruce Metcalf, Richard Ostrosky, Paul Perea, Roger Pomainville, Maddalena Ragusin, Bruce Randall, Zach Randall, Nathan Reich, Marco Satarsiere, Rachel Scott, Kristina Short, Randal Stinson, Charles Thabault, Nick Theiler, Adam Yaws, Linda Ziccardi.   All students received completion certificates.

Clove Hitch

Double Fisherman

We would like to thank the following instructors who gave generously of their time; Dave Pellegrini, Bob Dawson, Jerry Allen, Greg German, John Mitchler, Nickie Kelly, Tom Creighton, Alan Chudnow, Deb Kirk, Greg Olson, Wayne Johnson, Debbie Malone, Brian LeBlanc, Casey Lems, Chuck Barnes, Ed White, Eileen O’Leary, Brian Jones, Vern Bass and Gerry Roach. The Instructors represent many backgrounds within CMC, and are all Instructors in WTS, WCS, BMS, HAMS, or Tech Section Rock & Ice Climbing Schools. Students were encouraged to get to know as many instructors as possible, especially if they plan to go on to a school an instructor is involved with.

Kudos to Lisa, Kristin, Chun, Shelby and Rachel for setting it all up for us.

Next year we plan to offer this school in early November again, after climbing season, but before holiday season.

Dave Covill, KTS Director

Dave Pellegrini, KTS Lead Instructor

John Mitchler, KTS Scenarios Coordinator

Gerry Roach, KTS Knots Guru

Can anyone name this knot?

Stewardship Forum – Resounding Success!

Over 150 participants, representing land management agency staff, non-profit professionals and stewardship volunteers gathered at the American Mountaineering Center to brainstorm the launch of a coordinated stewardship movement in Colorado. Representatives from national foundations and federal agencies affirmed that this type of forum was the first of its kind in the country.  A remarkable slate of panelists discussed potential goals for a new coalition, drawing on both conservation trends and successes from their own experiences. Breakout sessions gave all participants a chance to weigh in on the challenges and opportunities within the arenas of collaboration, capacity building, funding, public policy, and citizen engagement. The Colorado Mountain Club and steering committee partners were honored to host Senator Mark Udall, who weighed in on taking the stewardship movement in our state to the next level. Many thanks to all who organized, volunteered, and participated. Stay tuned for the follow-up report and our next meeting on January 19, 2011.

  Continue the conversation!

Director of Conservation, Bryan Martin

One of several panel discussions

Many ways to get involved

Wynne Whyman, CMC Board President

Senator Mark Udall rounding out the forum