Copper Mountain and Winter Park resorts in Colorado are offering ongoing avalanche awareness programs and training through the end of this ski season. The approaches are different, but both will increase avalanche awareness – a must for anyone who skis, hikes or snowmobiles in the backcountry.
Copper’s Mountain Guides takes groups of advanced skiers and snowboarders into the resort’s high alpine bowls and introduces them to backcountry basics. Part of the day includes snowcat rides to reach mountain ridges and chutes around Tucker Mountain and Copper Bowl. Participants learn to use avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes, find safe departure and stopping zones, and other skills to increase avalanche awareness. Cost for the one-day, one-guide adventure is $499 and can include up to six participants (age 16 or older). For more information call 866-464-4432 or visit Copper Mountain Resort.
At Winter Park’s Beacon Basin there’s no cost for you to learn to use an avalanche transceiver. Ski Patrol has buried eight transmitters, and they are activated at different times. The training area is open from 9am-3pm, and there’s free instruction daily between noon and 1:30 p.m. Beacon Basin at Winter Park is easily reachable by any skiers or snowboarders, because it’s at the bottom of the Primrose Trail before Lunch Rock.
If You'd Rather Take a Multi-Day Avalanche Awareness Course
If you want a more extensive course, Colorado Mountain School and Boulder Rock Climbing offer a series of Avalanche Awareness courses in the spring and winter at Rocky Mountain National Park. During the 2 1/2-day course participants learn how to travel more safely in and around avalanche terrain, practice comprehensive rescue skills and much more. For details call 888-267-7783 or visit Total Climbing
