Monday, January 25, 2010


Click the image for info on the Wooden Ski Rendezvous:

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Routt National Forest Needs to Hear From You



From Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group:
TRILBEY FLATS in North Routt near the Columbine area is under attack.
We are not certain who is doing this, but suspect it originates with the Routt Powder Riders.
These snowmobile attacks on the area have corresponded with each weekend that Mark Hartless (Past president of the Routt Powder Riders) is up at his property in Columbine and now others are just following the tracks into the Trilbey area, as they do.
Eight years ago the Steamboat Lake SnowClub working with different user groups in North Routt, created a Parking Plan, which they hoped would give Trilbey some sort of non-motorized protection against this sort of assault. On the Snowclub map, Trilbey Flats is signed with a skier symbol. Hybrid users do occassionally park here to unload their snowmobiles and then they stay on a route to access further areas west to park and ski. The Home Ranch and Vista Verde have outfitters permits to take their clientel here to ski. Nordic users ski here all the time. It is close to the road and easily accessed for non-motorized users. We were in a comment period last summer (and many of you commented on this) to help try and preserve this area as "Suggested-Use" non-motorized.
At this point we are thinking that we should just push for a Forest Supervisors order to put this area under Designated non-motorized use, as is Rabbit Ears and Buffalo Pass. It may take longer, but will be more effective in the long run. Obviously "Suggested-Use" is just asking for them to come in and track it up!
Please write letters to the Forest Service and send this on to your friends who care about the future of our backcountry.
Comments can be sent electronically to Kent Foster kfoster@fs.fed.us and please cc: frb@cmc.org

Ski Area Report Card and Call Out for Citizen Advocates

Advocacy: Your boots on the ground help protect our public lands!
· If you would like to report snowmobile conflict incidents or have other questions about the public lands you use, please call our office at 303-996-2759 or email bsi@cmc.org . If you have an extra moment after calling BSI, submit a report to Winter Wildlands Alliance as well.
· One astute CMC member contacted the Conservation Department with a question on Jim Creek. CMC was able to contact the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest and confirm that there should be signs closing the area entering the Special Recreation Area, about 2 miles up from the Parking Lot. We are working to confirm that signs are in place.
· Off Piste article on Ski Report Card. See how your neighborhood resort stacks up with others when it is graded on stewardship.
· Ski Area Citizens Coalition Report Card

Wooden Ski Rendezvous and Other Fun Stuff




· Speed Riding? Check out a sweet video on your next extreme sport.
· Upcoming Wooden Ski Rendezvous Video (to attend on Feb 26-28, call Leslie Lovejoy at970-879-8710).

Backcountry Skiing in the News

Backcountry Skiing in the News
Routt National Forest:
Routt National Forest cited snowmobilers for trespassing in the wilderness, according to anarticle in Steamboat Today. The San Juan Group of Colorado Mountain Club (having merged with Red Mountain BSA Chapter) is expecting to use Red Mountain Chapter funds to hire a part-time winter ranger to enforce Forest Service regulations. Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group is also looking at the possibility of funding an extra ranger. The cost of funding part-time rangers ranges from $3800 to $5000 per season.
White River National Forest:
· White River National Forest travel plan release delayed until March 2010.
· WRNF may delay travel management plan further due to lynx issues.
· WRNF asks volunteers to track lynx while skiing and snowshoeing.
General News:
· A video with a happy ending showing the importance of training and gear.
· An article with a sad ending discussing tension between safety and excitement in the sports we love.
· A major avalanche in Switzerland reminds us to stay on our toes.

Upcoming Backcountry Events in Colorado

Upcoming Events

The Wooden Ski Rendezvous is a great party, ski race and education weekend, all rolled into one! It’s coming up this year on February 26-28. Call Leslie at 970-879-8710 for more info. Watch a 12-minute video of a past Rendezvous on the CMC page or on Facebook.

FORB Group’s Weekend Visioning Retreat February 6 in Columbine at the Tanglewood cabin. The purpose, to create a new advisory board of directors, goals for the next year, 5 years and 10 years. Interested participants should be willing to commit for at least one year. There are beds for 3 couples, 4 singles and then another space for 1 couple and one single at our house next door. This would be similar to a hut trip, where we bring our sleeping bags, coop food and clean up before we leave. Please call Friends of the Routt Backcountry Group Chair Leslie Lovejoy at 970-879-8710 to talk about this.

Thursday, January 21 at 7 p.m.

Ski Touring in Norway presented by Gary Neptune
Gary Neptune will share slides and stories from years of ski touring in Norway including Jotunheimen Mountains, Trollheimen Mountains, Rondane National Park and Hardangervidda. Click here for more info.

http://www.fleetfeetboulder.com/images/snowshoepicture_000.jpg

Snowshoe Race Prep Clinic Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 @ 7:15 pm

Fleet Feet Sports: Snowshoe Race Prep Clinic

Where: Boulder, Colo.

Details: To help you have a great snowshoe racing seaon, Fleet Feet sponsored athletes Laurie Mizener and Lisa Goldsmith will discuss: How to dress, what gear you will need, what to eat before, during and after; race strategy; cross-training benefits; helpful training tips. For more info, call 303-939-8000.



Upcoming CMC Snow Trips and Schools

Upcoming Trips
We have 31 snowshoe trips and 24 ski trips coming up in JANUARY ALONE. To sign up, go to www.cmc.org and click on Activity Schedule on the left side of the page.
Upcoming Schools
Take your skiing to the summit. The 2010 Ski Mountaineering School consists of three lectures and five field trips that cover the preparation and techniques of climbing peaks, followed by the thrills of skiing down. For more information visit http://sms.cmcschools.org/ or contact Chris at 303-883-7680.
Other January schools are still booking participants.
Sign up at www.cmc.org or by calling our office at 303-279-3080.
· Boulder Tele/AT Backcountry Ski Clinic ( Lecture #1 ) 1/27 first night
· Pikes Peak Group X-C Ski Clinic ( Field Session )
· Technical Ice Climbing School

Volunteers Needed and Spotlighted


Volunteer Leaders Needed
Ft Collins Group is looking for more leaders for its schools and snow-based trips. Please contact John Raich at 970-491-1382 or jraich@lamar.colostate.edu to see what you can do.
White River National Forest is asking volunteers to carry GPS units to help track lynx. If you would like more info or would like to get involved, please call Jay at 303-996-2759 or emailbsi@cmc.org.
Small Winter Trails Photo for Web.jpg
Volunteer Spotlight

Denver Group members Linda Lawson, Beth Dwyer (pictured) and Sarah Thompson and Shining Mountains Group members Marilyn Breithart and Jim Wilkerson helped table at two Winter Trails Day events, speaking with scores of potential CMC members. The new snowshoers attending the events expressed interest in the human-powered winter recreation advocacy advanced by CMC's new Backcountry Snowsports Initiative. Many also signed an open letter of support for CMC's Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign to protect lands in central Colorado. If you would like to volunteer with CMC's Conservation Department at similar events, emailbsi@cmc.org.

New BSI Blog Up

The merger between CMC and BSA continues to bear fruit. Members from both organizations across the state are beginning to compare notes and get to work on advocacy issues from Red Mountain to Rabbit Ears Pass. I have compiled some action alerts, volunteer requests and other info below. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions (303-996-2759) or to get involved. We can always use more help!

Wishing you soft snow, quiet landscapes and fresh tracks,

Jay Heeter
Backcountry Snowsports Initiative Coordinator